PLAYLIST: Hawaii's Top 40 HIts

PLAYLISTS

Hawaii’s Top 40 Hits

This will be a new feature to this blog... PLAYLISTS... Embedded here from Spotify or YouTube, I will start sharing my specialized playlists here. If you have a Spotify subscription you should be able to play all of the songs in a Spotify playlist right through. It works on some browsers but not all. Try it out or link directly the Spotify the listen to the list. Subscribe to it if you like.

First up is my 1970s (with some 1960s) era music from high school days and early college that were popular tracks on local Top 40 radio stations in Hawaii such as KPOI, KKUA and on the neighbor islands, KMVI, KPUA and KHLO. These were all AM stations back in the day and they played some great regional only hits mixed in with the familiar mainline top 40 hits. 

This first list that I recently re-created from a CD that I burned years ago features some great tracks.

The cover art was used for the burned CD that I made which actually contained several different songs from what's on this list, since Spotify did not have them. Tracks like "Me Japanese Boy" by Liz Damon, "Groovin Out on Life" by The New Beats,  "Searchin'" by Cecilio and Kapono and "Remember Mary" by The Sweet Marie which are on my burned CD had to be excluded and substituted with what was/is available on Spotify.

I HAVE MORE THAN 200 PLAYLISTS ON MY SPOTIFY CHANNEL

LISTEN DIRECTLY ON SPOTIFY

Best of 2023: A #1 Song 65 Years After Release

 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree Went to #1

I'm happy that BRENDA LEE made it to #1 with her 65 year old holiday hit, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". The song came out in 1958 and has shown up on every Billboard Hot 100 chart since Christmas music was regularly listed during the holiday season. 

The song also charted on the 1960 and 1961 Hot 100s. "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" has never been a number one record until the Billboard Hot 100 was released on December 5, 2023. 

UPDATE: Billboard announced that "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" will top the Hot 100 for a second week in a row! Congratulations Brenda Lee (December 11).

With that accomplishment, Brenda Lee became the oldest person to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, eclipsing a record Louis Armstrong had since 1964's "Hello Dolly" when he was 64. Today (December 11) Brenda Lee turned 79.

In 1960 she had two #1 songs... "I'm Sorry" and "I Want To Be Wanted" both ballads in a lush, country crooning style. Most of her early records were produced by Owen Bradley, who also produced country music records for Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.

My favorite Brenda Lee song is "Sweet Nothins'" a rock n roll track reached #4 on the Hot 100 in 1959. That track along with "I'm Sorry" and several others appeared on her great 1960 album release, Brenda Lee. We had that record in our family's collection since the 1960s. The whispering intro of "ah ha honey, alright..." grabbed it for me on "Sweet Nothins'".

This year a new video was produced for "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" which appears in the link below (YouTube). She also sang the song at the Grand Ole' Opry on December 2023 telecast shown on NBC TV.

#TBT - Mel's Top 100 Hits of 1968

 

THE BEATLES TOP MY 1968 TOP 100 HITS CHART

Unlike the Billboard Top 100 Hits of 1968, my chart differs in that a lot of songs listed there are not listed here. As a long time Beatles fan, this chart contains several Beatles tracks that are acknowledged as part of their greatest hits ever. The Billboard year end chart lists only three songs. This chart expands on that, and features several other rock tracks that The Beatles recorded that did not make the official year end chart for various reasons. On this chart, The Beatles have placed seven tracks.

1968 was also a big year for instrumentals, with 5 of them listed on the chart.

The Rolling Stones managed to put two tracks on this chart, as did The Doors. Aretha Franklin bested them with three as did The Rascals. One of their tracks, "My Hawaii" is an album only track that was a huge hit in the 50th state in 1968. The song has endured over the decades, especially for "Baby Boomers".

The entire Top 100 list appears below and you can listen to the whole thing on my new Spotify Playlist "Top 100 Hits of 1968." Subscribe and enjoy!

