Top 40 Songs From 1973

An excellent year for music, the songs in bold are my favorites:

• Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got) - Four Tops (#4)
• All I Know - Art Garfunkel (#9)
• Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from 2001) - Deodato (#2) (instrumental)
• American Tune - Paul Simon (#35)
• And I Love You So - Perry Como (#29)
• Angel - Aretha Franklin (#20)
• Angie - The Rolling Stones (#1)
• Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Donny Osmond (#14)
• Are You Man Enough? - Four Tops (#15)
• Armed and Extremely Dangerous - First Choice (#28)
• Aubrey - Bread (#15)
• Baby Come Close - Smokey Robinson (#27)
• Back When My Hair Was Short - Gunhill Road (#40)
• Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce (#1)
• Basketball Jones Featuring Tyrone Shoelaces - Cheech & Chong (#15)
• Be - Neil Diamond (#34)
• Behind Closed Doors - Charlie Rich (#15)
• Believe in Humanity - Carole King (#28)
• Big City Miss Ruth Ann - Gallery (#23)
• Bitter Bad - Melanie (#36)
• Blue Suede Shoes - Johnny Rivers (#38)
• Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Bette Midler (#8)
• Break Up to Make Up - The Stylistics (#5)
• Brother Louie - Stories (#1)
• Call Me (Come Back Home) - Al Green (#10)
• Cheaper to Keep Her - Johnnie Taylor (#15)
• Check It Out - Tavares (#35)
• Cherry Cherry from "Hot August Night" - Neil Diamond (#31)
• China Grove - The Doobie Brothers (#15)
• The Cisco Kid - War (#2)
• Close Your Eyes - Edward Bear (#37)
• Come Get to This - Marvin Gaye (#21)
• Cook with Honey - Judy Collins (#32)
• Corazon - Carole King (#37)
• The Cover of "Rolling Stone" - Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (#6)
• D'yer Mak'er - Led Zeppelin (#20)
• Daddy Could Swear (I Declare) - Gladys Knight & The Pips (#19)
• Daisy A Day - Jud Strunk (#14)
• Daniel - Elton John (#2)
• Danny's Song - Anne Murray (#7)
• Dead Skunk - Loudon Wainwright III (#16)
• Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy (#1)
• Diamond Girl - Seals & Crofts (#6)
• Doing It to Death - Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s (#22)
• Don't Cross the River - America (#35)
• Drift Away - Dobie Gray (#5)
• Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell (#2) (instrumental)
• Ecstasy - Ohio Players (#31)
• Feelin' Stronger Every Day - Chicago (#10)
• Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group (#1) (instrumental)
• Free Ride - Edgar Winter Group (#14)
• Friends - Bette Midler (#40)
• Funky Stuff - Kool & The Gang (#29)
• Funky Worm - Ohio Players (#15)
• Funny Face - Donna Fargo (#5)
• Future Shock - Curtis Mayfield (#39)
• Get Down - Gilbert O'Sullivan (#7)
• Get It Together - The Jackson 5 (#28)
• Ghetto Child - Spinners (#29)
• Give It to Me - J. Geils Band (#30)
• Give Me Love - Give Me Peace on Earth - George Harrison (#1)
• Give Me Your Love - Barbara Mason (#31)
• Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation - The Dells (#34)
• Goin' Home - The Osmonds (#36)
• Good Morning, Heartache - Diana Ross (#34)
• Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John (#2)
• Gypsy Man - War (#8)
• Half-Breed - Cher (#1)
• Hallelujah Day - The Jackson 5 (#28)
• Heartbeat - It's a Lovebeat - DeFranco Family featuring Tony DeFranco (#3)
• Hearts of Stone - Blue Ridge Rangers (#37)
• Helen Wheels - Paul McCartney & Wings (#10)
• Hello Hooray - Alice Cooper (#35)
• Hello It's Me - Todd Rundgren (#5)
• Here I Am (Come and Take Me) - Al Green (#10)
• Hey Girl (I Like Your Style) - The Temptations (#35)
• Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder (#4)
• Hocus Pocus - Focus (#9) (instrumental)
• How Can I Tell Her - Lobo (#22)
• Hummingbird - Seals & Crofts (#20)
• The Hurt - Cat Stevens (#31)
• Hurts So Good - Millie Jackson (#24)
• I Believe In You (You Believe In Me) - Johnnie Taylor (#11)
• I Can Understand It - The New Birth (#35)
• I Can't Stand the Rain - Ann Peebles (#38)
• I Got a Name - Jim Croce (#10)
• I Got Ants in My Pants (and I Want to Dance) (Part 1) - James Brown (#27)
• I Like to Live the Love - B.B. King (#28)
• I Was Checkin' Out, She Was Checkin' In - Don Covay (#29)
• I'll Always Love My Mama (Part 1) - The Intruders (#36)
• I'll Be Your Shelter (In Time of Storm) - Luther Ingram (#40)
• I'm Doin' Fine Now - New York City (#17)
• I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby - Barry White (#3)
• I'm Just A Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band) - The Moody Blues (#12)
• I'm Never Gonna Be Alone Anymore - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (#37)
• I've Got So Much to Give - Barry White (#32)
• I've Got to Use My Imagination - Gladys Knight & The Pips (#4)
• If You Want Me to Stay - Sly & The Family Stone (#12)
• If You're Ready (Come Go with Me) - The Staple Singers (#9)
• In the Midnight Hour - Cross Country (#30)
• It Sure Took a Long, Long Time - Lobo (#27)
• Jambalaya (On the Bayou) - Blue Ridge Rangers (#16)
• Jesse - Roberta Flack (#30)
• Jesus is Just Alright - The Doobie Brothers (#35)
• Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne - Looking Glass (#33)
• The Joker - Steve Miller Band (#1)
• Jungle Boogie - Kool & The Gang (#4)
• Just You 'N' Me - Chicago (#4)
• Keep On Truckin' (Part 1) - Eddie Kendricks (#1)
• Keeper of the Castle - Four Tops (#10)
• Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack (#1)
• Kissing My Love - Bill Withers (#31)
• Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan (#12)
• Kodachrome - Paul Simon (#2)
• Last Kiss - Wednesday (#34)
• Last Song - Edward Bear (#3)
• Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress) - Helen Reddy (#3)
• Leaving Me - The Independents (#21)
• Let Me Be There - Olivia Newton-John (#6)
