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Post by Dawn on Sept 11, 2003 6:58:37 GMT -5
Let's go back 32 years today. This is how the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart appeared on September 11, 1971.
10. Maggie May/Reason to Believe – Rod Stewart
9. Signs – Five Man Electrical Band
8. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
7. I Just Want to Celebrate – Rare Earth
6. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart – Bee Gees
5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey – Paul & Linda McCartney
4. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
3. Smiling Faces Sometimes – Undisputed Truth
2. Spanish Harlem – Aretha Franklin
1. Go Away Little Girl – Donny Osmond
Any thoughts or memories of these songs?
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Post by H2IZCOOL on Sept 11, 2003 8:59:41 GMT -5
Hey Dawn! Reading this chart was kinda different today. Every song I saw, I was going "woo hoo" until I hit the Top 2.
10. Maggie May/Reason to Believe - Rod's version of Reason To Believe is in my all time top 250. I considered it a mediocre country song until I heard Rod sing it. I like Maggie May a whole lot too. (Although I always wondered why when I was in school, I couldn't get some older woman to "keep" me also. ;D )
9. Signs - Some of the lyrics are a little silly, but it's still a great song. (Wish the 45 didn't cut the great intro.)
8. Take Me Home, Country Roads - John's first hit. A classic. I read that John identified the Shenandoah River with West Virginia, even though it primarily flows through Virginia, because he needed that extra syllable in the song.
7. I Just Want to Celebrate - Good song.
6. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - I love the mid-period (pre disco) of the Bee Gees. This, Words, and Lonely Days are three super songs from that period.
5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - It's a very weird song, but I've always liked it. The spoken repeats on "we're so sorry..." is very reminiscent of Yellow Submarine.
4. Ain’t No Sunshine - Love it. I thought Bill should have had more hits of the magnitude of this and Lean On Me.
3. Smiling Faces Sometimes - Often lumped with the O'Jays "Backstabbers". Similar theme, similar sound. I always thought that Smiling Faces flowed better.
2. Spanish Harlem - Aretha is a fantastic performer, but this is Ben E King's song, and I don't care at all for Aretha's interpretation.
1. Go Away Little Girl - ---and Donny was about 12 when he recorded the song? How old was the "little girl"? Three? The song was done MUCH more effectively by Steve Lawrence a decade earlier.
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Post by SAT-I need more room!! on Sept 11, 2003 10:11:02 GMT -5
Pretty good one!
10. Good, but tired of both.
9. Great, classic tune! Bought variety compilation solely for this song.
8. Seems out of place with the other songs here, but I love it.
7. Oh man, another winner! Gotta play this at parties!
6. One of my VERY fave Bee Gees songs. So sad sounding.
5. Still a Macca classic. Love the middle part.
4. The "I know" part is kindof annoying.
3. Decent tune, gets lots of oldies play.
2. Don't know her version.
1. EH.
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Post by lora on Sept 11, 2003 12:50:26 GMT -5
10. Like it. One of my favorites by Rod.
9. Don't know it.
8. I never really cared much for John Denver, and this song reminds me too much of home. Blech.
7. Can't recall this tune.
6. Not one of my faves by them, but good nonetheless.
5. Don't know it.
4. Love the lyrics of this one.
3. Not familiar with it, I don't believe.
2. I don't care for this one at all.
1. Oh, good old Donny. I don't remember ever hearing this one.
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Post by Ken on Sept 11, 2003 15:41:59 GMT -5
Another great chart from '71 10.Remember hearing this often , it was one of the first songs of Rod's that I heard. 9.Oh Yeah! I've always loves it . I own both the full and edited versions. 8.Good Stuff - RIP John 7.Love the guitar on the intro! great funky party music! 6.This was written just after the Bee Gees had gotten back together . A great tune with an excellent melody . We had the 45 in the house. 5. I loved singing along with this when i was little - I still do - I sound really good too ;D . We had the Ram album on both vinyl and 8 -track back in the 70's. 4.Don't remember this at the time . I first heard this probably around the late 80's ? Excellent tune I have it on CD. 3.Another fine 70's r and b tune - also covered by Rare Earth - they do a fine job. 2.I know of it but I'm more familiar with Ben E King's version. 1.Yes I remember hearing this often at the time - - it's ok to listen to every once in a while  |
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Post by smittykins--70s pop RULES! on Sept 11, 2003 20:48:24 GMT -5
10: Like 'em both. I used to drive my mom nuts by saying, "Maggie May, then again, she may not." 9: OH YEAH! Never get tired of this one. Semi-related note: There used to be an infielder for the Oakland A's named Olmedo Saenz(pronounced "signs"), which always reminded me of this song. 8. Good Denver tune. 7. Like this one. 6. Sweet if sad song from the Brothers Gibb. 5. Fun sing-along tune. 4. Decent, if repetitive.(Okay, okay, you know already!) 3. Smooth soul. 2. Prefer Ben E. King. 1. Well...  Like H2 said, with Donny being 12-13, just how young was "Little Girl" anyway? You could say the same thing about "Sweet and Innocent" too... |
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Post by 55dodger on Sept 11, 2003 23:23:37 GMT -5
Hi Dawn - Except for #1, this is a pretty good chart.