TOP 100 HITS OF 1968

Rank	Title	Artist
1	Hey Jude / Revolution	The Beatles
2	Jumpin' Jack Flash	The Rolling Stones
3	Revolution	The Beatles
4	Born to Be Wild	Steppenwolf
5	Hurdy Gurdy Man	Donovan
6	People Got to Be Free	The Rascals
7	While My Guitar Gently Weeps	The Beatles
8	(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay	Otis Redding
9	Hello, I Love You / Love Street	The Doors
10	Love Child	The Supremes
11	Magic Carpet Ride	Steppenwolf
12	Lady Madonna	The Beatles
13	I Love You	People
14	Back in the U.S.S.R.	The Beatles
15	Those Were the Days	Mary Hopkin
16	Tuesday Afternoon	The Moody Blues
17	Birthday	The Beatles
18	Mrs. Robinson	Simon & Garfunkel
19	The Good, the Bad and the Ugly	Hugo Montenegro
20	My Hawaii	The Rascals
21	Young Girl	Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
22	A Beautiful Morning	The Rascals
23	Angel of the Morning	Merrilee Rush
24	I've Gotta Get a Message to You	The Bee Gees
25	I Wish It Would Rain	The Temptations
26	Midnight Confessions	The Grass Roots
27	Tighten Up	Archie Bell & the Drells
28	Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing	Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
29	Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da	The Beatles
30	Do It Again	The Beach Boys
31	A Hazy Shade of Winter	Simon & Garfunkel
32	Sky Pilot	The Animals
33	Time Has Come Today	The Chambers Brothers
34	Mony Mony	Tommy James and the Shondells
35	Cry Like a Baby	The Box Tops
36	Street Fighting Man	The Rolling Stones
37	White Room	Cream
38	Harper Valley PTA	Jeannie C. Riley
39	Spooky	Classics IV
40	MacArthur Park	Richard Harris
41	Jennifer Eccles	The Hollies
42	Dance to the Music	Sly and the Family Stone
43	All Along The Watchtower	Jimi Hendrix
44	Grazing in the Grass	Hugh Masekela
45	Do You Know the Way to San Jose	Dionne Warwick
46	Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)	John Fred & His Playboy Band
47	Lady Willpower	Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
48	Think	Aretha Franklin
49	Piece of My Heart	Big Brother and the Holding Company
50	Valleri	The Monkees
51	Fire	The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
52	The Mighty Quinn	Manfred Mann
53	Woman, Woman	Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
54	You're All I Need to Get By	Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
55	La-La (Means I Love You)	The Delfonics
56	For Once in My Life	Stevie Wonder
57	I Say a Little Prayer	Aretha Franklin
58	The Horse	Cliff Nobles
59	Simon Says	1910 Fruitgum Company
60	Reach Out of the Darkness	Friend & Lover
61	Elenore	The Turtles
62	Bend Me, Shape Me	The American Breed
63	This Guy's in Love with You	Herb Alpert
64	Green Tambourine	The Lemon Pipers
65	Sunshine of Your Love	Cream
66	I Thank You	Sam & Dave
67	Girl Watcher	The O'Kaysions
68	It's Wonderful	The Rascals
69	Pictures of Matchstick Men	Status Quo
70	Suzie Q.	Creedence Clearwater Revival
71	Love is Blue	Paul Mauriat
72	Jennifer Juniper	Donovan
73	Hold Me Tight	Johnny Nash
74	Master Jack	Four Jacks & A Jill
75	Honey	Bobby Goldsboro
76	You Keep Me Hangin' On	Vanilla Fudge
77	Love Is All Around	The Troggs
78	I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight	Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
79	The Fool on the Hill	Sérgio Mendes
80	Classical Gas	Mason Williams
81	Sweet Inspiration	The Sweet Inspirations
82	Send Me A Postcard	The Shocking Blue
83	Stoned Soul Picnic	The 5th Dimension
84	Light My Fire	José Feliciano
85	Yummy Yummy Yummy	Ohio Express
86	Indian Lake	The Cowsills
87	Little Green Apples	O. C. Smith
88	(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone	Aretha Franklin
89	If I Were A Carpenter	The Four Tops
90	Slip Away	Clarence Carter
91	Nobody but Me	The Human Beinz
92	The Look of Love	Sérgio Mendes
93	The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde	Georgie Fame
94	Sealed with a Kiss	Gary Lewis & the Playboys
95	The Unicorn	The Irish Rovers
96	Bottle of Wine	The Fireballs
97	Delilah	Tom Jones
98	The Unknown Soldier	The Doors
99	Summertime Blues	Blue Cheer
100	In A Gadda Da Vida	Iron Butterfly

* "Revolution" by The Beatles is listed twice, once as a double sided single with "Hey Jude" and again as a standalone. Same song, two different rankings. It's my chart.

