Don’s Top 10 For September 30, 1971

(#6 last week) Talk about updating a standard, making it more contemporary, yet keeping a classic feeling at the same time. That's what the Queen Of Soul accomplished with this gem, remaking Ben E. King's 1961 smash. Both manage to evoke such nostalgic feelings in me.

(#10 last week) Another jam from the man who's probably made more people dance than anyone in the history of music. And had more singles with "part 1" on one side & "part 2" on the other than anyone in the history of music.

(#9 last week) Just an awesome record, so sophisticated in words & arrangement, & so memorable. Sounds as fresh today as 1971.

(#8 last week) Anyone who listened to Dan Ingram on WABC in 1971 remembers how he would string together the "I know I know I know" part together about 119 times in a row, while bantering over it!

(#5 last week) OMG, one of my all-time favorite hits!! So excited to play it again. The followup to thwe #1 "Want Ads", this ALSO was a million-seller for these three "canaries" from L.A., but this one has been lost to time. Not this time! Dig it.

(#7 last week) We were a Joan Baez house growing up. Her music was played constantly, so I was thrilled when this song first done by The Band became her biggest hit. Voice of an angel.

(#4 last week) Whatever pain Karen Carpenter was feeling, we sensed it. We sensed it. That's why she "cut through the clutter" & transcended her genre of "soft rock". We were with her. We related to her. We weren't REALLY surprised when she died so young. But we cried. I hear this today & still get the chills.

(#1 last week) Another lovely lady who left us way too young. This video really shows their love for each other, & the life they made escaping the "bubble" of Beatles fame in the early 70s. And what an inventive, unusual song. The whole "Ram " album was great!

(#3 last week) As if 1971 wasn't already a huge year for Carole King, she scores a THIRD #1 song as a songwriter within three months with this remake of a 1963 hit by Steve Lawrence. Those Elvis-style jumpsuits. Ugh.

(#2 last week; 1st week at #1) Started out as a B side--"Reason To Believe" was the A. Rod was surprised that this was the song that made him a star, saying, "I still can't see how the single is such a big hit. It has no melody. Plenty of character and nice chords, but no melody."