POLL: US Top 40 Singles For The Week Ending April 19, 1975

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed

40 years ago this week this was your top 40, America.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
29 38 AUTOBAHN –•– Kraftwerk (Vertigo)-6 8
34 41 YOUNG AMERICANS –•– David Bowie (RCA)-6 6
16 21 JACKIE BLUE –•– The Ozark Mountain Daredevils (A&M)-11 5
1 1 PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM –•– The Elton John Band (MCA)-7 (2 weeks at #1) 5
3 2 LOVIN’ YOU –•– Minnie Riperton (Epic)-14 5
30 36 AMIE –•– The Pure Prairie League (RCA)-8 4
13 16 L-O-V-E (Love) –•– Al Green (Hi)-8 4
14 17 SHINING STAR –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (Columbia)-10 3
23 29 HOW LONG –•– Ace (Anchor)-7 3
22 26 KILLER QUEEN –•– Queen (Elektra)-11 3
10 14 BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS –•– Freddy Fender (ABC / Dot)-12 2
9 11 EMMA –•– Hot Chocolate (Big Tree)-11 2
18 10 ONCE YOU GET STARTED –•– Rufus Featuring Chaka Kahn (ABC)-10 2
25 5 POETRY MAN –•– Phoebe Snow (Shelter)-16 1
26 33 THANK GOD I’M A COUNTRY BOY –•– John Denver (RCA)-5 1
28 34 ONLY YESTERDAY –•– The Carpenters (A&M)-4 1
31 19 HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN MELLOW –•– Olivia Newton-John (MCA)-13 1
35 52 BAD TIME –•– Grand Funk (Capitol)-3 1
39 51 LOVE WON’T LET ME WAIT –•– Major Harris (Atlantic)-4 1
21 24 IT’S A MIRACLE –•– Barry Manilow (Arista)-8 1
20 25 THE BERTHA BUTT BOOGIE (Part 1) –•– The Jimmy Castor Bunch (Atlantic)-9 1
40 48 SHAKEY GROUND –•– The Temptations (Gordy)-5 1
7 8 CHEVY VAN –•– Sammy Johns (GRC)-12 1
11 7 LADY MARMALADE (Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi) –•– LaBelle (Epic)-16 1
15 20 LONG TALL GLASSES (I Can Dance) –•– Leo Sayer (Warner Brothers)-9 0
2 6 (Hey Won’t You Play) ANOTHER SOMEBODY DONE SOMEBODY WRONG SONG –•– B.J. Thomas (ABC)-12 0
38 13 HARRY TRUMAN –•– Chicago (Columbia)-9 0
37 45 SHAVING CREAM –•– Benny Bell (Paul Wynn) (Vanguard)-7 0
36 27 MY EYES ADORED YOU –•– Frankie Valli (Private Stock)-22 0
4 3 NO NO SONG / SNOOKEROO –•– Ringo Starr (Apple)-11 0
5 23 HE DON’T LOVE YOU (Like I Love You) –•– Tony Orlando and Dawn (Elektra)-6 0
33 42 BEER BARREL POLKA / DICK AND JANE –•– Bobby Vinton (ABC)-6 0
32 18 YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL / IT’S A SIN WHEN YOU LOVE SOMEBODY –•– Joe Cocker (A&M)-15 0
19 4 EXPRESS –•– B.T. Express (Roadshow)-13 0
17 28 I DON’T LIKE TO SLEEP ALONE –•– Paul Anka (with Odia Coates) (United Artists)-6 0
8 9 WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH YOU –•– Barry White (20th Century)-7 0
24 30 STAND BY ME –•– John Lennon (Apple)-6 0
27 32 SHOESHINE BOY –•– Eddie Kendricks (Tamla)-10 0
12 15 WALKING IN RHYTHM –•– The Blackbyrds (Fantasy)-11 0
6 12 SUPERNATURAL THING (Part 1) –•– Ben E. King (Atlantic)-11 0


Johnny Fever, Sunday, 12 April 2015 15:54 (nine years ago) link

Sort of expect Kraftwerk to take this because lol ilm

Johnny Fever, Sunday, 12 April 2015 15:58 (nine years ago) link

Didn't realize "Lady Marmalade" had a parenthetical title.

Love, Wilco (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 12 April 2015 16:14 (nine years ago) link

Here's a Spotify playlist since much of this may be unfamiliar to some: http://open.spotify.com/user/mondosalvo/playlist/3HNpOlDXczI44ec6ff5AS0

Missing are the Ace and Benny Bell songs. (It's not the first time I've groaned at the Ace song not being on Spotify!)