 Songs listed with a / indicate a double sided single with the B side listed after the slash.

Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight? | I Gotta Know

Throwback Thursday - 45 RPM Heaven

Much has been written about "The King of Rock n Roll", ELVIS PRESLEY. This little post on my music corner of nowhere is just another cog to add to that huge, growing wheel, more than 46 years ago today.

Elvis Presley passed away on August 16, 1977. He left a long musical legacy of hundreds of memorable singles and record albums, all of which have been brought up to date in the digital age when you can stream just about anything online.

One of the very first records I was exposed to in the rock n roll genre came very early in my life, probably before I was five years old. My Dad used to have a friend who ran a vending machine business. Among his many vending machines were jukeboxes that he loaned out to restaurants and other eating places. Periodically he would have to change out the records contained in the jukeboxes. Since he was a friend of my Dad, we would end up with dozens of old 45s that Dad brought home. How cool was that?

One of the first records I remember getting was Elvis Presley's single "Are You Lonesome Tonight" with "I Gotta Know" on the B-side. I think my Mom first played the record when we got it. She fell in love with the broken hearted ballad that was the featured A-side of the record. The song was one of several Elvis singles that went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

As a kid I found the other side of the record to be much better. "I Gotta Know" was an upbeat song, more to my early rock n roll liking of faster tunes. So I played that side of the record more than the A-side which my Mom loved. 

That all said, both "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and "I Gotta Know" both became radio hits, with "Lonesome" as previously stated peaking at #1 and "I Gotta Know" peaking at #20 on the Hot 100.

I love 45 rpm records, especially in the old days when both sides of a 45 could become hits. DJs had more flexibility in those days to flip a record over and figure that hey, the other side is just as good as the A-side being pushed by the record company.

The original 45 was on the black RCA label featuring Nipper the dog looking into the old gramophone record player. What a classic label and symbol. Sadly I no longer have that original 45.

Today "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and "I Gotta Know" exist on CD or a digital playlist like I have at. Spotify.

"Are You Lonesome Tonight" and "I Gotta Know" appear on the CD Elvis Golden Records Volume 3.

You can listen to both songs on my Digital 45 playlist on Spotify.

Today's Vinyl Spin: MUSIC POWER 22 Original Hits 22 Original Stars & Artists!

 #TBT Throwback Thursday

(cue screaming DJ and music):

K-Tel presents MUSIC POWER - 22 ORIGINAL HITS 22 ORIGINAL ARTISTS

The latest hits from 1974 and earlier are on this wonderful single record LP including "Smoking in the Boys Room" by Brownsville Station, "Rockin Roll Baby" by The Stylistics and "Keeper of the Castle" by The Four Tops.

Who can forget the wonderful hits "Oh Girl" by The Chi-Lites, "Pretty Lady" by Lighthouse or the always classic "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray?

These songs and many more are on this obsolete K-Tel collection of unforgettable hits and vinyl obscurities, yours to find at your nearest thrift shop or used record store if you're lucky!

Remember all the grooves are squeezed close together with many of the tracks severely edited for time constraints of the vinyl record format.

Hunt for your own copy of MUSIC POWER online or in your city or town today! ONLY FROM K-TEL.

See photos for complete track list. (fade music out)

Disclaimer: No Ginsu knives available with this offer.

Editor's Note: I bought this record album for only a dollar at our local thrift shop. I always wanted to own at least one K-Tel album, despite the dubious song edits and lousy sound.

