1975 Songs That Should Have Been Bigger Hits

[Kim4d]

I love all these songs and would have bought a lot of them:) Do you know where I can get them at:)? Thanks so much:)

[TS98ful]

This is a very nice collection. I recorded with Baron Stewart on his second album on MCA Temperatures Rising. Stu Cook of CCR on Bass and as Producer.Baron was a singer and co writer on Beach Boy Dennis Wllson's Album Pacific Ocean Blue. A very nice person and great, piano player and singer. Had a beautiful house looking out on the beach in Marina del ray where we rehearsed. Have not been able to locate him in more recent years. Very sweet to see him here. Thank You. Tom Smith Columbus Ohio

[GregoryOrme]

Great collection. Would love to hear all of "For Your Love."

[Bflat1]

Halfway through, I'm thinking they were lucky to get as high as they got.

[bernie4366]

lol I dunno man... with the obvious exception of Protheroe, all of these songs are kind of on the sucky side of bland, and that's being nice about it. 1975 had much, MUCH better to offer.

[cobbles56]

There is a reason that these songs were not bigger hits, THEY ARE CRAP

[Staggerbaroque]

Well done. I had never heard these songs before now.

[bluespiral58]

I'm not sure these could have been "bigger hits" unless they were hits to begin with.

[nccvball]

@bluespiral58

Ahhh, but they were hits. Each song reached the Billboard Hot 100 for at least a week.

[Doobie1975]

Billy Thunderkloud's "What Time Of Day" sounds like a BJ Thomas song

[lewisner]

I used to sometimes listen to Luxembourg about this time and there were songs called "Memories Don't Leave Like People Do" by (I think) Lou Rawls and another called "One Woman Man" by a guy I can't remember. Never heard them again.

[lurch321]

The Canyons song sounds just like a remake of Takin' Care of Business.

[nccvball]

@lurch321

Exactly, the bubblegum producers were looking for rock bands and I think BTO was one of their model groups.

[corgi4u]

Remember the rain is better than the Jackson 5, in my opinion. The Jacksons had some amazing stuff, but I think I would prefer the other group.

[mphrdldn]

Thank God for people like you.

[TheTalkeetna1]

you are song sounds like a combination between miracles by jefferson starship of the same year and hooked on a feeling by blue suede without the their signature gacha gacha ga who ga who. In fact, it causes me to to mentally want insert the aformentioned into the song.

[theherald1000]

I've always loved Reparata's "Shoes". It received good airplay in South Africa, where it made no. 6 on our charts in early 1976. I didn't buy it at the time but a couple of decades later picked up the vinyl single at a bazaar here. In about 1988 in England, I found their (with the Delrons) 1968 single, "Captain of your Ship". I treasure both.

[mjdolson660]

What a load of ####. Should have never been such a waste of vinyl would be a more appropriately heading.

[flibben2]

first one is an obvious rip off of BTO

[pgramann]

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz­zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[kevrhon]

Wasn't Reparata also a member of "Lady Flash," Barry Manilow's back-up singers who toured with him and appeared on his live double album from the late 70's?

[inkimuff]

@kevrhon Yes. You are quite correct. I have that album.

[tommieparch]

i wonder if 21st century is the band that had a73 hit with/lovejones?. dont 4get tony burrows singin all those songs that be hits 4 non exisiting bands. what time of day is cool. very good info on 4 your love. fox sounds sooo close to melanie. canyon took there sound directly from b.t.o..what song was pulled from batdorf and rodney? & im shocked warner pulled bloodstone.

[nccvball]

@tommieparch

"Somewhere in the Night" was the other Batdorf and Rodney song.

[wrabit79]

70's and 80's the best deacades in music..no doubt...

[wrabit79]

how about pilot's penny in my pocket...that's a great song

[okrabay]

when you look at 1975 then compare it to 1985 its a whole new world even though it was only ten years.

I cant hardly tell the difference between today and 15 years ago. for the past 20 cars have all looked the same and nothing new has come.....well were a marxist police state now but thats about it.

[renew2day]

"For Your Love" was a big hit in the '50's for Ed Townsend. It's on YouTube.

Billy Thunderkloud also recorded "Just A Closer Walk With Thee", and "Pledging My Love". I have the record, but don't know how to put it on YouTube.

[bigfootskitty]

bloodstone , if they would have known how OUTRIGHT F%*@#N GREEDY the W.M.G. (for Whinin' Money Grubbers as far as the world is concerned) was going to be, might have been better off to name the band "BLOOD SUCKER"! the recording artist is dead so it can't be his greed, It HAS to be those NO TALENT SHIT-PIGS. now we know why these songs aren't more popular, Pink Floyd put out "Have A Cigar" and the truth was RITEIOUS! I got your pink for you!

[bucky468]

You forgot "Future Shock" by Hello People. Reached #71 on the US pop singles charts in '75.

[superdavid002]

I love Rock and Roll by the Arrows was a great 1975 song, but didn't become a hit until covered by Joan Jett in the 1980s.

