When you think about the 1970's nowadays, you pretty much think of what is now called "classic rock". You know, artists that are played on rock stations that for the most part seem relevant today, at least with those who are my age. If asked to name "core artists", one can easily sum up that decade with the following: The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Santana, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, Heart, Bad Company and the list can go on and on.
But the seventies had a pop culture as well, and while the two camps may have been as different as night and day, if you looked at the pop singles charts (and yes, album charts as well), they were definitely intermingled. Look at a top 40 listing from the mid-1970's, and you'll see "regulars" such as John Denver, Barry White, Barry Manilow, Olivia Newton-John, Tony Orlando & Dawn, The Captain & Tennille, and several others. Watch television and chances are, you'll see more of these performers on variety and awards shows, some of them even hosted their own variety show as well. Much like today, these pop stars were featured much more than their rock counterparts, unless you happened to watch late-night television such as In Concert or Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.
Two other stars from that era, Helen Reddy and Mac Davis, within a span of a day, passed away, both of them at age 78. They were very visible and had crossed paths frequently and both hosted their own variety shows. Turn on top 40 radio anytime between say, 1971 and 1977 and chances are that you'll hear at least one of their songs. Combined, they had four number one songs. Reddy had been suffering in recent years from dementia; Davis passed during heart surgery.
It was the late 1960's that both of them were struggling to gain a foothold in the business; Reddy in particular. A native of Australia, she was determined to have a singing career. When she had married record manager and producer Jeff Wald in 1968, she had pleaded with him to have a crack at a music career. Wald had managed acts as disparate as Tiny Tim and Deep Purple, and was willing to give Reddy a shot. Reddy had recorded some songs that hit the Australian charts in the late 1960's, but was determine to make her mark Stateside. Wald managed to get her signed to Capitol Records for one single only, although Capitol hired and fired Wald from that record label on the same day; although he still became Reddy's manager up to their divorce in 1983.
For that one single for Capitol, Reddy recorded two sides: "I Don't Know How to Love Him", a song from the rock opera album Jesus Christ Superstar which was popular at the time, backed with "I Believe in Music", a song by Mac Davis.
Davis at the time was known as a songwriter. He had written songs for other artists, and was known at "The Song Painter", which was the name of his 1970 debut album. He wrote several hits for Elvis Presley and played a part in his late 1960's "comeback". His composition "Memories" was featured in Elvis' "'68 Comeback Special", while "In The Ghetto" became The King's first top 10 since 1965. Other notable Davis songs made famous by Elvis included "A Little Less Conversation", and "Don't Cry Daddy". In early 1971, Davis scored with "Watching Scotty Grow", a top 10 hit for Bobby Goldsboro.
"I Believe in Music" was issued by Reddy, but she felt she didn't do the tune justice, and radio programmers preferred "I Don't Know How to Love Him", instead. Good move, as the song peaked at #13 (besting the original version by Yvonne Elliman, which peaked at #28 around the same time). The success of her song prompted Capitol records to sign her up for a full album, as well as a long-term contract.
Reddy, a song stylist, went with songs by renowned songwriters; her two follow-ups were Van Morrison's "Crazy Love" and Carole King's "No Sad Song", but both stopped short of the top 50. Meanwhile, some of Davis' singles also hit the lower parts of the pop chart.
From Reddy's debut album, titled after her first hit, also contained an early version of what would become her signature song, as well as an anthem for the women's liberation movement, "I Am Woman". Written by her, (mainly because she couldn't find any other songs out there that spoke for her and women's rights, that version was featured in the closing credits of the 1972 movie Stand Up and Be Counted.
Helen re-recorded the song, which was intended as a follow-up to "No Sad Song". Released in May 1972, it appeared at the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100, but was off of it in three weeks. But buzz on the song as well as a concerted promotion effort resulted in a re-entry on the chart in September, and by December 1972, it was her first number one song, and Reddy became a major star. On my year-end list for that year, "I Am Woman" made it in at #98.