Today's Vinyl Spin: Blood Sweat & Tears

 Enter Blood Sweat & Tears (2nd album)

Several years ago I picked up this album by Blood Sweat & Tears. It is the second album by the brassy rock band with a serious mix of jazz thrown in. I consider Blood Sweat & Tears as the second most popular brass accented rock band only to Chicago (earlier knwon as Chicago Transit Authority). This album was released in December 1968 and became a best selling album in 1969 topping the Billboard Top 200 album charts.

At that time Blood Sweat & Tears consisted of the following members:

David Clayton Thomas - Lead vocals

Steve Katz - vocals, guitar

Jim Felder - bass

Dick Halligan - organ, piano, flute, trombone, vocals

Fred Lipsius - piano, alto saxophone

Lew Soloff - trumpet, flugelhorn

Chuck Winfield - trumpet, flugelhorn

Alan Rubin - trumpet on "Spinning Wheel"

Jerry Hyman - trumpet, recorder

Bobby Colomby - drums, percussion, vocals

Several tracks became top 40 hits in 1969 and 1970. From the track list below, their peak chart positions on the Billboard Hot 100 are indicated in parenthesis. Those three hits are my favorites from the album in addition to "More and More".

Side A

1. Variations on a Theme

2. Smiling Phases

3. Sometimes in Winter

4. More and More

5. And When I Die (2)

6. God Bless the Child

Side B

7. Spinning Wheel (2 - Hot 100 1 - AC)

8. You've Made Me So Very Happy (2)

9. Blues – Part II - Interpolating "Sunshine of Your Love", "Spoonful" and "Somethin' Goin' On"

10. Variations on a Theme

The vinyl record itself is in good, playable condition and features the red Columbia eyeball logo theme. The record jacket is in fair condition and features a gatefold that is not shown in this post.

Blood Sweat & Tears have a long history of album releases, concert shows, and membership changes. In fact over the years, the membership in the band has changed more than 150 times. You can look it up in Wikipedia.

If you ever have a chance to pick up this album, get it whether it be on LP, CD or a stream.

Audio: Spinning Wheel (1969 single)
Audio: You Made Me So Very Happy (1969)

Audio: And When I Die (1969 single)

Today's Vinyl Re-Spin: Fleetwood Mac's 1975 Album

Today's Vinyl Spin goes back to the very successful Fleetwood Mac line-up of Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckinghman, John McVie, Christine McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Fleetwood Mac is the first album to feature the then new line-up of the group.

Fleetwood Mac enjoyed moderate success as a blues band and a mainstream rock group with numerous membership changes. In 1974 after former lead singer and guitarist Bob Welch left the group, the duo of Buckingham-Nicks were recruited to take his place. The two new members proved to be the best thing that happened to Fleetwood Mac in terms of a new music direction and commercial success.

The band paved its way to becoming a major concert draw with Stevie, Lindsey and Christine showcasing various songs while McVie and Fleetwood provided a solid foundation. It is one of the few bands that I personally saw in concert not once, but twice.

Their debut album Fleetwood Mac with the new line-up slowly crawled to the #1 position on the charts by 1976 while its singles garnered more and more radio airplay. These included "Over My Head", "Rhiannon," "Say You Love Me," and "Blue Letter". "Landslide" also became a hit after Fleetwood Mac recorded it again for their 1997 live album, The Dance.

I was first introduced to this album by an old college friend back in the day. I always knew of Fleetwood Mac but never paid much attention to them. I had only one track of theirs in my record collection which was "Stop Messin' Around" that appeared on a compilation LP. I later liked the song "Hypnotized" after hearing it on the radio. Was not enough for me to buy their records at the time (I was a starving high school student when this stuff first came out)....

Over the years I have owned 2 vinyl copies of Fleetwood Mac as well as 2 CDs of this. Made at least two cassette tapes off the vinyl and later the CD for portability before the digital age.

Fleetwood Mac is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time by them. It's an enjoyable, refreshing listen whenever I give it a spin.

The back cover of Fleetwood Mac with track list, group members Nicks, Fleetwood, McVie, Buckingham and McVie.

Fleetwood Mac would be the last of their albums to show up on the Reprise label.

