Billboard's Hot 100/ Top 40 Motown Chronicles - 1974 - [Pt. 1]

[Boogiedown]

Because of the amount of content,
the year 1974 is being divided into three threads.

This is Part I:
January - April:

Previously on Motown and Billboard's Hot 100/ Top 40:

1973:
link for: 1973 Part III - Sept -December:
link for: 1973 Part II - May - August
link for: 1973 Part I - Jan - April

1972:
link for: 1972 Part III - Sept - December
link for: 1972 Part II - May -August
link for: 1972 Part 1 - Jan -April

1971:
link for: 1971 Pt. 1 - Jan - July
link for: 1971 Pt. 2 - July - December

link for: 1970

[Boogiedown]

Because of the amount of content,
the year 1974 is being divided into three threads.

This is Part I:
January - April:


Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #01
Jan. 5, 1974


Number of singles reviewed this week: 36!!
last week: 60
including:

Soul recommended:
EDWIN STARR - Don't It Feel Good to Be Free [2:41]; producers: Freddie Perren, Ponce Mizell; writer: F. Perren; Motown 1284

Cash Box:

EDDIE KENDRICKS [Tamla 54243F] Boogie Down [3:30] F. Wilson, L. Caston, A. Poree - Out just two weeks and already in its second week on the charts, this super driven follow up to Eddie's great “Keep On Truckin,” is right on the mark and will continue the success he garnered with his last. No denying it now, Eddie Kendricks has arrived!

Record World:

EDWIN STARR, "AIN'T IT HELL UP IN HARLEM" [prod. by Freddie Perren & Fonce Mizell]. From the latest Fred Williamson flick "Hell Up in Harlem"comes the title tune written by Freddie Perren and performed well by Mr. Starr. If pic hits, so might disc. MotownM1284F

The Motown Review:

1974 starts with a bang. Motown is back in the Top 10 with Stevie Wonder's LIVING FOR THE CITY and has four singles heading for the Top 40, two are high placing debuts. On the Soul Singles chart, four of the Top 11 records are on Motown labels with Stevie Wonder repeating the #1 position he held there to close out 1973.
Motown is six records strong on the Hot 100 entering 1974.

The Top 10:

Jim Croce maintains his position at the top with his self-written TIME IN A BOTTLE. Stevie Wonder returns to the top 10 for the 4th time in row with his self-written LIVING FOR THE CITY to #9 from #11 in just 7 weeks. Gladys Knight's I'VE GOT TO USE MY IMAGINATION reaches the Top 10 entering at #10 from #14. The Carpenters are on TOP OF THE WORLD this week although their former #1 single drops out of the Top 10, their greatest hits package hits #1 on the LP chart. Todd Rundgren says goodbye this week with HELLO ITS ME dipping to #14 from #6.

The Top 40:

Two 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:

^LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder bounds to #9 from #11
COME GET TO THIS - Marvin Gaye holds on to #34 from #33
KEEP ON TRUCKIN' - Eddie Kendricks - OFF from #40

Offs: After six failures, KEEP ON TRUCKIN' becomes not only Eddie Kendricks' first Top 40 hit, it ascends all the way to the top to #1. It wasn't Motown's first pick as a single from his latest album [DARLING COME BACK HOME was] and after 19 weeks on the Hot 100 it departs just in time for Eddie's next 45 from his next LP to take over.

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 11 spots
YOU'RE SIXTEEN - Ringo at #16 from #27

3 debuts, 3 US, , 1 +Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy
Highest debut:
+JUNGLE BOOGIE+ - Kool & The Gang #37 up 17 from #54 [2nd top 40 hit]

AMERICAN TUNE - Paul Simon #39 up 4 from #43 [6th Top 40 hit]
IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH DECEMBER - Merl Haggard #40 up 10 from #50 [One Hit Wonder]
noted:
I CAN'T STAND THE RAIN - Ann Peebles reverses course to #41 from #42 and almost reenters the Top 40.

