Casey Kasem's American Top 40 - The 70s

September 24, 1977:
40. Alan Parsons Project - I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You (NEW!)
39. Eric Carmen - She Did It (NEW!)
38. Crystal Gayle - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue (NEW!)
Extra: Spinners - The Rubberband Man
37. Little River Band - Help Is on Its Way (NEW!)
36. London Symphony Orchestra - Star Wars (↓26)*
35. Stevie Wonder - Another Star
34. Dorothy Moore - I Believe You
33. Leif Garrett - Surfin' USA
32. Firefall - Just Remember I Love You
31. Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch Fever
30. Leo Sayer - How Much Love
29. Kenny Rogers - Daytime Friends
28. Ronnie McDowell - The King is Gone
27. George Benson - The Greatest Love of All
26. Paul Nicholas - Heaven on the 7th Floor
25. Sanford-Townsend Band - Smoke from a Distant Fire
24. Steve Miller Band - Jungle Love
23. Peter Frampton - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)
22. Ronnie Milsap - It Was Almost Like a Song
21. Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life (↑14)*
20. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
19. Commodores - Brick House
18. Elvis Presley - Way Down
17. B.J. Thomas - Don't Worry Baby
Extra: Captain & Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together
16. Donna Summer - I Feel Love
15. Heatwave - Boogie Nights
14. Johnny Rivers - Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')
13. Stephen Bishop - On and On
12. Carly Simon - Nobody Does It Better
11. James Taylor - Handy Man
10. Foreigner - Cold as Ice
9. Shaun Cassidy - That's Rock N Roll
8. Meco - Star Wars Theme
7. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
6. Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything
5. Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23
4. KC & the Sunshine Band - Keep It Comin' Love
3. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop
2. Floaters - Float On
1. Emotions - Best of My Love
 
24 Good:
38. Crystal Gayle - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue (NEW!)
32. Firefall - Just Remember I Love You
26. Paul Nicholas - Heaven on the 7th Floor
25. Sanford-Townsend Band - Smoke from a Distant Fire
22. Ronnie Milsap - It Was Almost Like a Song
21. Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life (↑14)*
20. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
19. Commodores - Brick House
16. Donna Summer - I Feel Love
15. Heatwave - Boogie Nights
14. Johnny Rivers - Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')
13. Stephen Bishop - On and On
12. Carly Simon - Nobody Does It Better
11. James Taylor - Handy Man
10. Foreigner - Cold as Ice
9. Shaun Cassidy - That's Rock N Roll
8. Meco - Star Wars Theme
7. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
6. Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything
5. Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23
4. KC & the Sunshine Band - Keep It Comin' Love
3. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop
2. Floaters - Float On
1. Emotions - Best of My Love
 
15 good/ok from 1977 (excluding extras):

38. Crystal Gayle - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue (NEW!)
36. London Symphony Orchestra - Star Wars (↓26)*
32. Firefall - Just Remember I Love You
24. Steve Miller Band - Jungle Love
20. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
19. Commodores - Brick House
16. Donna Summer - I Feel Love
14. Johnny Rivers - Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')
12. Carly Simon - Nobody Does It Better
10. Foreigner - Cold as Ice
8. Meco - Star Wars Theme
7. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
6. Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything
4. KC & the Sunshine Band - Keep It Comin' Love
3. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop

1 shoot the radio channel changers from 1977:
21. Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life (↑14)*
 
Great/good/ok 9

*****
25. Sanford-Townsend Band - Smoke from a Distant Fire
24. Steve Miller Band - Jungle Love
19. Commodores - Brick House
3. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop

****
31. Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch Fever
10. Foreigner - Cold as Ice

***
13. Stephen Bishop - On and On
12. Carly Simon - Nobody Does It Better
8. Meco - Star Wars Theme

**
38. Crystal Gayle - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue (NEW!)
32. Firefall - Just Remember I Love You
20. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
16. Donna Summer - I Feel Love I like Blue Man Group's live version though
14. Johnny Rivers - Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')
11. James Taylor - Handy Man
6. Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything
1. Emotions - Best of My Love

