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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Whaddya know? #1 on #AT40 is NOT a stinker this week! Thank you, 1970! (Diana Ross "Ain't No Mountain High Enough")

Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Bobby Sherman, catching Friday night TV that September '70: "What's this new show - Partridge Family? Hell, they just ripped off The Cowsills. Whatever. What else is on?" Sherman still enjoying his reign with "Julie Do Ya Love Me?" Sept. '70 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Bonus "Who's At The Bottom Of The Billboard Hot 100:" after reaching its high of #93 this week in 1970, "Border Song" by some nobody named Elton John would exit the chart. His next U.S. single would do better - "Your Song." #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I'm a lucky guy: having seen Michael Nesmith solo (Chicago's City Winery,) and on his final tour with Micky Dolenz (Chicago's Rosemont Theatre,) I got to hear him perform "Joanne" live. Such a talented man & sweet soul, he should have had more solo success post-Monkees. Sept. '70 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Today's Who's At The Bottom Of The Billboard Hot 100 finds bands who hit earlier in '70 trying to avoid being 1-hit wonders (in the U.S.) Blues Image ("Ride, Captain, Ride,") Alive 'N Kickin' ("Tighter, Tighter,") and White Plains ("My Baby Loves Lovin'") had entries between 96-86. No luck. #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

New Seekers with a (purposely?) identical performance & production of Melanie's "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma." Discussion at Seekers HQ: "Change it? WHY?? It was a hit her way... so, let's just do that!!" Sept. '70 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Expanding the Supreme Court HAS to be the #1 priority of a Democratic president & congress. Otherwise, these rogue Trump judges will continue to f*ck up our lives. #VoteBlue2026 #VoteBlue2028

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Annnnd....... the #AT40 Number 1's continue to force us to cut out early. So glad you're happy to be a country boy, John Denver. But I'm out! Saturday, y'all.

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Ace's "How Long" sounds very 1977. (In 1975.) #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Mark Farner, late 1974: "Sh!t, before we became a "singles band," I used to write almost ALL our songs! So, BAM, here's this!!" Farner providing the last great hit for Grand Funk - "Bad Time" June '75 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Because I have nothing else to say about "Philadelphia Freedom," I'll just point out that, even as Casey was touting the sales of Elton's "Capt. Fantastic" album, this song is NOT on that album. It was a stand-alone single. June '75 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

(Love how Casey just announced Average White Band with a shrug on "average." WE HEARD IT, CASEY 😊!) #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

If you'd never heard a single Alice Cooper song before 1975, I can see how "Welcome To My Nightmare" would be interesting. But, it's a stark dividing line between the OG fans of the band's dangerous hard rock '71-'73, and the slick, soul-less output from studio musicians which followed. #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Seeing The Doobie Brothers (for the first time!) at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in the 20-teens's, they opened with "Take Me In Your Arms." It sounded perfect, as did all their hits. They, um "have it down" 😄. June '75 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

For the Chicagoans here: "back in the day," WGN Channel 9 would run movies Sunday afternoon, and they'd use the opening strings from Roger Whitaker's "Last Farewell" as a theme song." I get a nostalgic rush when I hear those first bars ... and then I change the channel! June '75 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Monti Rock III certainly not the first person to release a follow-up single which, essentially, sounds EXACTLY like the first big hit. This may be "I Wanna Dance With You," but, please, it's "Get Dancin'" continued. June '75 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Repeating myself: I remain amazed at Ray Stevens' career. Pop, country - and comedy! I takes some doing to keep having hits for years, avoiding being pigeon-hole'd by genres. He's a divisive presence here on #AT40, but I tip my hat to him. His take on "Misty" June '75.

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Disco is coming. Be afraid. Be very afraid. ("The Hustle" Van McCoy June '75 on #AT40)

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Sharing: June '75 marked the end of the most miserable year of my life - Sr. year in a new, clique-y school on Chicago's North Shore. I came to the school hating everybody & everything, missing my home, my friends, my girlfriend in Pittsburgh. I walked out that last day, never been back since. #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Bachman Turner Overdrive would headline stadium shows that summer of '75. But, "Hey You" was already marking their decline. As big as they were, they had a year and a half, and then... #AT40 June '75

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Because A) I never listened to #AT40 back in the day, and B) at the time, teenage me had relegated Elvis Presley to the 50's oldies pile, I'm consistently amazed at the continued presence of Elvis in the charts in the 70's. Nevertheless, here's "T.R.O.U.B.L.E." June '75.

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Every time I hear the famous Beethoven opening, I think "Oh, great! ELO's kick ass version of "Roll Over Beethoven!" Only to be crushed again and again hearing it's Walter Murphy's disco cash-in. Ugh. "A Fifth of Beethoven" Sept. '76 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Today's "Who's At The Bottom Of The Billboard Hot 100," finds a new band from Boston named... Boston. "More Than A Feeling" entered the chart this Sept. '76 at #86, but it would do better 😉 (making it to #5 by Christmas.) We'd hear singles from this album for the next year and a half! #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

My favorite quote from Heart's Nancy Wilson, regarding seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan in 1964: "Unlike most girls, we didn't want to marry The Beatles, we wanted to BE THEM." Rock on, ladies! "Magic Man" Sept. '76 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Forgotten by 1976 was the fact that, when Blue Oyster Cult first arrived in 1972, they were considered dark and dangerous. Understandably for working musicians, they clearly tired of being just a cult band and developed their commercial chops. "Don't Fear The Reaper" Sept. '76 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Even though, at this point, The Bay City Rollers had fired founding bassist Alan Longmuir for the sin of being too old (he was in his latter 20's!), I still loved their "I Only Want To Be With You." (And, yes, I still prefer it over Dusty's version. Guitars! Drums!). Sept. '76 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Out of the ashes of The Raspberries, Eric Carmen came back with the strongest of his solo albums. "Sunrise" is pure joy, and should have charted higher than it did on #AT40 fall '76.