The Hot 100:

9 newbies : 4 Top 40 bound, 3 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 2 Motown, 0 by proxy
Highest debut 3rd tier:
#70- LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross

#75 - CAN THIS BE REAL - Natural Four
#76 - BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks
#86 - YOURE SO UNIQUE - Billy Preston
#87 - MY SWEET LADY - Cliff De Young
#90 - DADDY WHAT IF - Bobby Bare
#92 - STAR - Stealer's Wheel
#98 - W.O.L.D. - Harry Chapin
#99 - LET ME GET TO KNOW YOU -Paul Anka

Motown:
debuts: two

1st week: LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross DEBUT: #70
1st week: BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks DEBUT: #76
3rd week: ^LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations #46 up 19 from#65
8th week ^BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson #51 up 8 from #59
OFF : none
____

a very good week for:
Merle Haggard
not only did he make it through December, but he's charting on the Top 40 with his first record ever to do so [OKIE FROM MUSKOGEE peaked at #41]. IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH DECEMBER is Merle's 17th #1 Country song and he'll follow it with 8 more .

The biggest country crossover name of the moment however is Charlie Rich as HEY MISTER



from 1968 gets a remake by him and becomes THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL :



Charlie Rich has achieved a trifecta with THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL reaching #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, #1 on The Country chart, and #1 on the Easy Listening chart ... it also reached #1 in Canada and #2 in the UK. The 41 year-old 'Silver Fox' is enjoying his huge overnight success that is ten years in the making.
Diana Ross' newly released album includes her version of Rich's earlier 1973 Top 40 hit [#15] BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

***
Soul Sauce column closed out 1973 on a sour note and begins 1974 on a similar one:

in part:

1974 Looms Bleak for Soul Music
By LEROY ROBINSON
LA - Well, we're in it, 1974. And now it's time to put into motion many of the best made plans for success in the music business by those people who like to dream. Hopefully, the dream will include Black Music and a great deal of soul in motion as well. The carryover dilemmas from the past year, however, make the soul look for 1974 dim.
For instance, let's reflect back on these carryovers; the vinyl shortage and the energy crisis. Both are going to affect Black Music growth on records and in the acquisition of new black talent in the making of recordings. It probably sounds unfair [and we hope incorrect] that the vinyl shortage will only intensify what most black artists think is a lack of interest by the record companies of doing anything with black acts. One black musician expects the planned cutback of artist rosters at some record companies to be no different than what it has been with the employment picture: "We're the last hired, and then when cutbacks are decided, we're the first fired." Sad but true. But thinking of the energy crisis, we have to consider all the musicians who got their start in this business because they could hide their ineptness with electronics, and if the energy is lost is their so-called talent. The interesting part to that thesis is that Black Music did not introduce the electronic age in music, but black musicians were forced to join it. Therefore, one would think that the black musicians have little to fear since their capabilities on acoustical electronic instrumentation was only because the industry demanded it.

When it comes to hit-making utilizing electronic music, Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston are front runners. Both had Hot 100 #1 records in 1973 with their clavinet/synthesizer based sounds. Songwriter Leonard Gaston's clavinet playing on KEEP ON TRUCKIN' recently made Motown's 'new' star the third to have a #1 record in 1973 featuring the instrument.

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #02
Jan. 12, 1974


Number of singles reviewed this week: 39!!
last week: 36
including:

MARVIN GAYE - You Sure Love to Ball [3:35]; producer: Marvin Gaye; writer: M. Gaye; Tamla 54244 [Motown]. You can't be more explicit about the sexual meaning of this tune, complete with a moaning girl at the beginning of the arrangement. Gaye sings the song softly, telling his sexy mama that he's aware of her main desire in life. The tune is fare for adults, but for subteens it certainly sounds risque.

The Motown Review:

Stevie Wonder advances a notch higher in the Top Ten while the Temptations return to the Top 40. In a week that's weak in new records, Billboard picks Marvin Gaye's latest release as hopeful while also questioning it as appropriate. Nothing new from Motown this week as one 45 slips off, giving the label a total of 5 charters all upward bound, two are in the Top 40.

