As it turns out, our Vietnamese friends have just rung in The Year of the Cat. Perhaps there are parades and celebrations featuring a dancing queen and fireworks displays to leave you blinded by the light. A real cat is a living thing, not a mythical feline that can fly like an eagle, and there ain’t nothing like the real thing. That is something I have learned well living next door to Alice. I think after the celebrations, I will relax and put my jeans on and just forget about going to the car ...
Jan 28, 2023•2 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 39
I think it’s about time we hop on our dark horse, rid’em cowboy, and pay a visit to our lady Mandy. She is staying at Juniors Farm on the other side of the mountain. She really doesn’t deserve to be stuck there; she should be a free bird, a nightingale, laughing in the rain high above that black water. Let’s hope our rescue attempt isn’t some bungle in the jungle, but if comes to that, then we will just have to pick up the pieces and do some Kung Fu fighting. Don’t worry if you’re no good; just ...
Jan 21, 2023•2 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 38
I think it’s about time we hop on our dark horse, rid’em cowboy, and pay a visit to our lady Mandy. She is staying at Juniors Farm on the other side of the mountain. She really doesn’t deserve to be stuck there; she should be a free bird, a nightingale, laughing in the rain high above that black water. Let’s hope our rescue attempt isn’t some bungle in the jungle, but if comes to that, then we will just have to pick up the pieces and do some Kung Fu fighting. Don’t worry if you’re no good; just ...
Jan 14, 2023•2 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 37
I may not write the songs, but occasionally I do like to sing a song. I am certainly sure of one thing, I love music! That’s why I was willing to spend a Saturday night reviewing the Billboard Top 40 from the week of January 10, 1976. Let’s do it again and rock and roll all night. Link to a listing of the songs in this week’s episode: https://top40weekly.com/1976-all-charts/#US_Top_40_Singles_Week_Ending_10th_January_1976 Data Sources: Billboard Magazine, where the charts came from and on what t...
Jan 07, 2023•2 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Please don’t let me be misunderstood, but isn’t it time to admit that when it comes to reviewing the AT40, we are the champions. I mean the very fact that you’re reading this means here you come again. Now I know what you’re saying, “you can’t turn me off in the middle of turning me on”. Well before you go slip slidin’away to the point of no return, I’m saying baby come back to swing town. I mean, the way I feel tonight, I am confident to review the Billboard Top 40 from the week of January 7, 1...
Dec 31, 2022•2 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Merry Christmas baby! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially since I saw mommy kissing the little Saint Nick as they were rocking around the Christmas tree, or where they doing the Merry Christmas Polka? I forget which song they were dancing to, was it Silver Bells, or Jingle Bell Rock? I know I am really hoping for a white Christmas, so we can all go for a sleigh ride. There really is no place like home for the holidays, that’s why I’ll be home for Christmas. If something preve...
Dec 24, 2022•2 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 34
How was your love life back in 1979? Were you with someone who made you say “do that to me one more time”, or was it more like “no, enough is enough, don’t do me like that”? Maybe you had two bad relationships in a row and it felt like you were experiencing déjà vu’. Tired of all these head games you took the long way home as you planned your escape. With your new found freedom, you hoped to be third time lucky as you went out cruisin' the local dance club on ladies night. This is it, the Billbo...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 39 min•Season 1Ep. 33
How was your love life back in 1979? Were you with someone who made you say “do that to me one more time”, or was it more like “no, enough is enough, don’t do me like that”? Maybe you had two bad relationships in a row and it felt like you were experiencing déjà vu’. Tired of all these head games you took the long way home as you planned your escape. With your new found freedom, you hoped to be third time lucky as you went out cruisin' the local dance club on ladies night. This is it, the Billbo...
Dec 10, 2022•2 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Back in the 70’s, were you a ramblin' man, never going to the same place twice? When you passed through the Nutbush city limits, did you and your companion think we may never pass this way again? Did you just keep on truckin’ along the highway, or sometimes grabbed a ride on the midnight train to Georgia? In some places you probably were not welcome, and if you tried to engage a local they would just say “leave me alone”. In other places, they would play mind games, and even though you told them...
Dec 04, 2022•2 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 31
This week we have a special guest and we review the 1975 Pickwick Records Release "Disko Hits by The Disco Band https://www.discogs.com/release/1051556-Disko-Band-Disko-Hits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 26, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Once it gets to be after midnight, does anybody really know what time it is? Is that the time that you realize that green eyed gypsy was actually a black magic woman? That’s when things got super bad and from the heavens came fire and rain. All you could do was cry the tears of a clown. Alright now, let’s work together and heed the call to listen to the Billboard Top 40 from the week of November 21th, 1970. As the years go by, we have only just begun to explore deeper and deeper. Link to a listi...