Mac Davis, meanwhile, also broke through in 1972. In September of that year, "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me", hit #1. His record label, Columbia suggested that he write a song that had a "hook" in it, meaning a song with catchy, memorable musical progressions that everyone would remember. But Davis took it literally, and it resulted in his breakthrough hit. Both it, and "I Am Woman" were on the charts at the same time, but with Davis' song being about not wanting to commit to a woman who was very much interested in him, contrasting with a strong woman looking for equal rights, Kal Rudman of The Friday Morning Quarterback tip sheet and Record World's "Money Music" column suggested both songs be played back to back to show a contrast.
Davis' "I Believe in Music" which failed to become a hit either by himself or Reddy, finally became a hit around that time as well, via a cover by the group Gallery, which was coming off a big record with "Nice to Be With You". Their follow-up landed at #22 shortly after "Hooked" was a hit. Both "Hooked" and "Believe" made my year-end list at #42 and #40 respectively.
1973 arguably was the year of Helen Reddy after her "I Am Woman" success. She garnered a 1972 Billboard "trend-setter" award at the start of the year and won the Grammy for "Best Pop Performance, Female" for "I Am Woman", She made a memorable acceptance speech by thanking everyone at Capitol Records, and her husband Jeff Wald for making her success possible, and finally "God, because She makes everything possible". That summer, she hosted a variety show summer replacement for her friend Flip Wilson.
Reddy followed up the song with Kenny Rankin's "Peaceful" (#12), followed by her second #1, "Delta Dawn", a country hit the prior summer for Tanya Tucker. A memory of that song was from our summer vacation in Manasquan at the Jersey Shore. We rented a house on First Avenue next door to a house from the Worth family who had a young daughter named Dawn. You could always hear Dawn singing that song. "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" finished her great year with a #3 song. On my year-end list, "Delta Dawn" came in at #56, while "Leave Me Alone" would hit my 1974 list.
1974 would bring in more successes for Helen Reddy. She became a co-host for the very first American Music Awards (AMA's) and won the very first "Female Pop/Rock Artist". She would go on to host three of the next four AMA's. (Davis would host in 1981). Continuing to tear up the pop charts that year, she scored with "Keep on Singing" (#15), "You and Me Against the World" (#9, a favorite song of hers from that summer), and her third and final #1, "Angie Baby". The latter two songs, as well as "Ruby" made my 1974 year end list: "You and Me" came in at #31, "Ruby Red Dress" at #61 and "Angie" at #92.
Meanwhile, Mac Davis had a series of mid and low-charting songs after "Hooked" but he, too had a summer replacement variety show that ran three years from 1974 to '76. That heated up his hit streak with three straight top 20 songs: "One Hell of A Woman" (#11), "Stop and Smell the Roses (#9) and "Rock 'n' Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" (#15). He started having more success on the country chart from that point on, although he would have chart entries going all the way into the early 1980's. "One Hell of a Woman" came in at #50 on my 1974 list.
By 1975, however, things cooled off for Reddy, although she still continuously had top 40 hits, including the #8 "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" and #19 "Somewhere in the Night" (covered later by Barry Manilow). Reddy also became the primary host of the late-night Midnight Special TV show until the following year.
One of my favorite Reddy songs became her last top 20 hit in 1977. "You're My World", a cover of a Cilla Black song from the 1960's reached #18, but also became her highest-ranked song on any of my year-end lists, at #13 that year.
Both Reddy and Davis transitioned into movies during the 1970's. Reddy appeared as a nun in the movie Airport 1975 and then starred in the Disney movie Pete's Dragon. Davis had a lengthy career in such movies as North Dallas Forty and The Sting II. His most recent role was in 2017's Where the Fast Land Ends.
Reddy appeared on various TV shows into the 1980's (both variety specials and series), delved into Broadway as well; and continued performing thru 2002, when she announced her retirement. A biopic, named after her signature song, appeared in 2019, when Tilda Cobham-Hurvey played her. She had a recurring voice in the animated Family Guy, and would do an occasional concert, as well as supporting women's rights.
