Don’s Top 10 From October 19, 1975

(#7 last week) One of the great disco records of the 70s, the first American hit for KC & Co. They had already scored several times in the U.K. and KC had co-written the summer of '74 smash "Rock Your Baby".

(#10 last week) Honestly, I was really surorised at the idea of Sedaka & elton, two artists with vastly different sensabilities. But Neil had changed his music enough that it appealed to Elton, wgo always had a soft spot for the "oldies but goodies" of his youth. This was the toughest sounding tune Sedaka ever did. Too bad he looks like cheesy Vegas entertainer of the year in this grainy video.

(#11 last week) These Philly folks were the creation of Village People founder Jacques Morali, who teamed with producer Richie Rome. The group got their name from rome, who added a T for some reason. The song was first a hit way back in the early 1940s.

(#8 last week) "Fly, robin, fly, up up to the sky". Wha, they ran out of lyrics? Is this or isn't this an instrumental? The Grammys thought so, awarding the "Best R&B Instrumental :Performance" to this German studio group featuring American Penny McLain.

(#6 last week) Glen Campbell is a musical genius, appearing on more hit records as a musician (mainly as part of "The Wrecking Crew") than any performer in history! "Rhinestone Cowboy" was Campbell's largest-selling single, initially with over 2 million copies sold. Campbell had heard the songwriter Larry Weiss' version while on tour of Australia in 1974.

(#4 last week) John Lennon is all over this song. "Fame", inspired by a guitar riff by Carlos Alomar, and with the title from Lennon, was hurriedly developed and recorded by Bowie, Lennon, and Alomar. Both tracks were finally added to the 'Young Americans" album. Lennon received co-writing credit due to the lyrics (bemoaning the nature of celebrity) having been inspired by conversations he had had with Bowie on the subject, and because Bowie acknowledged that Lennon singing "Fame!" over Alomar’s guitar riff was the catalyst for the song. Lennon's vocals are also heard singing the repeated words "FAME, FAME, FAME" with his voice heard at fast, normal, and slow playback speeds, until Bowie's vocal is heard singing the final lyrics of the song before the fade.

("I'm Sorry": #5 last week. "Calypso": New at #4)Until this week, "I'm Sorry" was listed alone, but this weekm the "B" side "Calypso" joins it in the same chart position. "Calypao" was written in tribute to the underwater explorer & environmentalist, Jacques Cousteau. It is a song very close to my heart because it was my late mom Joan's favorite song, from one of her favorite singers It was a comfort to her during her long illness. It always gives me goosebumps & puts tears in my eyes. If you've never heard it, prepare to be moved yourself, bt the song's sweeping instrumentation & drama. "Calypso, I sing to your spirit"......

(#2 last week) Written by Orleans band member John Hall (who became a U.S. Congressman for several years in the 2000s) & then wife Johanna Hall. Jersey connection: "Dance With Me" served for the title of a musical revue of compositions by John and Johanna Hall which was mounted by the Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey in Madison in December, 2000.

(#3 last week) This was the very first song I played on the radio as a DJ, on October 27, 1975, on the Kingsborough College station (then) WKCC-AM. The second song I played was Linda Ronstadt's "You're No Good". I spent days agonizing what I would say. This is what I came up with: "It only takes a minute, girl, to know that you're no good!" LOL. Now I just wing it......

(#1 last week; 3rd week at #1) From the master of the "break-in" record, Dickie Goodman, came this silly smash. Goodman, who was from Brooklyn, had been making these since 1956 "The Flying Saucer"). The formula was simpe: Goodman would usually play a reporter asking questions, with snippets of then-current or recent hit singles answering him. Most of the time, these did not become big hits, but once in awhile, one would take hold, & this was by far the biggest. It peaked at #4 nationally, but spent three big weeks at #1 locally! Sadly, Goodman would take his own life at age 55 in 1989. In 2000, Goodman's son, Jon Goodman, released a book, "The King of Novelty", a biography of his father's life and work, along with autobiographic material. Jon is an excellent "keeper of the flame", honoring his dad's unique legacy in pop culture.