Nov 19, 2022•2 hr•Season 1Ep. 29
Back in 1978 was a typical day like another a Sunday in Salem where it was fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.? Was that just too much heaven for a blue collar man? When Monday came along, in a strange way, perhaps you felt alive, and were ready to take a chance again. With that double vision now cleared, you left that bottle on the shelf and proceeded straight on back to work. After a time, all that bad blood would recede, and even the French who had labeled you “Le Freak” had a change of heart. This w...
Nov 12, 2022•2 hr•Season 1Ep. 28
Back in the 70’s there were just too many people with hurt feelings and bad blood. Relationships fell into two categories, diamonds and rust. Some sadly learned that it only takes a minute for their partner to fly robin fly and head sky high. If you were one of the lucky ones who believed in miracles, you knew who loves you, and sooner or later our day would come. Well we couldn’t think of something better to do so let’s do it again and have a listen to the Billboard Top 40 from the week of Nove...
Nov 05, 2022•2 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Back in October of 1977 we had to accept the fact that the king is gone. Don’t it make my brown eyes blue just thinking about it? I go crazy remembering, it was as cold as ice. Then baby what a big surprise, she did it. She said hang on; help is on its way. At daybreak she got you down from the 7th floor of that brick house by enticing you to come sail away for a change in latitudes down in blue bayou. Well, this week we look back at the Billboard Top 40 from the week of October 29rd, 1977. Perh...
Oct 29, 2022•1 hr 57 min•Season 1Ep. 26
This week we go all the way and listen to the music from the Billboard Top 40 from the week ending October 14, 1972. With some songs we walk the tight rope with our opinions, and with others we fear bringing thunder and lightning. We can see clearly now that musical taste is not always black and white. Link to a listing of the songs in this week’s episode: https://top40weekly.com/1972-all-charts/#US_Top_40_Singles_Week_Ending_14th_October_1972 Data Sources: Billboard Magazine, where the charts c...
Oct 23, 2022•1 hr 56 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Which musical camp did you belong to in the 70’s? Did you say keep on rocking me, did you shake your booty at the best disco in town, did you play that funky music, or did you say get the funk out my face and give me a fifth of Beethoven? This week we try and getaway from all that controversy and get the lowdown of the Billboard Top 40 from the week ending October 9, 1976. Don’t fear the devil woman, she’s gone. Now the magic man, he’s still the one. Link to a listing of the songs in this week’s...
Oct 22, 2022•1 hr 55 min•Season 1Ep. 24
This week we go all the way and listen to the music from the Billboard Top 40 from the week ending October 14, 1972. With some songs we walk the tight rope with our opinions, and with others we fear bringing thunder and lightning. We can see clearly now that musical taste is not always black and white. Link to a listing of the songs in this week’s episode: https://top40weekly.com/1972-all-charts/#US_Top_40_Singles_Week_Ending_14th_October_1972 Data Sources: Billboard Magazine, where the charts c...
Oct 08, 2022•2 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Remember when you were lovin’, touchin’ , squeezin’, thinking you were the boss, in the driver’s seat and getting ready for the main event. Then she pushed you away and told you were nothing but a dirty white boy and good girls don’t. You responded by saying, please don’t go, don’t bring me down, and why do you lead me on? Ain’t that a shame. Those were good times, but after the love has gone, you were just left with the sad eyes of a lonesome loser. This week we sail on through the Billboard To...
Oct 01, 2022•1 hr 53 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In the 70’s there were a lot of choices. You could take the rocky mountain way to higher ground, or hitch a free ride on the midnight train to Georgia. You could choose to just keep on truckin’ and be a rambling gypsy man. As you traveled further and further from home, at some point you realized that you had never been this far before. In the distance you saw a woman and thought, who’s that lady? Is it Angie or could it be my Maria? In this episode we get it together and experience the ecstasy t...
Sep 24, 2022•1 hr 54 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In the summertime in the 70’s, you probably went out in the country to escape the war that seemed to have been going on for a long long time. There, a green eyed lady named Lola, or was it Joanne, promised peace will come according to plan. It was good that you took that trip instead of sticking closer to home like you normally would, alone, like a solitary man. All right now, I’ll be there for this episode to listen to the Billboard Top 40 from the week ending September 19th 1970. If some of th...
