Back into time once again, as "The Time Machine" glides to a stop on Sunday, October 6, 1979. Let's check out the local chart!

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  • 10

    "After The Love Has Gone" by Earth, Wind & Fire

    (#10 last week) A classic from the pen of the legendary producer/writer David Foster (along with ex-Chicago member Bill Champlin), & another in the by-now-4-year-hit-streak of EWF. The Grammy winner for "Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo Or Group".

  • 9

    "Lead Me On" by Maxine Nightingale

    (#7 last week) Maxine's dad was a comedian. She was a session singer who was shocked when a song shed only wanted a $45 demo fee for, "Right Back Where We Started From", became a smash (luckily, she changed her mind & took a royalty, insuring future income). Took three years for that elusive second hit in the states, this AC soft pop smash.

  • 8

    "Pop Muzik" by M

    (#8 last week) One of my all-time favorites! Even though this is from 1979, it sure sounds like an 80s hit, & in fact is played regularly on 80s shows. What was this all about? I'll let Robin Scott, aka M, tell you: "I was looking to make a fusion of various styles which somehow would summarize the last 25 years of pop music. It was a deliberate point I was trying to make. Whereas rock and roll had created a generation gap, disco was bringing people together on an enormous scale. That's why I really wanted to make a simple, bland statement, which was, 'All we're talking about basically (is) pop music".

  • 7

    "Lonesome Loser" by Little River Band

    (#6 last week) Has any recording act in history had a longer string of hits while managing to have almost zero public profile at all in the states than this band from Australia? They've had a large number of personnel changes over the years, but Glenn Shorrock sang lead on most of their hits, like this one.

  • 6

    "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band

    (#4 last week) I'm not a music student, but if you are, you'll understand this. Vassar Clements originally wrote this in the key of D minor. He wrote the basic melody an octive lower. The Daniels band moved it up an octive & put words to it. Huge "crossover" hit, again proving the viability of country music in our local area.

  • 5

    "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson

    (#8 last week) You watch this video & just shake your head. What a tragic waste of talent. This young (then 21 year old) man had the world at his fingertips. You can see where Justin Timberlake got a lot of his moves & style.

  • 4

    "My Sharona" by The Knack

    (#1 last week) After a six week run at #1, this rock anthem slips to 4. For the record, that IS the real Sharona (Alperin) on the cover of the single. She had been the girlfriend of Knack lead singer Doug Fieger. Does the song remind of of any 60s classics? Say, "Gimme Some Lovin", "My Generation" & "Going To A Go-Go"? Yes, the various riffs from those tunes were "inspiration".

  • 3

    "Rise" by Herb Alpert

    (#5 last week) What a perfect for-the-times update for the legendary Mr. Alpert's music. It was also one of the termplates for the emerging "smooth jazz" sound. BTW, the woman dancing with Herb in the video is Lani "The Look Of Love" Hall, Mrs. Alpert.

  • 2

    "I'll Never Love This Way Again" by Dionne Warwick

    (#3 last week) A Barry Manilow song in all but Manilow vocal, & an enormous comeback for Dionne, who last hit the chart with "Then Came You" in 1974. Grammy winner for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance". Hard to believe, but this wasn't written expressly for Ms. Warwick. Several folks recorded it before her, including "Cheryl "Charlie's Angels" Ladd.

  • 1

    "Sad Eyes" by Robert John

    (#2 last week; 1st week at #1) Robert John charted as early as 1958 when he was only 12, under his real name Bobby Pedrick Jr., with "White Bucks & Saddle Shoes", written by the legendary Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman. He actually had TWO local #1 hits, the other being the 1972 remake of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", which sounded amazingly like the Tokens hit 1961 version.

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