*
21. Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life (?14)*

? 22
 
Seven(ish)

31. Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch Fever - Sooo tired of Ted, but it was a powerhouse tune from my youth.
24. Steve Miller Band - Jungle Love
20. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
19. Commodores - Brick House
10. Foreigner - Cold as Ice
7. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
3. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop
 
Cat Scratch Fever, written and recorded by Ted Nugent, was a #30 hit in October 1977. A version by Pantera was included on the soundtrack album of Detroit Rock City, a 1999 movie about four teenagers who scam their way into a Kiss concert. The Pantera song also appears on the 2020 compilation CD In The Air Tonight: Rock Covers. Also on that CD: Nickelback's cover of Queen's We Will Rock You. Yikes!

 
Clearly, by this point, the music industry had left pop behind.

13 for 1977:

40. Alan Parsons Project - I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You (NEW!)
31. Ted Nugent - Cat Scratch Fever
24. Steve Miller Band - Jungle Love
23. Peter Frampton - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)
19. Commodores - Brick House
16. Donna Summer - I Feel Love
13. Stephen Bishop - On and On
12. Carly Simon - Nobody Does It Better
11. James Taylor - Handy Man
10. Foreigner - Cold as Ice
7. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
4. KC & the Sunshine Band - Keep It Comin' Love
3. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop
 
July 30, 1977:
40. Floaters - Float On (NEW!)
39. KISS - Christine Sixteen (NEW!)
38. Slave - Slide
37. Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23 (NEW!)
36. Johnny Rivers - Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin') (NEW!)
35. Elvis Presley - Way Down
34. Cat Stevens - (Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard
33. Dean Friedman - Ariel
Extra: Beach Boys - I Get Around
32. Stephen Bishop - On and On
31. Ram Jam - Black Betty
30. Marvin Gaye - Got to Give It Up (↓10)*
29. Sanford-Townsend Band - Smoke from a Distant Fire
28. Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now
27. Leo Sayer - How Much Love
26. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
25. Supertramp - Give a Little Bit
24. Meri Wilson - Telephone Man
23. England Dan & John Ford Coley - It's Sad to Belong
22. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop (↑9)*
21. Steve Miller Band - Jet Airliner
20. Heart - Barracuda
19. James Taylor - Handy Man
18. Helen Reddy - You're My World
17. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Just a Song Before I Go
16. Hot - Angel in Your Arms (↓10)*
15. Alan O'Day - Undercover Angel
14. ABBA - Knowing Me Knowing You
13. Commodores - Easy
12. Bay City Rollers - You Made Me Believe in Magic
11. Alice Cooper - You and Me
10. Pablo Cruise - Whatcha Gonna Do
9. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
8. Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
7. Peter McCann - Do You Wanna Make Love
6. Emotions - Best of My Love
5. Shaun Cassidy - Da Doo Ron Ron
4. Barbra Streisand - My Heart Belongs to Me
3. Barry Manilow - Looks Like We Made It
2. Peter Frampton - I'm in You
1. Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything
 
29 Good:
40. Floaters - Float On (NEW!)
37. Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23 (NEW!)
36. Johnny Rivers - Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin') (NEW!)
32. Stephen Bishop - On and On
30. Marvin Gaye - Got to Give It Up (↓10)*
29. Sanford-Townsend Band - Smoke from a Distant Fire
28. Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now
26. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
22. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop (↑9)*
21. Steve Miller Band - Jet Airliner
20. Heart - Barracuda
19. James Taylor - Handy Man
18. Helen Reddy - You're My World
17. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Just a Song Before I Go
16. Hot - Angel in Your Arms (↓10)*
15. Alan O'Day - Undercover Angel
13. Commodores - Easy
12. Bay City Rollers - You Made Me Believe in Magic
11. Alice Cooper - You and Me
10. Pablo Cruise - Whatcha Gonna Do
9. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
8. Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
7. Peter McCann - Do You Wanna Make Love
6. Emotions - Best of My Love
5. Shaun Cassidy - Da Doo Ron Ron
4. Barbra Streisand - My Heart Belongs to Me
3. Barry Manilow - Looks Like We Made It
2. Peter Frampton - I'm in You
1. Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything
 