Track List

Side 1

1. Monday Morning
2. Warm Ways
3. Blue Letter
4. Rhiannon
5. Over My Head
6. Crystal

Side 2

1. Say You Love Me
2. Landslide
3. World Turning
4. Sugar Daddy
5. I'm So Afraid

"Rhiannon" was one of 4 singles released from the album. All 4 singles have different mixes from the versions on the album. When Fleetwood Mac was issued in a special edition CD in 2004, the single tracks were included as bonus material. Nice move on Warner / Reprise's part.

"Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac....

Christmas Song of the Day #26 - Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms

Christmas Song of the Day #26 - Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms

#TBT - I'm sure everyone has heard this song by someone or another. "Jingle Bell Rock" is one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. Since it was first released it has become a radio staple every holiday season. The most famous version is the one by Bobby Helms, recorded in 1957 and covered by many other artists throughout the years.

My favorite cover version of the song is the 1983 single released by Daryl Hall & John Oates. The YouTube video is at this link: https://youtu.be/5vyMuxxLsD0

This animated video was released last November 2019 and is now presented here. Enjoy the song and have a great, safe and Merry Christmas!

Cumulative Playlist

Nov. 29 - "Mary Did You Know" - Mat and Savanna Shaw
Nov. 30 - "Being Home For Christmas (2020 version)" - Ivan & Alyosha
Dec. 1 - "Take Me Home For Christmas" - Dan + Shay
Dec. 2 - "Mele Kalikimaka Medley" - Kapena
Dec. 3 - "Rockin 'Round the Christmas Tree" - Brenda Lee
Dec. 4 - "Holidays" - Meghan Trainor featuring Earth, Wind & Fire
Dec. 5 - "12 Days of Christmas" - Pentatonix
Dec. 6 - "O Come All Ye Faithful" - Mat and Savanna Shaw
Dec. 7 - "Oh Santa!" - Mariah Carey featuring Arianne Grande & Jennifer Hudson
Dec. 8 - "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" - John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Bandv Dec. 9 - "I Believe in Father Christmas" - U2
Dec. 10 - "Blue Christmas" - Elvis Presley
Dec. 11 - "Darling Please Come Home" - Joanne Staples
Dec. 12 - "Mary Did You Know" - One Voice Children's Choir
Dec. 13 - "Christmas Canon" - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Dec. 14 - "Little Saint Nick" - The Beach Boys
Dec. 15 - "Christmas Lu'au" - Kimi Miner and Paula Fuga - Live at Blue Planet Sound
Dec. 16 - "Lit This Year" - Florida Georgia Line
Dec. 17 - "Run Rudolph Run" - Chuck Berry
Dec. 18 - "Here This Christmas" - Gwen Stefani
Dec. 19 - "Candy Cane Lane" - Sia
Dec. 20 - "Carol of the Bells" - Libera
Dec. 21 - "O Holy Night" - Willie K
Dec. 22 - "Last Christmas" - Scott Bradless/Post Modern Jukebox
Dec. 23 - "All I Want For Christmas is You" - Mariah Carey
Dec. 24 - "Jingle Bell Rock" - Bobby Helms

All of the songs on the Cumulative Playlist list can be streamed on my YouTube channel.

Christmas Song of the Day # 5 - "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" - Brenda Lee

 Christmas Song of the Day #5: Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

Brenda Lee is one of my favorite female artists of all time. I first heard her music back in the early 1960s when out of a jukebox of 45s we were able to get "Fool #1" by her. It ended up being one of my Mom's favorite songs of the time. It is a nice ballad with a country flavor,  produced by Owen Bradley who at the time was also producing records for country singers Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.

"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" has become over time, a rock n roll holiday classic. It was great that Brenda recorded this classic single back in 1958 when she had that voice that could fill a large concert hall. It is right up there (to me) with her best rock n roll song ever, "Sweet Nothins'" from 1960.

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was released as a single in 1958 to only marginal success that year and the next. It wasn't until 1960 when Brenda Lee struck it big with her #1 single "I'm Sorry" and the aformentioned "Sweet Nothins'" is when the single finally took off. It reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1960.