• Let Me In - The Osmonds (#36)
• Let Me Serenade You - Three Dog Night (#17)
• Let Your Hair Down - The Temptations (#27)
• Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye (#1)
• Let's Pretend - Raspberries (#35)
• A Letter to Myself - The Chi-Lites (#33)
• Little Willy - Sweet (#3)
• Live and Let Die - Paul McCartney & Wings (#2)
• Living for the City - Stevie Wonder (#8)
• Living Together, Growing Together - The 5th Dimension (#32)
• Long Train Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers (#8)
• The Love I Lost (Part 1) - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (#7)
• Love Jones - Brighter Side of Darkness (#16)
• Love Song - Anne Murray (#12)
• Love Train - The O'Jays (#1)
• Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra (#1) (instrumental)
• Loves Me Like a Rock - Paul Simon (#2)
• Master of Eyes (The Deepness of Your Eyes) - Aretha Franklin (#33)
• Masterpiece - The Temptations (#7)
• Me and Baby Brother - War (#15)
• Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & The Pips (#1)
• A Million To One - Donny Osmond (#23)
• Mind Games - John Lennon (#18)
• Misdemeanor - Foster Sylvers (#22)
• Money - Pink Floyd (#13)
• Monster Mash - Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers (#10)
• The Morning After - Maureen McGovern (#1)
• The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich (#1)
• My Love - Paul McCartney & Wings (#1)
• My Maria - B.W. Stevenson (#9)
• My Music - Loggins & Messina (#16)
• Natural High - Bloodstone (#10)
• Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) - Gladys Knight & The Pips (#2)
• Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up - Barry White (#7)
• The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia - Vicki Lawrence (#1)
• No More Mr. Nice Guy - Alice Cooper (#25)
• Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out - Bobby Womack (#29)
• Nutbush City Limits - Ike & Tina Turner (#22)
• Oh La De Da - The Staple Singers (#33)
• One Less Set of Footsteps - Jim Croce (#37)
• One Man Band (Plays All Alone) - Ronnie Dyson (#28)
• One of a Kind (Love Affair) - Spinners (#11)
• Ooh Baby - Gilbert O'Sullivan (#25)
• Out Of the Question - Gilbert O'Sullivan (#17)
• Painted Ladies - Ian Thomas (#34)
• Paper Roses - Marie Osmond (#5)
• Peaceful - Helen Reddy (#12)
• Peaceful Easy Feeling - Eagles (#22)
• Photograph - Ringo Starr (#1)
• Pillow Talk - Sylvia (#3)
• Pinball Wizard / See Me, Feel Me - The New Seekers (#29)
• The Plastic Man - The Temptations (#40)
• Playground In My Mind - Clint Holmes (#2)
• Put Your Hands Together - The O'Jays (#10)
• Ramblin' Man - The Allman Brothers Band (#2)
• Reelin' & Rockin' - Chuck Berry (#27)
• Reeling in the Years - Steely Dan (#11)
• Right Place, Wrong Time - Dr. John (#9)
• The Right Thing To Do - Carly Simon (#17)
• Rockin' Roll Baby - The Stylistics (#14)
• Rocky Mountain High - John Denver (#9)
• Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh (#23)
• Satin Sheets - Jeanne Pruett (#28)
• Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting - Elton John (#12)
• Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose? - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (#3)
• Shambala - Three Dog Night (#3)
• Show and Tell - Al Wilson (#1)
• Sing - Carpenters (#3)
• Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Blue Haze (#27)
• Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple (#4)
• So Very Hard To Go - Tower of Power (#17)
• Some Guys Have All the Luck - The Persuaders (#39)
• Soul Makossa - Manu Dibango (#35) (instrumental)
• Soul Song - Joe Stampley (#37)
• Space Oddity - David Bowie (#15)
• Space Race - Billy Preston (#4) (instrumental)
• Spiders and Snakes - Jim Stafford (#3)
• Steamroller Blues - Elvis Presley (#17)
• Step by Step - Joe Simon (#37)
• Stir It Up - Johnny Nash (#12)
• Stoned Out of My Mind - The Chi-Lites (#30)
• Stuck in the Middle with You - Stealers Wheel (#6)
• Summer (The First Time) - Bobby Goldsboro (#21)
• Super Fly Meets Shaft - John & Ernest (#31)
• Swamp Witch - Jim Stafford (#39)
• Sweet Understanding Love - Four Tops (#33)
• Teddy Bear Song - Barbara Fairchild (#32)
• Tell Her She's Lovely - El Chicano (#40)
• That Lady (Part 1) - The Isley Brothers (#6)
• Theme from "Cleopatra Jones" - Joe Simon with The Mainstreeters (#18)
• There It Is - Tyrone Davis (#32)
• Thinking of You - Loggins & Messina (#18)
• Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree - Dawn featuring Tony Orlando (#1)
• Time In A Bottle - Jim Croce (#1)
• Time to Get Down - The O'Jays (#33)
• To Know You Is to Love You - B.B. King (#38)
• Top Of the World - Carpenters (#1)
• Touch Me In the Morning - Diana Ross (#1)
• Trouble Man - Marvin Gaye (#7)
• The Twelfth of Never - Donny Osmond (#8)
• Uneasy Rider - Charlie Daniels Band (#9)
• Walk On the Wild Side - Lou Reed (#16)
• We May Never Pass this Way Again - Seals & Crofts (#21)
• We're An American Band - Grand Funk Railroad (#1)
• Where Peaceful Waters Flow - Gladys Knight & The Pips (#28)
• Who's in the Strawberry Patch with Sally - Tony Orlando & Dawn (#27)
• Why Me - Kris Kristofferson (#16)
• Wildflower - Skylark (#9)
• Will It Go 'Round in Circles - Billy Preston (#1)
• The World Is a Ghetto - War (#7)
• Yes We Can Can - Pointer Sisters (#11)
• Yesterday Once More - Carpenters (#2)
• You Are the Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder (#1)
• You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) - The Stylistics (#23)
• You're a Special Part of Me - Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye (#12)
• You're Sixteen - Ringo Starr (#1)
• You're So Vain - Carly Simon (#1)
• You've Never Been This Far Before - Conway Twitty (#22)
• Young Love - Donny Osmond (#25)