The Top 10:

Steve Miller has a serious first Top 40 hit as it zooms to the top. THE JOKER moves up from #2 trading places with Jim Croce's TIME IN A BOTTLE. Quite a Top 10 shift this round as three songs drop out to be replaced by: Ringo's YOU'RE SIXTEEN from #16 to #6, and in the Top 10, there for the first time, Olivia Newton-John enters at #9 from #13 with LET ME BE THERE, while at #10 from #12, another Beatle, Paul McCartney, enters with HELEN WHEELS. Helen Reddy, leaves alone with her RUBY RED DRESS from its peak of #3 to #14 while it's also GOODBYE to THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD by Elton John, denied a #1 record by peaking at #2 [#1 Canada] plunging from to #7 to #18, and so long as well to THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL by Charlie Rich from #4 to #12.

The Top 40:

Two 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:

^LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder shifts to #8 from #9 [no bullet]
^LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations bulleted DEBUT at #38
COME GET TO THIS - Marvin Gaye OFF from #34

Off:
Marvin Gaye's COME GET TO THIS, first recorded in 1970 then polished up in 1973, it peaks at #21 [#3 Soul] with a ten week run. The Funk Brothers do the instrumentation aided by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra who are also heard on this weeks highest Top 40 debut. The unnoticed "b" side, DISTANT LOVER will get re-released later this year in a live version.

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 11 steps
JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang at #26 from #37

5 debuts, 3 US, 1 Canada, 1 UK , 3 +Top 10 bound+, 1 PI related, 1 Motown, 0 by proxy
Highest debut:
+AMERICANS+ -Bryon MacGregor - #33 up 33 from #65 - [One Hit Wonder]

JOY Part I - Isaac Hayes - #38 up 6 from #44 [6th Top 40 hit]
LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations #38 up 8 from #46 [34th Top 40 hit]
+PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER+ - OJays - #39 up 11 from #50 [5th Top 40 hit]
+ROCK ON+- David Essex - #40 up 8 from #48 - [One Hit Wonder]

The Hot 100:

7 debuts : 6 Top 40 bound, 3 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy
Highest debut 3rd tier:

#83 - DOO DOO [HEART BREAKER] - The Rolling Stones

#85 - COME AND GET YOUR LOVE - Redbone
#90 - ERUS TU [TOUCH THE WIND] - Mocedades
#97 - MEADOWS - Joe Walsh
#98 - AMERICANS - Gordan Sinclair
#99 - SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks
#100 - SEXY MAMA - Moments


Motown:

debuts: none

2nd week: ^LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross #56 up 14 from #70
2nd week: ^BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks #62 up 14 from #76
4rd week: ^LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations Top 40 from #46
9th week ^BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson #48 up 3 from #51
OFFs : none
____

A very good week for:

Americans.
Paul Simon peaks this week at #35 with AMERICAN TUNE described in wiki as a meditation of the American experience, using a Bach composition as its melody.

Canada meanwhile tips its hat at its neighbor as a pro-American newspaper opinion piece is read with underlying music called AMERICANS that has caught fire. Canadian DJ Bryan MacGregors version, released first, surges 33 places to be this week's highest Top 40 debut while Gordon Sinclair's version [also a Dj who wrote the piece originally] taps in at #98.
Also a very good week for:
Canadians.
For the one-two punch of the novelty mentioned above and also the debut of Canadfian Terry Jacks' SEASONS IN THE SUN.

***

Motown is promo-ing Edwin Starr's DON'T IT FEEL GOOD TO BE FREE, but last week Record World took a liking to the 45's "b' side called , AIN'T IT HELL UP IN HARLEM, produced by Freddie Perren & Fonce Mizell, the title tune to the movie by that name. The Motown soundtrack includes an instrumental of Starr's song that is reminiscent of another movie theme that did quite well on a different label:



***

Dropping out of the Top 40 this week after a peak of #4 is SPACE RACE, Billy Preston's celestial follow up to OUTA-SPACE , both #1 Soul charters.




If it's possible to have more fun with a synthesizer time will tell while Motown's Paul Riser seems to be enjoying himself just as much with the abundance of complimenting horns he's arranged.