[wrabit79]

@superdavid002 bring out the fire another arrows good tune

[17865329]

Nah, you know what, most of these got pretty much the airplay they deserved,

sorry.

[903davesharonpoky]

Wish the whole songs were posted! Great collection!

[elc1960]

"For Your Love" is a cover of the late '50s song by Ed Townsend. Christopher Paul & Shawn sound like Donny & Marie Osmond (probably on purpose). I've heard of Batdorf & Rodney but never heard them.

[wmbrown6]

In addition, besides running NAMI, Guarino (who also produced the original Felix Harp version of "Shoes") had founded the World Artists label for which Reparata, as with the Delrons, recorded "Whenever a Teenager Cries." So her ties to Guarino went way back. And that's not counting World Artists' being the first U.S. label for Chad & Jeremy (notably "Yesterday's Gone" and "A Summer Song").

[wmbrown6]

"Shoes" as sung by Reparata appears to be a cover of a song originally recorded in 1973 on the NAMI label by an even more obscure artist, Felix Harp; the complete title was "She Didn't Forget Her Shoes (Johnny & Louise)," written by one Eric Beam (apparently, the instrumental track was recycled). I actually have this earlier version; NAMI (North American Music Industries), late that year, acquired the Scranton, PA pressing plant of Capitol Records, and would run it for the rest of the '70's.

[wmbrown6]

(CONT'D) One of the producers credited on Reparata's cover was Lou Guarino, under the banner of "Nami Records." Mr. Guarino was the head of North American Music Industries, which apparently licensed this version to Polydor back in '75.

[nccvball]

@wmbrown6

WOW! Thanks for the info. I found the story of Reparata and the song "Shoes" is one of those stories that shows all the strange sides of the music business.

[adric137]

i love 1970s music!

[ovicello61]

Sorry I'm posting so many comments. I love music and music trivia.

[nccvball]

@ovicello61

LOL, same here. Please post as much as you like. I have more videos on the way, once I have some free time.

[ovicello61]

How extensive is your collection of music? Some people exceed what I have. 600 vinyl albums, 600 cassettes and 700 CD's. I understand about being busy, too. I have a career as a computer programmer and I'm a Christian/Messianic recording artist on-the-side. I have a friend in Colorado who shares our enthusiasm, too. He's been a mobile DJ for more than 25 years. Thanks.

[nccvball]

@ovicello61

For the albums, too numerous to count. Back in 80's and early 90's I went on a massive spree and purchased as much as I could. It was cheap and no one valued the music. Now, with digital formats, it is not worth it. I still have recordings that will never be on CD or MP3 but the amount of vinyl is too much.

[ovicello61]

Baron Stewart knowing Bonnie Bramlett and Lindsay Buckingham! Now I know how Bonnie's connected to Billy Burnett who co-wrote songs with her, such as "Stand By Me", recorded by Stevie Nicks and also Faith Hill.

[yerbuti]

Very cool- thanks for the Brian Protheroe tune. Have not heard that for many years. Of course today's commerical radio wasteland just continues to bury good music from the past. Going to try and find this one on ITunes or Amazon right now.

[nccvball]

@yerbuti

You are very welcome. The first time I heard "Pinball", my first thought was why I had not heard that before. He has a sizable following in the UK but you should be able to find his CD at Amazon.

[yerbuti]

Found the CD.....I'm going to check out the other "Songs that Should Have Been Bigger Hits" you've posted. I appreciate your efforts!

[nccvball]

@yerbuti

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[LolaCrazy222]

Another good list! Now I can sleep better tonight knowing that somebody else out there knows just as much if not more besides me about music. I can offer a little bit more information about the Baron Stewart track, it only reached #91 but it stayed on the chart for 6 weeks.

[fourkneekate]

Shame the internet police had to spoil by obliterating the last track,but nonetheless a really informative and well worth a view upload...............nice one.

[khanlovr]

You are amazing, my friend, to have so much knowledge and access to such obscure music! I wouldn't have remembered these songs when they were initially released, because I wasn't born until '75! However, it's interesting to learn about them.

[Zunardo]

Top Of The World I remember hearing on the Top 40 AM station in Columbus OH. I liked the song, but it left quickly, didn't hear it again until I saw the parachuting video on here that had the Canyon soundtrack..

"Pinball" was played on our AOR FM station at the time, never heard it on AM. I think it never caught on because it was competing with Elton John's "Pinball Wizard" at the time. Still, a nice tune.

[byrdsmaniac]

How do you know all this obscure stuff?!

[sparwood8]

@byrdsmaniac - - - Flip side of a 45

[carmel1956]

@byrdsmaniac May I rephrase that question....Where do you find all this obsecure stuff?

[nccvball]

@carmel1956

Much of it I have on vinyl. I am still in the process of transferring the vinyl to digital. I also have a large stack of cassette tapes both standard size and 8-track. I have a lot of stuff from K-Tel, Ronco, and Pickwick. I still visit the occasional swap meet or yard sale but much of the hard-to-find stuff is just that.

[nccvball]

@byrdsmaniac

I try to research as much as possible. I put at least a few hours research into every video, and I still end up making mistakes. The newer videos also contain anecdotal info from when I grew up with the music. Joel Whitburn is the king of all music trivia and his books help me quite a bit.