Peter Max

The art of Peter Max was HUGELY successful in the early to mid-70's. His impact on pop culture can not be overestimated, and he certainly has earned a significant place in art history.

The 2 works pictured are:
"Sunrise" 1976
"Discovery" 1992

There will never be another artist like him, he was (is) one-of-a-kind.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I never looked at it this way before.

Click on photo for larger view.

A 1976 Christmas

It was 1976, the Six Million Dollar Man was at the zenith of his popularity, and this was THE ONE present I HAD to have.... Mom would have come off looking pretty bad had she not pulled through.

The Bionic Man action figure was a HUGE success, and Maskatron was the coolest thing I had ever seen. He had interchangable body parts that would pop off when you pressed certain pressure points on the figure. He also had interchangeable face masks, so he could be 3 different people. I LOVED making his arms and legs pop off, and i also liked ripping his face mask off.

I've been trying to get one on ebay but keep getting outbid. If mom had known that one day, they would sell on the internet for $175 and up, she would have bought 40 of them instead of whining about "how hard it was to find", and "how she had to go to 4 different stores", and "go through gallons of gas just so I could have something to open Christmas morning", etc.

John Lennon

It's the 25th anniversary (yesterday was) since John Lennon was murdered.

I've heard alot about how great a humanitarian he was, and how he strived to make the world a better place for peace, etc. but I don't see it. The man who sang "All You Need Is Love" had millions of dollars in the bank. As far as I know he was not part of any humanitarian mission, didn't involve himself in charity events (free of charge or otherwise), and even for the photo posted, i'm sure he got paid. I never once saw him photographed participating in a peace march. As far as I know, he was an athiest: "Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try. No hell below us, above us only sky".

Everything he did was career-oriented, and everything came at a price - it was all fashion.

A total phony, I don't miss him.

My Biggest Childhood Crush

I'm sure I wasn't alone.

Tony Orlando And Dawn

I used to watch their variety show in the early to mid-70's (who DIDN'T have a variety show back then???). Anyway, I knew who Tony Orlando was (obviously), but which one was Dawn? Why didn't the other chick rate name recognition???

My favorite songs were "Knock Three Times", and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" (a song about a prisoner wondering if his girlfriend would take him back after he was released. Gee, who wouldn't be waiting????? And, we never really knew what he was incarcerated for...).

It's interesting to note that their initials spelled 'TOAD'.