Mar 10 | This week in 1966

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Ballad of the Green Berets” by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, whose parents were born in Phoenix. He grew up in various places throughout the Southwest — including Arizona — and lived in Tucson during the 1970s. Although this Vietnam… Continue reading

Dec 23 | This week in 1973

#1 at KUPD/Phoenix: “Rock On” by David Essex, a very cool record that still sounds cool today. It appeared on the soundtrack to a film from earlier in the year titled That’ll Be The Day, which also starred Essex as… Continue reading

Dec 16 | This week in 1975

#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… Continue reading

Nov 18 | This week in 1967

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Incense And Peppermints,” the psychedelic classic by the Strawberry Alarm Clock. Skyrocketing from #25 to #4 is next week’s #1, “Daydream Believer” (written by soon-to-be Phoenix favorite John Stewart) and the very cool flip side “Goin’ Down”… Continue reading

Nov 11 | This week in 1974

#1 at KTKT/Tucson: “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas — one of those endearing novelty one-hit wonders. He bumps out another Carl (Carlton), who drops to #5 with “Everlasting Love,” a cover of Robert Knight‘s 1967 hit. Zonaman traveled down… Continue reading

Oct 07 | This week in 1968

#1 at KTKT/Tucson: “Hey Jude” and “Revolution” by the Beatles, the group’s biggest single. This was a tumultuous time in the United States. The mood of the country in 1968 was bleak following the assassinations of Martin Luther King and… Continue reading

Sep 23 | This week in 1971

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Do You Know What I Mean” by Lee Michaels for a second week. Holding at #2 is former #1 “Maggie May,” the first big solo hit by Rod Stewart. Two other bona fide future classics are on… Continue reading

Sep 02 | This week in 1976

#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Baby, I Love Your Way” by Peter Frampton, second hit from the #1 album Frampton Comes Alive. The #2 album is the classic Silk Degrees by Boz Scaggs, with lead-off single “Lowdown” moving up from #14 to… Continue reading

Jun 10 | This week in 1973

#1 at KUPD/Phoenix: “Right Place, Wrong Time” by Dr. John, The Night Tripper. A line from this song gave Emerson, Lake & Palmer the title to their Brain Salad Surgery album later that year. (Another memorable phrase: “refried confusion.”) Dr.… Continue reading

May 13 | This week in 1971

#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Love Her Madly” by the Doors, jumping from #6 last week. In less than two months, lead singer Jim Morrison would die in Paris. It’s a good week for the Beatles, a year after their breakup. John… Continue reading