Casey Kasem's American Top 40 - The 70s

I learned that saying in school: "I before E except after C." At my leisure, I mentioned this rule to my feisty, foreign-born neighbor, who is a financier and an efficiency expert. He figuratively hit the ceiling. In a thinly-veiled rant, he said the rule is the height of stupidity and carries no weight and we should rein in the human beings who came up with this counterfeit rule. He called them "atheistic schlockmeisters" and said the rule should be forfeited. Neither of us disagreed.
 
September 8, 1973:
40. Don Covay - I Was Checkin' Out, She Was Checkin' In (↓11)*
39. Temptations - Hey Girl (I Like Your Style) (NEW!)
38. Carole King - Believe in Humanity
37. Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride (NEW!)
36. Barry White - I've Got So Much to Give
35. Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man (NEW!)
34. Pointer Sisters - Yes We Can Can (NEW!)
33. Lobo - How Can I Tell Her
32. Tyrone Davis - There It Is
31. Chi-Lites - Stoned Out of My Mind
30. Spinners - Ghetto Child (NEW!)
29. Bobby Womack - Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out
28. Charlie Daniels - Uneasy Rider
27. Donny Osmond - Young Love
26. Kris Kristofferson - Why Me
25. Bobby Pickett & the Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash
24. Joe Simon - Theme from Cleopatra Jones
23. Aretha Franklin - Angel
22. Cher - Half-Breed
21. Jim Croce - Bad Bad Leroy Brown
20. B.W. Stevenson - My Maria
19. Johnnie Taylor - I Believe in You (You Believe in Me)
18. Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (↑12)*
17. Isley Brothers - That Lady
16. Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
15. Four Tops - Are You Man Enough
14. Chicago - Feelin' Stronger Every Day
13. Gilbert O'Sullivan - Get Down
12. Sly & the Family Stone - If You Want Me to Stay
11. Maureen McGovern - The Morning After
10. Al Green - Here I Am (Come and Take Me)
9. War - Gypsy Man
8. Grand Funk - We're an American Band
7. Wings - Live and Let Die
6. Paul Simon - Loves Me Like a Rock
5. Diana Ross - Touch Me in the Morning
4. Dawn ft. Tony Orlando - Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose
3. Helen Reddy - Delta Dawn
2. Stories - Brother Louie
1. Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
 
22 Good:
35. Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man (NEW!)
34. Pointer Sisters - Yes We Can Can (NEW!)
26. Kris Kristofferson - Why Me
25. Bobby Pickett & the Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash
22. Cher - Half-Breed
21. Jim Croce - Bad Bad Leroy Brown
20. B.W. Stevenson - My Maria
18. Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (↑12)*
17. Isley Brothers - That Lady
14. Chicago - Feelin' Stronger Every Day
13. Gilbert O'Sullivan - Get Down
12. Sly & the Family Stone - If You Want Me to Stay
11. Maureen McGovern - The Morning After
10. Al Green - Here I Am (Come and Take Me)
8. Grand Funk - We're an American Band
7. Wings - Live and Let Die
6. Paul Simon - Loves Me Like a Rock
5. Diana Ross - Touch Me in the Morning
4. Dawn ft. Tony Orlando - Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose
3. Helen Reddy - Delta Dawn
2. Stories - Brother Louie
1. Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
 
11 good/ok for 1973:

37. Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride (NEW!)
35. Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man (NEW!)
25. Bobby Pickett & the Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash
22. Cher - Half-Breed
21. Jim Croce - Bad Bad Leroy Brown
16. Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
11. Maureen McGovern - The Morning After
8. Grand Funk - We're an American Band
7. Wings - Live and Let Die
6. Paul Simon - Loves Me Like a Rock
3. Helen Reddy - Delta Dawn
 
I‘m at

37. Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride (NEW!)
36. Barry White - I've Got So Much to Give


25. Bobby Pickett & the Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash
21. Jim Croce - Bad Bad Leroy Brown
18. Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (↑12)*

16. Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
15. Four Tops - Are You Man Enough
8. Grand Funk - We're an American Band
7. Wings - Live and Let Die
1. Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
 
Let's try this rating system:

***** great
37. Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride
2. Stories - Brother Louie

**** good
21. Jim Croce - Bad Bad Leroy Brown
16. Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
6. Paul Simon - Loves Me Like a Rock

*** ok
25. Bobby Pickett & the Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash
8. Grand Funk - We're an American Band
7. Wings - Live and Let Die

** nah
35. Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man
18. Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground
1. Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On

* bad
[probably plenty that i don't recognize by name]

? 29
 
August 12th, 1972:

40 DE CHICAGO - SATURDAY IN THE PARK
39 DE BARBRA STREISAND - SWEET INSPIRATION/WHERE YOU LEAD
38 19 EAGLES - TAKE IT EASY
37 DE O’JAYS - BACK STABBERS
36 27 BILLY PRESTON - OUTA-SPACE
35 18 ELTON JOHN - ROCKET MAN
34 17 PROCOL HARUM - CONQUISTADOR
33 36 SONNY & CHÉR - WHEN YOU SAY LOVE
32 33 FLASH - SMALL BEGINNINGS
31 40 DANIEL BOONE - BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY
30 31 DETROIT EMERALDS - BABY LET ME TAKE YOU (IN MY ARMS)
29 32 THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY - BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
28 38 THE WHO - JOIN TOGETHER
27 35 MAC DAVIS - BABY DON’T GET HOOKED ON ME
26 39 BREAD - THE GUITAR MAN
25 34 GARY GLITTER - ROCK AND ROLL PART 2
24 25 JOEY HEATHERTON - GONE
23 28 THE ROLLING STONES - HAPPY
22 29 THE JACKSON 5 - LOOKIN’ THROUGH THE WINDOWS
21 23 BOBBY VINTON - SEALED WITH A KISS
20 24 SAILCAT - MOTORCYCLE MAMA
19 13 GODSPELL - DAY BY DAY
18 20 ARGENT - HOLD YOUR HEAD UP
17 21 JIM CROCE - YOU DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM
16 10 DEREK AND THE DOMINOS - LAYLA
15 11 BILL WITHERS - LEAN ON ME
14 14 THE OSMONDS - HOLD HER TIGHT
13 16 DONNA FARGO - THE HAPPIEST GIRL IN THE WHO U.S.A.
12 22 CARPENTERS - GOODBYE TO LOVE
11 12 NILSSON - COCONUT
10 07 ALICE COOPER - SCHOOL’S OUT
09 08 MOUTH & MAC NEAL - HOW DO YOU DO?
08 05 CORNELIUS BROTHERS & SISTER ROSE - TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW
07 15 AL GREEN - I’M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU
06 09 THE HOLLIES - LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS)
05 06 ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY - WHERE IS THE LOVE
04 04 WAYNE NEWTON - DADDY DON’T YOU WALK SO FAST
03 03 LUTHER INGRAM - (IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG) I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT
02 02 LOOKING GLASS - BRANDY (You’re A Fine Girl)
01 01 GILBERT O’SULLIVAN - ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)
 
***** great
15 11 BILL WITHERS - LEAN ON ME

**** good
35 18 ELTON JOHN - ROCKET MAN

*** okay
40 DE CHICAGO - SATURDAY IN THE PARK
25 34 GARY GLITTER - ROCK AND ROLL PART 2
16 10 DEREK AND THE DOMINOS - LAYLA
11 12 NILSSON - COCONUT
10 07 ALICE COOPER - SCHOOL’S OUT
06 09 THE HOLLIES - LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS)
01 01 GILBERT O’SULLIVAN - ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)

** nah
38 19 EAGLES - TAKE IT EASY
18 20 ARGENT - HOLD YOUR HEAD UP

* bad
05 06 ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY - WHERE IS THE LOVE