***
Five Month Club: Ann Peebles: I CANT STAND THE RAIN at #47 in its 20th week on the Hot 100.

***
Full page ad : Eddie Kendricks pictured for new single: BOOGIE DOWN
reads:
The follow-up single to "Keep On Truckin'" is truckin' across the board
and up the charts.

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #03
Jan. 19, 1974


Number of singles reviewed this week: 69
last week: 39

Cash Box:

MARVIN GAYE [Tamla 54244 F] You Sure Love To Ball [3:35] [M. Gaye]
Again culled from Marvin’s top “Let’s Get It On” LP, this rather provocative
track will immediately attract attention on both pop and r&b fronts. In fact,
this one was charted a few days after its release. Full of that good Marvin
Gaye feel, it's definitely his third Top Ten disk in a row from the LP.


Record World Picks:

*EXECUTIVE SUITE - Babylon BRC1111
WHEN THE FUEL RUNS OUT [prod.by Harris, Baker & Young]
These r&b chart leapers turn topical with a title spawned by the energy crisis, and the result is a solid chugger designed to keep body temperatures high. Tight rhythm section secures hit status. A real gas!

*ECSTASY, PASSION & PAIN- RouletteR-7151
I WOULDN'T GIVE YOU UP [prod. by Bobby Martin]
Horns,harmony and high energy highlight this number that should shoot the aptly named group into heavy r&b play. Outstanding production by Bobby Martin gives it extra oomph. Don't give up this one.

* disco significant record

The Motown Review:

Stevie Wonder still leads the way, but LIVING FOR THE CITY has stalled at #8 this week and The Temptations are now Top 30.
Of three that are advancing in that direction, the most unexpected release by Motown shoots into the Top 40 in its 10th week, Smokey Robinson's BABY COME CLOSE bullets up from #48 to #39, this after weeks of modest moves. The company's other two climbers are close behind.
No new ones , no drop offs, Motown has six singles on the chart.

The Top 10:

Week three of 1974 and the 3rd #1 song reaches the top. Al Wilson's SHOW AND TELL took awhile to catch on, but once it did, the momentum has brought it to the top in its 14th week. #2 is last week's #1: THE JOKER by Steve Miller. Gladys Knight is at #4 with I'VE GOT TO USE MY IMAGINATION up one from last week. After trying for four years, Barbra Streisand is back in the Top 10 at #7 from #11 with THE WAY WE WERE movie theme, while LOVE'S THEME by Love Unlimited Orchestra enters at #10 from #13 thanks to Barry White giving up a spot with NEVER NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP dropping to #11 from #7 and HELEN WHEELS goes flat after one week in the Top ten at #10 and now deflates to #12.

The Top 40:

Three 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:

LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder holds still at #8
^LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations bullet to #30 from #38
^BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson bullet DEBUT at #39
Offs: None

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 16 places
AMERICANS - Byron MacGregor- #17 from # 33

Just 4 debuts, 3 US, 1 Canada, 2 Country*, 0 +Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 1 Motown, 0 by proxy
Highest debut:
MIDNIGHT RIDER - Gregg Allman #36 up 8 from #44 [One Hit Wonder]

I LOVE - Tom T Hall # 38 up 3 from #41 [One Hit Wonder
BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson #39 up 9 from #48 [*first time artist as soloist]
A LOVE SONG - Anne Murray #40 up 10 from #50 [third Top 40 hit]

* New! --- country crossovers will be featured in turquoise

The Hot 100:

5 debuts : 2 Top 40 bound, 1 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 1 by proxy

Highest debut 3rd tier:
#82 - DARK LADY - Cher

#90 - JESSICA - Allman Bros.
#91 - I MISS YOU - Dells
#94 - ANYWHERE [I'D KNOW YOU] - Ashford & Simpson former Motown writer/producer team
#100 - ROCK AND ROLL KOOCHIE KOO [sic] - Rick Derringer

Motown:
debuts: none

3rd week: ^LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross #41 up 15 from #56
3rd week: ^BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks #46 up 16 from #62
10th week ^BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson Top 40 from #48
12th week: COME GET TO THIS - Marvin Gaye #65 down 16 from #49
OFFs : none
_____

A very good week for:
An ex-Beatle
Not Paul, whose HELEN WHEELS barely scratched the Top Ten, or John, whose MIND GAMES [#32] peaked at #18, but rather Ringo, who's now at #5 with YOU'RE SIXTEEN while still on the Hot 100 at #74 with his former #1 hit PHOTOGRAPH co-written by Beatle George:



The Beatle-esque video was filmed at John Lennon's historic Tittenhurst Park, a 72-acre spread near London just bought from him by Ringo Starr. His covering his mouth while singing is to circumvent the BBC's rules against artists shown lip syncing.