Johnny Fever, Sunday, 12 April 2015 16:29 (nine years ago) link

Don't know a bunch of these, some very promising titles though.

Oddly fond of "Long Tall Glasses" (I remember my mom mockingly singing the chorus). "Philadelphia Freedom," "Amie" and "Young Americans" are all great singles that have probably had their turn to shine elsewhere on ILM. "Shaving Cream" had its shot and nobody went for it.

I like "Jackie Blue" more on paper - okay, kinda Wings-y bluesy number - than I do listening to the whole thing. "Have You Never Been Mellow" is fine AM Gold filler but has almost no qualities of its own. Lennon's "Stand By Me" is maybe the least irritating of his old-timey covers (not counting the stuff on Pussy Cats).

Kinda want to vote for Jimmy Castor on general principle, but for me this is really "Chevy Van" vs. "Autobahn" and I don't think of the latter as a "single" so much. So, Sammy Johns, and that's all right with me.

Doctor Casino, Sunday, 12 April 2015 16:30 (nine years ago) link

I'll be the only vote, but I love Grand Funk's "Bad Time." I had forgotten all about it until I heard it on the car radio a few years ago, now it's one of my favourite songs from that time.

clemenza, Sunday, 12 April 2015 16:38 (nine years ago) link

I'm curious actually about how Autobahn was edited down for radio play. I guess it's on youtube or something, but that just seems odd.

Johnny Fever, Sunday, 12 April 2015 16:39 (nine years ago) link

my vote is Jackie Blue, one of my favorite singles of that era. I've continued to play How Long when I have that particular K-Tel album out too. Mellow holds up as does a lot of ONJ. OD'd on Lady Marmalade, Killer Queen ages ago. Absolutely cannot stand Philadelphia Freedom. Will go find "Bad Time" now that clemenza has mentioned it.

Vic Perry, Sunday, 12 April 2015 16:41 (nine years ago) link

I never get tired of hearing Minnie sing "Maya, maya, mayaaaaa" at the end of "Lovin' You" and know she's singing about Maya Rudolph.

Johnny Fever, Sunday, 12 April 2015 16:43 (nine years ago) link

Holy shit, "Emma" is a bleak fucking song.

Johnny Fever, Sunday, 12 April 2015 17:03 (nine years ago) link

Amie

kornrulez6969, Sunday, 12 April 2015 17:59 (nine years ago) link

man this countdown is on 'ludes.

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:10 (nine years ago) link

hey won't you play another somebody done too many ludes song

Vic Perry, Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:18 (nine years ago) link

There's no Philly soul on this list, Elton and Bowie colonizing the colonies with their "Freedom" and "Americans" bit.

Vic Perry, Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:24 (nine years ago) link

It's hard to believe "Bad Time" is Grand Funk. You could get away playing it blind to the uneducated and get away with saying it's an unreleased Big Star track. The Jayhawks(?) did a faithful cover that brings that out.

Love, Wilco (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:25 (nine years ago) link

If "No No Song/Snookeroo" had been flipped, I'd have considered voting or it.

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:31 (nine years ago) link

*for

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:31 (nine years ago) link

"Do you remember....your President Nixon?" No grandpa, what was that like?

Vic Perry, Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:55 (nine years ago) link

not a crook iirc

I remember a local DJ breaking a copy of "Philadelphia Freedom" on air that year because that song had been played to death

Brad C., Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:59 (nine years ago) link

this is a pretty bleak list

example (crüt), Sunday, 12 April 2015 18:59 (nine years ago) link

went with Pure Prairie League over Kraftwerk, Queen, LaBelle, Earth Wind and Fire, Rufus, Bowie, Phoebe Snow

Brad C., Sunday, 12 April 2015 19:02 (nine years ago) link

Damn, "Philadelphia Freedom" is the top example of inappropriate use of strings in the mid-70s.

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Sunday, 12 April 2015 19:10 (nine years ago) link

Tempted to go with John Denver. Used to play that song on the way out of town when friends and I would go on roadtrips, so it always makes me feel like something fun is about to happen.

Johnny Fever, Sunday, 12 April 2015 19:23 (nine years ago) link

There's no Philly soul on this list, Elton and Bowie colonizing the colonies with their "Freedom" and "Americans" bit.

