Today in Billboard Chart History - August 10

[Dawn]

These were the top 10 songs on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart on August 10, 1974.

10. Tell Me Something Good – Rufus
9. Wildwood Weed – Jim Stafford
8. Sideshow – Blue Magic
7. Waterloo – Abba
6. Call On Me – Chicago
5. Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins
4. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Elton John
3. Annie’s Song – John Denver
2. The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace
1. Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack

Any thoughts or memories of these songs?

[djdave]

Wonderful chart, as always during the 1970's.
The funky soul of Rufus, the soft soul of Blue Magic.
The easy soul/pop of Roberta, the easy country/pop of Mr. Denver.
Straight, light pop offferings from Dave Loggins, plus the lighter rock of Chicago and Elton John.
All of the above are great (especially Rufus), but my 3 faves are the country/pop novelty, and the 2 international pop smashes are the best. Jim'c "Weed" couldn't get airplay today to save his soul, "Chicago" is one of those great guilty pleasures (sad song in a way, I know), and Abba came strong into the US chart with one of their best ever, such a bouncy tune!

As for me, I vacationed in Bar Harbor Maine, and saw my dad's mom for the last time. Nixon had just resigned from office as well.

[Ken]

10. Very Funky - I've liked it more and more over the years.

9.I love Jim's music - brings back great childhood memories.

8.I had a listen to it and like it very much - the name is very familiar - I've just never heard a lot of their songs. This tune reminds me of The Stylistics.


7.Oh good one! I bought the 45 at the time - always loved it.

6.Among Chicago's best love the horns towards the end of the tune. Great harmonies as well.

5.Nice pop ballad from Dave I have this on a couple of K-tel albums.

4. Elton could do no wrong - I bought the 45 back in '74 and played it to death . A very strong tune that holds up very well today.

3.What a beautiful song - I always liked his guitar playing as well (always used very cool chords) . More great memories of childhood.

2.A guilty pleasure LOL I always liked it I don't know why , it was just so catchy - I have it on Ktel's Superstars LP

1.Don't remember hearing this at the time but it's quite good.

[Railyn]

Not quite 2 years old. Know most of these. This was kind of an in-between time for music.

10) Eh. It's ok.
9) Not familiar.
8) Not familiar.
7) LOVE IT! The person who came in 2nd at the Eurovision contest? Olivia Newton John!
6) I know this group, but not this song. I'll have to check my cd.
5) This song is depressing.
4) No thanks.
3) Way no thanks.
2) This one's ok. I loved Bob singing it in the car on the one ep of That 70's Show.
1) Eh. It's ok.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

The mid 70's was a great time for music, as evidenced here!

10. Great funk/dance tune. Love this song, big time.

9. Don't know it.

8. Don't know it.

7. Good Abba tune, but I got burnt on them in the mid 90's when their music made a big comeback.

6. Great Chicago tune that I think gets overlooked because of it's dancable quality it has.

5. Nice song, a bit too slow for me.

4. Classic Elton single.

3. Really nice song from John.

2. Nice pop tune, nothing too exciting.

1. Not really big on Roberta.

[55dodger]

Hi Dawn - Pretty good chart from 1974.

10. Tell Me Something Good - Couldn't stand this song in 1974, but now in retrospect, it wasn't so bad.

9. Wildwood - Great novelty song by Jim Stafford. Doper's delight. "Wildwood flower grew wild on the farm." Good song.

8. Sideshow - ?

7. Waterloo - Winner of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. Launched Abba's career. One of their better early songs.

6. Call On Me - Didn't like this song by Chicago. Funny, I like almost everything else.

5. Please Come to Boston - Another ballad I just didn't like. A little to sappy.

4. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Good song, just not an Elton John favorite of mine.

3. Annie's Song - Still another ballad. Wasn't this written about his wife? Ok song, not a favorite.

2. The Night Chicago Died - Kinda of cheesy, way overplayed, but a fun one hit wonder.

1. Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack did so many great songs in the early 70s. Her third #1. Don't like it as much as her other two #1s, but a great song anyway.