***
Also a very good week for
Gregg Allman
as he enters the Top 40 while he and his brothers enter the Hot 100, as does his future wife.

***
Coming in at #100 on The Soul chart Washington DC area act Joe Quarterman and Free Soul



Another two-parter of the growing offbeat dance beat 45s sought by adventurous DJs who mix the A and B sides.

***

Banner ad across the bottom of Billboard's front page for Diana Ross single LAST TIME I SAW HIM.

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #04
Jan. 26, 1974



Number of singles reviewed this week: 73
last week: 69
including:

POP:
DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAYE - My Mistake Was to Love
You [2:55]; producer: Hal Davis; writers: Pam Sawyer, G.
Jones;. Motown 1269. This is a standard, classy production by the two stars trading verses about a foolish action with a pumping bass drum up front and
fiddles way in the background.

Cash Box
Newcomer pick:

BILL AMESBURY [Casablanca 0001] Virginia [Touch Me Like You Do] [2:30] [W. Amesbury]
First disk for Neil Bogart's new label is from this Neil Diamond sound-alike who delivers a "Cherry, Cherry” sound-alike pop rocker that is certain to establish both artist and label as major forces in the industry. The track has that good feel and quality that makes for hit records and a couple of good hooks to match. Watch out for this record. It creeps into your soul and gets the feet moving.

The Motown Review:

Marvin steals the show this week by having the Hot 100's highest debut while still having his last hit on the chart as well. This while Motown is having a very good week with two records entering the Top 40 both with bullets. Only Marvin is not in the Top 40, all other Motown charters are. Stevie is still the leading the pack although he slides some out of the Top 10. Seven records are charting.

The Top 10:

Week 4 of '74 and the 4th #1 as Ringo's YOU'RE SIXTEEN takes a turn there. The kazoo sound is Paul McCartney's voice and Harry Nillson can be heard prominently as a backing vocal. SHOW AND TELL by Al Wilson is now #2. Stevie Wonder's LIVING FOR THE CITY heads to the outer suburbs of chartdom to #12 from #8 opening a spot for AMERICANS by Byron MacGregor at #10 from #16.

The Top 40:

Five 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:

LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder drops to #12 from #8
^LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations to #27 from #30
^BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson #37 from #39
^LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross DEBUT at #33
^ BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks DEBUT at #36
Offs: None

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 8 rungs
I LOVE - Tom T. Hall- to #30 from #38

5 debuts, 3 US, 2 Canada, 2+Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 2 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country.

Highest debut
+AMERICANS+ - Gordon Sinclair #28 up 34 from #62 [One Hit Wonder]

LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross #33 up 8 from #41
JIM DANDY - Black Oak Arkansas #34 up 8 from #42 [One Hit Wonder]
+BOOGIE DOWN+- Eddie Kendricks #36 up 10 from #46 [2nd Top 40 hit]
ABRA-CA-DABRA - DeFranco Family #40 up 9 from #49 [2nd Top 40 hit]

The Hot 100:

9 debuts : 3 Top 40 bound, 0 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 2 Philly International related, 1 Motown, 1 by proxy,
* New! --- country crossovers will be featured in turquoise

Highest debut
third tier:
#80 - YOU SURE LOVE TO **** - Marvin Gaye

#83 - MIGHTY LOVE Part I - Spinners
#87 - THERE WONT BE ANY MORE - Charlie Rich
#88 - IN THE MOOD - Bette Midler
#90 - SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER - John Denver
#92 - JOLENE - Dolly Parton
#95 - THANKS FOR SAVING MY LIFE - Billy Paul
#97 - I JUST CAN'T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND - Four Tops
#98 - WE'RE GETTING CARELESS WITH OUR LOVE - Johnny Taylor