Reddy should be remembered as a pop icon and for advancing the women's liberation movement, something that took on an elevated meaning in the wake of #MeToo. While Lesley Gore's 1964 hit "You Don't Own Me" has become an anthem in the movement in its own right, it was only in recent years that it gained such stature; "I Am Woman" really was the song that changed the perception of women in song.
Rest in Peace, Helen Reddy and Mac Davis.
IN THE AFTERNOON LIGHT: This past Sunday, I had headed down to the Middletown, NJ area to do some geocaching, but the primary destination was that town's Poricy Park. For two hours that afternoon, people plucked down their lawn chairs and listened to four local artists play. Of course, the one that interested me was Elise Farnsworth, who was the last one to take the "stage" (aka the park's gazebo). Also appearing were Dan Toye, playing music from his 2016 effort Goin' Home, including the title track; Kevin McGowan, who released a 2006 album Out Life, with some music with an Irish flair, including "Storms of Kilarny"; and Stu Coogan. All were pleasantly received.
 |
| Elise Farnsworth performing at Poricy Park in Middletown NJ as part of a concert to benefit the Middletown Arts Center. |
But it was Elise Farnsworth that I was waiting for. Starting with her current #1 blog hit "In the Morning Light", nicely acoustically done, and proceeding from there, with songs from her debut album Turn Her Up. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't too cooperative, as it had clouded up considerably and by her third song, it started raining, chasing some of the crowd away, and moving others to under a tree. But the rain was short-lived and Farnsworth continued. Her children's song "Pixie Dust" (also from the album) was a nice treat. Her husband John (of the John Farnsworth Sextet) joined her for a couple songs, including her top 3 "Safety Net", his saxophone adding spice to her acoustic take on the song.
By 6:00, the concert had ended, but not before two hours of enjoying local music. The concert in the park was sponsored by the local Middletown Arts Center, which is furthering the support of music in that Monmouth country town and is environs. I finally got a chance to meet Elise in person, after following her music for much of the year, as well as her husband and one of her band members. It also marked the second artist that I have been following on my blog this year that I have seen in person, following The Outcrops two weeks ago.
CURRENTS BRIEFLY: Keeping this short as I am going away this weekend, but the live performance by Elise Farnsworth has kept her at the top spot for a second week in a row. This makes it eight straight weeks that an artist from the Garden State has topped my list. Can she hold on for a third week? Winnetka Bowling League and Michael Kiwanuka are formidable challengers, any three could grab the brass ring next week. ScreenAge is still hanging in there at #4. and David Forfirio advances to #5 with "Driving at Dusk". The Impact award goes to Harry Styles' "Watermelon Sugar". The former #1 pop song becomes the first with that distinction to enter my top 20 since Selena Gomez's "Lose You to Love Me" peaked at #19 here in April. With Miley Cyrus grabbing Mover of the Week honors with her #14 pop song "Midnight Sky" (35-21) knocking on the Top 20 door, it appears that pop might be making a mild comeback on my playlist.
While Jersey artists abound on the list, the focus seems to be on Monmouth County in particular. Aside from Ms. Farnsworth, (whose "Safety Met", performed on Sunday with her husband John, re-enters the chart at #81, higher than any new debut), the slightly more well known Phoebe Ryan from Red Bank, and legend Bruce Springsteen, from Freehold are among the two debuts, with The Boss returning to a more rock stance this time around, while Phoebe is trying to add spice to her spare pop which had put her in somewhat of a rut. But both artists are beaten out to the Top Debut by "Club Zero" by The Go-Go's. Yes, those Go-Go's. "Club Zero" is their first release in 19 years, and pretty much is what you'd expect from that pioneering new wavers. The band is the current subject of a documentary by Allison Ellwood that is running on Showtimel The Beths' follow-up to "Dying to Believe" is "I'm Not Getting Excited", while Mabel, a singer-songwriter from Spain, debuts with a flavored-pop outing, 'Mad Love".