[byrdsmaniac]

@nccvball

Thanks for your reply and consideration. Best wishes.

You do great work!

[eurekayes]

the last track can be heard free on rhapsody 25

[sitcomtrials]

My God if only I had a show on Radio 2 in the UK I would have my first programme sorted. Thankyou.

[krakenwave]

Fox - "Only You Can" was a big hit in the UK. They also had several other songs charting that year. How much the pelvic gyrations and drop-dead gaze of Noosha Fox had to do with that is debatable.

[sortashaman]

Thanks for posting these forgotten gems! I heard quite a few of them on Radio 2CA in Canberra, when I lived in Australia way back then..."What Time of Day" was very popular there, as I recall.

[tamspeci]

I remember "What Time Of Day" & had the single back in '75. I wish somebody would upload it in its entirety because it's impossible to find these days.

[bgct0115]

You can find it online at several different sites. Just google Billy ThunderKloud.  I tried posting it but since it's only audio, it won't post.

[bgct0115]

I was able to upload the song in its entirety so you should be able to find it now.

[walliby]

Can you give me advice on how to download Top of the World(or purchase it)

Awesome song !!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

[akashicvizion]

To paraphrase Mamma Boudreaux, "WMG is da debbil!!" They only do that because they want people to ask "Why?" and dig deeper... [GREEDY BASTARDS!!]

[hnorky]

I just caught on this is from an American perspective. "Costafine Town" was a top-10 hit in the UK and in my native South Africa. "Shoes" also reached the top 10 in South Africa.

It's funny back home in S.A. we had hits by American/Canadian acts that failed to chart in America, such as Celi-Bee & The Buzzy Bunch, Keith Hampshire, After All, Promises, and Wha-Koo.

[MrTrashcan1]

Ahh, yes, the chilling, USSR-style world of Warner and Universal where hearing music, even a snippet, is banned. I wonder if Bloodstone even knows that the public is being kept from knowing who they are or what they sound like.

[gypsocalypsy]

Splinter sounding like a poorman's Billy Joel

[MsBkirk]

@gypsocalypsy I thought they sounded more like George Harrison.

[DiggemTheFrog]

Dear nccvball,

I just finished listening to all your listings by year of Under the Top 40 hits. I found your 1979 selection excellent, but your 1981 selection dreadful, the rest in between. I remember several such songs from 1980, in particular, that you missed. I'll have to suggest them to you in a later blog.

One question for now: Why did you place the instrumentals in the first third of your three-part series of 1976 numbers? I would have rathered listen to the actual songs first!

[nccvball]

Well, instrumentals are songs... but there are no lyrics. There are very few instrumental hits in the decade of the 2000's and I wanted to point that out using the year 1976.

I had the opportunity to listen to one of Casey Kasem's old American Top 40 radio shows from 1975. There were several instrumental hit songs during that one week. It was kind of refreshing.

The songs I pick are usually from artists you never hear about anymore. It's purely subjective to my tastes at the time.

[kellyrick1981]

I always thougth that Casey started his show in July of 76.

[nccvball]

I think Casey started the countdown back in 1970. I could be wrong on that but I remember him making a statement about that during his later countdowns.

BTW, Casey had his own bubbler hit back in the 1960's.

[RecordWarped]

Thanks so much for this and the other compilations. I have been an avid record collector for 40 years, and I'm embarrassed to say I'm unfamiliar with all of these artists except for Batdorf and Rodney (whom I love!).

[nccvball]

Batdorf and Rodney are one of those forgotten groups. Somewhat popular in the 1970's but totally forgotten by Easy Listening or Oldies stations.

[foghatconcertseries]

nice work!

[nccvball]

Thanks. By the way, I did catch Foghat in concert about 12 years ago. Foghat and Blue Oyster Cult on the same bill... what a show.

[RecordWarped]

You were so lucky to see Foghat and the BOC together! Who was the headliner? The '70s had so much going musically, and it wasn't the calculated, commercial crap we have now. Rock 'n' roll is big business, but few rockers are making any money it seems.

[cougstang]

Thanks for posting these. I appreciate all the work you did to make these music clips. Some of them I never heard, but now my 70s music library will be bigger and better now thaks to you. I really liked the 1979 songs.

[nccvball]

My pleasure. Anything you can do to support any of the songs you like will be greatly appreciated by the artists.

If you like a song, and it is available for purchase, please support that artist by buying their song(s) through Amazon, iTunes, Walmart, or Artists Direct. I would suggest trying your local music store as well but most are out of business due to the stores above.

[nccvball]

@cougstang

You're welcome. The 1978 and 1979 videos were the first I created and they account for almost 40% of all the views on this channel. 1979 was probably the last year where we had a great number of music genres represented in pop music.

[ProVoz]

You rock!!!  The only person on YouTube with a nice sample of "Should've Been" hits! I salute you!

[rin3guy]

Thank you so much for sharing these!

[nccvball]

My pleasure. I hope to have more on the way soon.