[H2IZCOOL]

Hey Dawn! A couple of BIG faves here:

10. Tell Me Something Good – Rufus Good song. Liiked it then; like it now.

9. Wildwood Weed – Jim Stafford. A funny, novelty song can just go so far. Once you know the jokes, it gets old fast.

8. Sideshow – Blue Magic - Very fine soul ballad. Remeniscent of the Temptations, I think.

7. Waterloo – Abba Always liked this song. Don't know why so many people were into dissing Abba.

6. Call On Me – Chicago Not my fave by them, but OK.

5. Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins Woo hoo!! In my all time top 250. (Dave is Kenny Loggins' brother or cousin or something like that.)

4. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Elton John Once again Woo hoo! Back-to-back top 250s! (Elton is on my faves list a lot.)

3. Annie’s Song – John Denver Used to love it back in the day, but grew tired of it.

2. The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace Don't really care for it.

1. Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack Decent, but I like others by her better.

[lora]

This is kind of sad. The only one I know is Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me. Oh well. I like this one. It's a good song, although not one of my favorite Elton John tunes.

[Boogieman]

10. Tell Me Something Good – Rufus
Nice slice of mid 70's funk. Chaka Khan shows off her very strong voice here.

9. Wildwood Weed – Jim Stafford
Don't remember it. Must have been a followup to "Spiders and Snakes"

8. Sideshow – Blue Magic
Fantastic, awesome r&b song. One of the best "Philadelphia sound" tracks ever.

7. Waterloo – Abba
The song they won the Eurovision contest with and their first chart hit. Quite a few more would follow.

6. Call On Me – Chicago
Gets less airplay than other Chicago hits. Good song that is overlooked today.

5. Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins
Nice adult contemporary tune. Had a winter feel to it even though it peaked during the dog days of summer.

4. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Elton John
Eh...not one of my favorites from him. Didn't care for the remake with George Michael either.

3. Annie’s Song – John Denver
Love it. Romantic, poetic, moving, heartfelt. Great song.

2. The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace
Often derided as one of the stupidest singles ever to hit number one..this has always been a guilty pleasure of mine.

1. Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack
Not real warm to this one. She'd recorded better songs...


8. Sideshow – Blue Magic
7. Waterloo – Abba
6. Call On Me – Chicago
5. Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins
4. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Elton John
3. Annie’s Song – John Denver
2. The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace
1. Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack

[Dawn]

DJ said:

Wonderful chart, as always during the 1970's.
The funky soul of Rufus, the soft soul of Blue Magic.
The easy soul/pop of Roberta, the easy country/pop of Mr. Denver.
Straight, light pop offferings from Dave Loggins, plus the lighter rock of Chicago and Elton John.
All of the above are great (especially Rufus), but my 3 faves are the country/pop novelty, and the 2 international pop smashes are the best. Jim'c "Weed" couldn't get airplay today to save his soul, "Chicago" is one of those great guilty pleasures (sad song in a way, I know), and Abba came strong into the US chart with one of their best ever, such a bouncy tune!

As for me, I vacationed in Bar Harbor Maine, and saw my dad's mom for the last time. Nixon had just resigned from office as well.

I agree, these 70's charts are hard to top.

'The Night Chicago Died' is a guilty pleasure for me too! That song really has that great early-to-mid 70's pop sound. 'Waterloo' was an excellent debut effort for Abba!

[Dawn]

KenFrank said:

10. Very Funky - I've liked it more and more over the years.

9.I love Jim's music - brings back great childhood memories.

8.I had a listen to it and like it very much - the name is very familiar - I've just never heard a lot of their songs. This tune reminds me of The Stylistics.


7.Oh good one! I bought the 45 at the time - always loved it.

6.Among Chicago's best love the horns towards the end of the tune. Great harmonies as well.

5.Nice pop ballad from Dave I have this on a couple of K-tel albums.

4. Elton could do no wrong - I bought the 45 back in '74 and played it to death . A very strong tune that holds up very well today.

3.What a beautiful song - I always liked his guitar playing as well (always used very cool chords) . More great memories of childhood.

2.A guilty pleasure LOL I always liked it I don't know why , it was just so catchy - I have it on Ktel's Superstars LP

1.Don't remember hearing this at the time but it's quite good.

I agree about 'Sideshow', Ken - it does sound very similar to the Stylistics' songs. I don't remember hearing this one very often back then - I've become more acquainted with it in recent years.

I've always liked John Denver's music, and 'Annie's Song' is one of his best. You're right about his guitar playing - it's wonderful.