Since then "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" has charted again in 1961 and 1962. In 2014 Billboard changed the rules for song placement on the Hot 100. From 2014 onward, "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" has hit the Billboard Hot 100 every year up to 2019. In 2019 it peaked at #2. 

The song is back on the Hot 100 this week at #21.

More than 25 million copies of the single has been sold. It is also the 4th most streamed Christmas song of all time.

Running Playlist

Nov. 29 - "Mary Did You Know" - Mat and Savanna Shaw

Nov. 30 - "Being Home For Christmas (2020 version)" - Ivan & Alyosha

Dec. 1 - "Take Me Home For Christmas" - Dan + Shay

Dec. 2 - "Mele Kalikimaka Medley" - Kapena

Dec. 3 - "Rockin 'Round the Christmas Tree" - Brenda Lee

Bonus Tracks

Brenda Lee's second album simply titled "Brenda Lee" is in my opinion her best album ever. This record was released in August of 1960. All the tracks are playable from this YouTube playlist. Tracks include the following:

1. Sweet Nothin's

2. I'm Sorry

3. That's All You Gotta Do

4. Heading Home

5. Wee Wee Willies

6. Let's Jump The Broomstick

7. Dynamite

8. Weep No More My Baby

9. Jambalaya (On The Bayou)

10. (If I'm Dreaming) Just Let Me Dream

11. Be My Love Again

12. My Baby Likes Western Guys

#TBT - Throwback Thursday

Jolene and Her Covers

Jolene....

In 1973 Dolly Parton released her big country hit that put her on the map. "Jolene" was a hit country single that made it to #1 on the Billboard Country chart and #1 in Canada. It also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #60 and #44 on the Adult Contemporary Music chart. Since then, it has become her signature song and has been covered several times over many years by many other artists. The linked audio file above (from YouTube) is the original track that became the hit in early 1974.

In recent years the following covers appeared:

Dolly Parton & Pentatonix (2016) - This version made it to #18 on the Billboard Country Chart.

This version came out in 2012 by Miley Cyrus as part of the Backyard Sessions video album on YouTube. I like this one.

Alternative rock duo The White Stripes recorded this version which charted well in Europe, 2004 & 2005.

A new version was released earlier this summer by Chiquis with Becky G. This version has started its chart climb on Mel's Current Top 20.

The Classic Top 10 Votes - May 28, 2020

MEL'S TOP 10 OLDIES + ALBUMS

It's Throwback Thursday (#TBT) once more and for this week I have a chart and a couple of videos. Leading off with the video showcase is this 1981 gem by REO Speedwagon. It's called "In Your Letter". It is off their Grammy winning album Hi Infidelity and a modest hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #20.

I think it is a great song, with kind of an early 60s throwback for me. A good rock n roll vibe surrounding what is a "Dear John" type of letter. Watching the video (posted above), check out the ancient IBM Selectric typewriter. You'd think the lady typing the letter was doing it on a computer... but no, it's a typewriter and the screen is a TV showing the video. Simple but good enough for this song. Enjoy.

The weekly top 10 votes are submitted to the Classic Top 30 website for inclusion into his weekly tabulation of oldies.

TOP TEN OLDIES - MAY 28,  2020

1. Just An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night
2. In Your Letter - REO Speedwagon
3. Lazy Day -  Spanky & Our Gang
4. Eat At Home - Paul & Linda McCartney
5. Seven Year Ache - Roseanne Cash
6. Hearts - Marty Balin
7. White Bird - It's a Beautiful Day
8. Twistin' USA - Chubby Checker
9. Smiling Islands - Robbie Patton with Stevie Nicks
10. Only the Lucky -Walter Egan

LPs

1. Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
2. FM - Original Soundtrack
3. Tom Tom Club -  Tom Tom Club

Top 10 Oldies of the Week - May 22, 2020.

Listen to Roseanne Cash 1980 hit "Seven Year Ache".

TOP 10 OLDIES OF THE WEEK - May 22, 2020.

