We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
Top 40 radio in 1972 gave you the varied and sometimes clashing contrasts of popular music. Hip and Unhip alike were found on the charts and heard by millions on their transistor radios (kids ask your parents or grandparents). Here is a sampling of the radio hits of 1972…..
Drowning In The Sea Of Love-Joe Simon…..A soul classic written by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff (who also penned hits for the Spinners and O’Jays in Philly). It went to #11 on the pop charts and # 3 on the soul charts
Back Off Boogaloo-Ringo Starr… a non-album single relased in March of 72. Produced and co-written by George Harrison who also plays guitar on the track. he joined by Gary Wright on piano, Klaus Voorman on bass, Madeline Bell and others on background vocals and, of course, Ringo on drums and percussion.
Recording took place shortly after the Bangla Desh concert in August of 71. It went to #2 in England and #9 in the US. Ringo made a promotional film of the song and also re-recored it for his “Stop and Smell The Roses” Lp in 1981.
Here’s the video…
and the 1981 version…complete with the “It Don’t Come Easy inspired intro…
Baby, Don’t Get Hooked On Me-Mac Davis…a #1 smash for the laid back country artist who also did some acting in the 1970’s. Davis, reportedly wrote it when his record company demanded a song with a “hook”…
He also sang the song to Miss Piggy on the Muppet Show…
California Man-The Move…it was the last official single for the British group that featured Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne who were also part of the newly formed Electric Light Orchestra. It was supposed to be a tribute to the music of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. It barely cracked the Top 100 in America as DJ’s like the B-side ‘Do Yah” better. It did reach #7 in England.
Cheap Trick did a great cover on “Heaven Tonight”…
Ben-Michael Jackson….the only #1 song about a rat…literally. The song was also the title of a movie which was a spin-off of the killer rat movie “Willard”. It won a Golden Globe for best song and was nominated for an Academy Award, losing to this one…
Ben was originally written for Donny Osmond but he was on tour at the time so the writers, Don Black and Walter Scharf offered it to Jackson who took it to #1. It was his first solo #1 and he became the 3rd youngest artist to hit #1 after Little Stevie Wonder with Fingertips and Osmond with Go Away Little Girl.
Betcha By Golly Wow-Stylistics…Written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, the tune was orignally titled “Keep Growing Strong” when it was recorded and released by Connie Stevens in 1970…
The Stylistics are credited with the 1972 hit version but only Russell Thompkins Jr who sang lead appeared on the record. The other voices are studio singers including Bell, Bunny Sigler and Kenny Gamble….Another blast of Philly soul that went to #3 on the pop charts and #2 on the soul charts
Prince also covered this including this weird ass video….
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