? 12
 
12 good/ok from 1972:

38 19 EAGLES - TAKE IT EASY
35 18 ELTON JOHN - ROCKET MAN
34 17 PROCOL HARUM - CONQUISTADOR
25 34 GARY GLITTER - ROCK AND ROLL PART 2
17 21 JIM CROCE - YOU DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM
16 10 DEREK AND THE DOMINOS - LAYLA
15 11 BILL WITHERS - LEAN ON ME
11 12 NILSSON - COCONUT
10 07 ALICE COOPER - SCHOOL’S OUT
06 09 THE HOLLIES - LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS)
02 02 LOOKING GLASS - BRANDY (You’re A Fine Girl)
01 01 GILBERT O’SULLIVAN - ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)
 
14 for 1973
37. Edgar Winter Group - Free Ride (NEW!)
35. Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man
25. Bobby Pickett & the Crypt Kickers - Monster Mash
22. Cher - Half-Breed
21. Jim Croce - Bad Bad Leroy Brown
18. Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (↑12)*
16. Elton John - Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
14. Chicago - Feelin' Stronger Every Day
11. Maureen McGovern - The Morning After
8. Grand Funk - We're an American Band
7. Wings - Live and Let Die
6. Paul Simon - Loves Me Like a Rock
2. Stories - Brother Louie
1. Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
 
15 for 1972:

40 DE CHICAGO - SATURDAY IN THE PARK
36 27 BILLY PRESTON - OUTA-SPACE
35 18 ELTON JOHN - ROCKET MAN
34 17 PROCOL HARUM - CONQUISTADOR
28 38 THE WHO - JOIN TOGETHER
25 34 GARY GLITTER - ROCK AND ROLL PART 2
23 28 THE ROLLING STONES - HAPPY
19 13 GODSPELL - DAY BY DAY
18 20 ARGENT - HOLD YOUR HEAD UP
17 21 JIM CROCE - YOU DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM
16 10 DEREK AND THE DOMINOS - LAYLA
15 11 BILL WITHERS - LEAN ON ME
10 07 ALICE COOPER - SCHOOL’S OUT
09 08 MOUTH & MAC NEAL - HOW DO YOU DO?
06 09 THE HOLLIES - LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS)
02 02 LOOKING GLASS - BRANDY (You’re A Fine Girl)
 
Ten

40 DE CHICAGO - SATURDAY IN THE PARK
35 18 ELTON JOHN - ROCKET MAN
25 34 GARY GLITTER - ROCK AND ROLL PART 2
18 20 ARGENT - HOLD YOUR HEAD UP
17 21 JIM CROCE - YOU DON’T MESS AROUND WITH JIM
16 10 DEREK AND THE DOMINOS - LAYLA
15 11 BILL WITHERS - LEAN ON ME
10 07 ALICE COOPER - SCHOOL’S OUT
06 09 THE HOLLIES - LONG COOL WOMAN (IN A BLACK DRESS)
02 02 LOOKING GLASS - BRANDY (You’re A Fine Girl)
 