1. Just An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night
2. In Your Letter - REO Speedwagon
3. White Bird - It's a Beautiful Day
4. Lazy Day -  Spanky & Our Gang
5. Eat At Home - Paul & Linda McCartney
6. Hearts - Marty Balin
7. Seven Year Ache - Roseanne Cash
8. Don't Do Me Like That - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
9. Twistin' USA - Chubby Checker
10. Got To Get You Into My Life - The Beatles

TOP 3 ALBUMS

1. Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
2. Tom Tom Club -  Tom Tom Club
3. FM - Original Soundtrack

Used for tabulation of the Classic Top 30 chart.

Mel's Top 10 Oldies of the Week

On the Classic Top 30 website, it's owner asks people to send in their weekly votes for the oldies of the week. I've participated off and on at this ongoing site for several years. The following are this week's best oldies:

TOP TEN OLDIES - May 15, 2020.

1. Just An Old Fashioned Love Song - Three Dog Night

2. In Your Letter - REO Speedwagon

3. White Bird - It's a Beautiful Day

4. Lazy Day -  Spanky & Our Gang

5. The Rain The Park and Other Things - Cowsills

6. Eat At Home - Paul & Linda McCartney

7. Hearts - Marty Balin

8. Seven Year Ache - Roseanne Cash

9. Sweet Nothins' - Brenda Lee

10. I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues - Elton John

LPs

1. The Beatles - The Beatles (white album)

2. Tom Tom Club -  Tom Tom Club

3. Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones

You can send your weekly votes to Chris, the site's publisher at the following email address: plannine@htdconnect.com.

Throwback Thursday:KKUA's Top 69 Hits of 1971

We resume our blog after a year long hiatus with this Throwback Thursday (#TBT) post which was originally featured at Hawaii Radio & Television Guide Archive. First up, is the Top 69 Hits of 1971 from KKUA Radio.

KKUA was the dominant top 40 radio station in Hawaii in the mid 1970s. They had a strong AM signal at 690 on the dial and could be heard throughout most of the state. Their main rival was KPOI which broadcast at 1380 on the AM dial as well as 97.5 on FM. KPOI’s AM played top 40 and was the most popular pop music station in Hawaii through much of the 1960s and early 1970s. Their FM played album rock tracks.

Some of the hit records from 1971.

Every year, KKUA counted down the year’s Top 69 songs. The chart below is from the Top 69 of 1971 which listed Three Dog Night‘s “Joy to the World” as the #1 song of the year.