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Given this week's #1, I'll just put this at the top of the pile again... #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Loved hearing "We Are The Champions" on the radio, but my favorite song on that album was Roger Taylor's "Sheer Heart Attack" (confusingly, the title of their 3rd album 3 years earlier... ) Queen rocking #AT40 Feb. '78

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Since we're already awash in "Saturday Night Fever" music... have you seen the 1983 sequel, "Staying Alive?" It's... not the worst movie of all time (that award goes to "Xanadu,") but... wow, it IS a contender! #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I had Rod Stewart's earlier albums, loved The Faces, but the latter 70's heard me cry "Aw, c'mon, Rod - you used to rock! What happened?" (See also: Alice Cooper.) "You're In My Heart" Feb. '78 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Shaun Cassidy's "Hey Deanie" is my favorite song so far on this Feb. '78 #AT40. Come & get me - I don't care! 😆

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

COVERS, COVERS, COVERS in early 1978. Santa Esmerelda with their "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood." At least the Spanish influence was a little bit of... something. Feb. '78 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

And, speaking of instant channel changers, here's Eric Clapton with "Lay Down Sally." (I never liked it.) Feb. '78 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I hope this will eventually pass, but these days I immediately get the MAGA ick-factor whenever I hear Lynyrd Skynyrd. They're now instant channel changers. "What's Your Name" Feb. '78 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I realize this is heresy for some of the gang, but I just never got into Foreigner. Too slick, technically proficient but no soul. (And, I even met Mick Jones many years later. Very nice man.) "Long, Long Way From Home" Feb. '78 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

OMG... this is SUCH A BORING STORY re: The Commodores. File under: who gives a sh!t? (Really, Casey, this is the best the record company PR dweebs could feed you??) #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Meco, proving again how adept he was at taking an orchestral composition and making it sound like it's coming out of a mid-70's video game. (Butchering "Close Encounters" Feb. '78 on #AT40)

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Jay Ferguson... from Spirit... to Jo Jo Gunne... to solo in '78. "Thunder Island" on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

True story from Casey. ABBA were pioneers in negotiating international payment via tradable commodities. (What else would you expect from the band which, for a time, was Sweden's #1 export?!) "Name Of The Game" Feb. '78 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I've long since "forgiven" The Bee Gees, and I now soak up the quality of the songwriting, the arrangements, the production and, of course, the performances. I'll still roll my eyes over plenty of the disco hits of the day, but The Bee Gees were the real deal. "Night Fever" Feb. '78 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Its was only 1978... and the U.S. music business was already running out of ideas. Covers, covers, covers. Yawn. Here's Art, Paul and James putting us to sleep with the umpteenth version of "Wonderful World" Feb. '78 on #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Casey's telling of Neil Bogart's success with Casablanca Records made it sound like Donna Summer alone saved the company. Actually, Summer and Kiss both caught fire at the same time in '75 (after Bogart had floated Kiss for their first 3 low-selling albums.) He had faith & it paid off. #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Trump gas price hike report from Wilmington, NC: gas is now at an ALL TIME HIGH here, well over $4 a gallon - an increase of $1.30 per gallon. Unlike past presidents of either party, this price hike is 100% the fault of Donald Trump's STUPIDITY and IGNORANCE. #VoteBlue2026

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

On today's "Who's At The Bottom Of The Billboard Hot 100," this week in 1975 finds The Grass Roots at #78 with "Mamacita." It'd only get up to #71. If you're like me, you're thinking "The Grass Roots were still around in 1975???" (Japan, always good for a picture sleeve, below.) #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I've made several play-lists for my 1975-1976 college buds over the years. As much as I wanted to recreate the time, I've always refused to include "Run, Joey, Run." It's just... OMFG. #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Answer: "Run, Joey, Run." Question: "What song was even worse than "Feelings" that fall of 1975?" #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Two years old, but worth the wait: Sweet's 1973 U.K. hit comes to rescue late summer/early fall in the U.S. CRANK IT!!! #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Has the version of "Solitaire" you'll likely never hear. In 1974, former Rolling Stones producer/manager Andrew Loog Oldham found this wispy young man in LA, but the album was a nice-but-too-late entry in the glam sweepstakes. It's soaked with big, glittery arrangements! Brett Smiley, y'all. #AT40

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Rod Wilson @radiorodnee.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I'm trying to come up with another snarky post re: Morris Albert's "Feelings." Need something more clever than "This is just f***king awful." I'm sure it'll come to me after this #AT40 is over!

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