10. Maggie Mae/Reason to Believe - Like both. Classics
9. Signs - Almost a one hit wonder. This is a great song
8. Take Me Home, Country Roads - My favorite song from John Denver.
7. I Just Want to Celebrate - Another classic.
6. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - One last hit before they went disco.
5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Another classic from Wings
4. Ain't No Sunshine - Good song
3. Smiling Faces Sometimes - Great one hit wonder song.
2. Spanish Harlem - Agree with H2, this is Ben E. King's song.
1. Go Away Little Girl - Should have been called Stay Away Young Osmond.
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Post by Railyn on Sept 13, 2003 0:53:55 GMT -5
Pretty good today.
10) These songs were so played out around here.
9) Good song - was tired of it but coming back now.
8) Eh.
7) Not too bad.
6) Great song.
5) Another great song.
4) WOOHOO - love Bill Withers - fabulous song.
3) Not too bad.
2) Not familiar
1) No thanks.
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Post by Dawn on Sept 13, 2003 17:46:43 GMT -5
Hey Dawn! Reading this chart was kinda different today. Every song I saw, I was going "woo hoo" until I hit the Top 2. 10. Maggie May/Reason to Believe - Rod's version of Reason To Believe is in my all time top 250. I considered it a mediocre country song until I heard Rod sing it. I like Maggie May a whole lot too. (Although I always wondered why when I was in school, I couldn't get some older woman to "keep" me also. ;D ) 9. Signs - Some of the lyrics are a little silly, but it's still a great song. (Wish the 45 didn't cut the great intro.) 8. Take Me Home, Country Roads - John's first hit. A classic. I read that John identified the Shenandoah River with West Virginia, even though it primarily flows through Virginia, because he needed that extra syllable in the song. 7. I Just Want to Celebrate - Good song. 6. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - I love the mid-period (pre disco) of the Bee Gees. This, Words, and Lonely Days are three super songs from that period. 5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - It's a very weird song, but I've always liked it. The spoken repeats on "we're so sorry..." is very reminiscent of Yellow Submarine. 4. Ain’t No Sunshine - Love it. I thought Bill should have had more hits of the magnitude of this and Lean On Me. 3. Smiling Faces Sometimes - Often lumped with the O'Jays "Backstabbers". Similar theme, similar sound. I always thought that Smiling Faces flowed better. 2. Spanish Harlem - Aretha is a fantastic performer, but this is Ben E King's song, and I don't care at all for Aretha's interpretation. 1. Go Away Little Girl - ---and Donny was about 12 when he recorded the song? How old was the "little girl"? Three? The song was done MUCH more effectively by Steve Lawrence a decade earlier. Hey H2! LOL about 'Maggie May'!  I agree, it is a great classic from Rod. 'Reason to Believe' has been a fairly recent discovery for me, but it's nicely done also. I always wondered about the West Virginia reference in 'Country Roads', but that makes sense. That song has always been very popular here, and I remember singing it when I was little! I've never liked Aretha's version of 'Spanish Harlem' either. Like 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', it seems wrong for her vocal style somehow. |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 13, 2003 17:53:42 GMT -5
Pretty good one! 10. Good, but tired of both. 9. Great, classic tune! Bought variety compilation solely for this song. 8. Seems out of place with the other songs here, but I love it. 7. Oh man, another winner! Gotta play this at parties! 6. One of my VERY fave Bee Gees songs. So sad sounding. 5. Still a Macca classic. Love the middle part. 4. The "I know" part is kindof annoying. 3. Decent tune, gets lots of oldies play. 2. Don't know her version. 1. EH. I agree - 'I Just Want to Celebrate' is a great rockin' tune, perfect for a party! I really like their sound. 'How Can You Mend a Broken Heart' is absolutely wonderful. I'm really getting into their older material more and more these days. I've always loved 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' - classic Paul! I've read that Ram wasn't critically well received, but what I've heard of it has been outstanding! |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 13, 2003 18:02:05 GMT -5
10. Like it. One of my favorites by Rod. 9. Don't know it. 8. I never really cared much for John Denver, and this song reminds me too much of home. Blech. 7. Can't recall this tune. 6. Not one of my faves by them, but good nonetheless. 5. Don't know it. 4. Love the lyrics of this one. 3. Not familiar with it, I don't believe. 2. I don't care for this one at all. 1. Oh, good old Donny. I don't remember ever hearing this one. 'Ain't No Sunshine' has such a melancholy feel, but it's wonderful. The lyrics really capture the mood of the song. 'Spanish Harlem' is one of the few Aretha songs that I out-and-out dislike. It just doesn't work well for her at all, I agree. 'Go Away Little Girl' doesn't seem to get much airplay these days, considering it was a number one song - in fact, I don't think I've ever heard it on the oldies stations here. |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 13, 2003 18:13:15 GMT -5