20 good/ok from 1977 (excluding extras):
(this seems very familiar. A 1977 countdown was done recently)

31. Ram Jam - Black Betty
28. Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now
26. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
25. Supertramp - Give a Little Bit
22. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop (↑9)*
21. Steve Miller Band - Jet Airliner
20. Heart - Barracuda
19. James Taylor - Handy Man
17. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Just a Song Before I Go
15. Alan O'Day - Undercover Angel
14. ABBA - Knowing Me Knowing You
13. Commodores - Easy
12. Bay City Rollers - You Made Me Believe in Magic
10. Pablo Cruise - Whatcha Gonna Do
9. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
8. Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
6. Emotions - Best of My Love
5. Shaun Cassidy - Da Doo Ron Ron
3. Barry Manilow - Looks Like We Made It
1. Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything
 
Great/good/ok 12

*****
29. Sanford-Townsend Band - Smoke from a Distant Fire
22. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop (?9)*
21. Steve Miller Band - Jet Airliner

****
32. Stephen Bishop - On and On
24. Meri Wilson - Telephone Man
15. Alan O'Day - Undercover Angel

***
34. Cat Stevens - (Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard
31. Ram Jam - Black Betty
28. Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now
13. Commodores - Easy
11. Alice Cooper - You and Me
8. Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville

**
39. KISS - Christine Sixteen (NEW!)
36. Johnny Rivers - Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin') (NEW!)
25. Supertramp - Give a Little Bit
23. England Dan & John Ford Coley - It's Sad to Belong
19. James Taylor - Handy Man
9. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher
6. Emotions - Best of My Love
3. Barry Manilow - Looks Like We Made It

*
20. Heart - Barracuda
14. ABBA - Knowing Me Knowing You
1. Andy Gibb - I Just Want to Be Your Everything

? 17
 
Really weak countdown for 1977 (pop is going down the tubes)

Good (4):
25. Supertramp - Give a Little Bit
22. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop (↑9)*
21. Steve Miller Band - Jet Airliner
20. Heart - Barracuda

Meh (11):
31. Ram Jam - Black Betty
28. Bill Conti - Gonna Fly Now
26. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
19. James Taylor - Handy Man
17. Crosby, Stills & Nash - Just a Song Before I Go
15. Alan O'Day - Undercover Angel
11. Alice Cooper - You and Me
10. Pablo Cruise - Whatcha Gonna Do
8. Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
7. Peter McCann - Do You Wanna Make Love
2. Peter Frampton - I'm in You
 
^ I would have guessed Sanford and Stephen woulda shown up on your list
You know how there's all these songs that I think are Neil Diamond, but they're not? Well I thought that Sanford Townsend song was Van Morrison. I didn't recognize the band name.

And On and On is one of those appropriately titled songs, kind of gets to me. But in hindsight, I'd give both songs a "meh".
 
About 12.

31. Ram Jam - Black Betty
30. Marvin Gaye - Got to Give It Up (↓10)*
29. Sanford-Townsend Band - Smoke from a Distant Fire
26. Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line
25. Supertramp - Give a Little Bit
22. Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop (↑9)*
21. Steve Miller Band - Jet Airliner
20. Heart - Barracuda
13. Commodores - Easy
9. Rita Coolidge - (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher - Thanks Ghostbusters!
8. Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
5. Shaun Cassidy - Da Doo Ron Ron - Nostalgia. Thank you Stripes!
 
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