'The Night Chicago Died' is pretty catchy, I agree!

[Dawn]

Railyn said:

Not quite 2 years old. Know most of these. This was kind of an in-between time for music.

10) Eh. It's ok.
9) Not familiar.
8) Not familiar.
7) LOVE IT! The person who came in 2nd at the Eurovision contest? Olivia Newton John!
6) I know this group, but not this song. I'll have to check my cd.
5) This song is depressing.
4) No thanks.
3) Way no thanks.
2) This one's ok. I loved Bob singing it in the car on the one ep of That 70's Show.
1) Eh. It's ok.

I hadn't known that about Olivia coming in second at the Eurovision contest that year - that's interesting! Both she and the members of Abba are very talented, and I enjoy their music a lot.

I like 'Please Come to Boston', but agree that it's a little on the sad side.

[Dawn]

SAT-The said:

The mid 70's was a great time for music, as evidenced here!

10. Great funk/dance tune. Love this song, big time.

9. Don't know it.

8. Don't know it.

7. Good Abba tune, but I got burnt on them in the mid 90's when their music made a big comeback.

6. Great Chicago tune that I think gets overlooked because of it's dancable quality it has.

5. Nice song, a bit too slow for me.

4. Classic Elton single.

3. Really nice song from John.

2. Nice pop tune, nothing too exciting.

1. Not really big on Roberta.

I completely agree about the mid 70's!

'Tell Me Something Good' is a great song. I love Chaka's vocals on it, and the guitar work is really funky!

I'm with you about 'Call On Me' being overlooked. I hear it occasionally, but not nearly as often as, say, 'Feelin' Stronger Every Day' or 'Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?' (love both of those too!)

[Dawn]

55dodger said:

Hi Dawn - Pretty good chart from 1974.

10. Tell Me Something Good - Couldn't stand this song in 1974, but now in retrospect, it wasn't so bad.

9. Wildwood - Great novelty song by Jim Stafford. Doper's delight. "Wildwood flower grew wild on the farm." Good song.

8. Sideshow - ?

7. Waterloo - Winner of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. Launched Abba's career. One of their better early songs.

6. Call On Me - Didn't like this song by Chicago. Funny, I like almost everything else.

5. Please Come to Boston - Another ballad I just didn't like. A little to sappy.

4. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me - Good song, just not an Elton John favorite of mine.

3. Annie's Song - Still another ballad. Wasn't this written about his wife? Ok song, not a favorite.

2. The Night Chicago Died - Kinda of cheesy, way overplayed, but a fun one hit wonder.

1. Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack did so many great songs in the early 70s. Her third #1. Don't like it as much as her other two #1s, but a great song anyway.

Hi dodger!

I agree, Jim Stafford recorded some really humorous novelty songs back then. I don't remember this one quite as well as 'Spiders and Snakes', but I've always liked it.

Yes, John's wife at the time was named Ann, and he wrote it for her. Sadly, they separated not too long after that, from what I've read.

I really like Roberta's songs from the early 70's also. 'Feel Like Makin' Love' is my favorite.

[Dawn]

H2IZCOOL said:

Hey Dawn! A couple of BIG faves here:

10. Tell Me Something Good – Rufus Good song. Liiked it then; like it now.

9. Wildwood Weed – Jim Stafford. A funny, novelty song can just go so far. Once you know the jokes, it gets old fast.

8. Sideshow – Blue Magic - Very fine soul ballad. Remeniscent of the Temptations, I think.

7. Waterloo – Abba Always liked this song. Don't know why so many people were into dissing Abba.

6. Call On Me – Chicago Not my fave by them, but OK.

5. Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins Woo hoo!! In my all time top 250. (Dave is Kenny Loggins' brother or cousin or something like that.)

4. Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Elton John Once again Woo hoo! Back-to-back top 250s! (Elton is on my faves list a lot.)

3. Annie’s Song – John Denver Used to love it back in the day, but grew tired of it.

2. The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace Don't really care for it.

1. Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack Decent, but I like others by her better.

Hey H2! I agree, this are definitely some winners here!

I've never understood the criticism about Abba myself. Their songs were always well-written and recorded, and their sound was in perfect step with the times. Many of their songs are favorites of mine.

'Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me' is a song that I've recently grown to like a lot. So many of Elton's early songs are classics.