Rank and Title	Artist	Peak Pos. on Top 20
1. Joy To The World	Three Dog Night	1
2. I’ve Found Someone of My Own	Free Movement	1
3. Just My Imagination	Temptations	1
4. Smiling Faces (Sometimes)	Undisputed Truth	1
5. Timothy	The Buoys	1
6. Go Away Little Girl	Donny Osmond	1
7. Knock Three Times	Dawn	1
8. Indian Reservation	The Raiders	1
9. One Bad Apple	Osmonds	1
10. Chatto-Matte-Kudasai	Sam Kapu	1
11. My Sweet Lord	George Harrison	1
12. Precious & Few *	Climax featuring Sonny Geraci	1
13. I’m So Poud	Main Ingredient	1
14. Sweet City Woman	The Stampeders	1
15. Life Is That Way	Jose Feliciano	1
16. It’s Impossible	Perry Como	1
17. Domino	Van Morrison	1
18. Superstar	The Carpenters	1
19. Woodstock	Matthew’s Southern Comfort	2
20. Never Can Say Goodbye	Jackson Five	2
21. Gypsies, Tramps & Theives	Cher	2
22. Maggie May	Rod Stewart	2
23. Yo Yo	Osmonds	2
24. Sweet & Innocent	Donny Osmond	2
25. It’s Too Late	Carole King	2
26. Mr. Big Stuff	Jean Knight	1
27. Stay Awhile	The Bells	2
28. Don’t Pull Your Love	Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds	2
29. If	Bread	2
30. Black Magic Woman	Santana	2
31. For All We Know	The Carpenters	2
32. The Pushbike Song	Mixtures	2
33. Mandrill	Mandrill	2
34. I Can’t Stop	Osmonds	2
35. Tears of A Clown	Smokey Robinson & the Miracles	2
36. Stick-Up	Honeycone	2
37. Liar	Three Dog Night	2
38. Watcha See, is Watcha Get	The Dramatics	2
39. Your Song	Elton John	3
40. Draggin’ The Line	Tommy James	2
41. Morning Of Our Lives	The Arkade	3
42. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart	Bee Gees	3
43. I Hear Those Churchbells	Dusk	2
44. Proud Mary	Ike & Tina Turner	2
45. I Love You For All Seasons	Fuzz	3
46. We Can Make It Girl	Society of Seven	3
47. Ain’t No Sunshine	Bill Withers	3
48. Albert Flasher	Guess Who	3
49. Most of All	B.J. Thomas	3
50. Three Cheers For Love	Dick Jensen	3
51. Mama’s Pearl	Jackson Five	4
52. Rainy Days And Mondays	The Carpenters	4
53. No Matter What	Badfinger	4
54. I Do Take You	Three Degrees	4
55. Somebody’s Been Sleeping	100 Proof Aged in Soul	4
56. Just An Old Fashioned Love  Song	Three Dog Night	4
57. I Just Want To Celebrate	Rare Earth	4
58. Put Your Hand In The Hand	Ocean	4
59. Oye Como Va	Santana	4
60. Love Means (You Never Have To Say You’re Sorry)	Sounds of Sunshine	4
61. Games	Redeye	5
62. Brown Sugar	Rolling Stones	5
63. Lola	The Kinks	5
64. I Dig Everything About You	The Mob	5
65. Love Song	The Vogues	5
66. What Are You Doing    Sunday?	Dawn	5
67. Baby I’m A Want You	Bread	5
68. Frisco Bay	Society of Seven	5
69. Born To Wonder	Rare Earth	5

The big hit of 1971 that was played to death on KKUA and practically all other top 40 stations was Three Dog Night‘s “Joy To The World.” The song was at the number one spot for was seven weeks, making it the most popular song on KKUA.CHART NOTES: 

That year a number of local records got airplay on mainstream Top 40 radio. The most prominent local hit of 1971 was Sam Kapu‘s “Chatto Matte Kudasai” which at first sounded totally out of place on a top 40 format, but eventually got so popular that it went number one in the summer summer. Records by the Society of Seven, who at the time had a record deal with Uni Records (which later became MCA) charted with the singles “We Can Make It Girl,” and “Frisco Bay”. Dick Jensencharted with his top 40 hit single, “Three Cheers For Love.” The local hits are indicated by blue type.

* Climax‘s “Precious And Few” was a number 1 hit in Hawaii during the summer of 1971 before breaking out nationally in 1972. The group was very popular in Hawaii having charted several more times with the hits “Life And Breath,” “Walking in the Georgia Rain” and “Caroline This Time”.

Several nationally released singles were hot in Hawaii and nowhere else. These included “Morning of Our Lives” by The Arkade, “Life is That Way” by José Feliciano, “I Dig Everything About You” by The Mob, “Love Song” by The Vogues, “Mandrill” by Mandrill, “I Can’t Stop” by The Osmonds, “I Hear Those Churchbells Ringing” by Dusk, and “The Pushbike Song” by The Mixtures.

Other songs that got a lot of airplay in 1971 that did not make this chart included “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” by Middle of the Road, “Give Up Your Guns” by The Buoys and “Keep it in the Family” by The Road Home.

Among the popular albums of 1971 were Three Dog Night‘s “Naturally” which contained the #1 hit “Joy To The World” as well as the very radio friendly ballad “Sunlight,” a track that never was released as a single. Also popular was Carole King‘s “Tapestry”, Santana‘s “Abraxus”, Sly & the Family Stone‘s “There’s a Riot Going On,” and several albums by theJackson Five and Osmonds.

KKUA’s 1971 Personalities included the following:

Jim Peters 6:AM
Steven B. Williams 9:AM
Gene Davis 12 noon
Ron King 3:PM
Scott Edwards 6:PM
Dick Wainwright 9:PM
Rick Shannon Midnight