― Vic Perry, Sunday, April 12, 2015 6:24 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Major Harris?

tsrobodo, Sunday, 12 April 2015 19:48 (nine years ago) link

these days I prefer my karaoke version of "Young Americans" to Bowie's tbh

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 12 April 2015 20:36 (nine years ago) link

I'd pay money to see that, Alfred.

tsrobodo - you got me with Major Harris. The orgasm sounds explain why I never heard this (otherwise pretty sleepy) record on my local top 40 station.

Vic Perry, Sunday, 12 April 2015 21:40 (nine years ago) link

Giving The Temps a vote, so they don't get blanked.

Hot track (from a mostly great album).
Def a welcome change in direction after overstaying their welcome (a touch) in cinematic soul land. Believe this was the last of their rnb #1s?

Some nice Eddie Hazel work on their too.

mr.raffles, Sunday, 12 April 2015 23:49 (nine years ago) link

*there

mr.raffles, Sunday, 12 April 2015 23:49 (nine years ago) link

I'm curious actually about how Autobahn was edited down for radio play.

They didn't need to where I am; I'm almost positive it got zero Top 40 play back then. (Maybe on CHUM's sister FM station, I don't know.)

It's hard to believe "Bad Time" is Grand Funk.

When I heard it on the radio that time, I instantaneously remembered it (actually don't think I liked it much at the time) and spent the rest of the drive trying to remember who it was. Grand Funk never entered my mind until I looked it up at home.

clemenza, Sunday, 12 April 2015 23:53 (nine years ago) link

This is a rather alien list to me so I made a guess

courtney barnett formula (seandalai), Monday, 13 April 2015 00:16 (nine years ago) link

Ace

billstevejim, Monday, 13 April 2015 00:29 (nine years ago) link

a lot of these really suck btw

billstevejim, Monday, 13 April 2015 00:30 (nine years ago) link

Have to give Freddy Fender a vote. A minimalist gem - one verse (repeated in Spanish) and a middle eight, but for me it's the most soulful track here.

ρεμπετις, Monday, 13 April 2015 00:34 (nine years ago) link

I kinda wish I could go back in time to change my vote to Jackie Blue.

kornrulez6969, Monday, 13 April 2015 00:38 (nine years ago) link

Now that I've listened to everything here, I think it's actually a pretty enjoyable chart.

Johnny Fever, Monday, 13 April 2015 00:41 (nine years ago) link

The top twenty is solid: Blackbyrds, EW&F, one of Al Green's more underrated singles, Rufus.

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 April 2015 00:46 (nine years ago) link

Plus the only Queen song I'm not sick to death of.

ρεμπετις, Monday, 13 April 2015 01:00 (nine years ago) link

Minnie is the correct answer

nose, Monday, 13 April 2015 01:24 (nine years ago) link

Hey this "Shoeshine Boy" song is pretty cool, playlist is delivering already. Thanks JF.

Doctor Casino, Monday, 13 April 2015 01:29 (nine years ago) link

Eddie had a lot of great tracks in the 70s. Not just singles either.
Talented dude!

mr.raffles, Monday, 13 April 2015 01:48 (nine years ago) link

Oh wow, gotta retract my mild defense of "Stand By Me" above - I was totally mixing it up in my head with, I guess, the opening bars of "Just Like Starting Over" in terms of general sound/feel. This is a real mess by comparison - just Lennon kinda doing Lennon-isms to get through the song, throwing in his anguish/rage voice for no real reason, and the band just trucks along behind, for forty seconds longer than King's original, to no effect. I've never actually heard Rock 'N' Roll, is there anything good or just pure contract filler?

Doctor Casino, Monday, 13 April 2015 02:01 (nine years ago) link

I like that album, but I totally get why (many) people wouldn't.

Johnny Fever, Monday, 13 April 2015 03:21 (nine years ago) link

Bowie just over Minnie for me

let's love Jessica to death (Drugs A. Money), Monday, 13 April 2015 03:57 (nine years ago) link

Lots of high quality AM Gold ballads here (Minnie Riperton, Freddy Fender, BJ Thomas, Ace, Pure Prairie League) and a couple tire fire awful ballads (Sammy Johns, Paul Anka, Hot Chocolate). I'll vote for Freddy.

that's not my post, Monday, 13 April 2015 05:18 (nine years ago) link

nah I love his "Stand By Me." I can't listen to the original anymore, and I'm not even a fan of this period in Lennon's music.

