We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…and today focus on some hit singles from 1972….
Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) -Looking Glass
Before it became a running gag in the Guardians of The Galaxy movie. This sparkling pop tune went to #1 for the band Looking Glass. A test pressing was put on the radio in Washington DC and the phone reaction from listeners was immediate. The song also led to a rise in popularity for the name Brandy in the years to follow. I bought this 45 out of the vending machine at Bob’s Musical Isle and played it to death.
Clean-Up Woman-Betty Wright
Although it was released in November of 1971 it reached it’s highest chart position at #6 in 1972. A funky little number that features some distinctive guitar from Willie Hale.
Sylvia’s Mother-Dr Hook & Medicine Show
The band’s first hit from their debut LP written by Shel Silverstein (the band would use his stuff again). it’s based on a true relationship story between Silverstein and a woman named Sylvia. The song is a phone call between a man and the mother of the woman he loves who won’t put her on the phone. Younger folks will probably not understand the operator cutting in and asking for more money. this tune went to #5 in the US and #2 in the UK
Day By Day-Godspell
From the Broadway show that later became a movie in a time when religious themed pop music was very popular. Sung by Robin Lamont. It got to #13 on the charts. I never really was a 70’s Jesus person but we did take a school trip to Chicago to see this show. I think it was a Wausau East band trip.
Give Ireland Back To The Irish-Paul McCartney & Wings
Paul gets political after hanging out with John in New York and hearing about the events of Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland when British troops killed 13 civil rights protesters. This was before the IRA started blowing up civilians and became much less sympathetic. It was banned by the BBC and didnt get played much on American radio but did get to #16 in England and # 21 in America. Paul would rarely enter into political music again….
Burning Love-Elvis Presley
The last Top 10 hit for the King was this smoking slice written by Dennis Linde and originally recorded also in 1972 by country-soul singer Arthur Alexander. It was Elvis’s biggest hit since 1969 and was only kept out of the #1 spot by Chuck Berry’s ‘My Ding-A-Ling”. I bet Chuck had a laugh over that.
He played it at his big concerts “Elvis On Tour” film and “Aloha From Hawaii”.
Some really good musicians on this including James Burton, Emory Gordy Jr, Glen B. Hardin, Ronnie Tutt and the author Dennis Linde, who played the opening guitar part.
The 1972 original….
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