Motown:

debuts: one
1st week: YOU SURE LOVE TO **** - Marvin Gaye DEBUT #80
4th week: ^LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ros top 40 from #41 s
4th week: ^BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks Top 40 from #46
13th week: COME GET TO THIS : Marvin Gaye #93 down 28 from #65

OFFs : none
_____


A very good week for:

AMERICANS [again]

Byron MacGregor's knock-off version leaps into the Top 10, the only record to do so this week and Gordon Sinclair makes a valiant effort to catch up as his narration of the sentiments he's written bolts 34 places into the Top 40 as the weeks highest debut.

Additionally, Record World is charting on their Hot 100 a version by Tex Ritter



RIP Tex Ritter who passed away earlier this month of heart failure at age 69.
The single is appropriately on Capitol Records. Ritter was the first artist to sign to that new label in the 1940s.

***
Johnny Mathis is on the Hot 100 with LIFE IS A SONG WORTH SINGING at #78 [the song in a few years will be Teddy Pendergrass title cut for an album] but his thoughts might be on the song worth singing that got away. SHOW AND TELL has taken Al Wilson to the top while Mathis' original version in 1972 went ignored everywhere except Adult Contemporary stations were it squeaked to #36 on that chart.




***
Ads:

Square box ad for Diana Ross single/album on Billboard's cover.
Reads:
Diana Ross, with "Last Time I Saw Him" heading for number one on everyone's singles and album charts has capped another fantastic year in show business. The superstar begins 1974 with another gold record contender in "Last Time" and an appearance at Caesars Palace Feb.1 -14.

Full-page ad featuring seven assorted current LPs form Motown.

Full-page color photo of Casablanca's new 45 label for their first single VIRGINIA LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO by Bill Amesbury .
Casablanca Records has arrived. Can disco be far behind?

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #05
Feb 02, 1974

Number of singles reviewed this week: 88
last week: 73

Cash Box:

DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAVE [Motown 1269F]
My Mistake [Was To Love You]—Pam Sawyer- G. Jones)
The magical combination of Diana and Marvin has done it again, this time
with a brisk, uptempo love song in which the great pair lend their powerful
vocal talents to a very catchy melody. Arrangement is sparse, but effective.
This one will go a great distance on both pop and r&b stations.

Newcomer pick:

CHARLENE DUNCAN [Motown 1285F]
All That Love Went To Waste [2:59] [G. Barrie, S. Cahn]
CASH BOX picked this song from the movie “A Touch of Class” early in the
game and now it picks this sparkling pop version likely to touch the top of
the charts. PD’s won’t “waste” anytime getting on it.

First Time Around:
*GLORIA GAYNOR - Honeybee [3:47]; producer: Paul Leka;
writers: M. Steals, M. Steals; Columbia 4-45909. Clever guitar work simulates a bee's buzzing as this impressive soul vocalist gets going.

* disco significant record

The Motown Review:

The Temptations have the #1 single on the Soul chart this week [career 13th] yet LET YOUR HAIR DOWN looses steam on the pop chart, dropping below the Top 30. Stevie Wonder is in no hurry to give up his best position status as LIVING FOR THE CITY drops only one space this week. Eddie Kendricks has the chart's biggest mover and Diana Ross advances with a bullet. One less record is charting with no new ones for a total of six records charting.

The Top 10:

Five weeks of 1974 and five singles have reached #1. This week Barbra Streisand has her first #1, the title song from the movie THE WAY WE WERE costarring herself and Robert Redford. Byron MacGregor's AMERICANS is the biggest mover, jumping from #10 to #5. Two records break through with bullets, Aretha's UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME at #8 from #11and SPIDERS AND SNAKES by Jim Stafford strikes in at #10 from #14. Expelled this week from the Top 10, SMOKIN' IN THE BOYS ROOM by Brownsville Station to #11 from #7, and TIME IN A BOTTLE from Jim Croce dips from #9 to #12.