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 April 2015 11:03 (nine years ago) link

aw, 'shaving cream,' the staple of the z100 morning zoo's early years

maura, Monday, 13 April 2015 15:23 (nine years ago) link

i voted 'shining star' but it was close between that and 'young americans' and 'killer queen'

maura, Monday, 13 April 2015 15:23 (nine years ago) link

kind of surprised that Kraftwerk had any top 40 hits. What kind of stations played "Autobahn"?

skip, Monday, 13 April 2015 15:35 (nine years ago) link

listening to this collection makes me want to start a punk band.

skip, Monday, 13 April 2015 15:46 (nine years ago) link

40 years ago this Wednesday this headline shocked the nation:

WHIPPORWILL OF FREEDOM ZAPS ROCK STAR ELTON JOHN RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES

Beak misses hook center of hitmaker's brain "by millimeters"

Doctors credit "unusually large eyeglasses" for saving singer's life

Vic Perry, Monday, 13 April 2015 15:47 (nine years ago) link

This list reminds me of being small and these were the songs my babysitters would sing. "Fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn..." - I can hear them now.

Back then my favorite was "Lady Marmalade" - and "Shaving Cream," admittedly. (The latter was recorded in 1946!)

Now my favorite is still "Lady Marmalade" but if I'm feeling burned out on it I would just as soon hear "Supernatural Thing" or "Jackie Blue"

xxx-post AM Top 40 stations played "Autobahn," it's crazy but true. It was the disco-leaning stations that played "Trans-Europe Express" a few years later, iirc

Josefa, Monday, 13 April 2015 15:49 (nine years ago) link

Weirdly enough, the single version of "Autobahn" got a lot of play in Mississippi. (I just realized we moved back to MS from CA 40 years ago this month, christ ;_;)

WilliamC, Monday, 13 April 2015 16:34 (nine years ago) link

Autobahn also a top ten album.

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 13 April 2015 16:38 (nine years ago) link

i love "Autobahn" but i don't think i really care enough about the single edit to vote for it hear

example (crüt), Monday, 13 April 2015 16:53 (nine years ago) link

*here, ugh

example (crüt), Monday, 13 April 2015 16:54 (nine years ago) link

MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE MINNIE

The Reverend, Tuesday, 14 April 2015 02:34 (nine years ago) link

Curiosity got the better of me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl0hL2cz_6s

Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 14 April 2015 05:57 (nine years ago) link

Even compressed to 3:27, this is a weird single.

Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 14 April 2015 05:59 (nine years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Sunday, 19 April 2015 00:01 (nine years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Monday, 20 April 2015 00:01 (eight years ago) link

smdh at the winner

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 20 April 2015 00:04 (eight years ago) link

I heard "Jackie Blue" for the first time in eons recently on my local classic rock station. Wasn't aware they ever played it, and it REALLY sounded great. I probably would have voted for that one due to recency effect.

The job killing and likely illegal (Dan Peterson), Monday, 20 April 2015 16:35 (eight years ago) link

Forgot to vote. Lots of good stuff and a few very unfine things, as well. "Jackie Blue", "Amie", and "How Long" are among the most lustrous examples of prime AM gold and I love them dearly. I had never heard "Poetry Man" until a few years ago and it was a pleasant surprise when I did. I really enjoy the laconic way Snow ambles through it. That might've been my vote.

I Stepped On Your Samwich (Old Lunch), Monday, 20 April 2015 16:46 (eight years ago) link

"Jackie Blue" fortunately hasn't been played to death for me, so I'm always happy to hear it. Plus, for as many times as I HAVE heard it, I don't know 90% of the lyrics!

The job killing and likely illegal (Dan Peterson), Monday, 20 April 2015 16:56 (eight years ago) link

There is some major AM Gold on this list, wished I had voted. Love Philadelphia Freedom. Shout out to the the Lady Marmalade voter too.

campreverb, Monday, 20 April 2015 17:02 (eight years ago) link

12 15 WALKING IN RHYTHM –•– The Blackbyrds (Fantasy)-11 0
6 12 SUPERNATURAL THING (Part 1) –•– Ben E. King (Atlantic)-11. 0

^^^ would have voted for one of these. r&b music was absolutely killing everything else in '75.

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 20 April 2015 19:26 (eight years ago) link

I'm shocked I was the only Lady Marmalade voter...I thought that was the clear favorite! Maybe the Moulin Rouge version soured people on the song, or it's been overplayed at wedding parties etc.

Wonder if any Top 40 station ever played "Shaving Cream" and "Autobahn" back-to-back..

Josefa, Monday, 20 April 2015 20:59 (eight years ago) link

Nice to see two other people voted for Ace

groovypanda, Tuesday, 21 April 2015 08:59 (eight years ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.