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
September 27, 2020
|
This Week |
Last
Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks
on List |
|
1 |
1 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Turn Her Up (2 weeks at #1) |
11 |
|
2 |
3 |
8 |
|
|
3 |
4 |
7 |
|
|
4 |
2 |
20 |
|
|
5 |
8 |
7 |
|
|
6 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
7 |
10 |
9 |
|
|
8 |
9 |
13 |
|
|
9 |
11 |
10 |
|
|
10 |
5 |
11 |
|
|
11 |
6 |
13 |
|
|
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
|
13 |
15 |
7 |
|
|
14 |
17 |
12 |
|
|
15 |
13 |
18 |
|
|
16 |
14 |
19 |
|
|
17 |
16 |
23 |
|
|
18 |
23 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  Album: Fine Line |
6 |
|
19 |
18 |
22 |
|
|
20 |
25 |
4 |
|
|
21 |
35 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  Album: She Is Miley Cyrus |
3 |
|
22 |
24 |
9 |
|
|
23 |
28 |
10 |
|
|
24 |
32 |
5 |
|
|
25 |
20 |
16 |
|
|
26 |
27 |
7 |
|
|
27 |
22 |
17 |
|
|
28 |
30 |
6 |
|
|
29 |
34 |
4 |
|
|
30 |
37 |
4 |
|
|
31 |
36 |
5 |
|
|
32 |
19 |
24 |
|
|
33 |
21 |
14 |
|
|
34 |
26 |
15 |
|
|
35 |
38 |
4 |
|
|
36 |
43 |
4 |
|
|
37 |
33 |
9 |
|
|
38 |
40 |
5 |
|
|
39 |
39 |
11 |
|
|
40 |
41 |
8 |
|
|
41 |
61 |
3 |
|
|
42 |
29 |
15 |
|
|
43 |
47 |
11 |
|
|
44 |
31 |
17 |
|
|
45 |
50 |
27 |
|
|
46 |
42 |
23 |
|
|
47 |
46 |
17 |
|
|
48 |
57 |
17 |
|
|
49 |
48 |
18 |
|
|
50 |
53 |
8 |
|
|
51 |
76 |
2 |
|
|
52 |
64 |
5 |
|
|
53 |
78 |
2 |
|
|
54 |
44 |
8 |
|
|
55 |
63 |
6 |
|
|
56 |
72 |
2 |
|
|
57 |
56 |
22 |
|
|
58 |
66 |
5 |
|
|
59 |
45 |
14 |
|
|
60 |
52 |
15 |
|
|
61 |
59 |
12 |
|
|
62 |
49 |
12 |
|
|
63 |
54 |
11 |
|
|
64 |
67 |
5 |
|
|
65 |
71 |
3 |
|
|
66 |
51 |
8 |
|
|
67 |
75 |
3 |
|
|
68 |
55 |
18 |
|
|
69 |
81 |
2 |
|
|
70 |
58 |
14 |
|
|
71 |
80 |
2 |
|
|
72 |
69 |
11 |
|
|
73 |
60 |
6 |
|
|
74 |
65 |
8 |
|
|
75 |
74 |
6 |
|
|
76 |
82 |
2 |
|
|
77 |
62 |
17 |
|
|
78 |
70 |
16 |
|
|
79 |
68 |
8 |
|
|
80 |
77 |
9 |
|
|
81 |
Re Entry |
20 |
|
|
82 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  (Single Only) |
1 |
|
83 |
79 |
4 |
|
|
84 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
85 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
87 |
73 |
16 |
|
|
88 |
83 |
3 |
|
|
89 |
87 |
2 |
|
|
90 |
84 |
3 |
|
|
91 |
89 |
5 |
|
|
92 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
93 |
86 |
14 |
|
|
94 |
85 |
7 |
|
|
95 |
88 |
7 |
|
|
96 |
90 |
13 |
|
|
97 |
91 |
12 |
|
|
98 |
92 |
10 |
|
|
99 |
93 |
7 |
|
|
100 |
94 |
6 |
|
|
Songs with the greatest increase in
favorite points over the prior week. ●
Songs with
25 or more plays on iTunes/iPods ▲ Songs with 50 or more plays.
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