November 6, 1976:
40. Tyrone Davis - Give It Up (Turn It Loose)
39. Little River Band - It's a Long Way There (NEW!)
38. Yvonne Elliman - Love Me (NEW!)
37. John Valenti - Anything You Want
36. L.T.D. - Love Ballad (NEW!)
35. Burton Cummings - Stand Tall (NEW!)
34. Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Dancing (NEW!)
33. Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
32. Salsoul Orchestra - Nice N Naasty
31. Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)
30. Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids - Did You Boogie (With Your Baby)
29. Barry Manilow - This One's for You
28. Alice Cooper - I Never Cry
27. Norman Connors ft. Michael Henderson - You Are My Starship
26. Ringo Starr - A Dose of Rock N Roll
25. Linda Ronstadt - That'll Be the Day (↓14)*
24. England Dan & John Ford Coley - Nights Are Forever Without You
23. KC & the Sunshine Band - (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty
22. Bay City Rollers - I Only Want to Be with You
21. Ritchie Family - The Best Disco in Town
20. Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
19. Walter Murphy - A Fifth of Beethoven (↓14)*
Extra: Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine
18. Firefall - You Are the Woman
17. Boston - More Than a Feeling
16. ABBA - Fernando
15. Spinners - The Rubberband Man
14. Barry De Vorzon & Perry Botkin Jr. - Nadia's Theme
13. KISS - Beth
12. Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
11. Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like We Do
10. Commodores - Just to Be Close to You
9. Heart - Magic Man
8. Rod Stewart - Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
7. Daryl Hall & John Oates - She's Gone
6. Captain & Tennille - Muskrat Love
5. Bee Gees - Love So Right
4. Chicago - If You Leave Me Now
3. Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
2. Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots - Disco Duck
1. Steve Miller Band - Rock'n Me
 
26 Good:
38. Yvonne Elliman - Love Me (NEW!)
35. Burton Cummings - Stand Tall (NEW!)
34. Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Dancing (NEW!)
33. Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
31. Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)
28. Alice Cooper - I Never Cry
25. Linda Ronstadt - That'll Be the Day (↓14)*
24. England Dan & John Ford Coley - Nights Are Forever Without You
23. KC & the Sunshine Band - (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty
20. Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
19. Walter Murphy - A Fifth of Beethoven (↓14)*
18. Firefall - You Are the Woman
17. Boston - More Than a Feeling
15. Spinners - The Rubberband Man
14. Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkin Jr. - Nadia's Theme
12. Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
10. Commodores - Just to Be Close to You
9. Heart - Magic Man
8. Rod Stewart - Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
7. Daryl Hall & John Oates - She's Gone
6. Captain & Tennille - Muskrat Love
5. Bee Gees - Love So Right
4. Chicago - If You Leave Me Now
3. Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
2. Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots - Disco Duck
1. Steve Miller Band - Rock'n Me
 
About a dozen.

33. Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
20. Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
17. Boston - More Than a Feeling
15. Spinners - The Rubberband Man
13. KISS - Beth
12. Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
11. Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like We Do
9. Heart - Magic Man
7. Daryl Hall & John Oates - She's Gone
3. Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Nostalgia
2. Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots - Disco Duck - Nostalgia
1. Steve Miller Band - Rock'n Me
 
17 good/ok from 1976:

35. Burton Cummings - Stand Tall (NEW!)
34. Leo Sayer - You Make Me Feel Like Dancing (NEW!)
33. Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
25. Linda Ronstadt - That'll Be the Day (↓14)*
20. Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
19. Walter Murphy - A Fifth of Beethoven (↓14)*
17. Boston - More Than a Feeling
16. ABBA - Fernando
15. Spinners - The Rubberband Man
13. KISS - Beth
12. Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
9. Heart - Magic Man
8. Rod Stewart - Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)
6. Captain & Tennille - Muskrat Love
3. Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
2. Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots - Disco Duck
1. Steve Miller Band - Rock'n Me
 
Rick Dees followed the number-one hit Disco Duck with Dis-Gorilla, which was written by Bobby Manuel, Willie Hall and Shelly Fisher and reached #56 on the Hot 100 in February 1977. Manuel, who produced – and played lead guitar on – the Disco Duck album, wrote or co-wrote more than 90 songs for Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, William Bell, the Bar-Kays, the Emotions, the Mad Lads, the Staple Singers and other artists. Hall, who played drums on the Disco Duck album, was a member of the Bar-Kays from 1968 to 1971 and then joined Isaac Hayes' band. Hall wrote or co-wrote several songs for Isaac Hayes, Albert King, Shirley Brown, Earl Scruggs, the Bar-Kays, the Mar-Keys, the Masqueraders and others.

Fisher never wrote or co-wrote any song besides Dis-Gorilla. I wonder what she contributed to it.

 
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