Sep 17, 2022•2 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 20
At first, maybe you didn’t feel like makin' love, but she was one hell of a woman. She told you things like she never knew love before, and then came you. You were still reluctant, but you took one look at her those skin tight clothes and thought “just do it baby”. You then went off to do your own thing, like a free man in Paris. A few months later, you got a letter from her saying that she really needed to talk to you and would you please come to Boston. When you saw here again and she told you...
Sep 10, 2022•2 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 19
What happens when a magnet and steel come close to each other? Well the two objects bond together. Conversely, when the floor has grease all over, then you’re steppin’ in a slide zone. Back in the day, you probably thought two tickets to paradise was just what you needed, only to find that once you got there, you couldn’t wait to be back in the USA. In this episode we will be reminiscing about the Billboard Top 40 from the week ending September 9th 1978. We’ll keep reminiscing even if people tel...
Sep 03, 2022•2 hr 24 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Supposedly the number 13 is unlucky, but is this the week when we learn the truth at 17? In fact, there were those in the 70’s who pleaded “please mister please”, don’t choose B17 on the jukebox, because that song could cause a ballroom blitz. Everybody knew that it only takes a minute to go from some jive talking to really bad feelings. If things got really out of hand, you would hear people yell warnings like “run Joey run” or plead for assistance by screaming “help me Rhonda”! Those who escap...
Aug 27, 2022•2 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 17
It wasn’t as easy to communicate back in the 70’s as it is now. At best, you could get in touch via the telephone line, but perhaps you had to resort to something more primitive strawberry letter. Perhaps the only thing you could see was the smoke from a distant fire that just seemed to float and float on. You told your love that you just want to be your everything, your handy man, your telephone man, so don’t worry baby. We are just here to take it easy and sway to the music of the Billboard ch...
Aug 21, 2022•1 hr 42 min•Season 1Ep. 16
What you see is what you get is not always the undisputed truth. Smiling faces sometimes turn out to be liars. However, we’ve all become wiser with as time passes like the summer sand. I just want to celebrate that we won’t get fooled again. We are discerning enough to know that she’s not just another woman in hot pants, and we therefore need to treat her like a lady. We know that we should not be tempted by that sweet hitch-hiker, but instead love the one you’re with. If you’re looking for info...
Aug 14, 2022•1 hr 50 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Someone’s knocking at the door. It could be a sophisticated lady, are you going to let her in? Or it could be that the boys are back in town and they are ready to give up the funk and tear the roof off the sucker, are you going to let ‘em in? Of course it’s summer, you should be steppin’ out to soak up some of that sunshine, what an afternoon delight. You should be dancing, shake your booty, if you know what I mean. My love is alive, the moonlight feels right, so don’t go breaking my heart, kiss...
Aug 07, 2022•2 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 14
With the Apollo space program winding down, things had really started moving fast in 1972. We were still quite young and often pleaded with our fathers, “Daddy, don’t you walk so fast; what are you some kind of rocket man?”. Perhaps you had gone a ways and suddenly realized you had forgotten to use the restroom before you left home. Our fathers would just smile and say “It’s too late to turn back now, but I know a place we can go, I’ll take you there”. To you, your mom was a superwoman and yet s...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 47 min•Season 1Ep. 13
With 12 episodes in the till, there ain’t no stopping us now, and you can’t change that! We started out with big dreams of making it, but not in terms of gold, only in terms of good times. As we explored the boogie wonderland, we found songs that made us want to dance the night away. Songs that reached out to the heart, as if they were pleading, I want you to want me. We heard music that made us feel like being in love with a beautiful woman. There were times we wanted to just go up on the roof ...
Jul 23, 2022•2 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 12
As we circle back to 1973, it’s yesterday once more. Chances are you didn’t have a lot of money. Perhaps you were just looking for the right place where peaceful waters run, your own Shambala. Maybe you were looking to re-connect with a missing family member, asking the question “Has anybody seen my brother Louie?” Were you just an uneasy rider on a long train running searching for your perfect diamond girl? You would only express your anguish behind closed doors, clutching your only Kodachrome ...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 59 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode we sing a song of joy to commemorate the very first episode of American Top 40. What was it like for you back then, did it seem everything was beautiful, or was it all just a ball of confusion. Do you remember hitching’ a ride from Ohio to go see your Mississippi Queen, or instead did you take the westbound #9? Well get ready, because in this episode we ask the question, how good was the Billboard chart from the week of July 4, 1970? Link to a listing of the songs in this week’s ...
Jul 09, 2022•1 hr 55 min•Season 1Ep. 10