Another great chart from '71 10.Remember hearing this often , it was one of the first songs of Rod's that I heard. 9.Oh Yeah! I've always loves it . I own both the full and edited versions. 8.Good Stuff - RIP John 7.Love the guitar on the intro! great funky party music! 6.This was written just after the Bee Gees had gotten back together . A great tune with an excellent melody . We had the 45 in the house. 5. I loved singing along with this when i was little - I still do - I sound really good too ;D . We had the Ram album on both vinyl and 8 -track back in the 70's. 4.Don't remember this at the time . I first heard this probably around the late 80's ? Excellent tune I have it on CD. 3.Another fine 70's r and b tune - also covered by Rare Earth - they do a fine job. 2.I know of it but I'm more familiar with Ben E King's version. 1.Yes I remember hearing this often at the time - - it's ok to listen to every once in a while I think 'Maggie May' was one of the first songs I heard of Rod's also! I don't remember hearing 'Reason to Believe' at all when I was younger, though. I remember singing along with 'Uncle Albert' too (and still do! ) - I especially love the "Hands across the water" part! How does the Ram album compare to some of his other albums? It's one of the few of his I don't own, and as I mentioned to Sat, I've heard negative things about it, but the two or three songs I've heard have been really good. I've never heard Rare Earth's version of 'Smiling Faces Sometimes', but I imagine it would be great! |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 13, 2003 18:21:12 GMT -5
10: Like 'em both. I used to drive my mom nuts by saying, "Maggie May, then again, she may not." 9: OH YEAH! Never get tired of this one. Semi-related note: There used to be an infielder for the Oakland A's named Olmedo Saenz(pronounced "signs"), which always reminded me of this song. 8. Good Denver tune. 7. Like this one. 6. Sweet if sad song from the Brothers Gibb. 5. Fun sing-along tune. 4. Decent, if repetitive.(Okay, okay, you know already!) 3. Smooth soul. 2. Prefer Ben E. King. 1. Well... Like H2 said, with Donny being 12-13, just how young was "Little Girl" anyway? You could say the same thing about "Sweet and Innocent" too... LOL about 'Maggie May'! You and H2 are right about 'Go Away Little Girl' - the lyrics do seem a little strange, sung by someone that young. And you're right, that's also true of 'Sweet and Innocent'! 'Go Away Little Girl' was a big favorite of mine when I was a kid, though - I remember buying the reissue 45 when I was about 9 and bringing it to school to show everyone! |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 13, 2003 18:28:06 GMT -5
Hi Dawn - Except for #1, this is a pretty good chart. 10. Maggie Mae/Reason to Believe - Like both. Classics 9. Signs - Almost a one hit wonder. This is a great song 8. Take Me Home, Country Roads - My favorite song from John Denver. 7. I Just Want to Celebrate - Another classic. 6. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - One last hit before they went disco. 5. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Another classic from Wings 4. Ain't No Sunshine - Good song 3. Smiling Faces Sometimes - Great one hit wonder song. 2. Spanish Harlem - Agree with H2, this is Ben E. King's song. 1. Go Away Little Girl - Should have been called Stay Away Young Osmond. Hi Woody! John did a wonderful job with 'Take Me Home, Country Roads', I agree. He was never better than when he was singing about mountains and the outdoors, the things he loved. I'm surprised Undisputed Truth didn't have any hits beyond 'Smiling Faces Sometimes'. It's excellent, and stands among the finest R&B songs from that year, IMO. |
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Post by Dawn on Sept 13, 2003 18:31:43 GMT -5
Pretty good today. 10) These songs were so played out around here. 9) Good song - was tired of it but coming back now. 8) Eh. 7) Not too bad. 6) Great song. 5) Another great song. 4) WOOHOO - love Bill Withers - fabulous song. 3) Not too bad. 2) Not familiar 1) No thanks. I remember there was a point when both of the Rod Stewart songs got quite a bit of airplay here also, although I don't hear them nearly as often now, for some reason. I'm with you about Bill Withers - he has a wonderful voice and style, and this is my favorite of his. |
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Like H2 said, with Donny being 12-13, just how young was "Little Girl" anyway? You could say the same thing about "Sweet and Innocent" too...
I agree, it is a great classic from Rod. 'Reason to Believe' has been a fairly recent discovery for me, but it's nicely done also.