doc’s 60s and 70s summer picks #1

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Pipeline (Brian Carman and Bob Spickard) — The Chantays, 1962 (#4)

The tune, originally called “Liberty’s Whip,” was renamed after the band members saw a surfing movie showing scenes of the Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii.^[1] The tune, fitting in with the popular surfing craze of the time, swiftly rose up the Billboard Pop charts, reaching #4, and becoming a classic hit of its time. The tune is notable for using Alberti bass chords.

Don’t Worry Baby (Brian Wilson, Roger Christian)

Beach Boys — from the 1964 album Shut Down Volume 2. It was also released on 11 May 1964 as the B-side of “I Get Around,” which became the first #1 single by the Beach Boys. “Don’t Worry Baby” reached #24.

Surfer Girl (Brian Wilson)

Beach Boys — b/w “Little Deuce Coupe” (Capitol 5009), released 22 July 1963, #7 Hot 100 — from the 1963 LP Surfer Girl

Ball of Fire (Tommy James, Mike Vale, Bruce Sudano, Woody Wilson*) – Tommy James & the Shondells, Roulette single R-7060, b/w “Makin’ Good Time,” released September 1969

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Tighter, Tighter (Tommy James)

Alive N Kickin’ — Released in May 1970, the single peaked at #7 on the Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 16 weeks (throughout the summer). It sold more than a million copies, and was certified gold by the R.I.A.A.

O-o-h Child (Stan Vincent)

The Five Stairsteps — “O-o-h Child” was originally released in February 1970 on the single Buddah BDA 165, as the B-side of “Dear Prudence.” In May 1970 it was reissued under the same catalog number, b/w “Who Do You Belong To”

“O-o-h Child” was by far the most successful single on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart by the Five Stairsteps, reaching #8. It also peaked at #14 on the R&B singles chart, and became the 11th (chronologically) of 15 top forty R&B hits by the Stairsteps from 1966 to 1980.

(below) live TV studio performance for The Barbara McNair Show, Season 2, Episode 27; airdate: 4 April 1971

Wishing You Were Here (Peter Cetera)

Chicago — originally released on the album Chicago VII in March 1974 — In October 1974, it was issued on the single Columbia 3-10049, b/w “Life Saver”(Billboard singles chart success: #11, Hot 100; #1, Easy Listening). The promo single edition of Columbia 3-10049 has the long version on the B-side.

album and long single version (2002 remaster)

(below) short promo version

Rock Your Baby (Harry Wayne Casey, Richard Finch)

George McCrae — issued 4 April 1974 on T.K. Records 1004, b/w “Rock Your Baby (Part 2)” — #1 Hot 100 (2 weeks: 13-20 July 1974), #1 R&B (2 weeks: 6-13 July 1974)

(below) extended version, remastered

Feel Like Makin’ Love (Eugene McDaniels)

Roberta Flack — released 10 June 1974; #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 (1 week: 10 August 1974), #1 R&B (5 weeks: 3-31 August 1974), and Easy Listening (2 weeks) charts

Rock the Boat (Waldo “Wally” Holmes)

The Hues Corporation — originally issued on the 1973 album Freedom For the Stallion, RCA Victor APL1-0323; shorter edit issued in February 1974 on the single RCA Victor APBO-0232, b/w “All Goin’ Down Together” — The single initially flopped but began to get airplay months later after becoming a disco and club favorite. It caught fire and climbed all the way to #1. “Rock the Boat” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of July 6, 1947, also reaching #1 in Canada and New Zealand and #6 in the UK.

Summer (Allen, Brown, Dickerson, Jordan, Miller, Oskar, Scott)

War — # 7 Hot 100, #4 R&B single in 1976; the following is a longer album version

Shannon (Henry Gross)

Henry Gross – 1976

I’m Still in Love with You (Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Al Jackson)

Al Green — issued on the single Hi 45-2216, b/w “Old Time Lovin'” — chart success: #1 R&B, two weeks in August 1972; #3 Hot 100 — It also became the title track of Al Green’s fifth album, released in October 1972

I’m Not in Love (Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman)

10cc — A 6 minute version was released in March 1975 on the album The Original Soundtrack. The single, edited down to under 4 minutes, was released on 31 May 1975.

Chart positions: UK #1, 2 weeks; US #2, 3 weeks: July 26, August 2, and August 9 issues. Three different songs took the number one spot during its three weeks at #2: “The Hustle” (Van McCoy), “One of These Nights” (The Eagles), and “Jive Talkin'” (The Bee Gees).

Musikladen, airdate: 20 August 1975

Hang On In There Baby (Johnny Bristol)

Johnny Bristol — issued in June 1974 on MGM Records M 14715, b/w “Take Care Of You For Me” (Bristol) — chart success: #8 Hot 100, #2 R&B (US), and #3 UK pop

When Will I See You Again (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff)

The Three Degrees — recorded in 1973, featuring an arrangement by Bobby Martin, and orignally released on the 1973 album The Three Degrees

In the UK, it was released as a single in June 1974, which topped the UK pop chart in August that year. The US single, Philadelphia International ZS8 3550, was issued on 4 September 1974, b/w “Year of Decision” (Gamble & Huff).

U.S. single chart peaks, Autumn 1974:
#1 — Adult Contemporary
#2 — Hot 100 (pop)
#2 — Disco
#4 — R&B

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