#1 at KBBC/Phoenix: “Evil Woman” by the Electric Light Orchestra, first single from the #7 album, Face The Music.
Among this week’s songs are several that would have long shelf lives on classic hits or classic rock radio:
- The Ohio Players’ funky “Love Rollercoaster” (“bow wow wow”) climbs to #5;
- Paul Simon’s classic “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover” leaps from #13 to #8 — the third single from the #5 album, Still Crazy After All These Years;
- Fleetwood Mac with Christine McVie’s “Over My Head” hops to #11, the first single from their self-titled album that relaunched the British group with two new American members — Lindsey Buckingham and Phoenix native Stevie Nicks;
- The Who’s innuendo-filled “Squeeze Box,” which was actually inspired by an accordion, moves up to #24.
- The Eagles’ timeless “Take It To The Limit” (listed under New Music).
In contrast, two big hits that time seems to have forgotten are John Denver’s pretty “Fly Away”(#12) (with backing vocals by Olivia Newton-John), and British session musician Pete Wingfield’s do-wop inspired novelty song “Eighteen With A Bullet” (which loses its bullet and sinks from #4 to #13).
The Captain & Tennille, who lived in Prescott from 2008 to 2015, drop to #15 with “The Way I Want To Touch You,” penned by Toni Tennille. The song was actually the couple’s first single, but was a only a regional hit in L.A. Then it was re-released as a follow-up to their #1 tune “Love Will Keep Us Together” (written by Neil Sedaka).
Neil Sedaka as a singer has two hits: “Bad Blood” (#25), the Elton John-assisted former #1, and “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” (#27), a slow re-make of his 1962 chart-topper — both from the #3 album, The Hungry Years. Elton himself falls to #22 with his former #1 “Island Girl.”
The Bee Gees score two pre-Saturday Night Fever hits: “Nights On Broadway” (#14) and its follow-up, “Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)” (listed under New Music).
Another New Music song is David Bowie’s “Golden Years,” the somewhat uncharacteristic preview of the upcoming Station To Station album — perhaps his hardest rocking (and best) LP.
Being the Christmas season, record companies often would release “best of” packages for your holiday shopping. The top two albums are both titled Greatest Hits: Chicago’s is at #1, and at #2 is America.
Joni Mitchell ventured further into jazzy pop with The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, this week’s #10 album. It includes the memorable track, “In France They Kiss On Main Street,” with backing vocals by old pals David Crosby, Graham Nash and James Taylor.