The Top 40:

Motown:
Five 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:

LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder drops to #13 from #12
^ BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks zooms to #19 from #36
^LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross climbs to #27 from #33
LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations do a sudden dip to #31 from #27
^BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson eases to #33 from #37
Offs: None

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 17 rungs
BOOGIE DOWN -Eddie Kendricks to #19 from #36

Just 3 debuts, 2 US, 1 UK, 1+Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country.

Highest debut:
DOO DOO DOO HEARTBREAKER - Rolling Stones #22 up 20 from #42 [24th Top 40 hit]

SEXY MAMA - Moments #36 up 15 from #51 [2nd Top 40 hit]
+DARK LADY+ - Cher #40 up 16 from #56 [10th Top 40 solo hit]

The Hot 100:

12 newbies: 4 Top 40 bound, 3 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 2 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy,
* New! --- country crossovers will be featured in turquoise

Highest debut:
third tier:
#80 - MOCKINGBIRD - Carly Simon [James Taylor not credited]

#86 - LOOKIN' FOR A LOVE - Bobby Womack
#89 - ENERGY CRISES '74 - Dickie Goodman
#90 - GET THAT GASOLINE - N.R.B.Q.
#92 - STOP TO START - Blue Magic
#93 - I WISH IT WAS ME - Tyrone Davis
#94 - ROCK AND ROLL HOOCHIE KOO - Tavares [wrong title, should be THATS THE SOUND THAT LONELY MAKES]
#96 - JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONELY - Main Ingredient
#97 - THE REAL ME - The Who
#98 - QUICK FAST IN A HURRY - New York City
#99 - TRY [TRY TO FALL IN LOVE] - Cooker
#100 - MUST BE LOVE - James Gang

Motown:

debuts: none
2nd week: ^YOU SURE LOVE TO **** - Marvin Gaye #66 up 14 from #80
14th week: COME GET TO THIS - Marvin Gaye OFF from #93

OFFs: one

Marvin Gaye's COME GET TO THIS reached halfway to #21 on the Top 40 and peaked at #3 Soul and a busy Marvin is already charting his new single and his latest shared single with Diana Ross gets reviewed [see above]

***
A very good week for:
Stevie Wonder
LIVING FOR THE CITY is still his label's highest chart performer while Aretha Franklin takes his never before released, UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME into the Top 10 [already peaked at #1 Soul] . Long time music man, Gene Orloff is listed as the concert master of this recording. He's done the same for many artists and will continue to do so including Van McCoy's THE HUSTLE and music by Chic.

***
Record World

Money Music:
Eddie Kendricks This is the last week we will report on the progress of this crossover hydrogen bomb. Unfortunately, there's still a number of
die-hard non -believers among programmers of important radio stations. We give them fair warning that they may anticipate having to raise the white
flag of surrender, genuflecting and kissing the rings of Berry Gordy, Jr. and Mr. Abner.

Wednesday LAST KISS - We have heard a lot of talk from executives of small pop labels trying to survive in a world of Goliath monster labels. The music
industry has traditionally been one of the last strongholds of the entrepreneur aspiring to the great American dream. This is perhaps the only
business where a man can be flat on his back financially on Monday and well on his way to riches and fame on Thursday, depending on what happens in
the trade charts. As you read in the RW Dialogue with Clarence Avant, president of Sussex Records, he decided to take the big step and take his label with independent distributors rather than make another distribution deal with a major label.

_
***
Full-page ad announcing the arrival of Cecil Holmes to Casablanca Records and mentions an upcoming release by The Parliaments produced by George Clinton.

Full-page ad for single CORAZON [Carole King writer] by LTG Exchange boasting 70,000 sales in NYC.

***
This week Billboard mentions the original mix of Gloria Gaynor's debut and her one-time venture of a Philly prodution that will go unnoticed:



It'll do better months from now on MGM records with a modified mix.

In at #99 an oddity by Cooker:

]

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #06
Feb 09, 1974

Number of singles reviewed this week: 108
last week: 88

including:

NORMAN FEELS - My World Is Empty Without You [3:05];
producer: Sal Scaltro; writers: Holland, Dozier, Holland; Just Sunshine 513 [Famous]



David Van De Pitte is behind this new artist with a Marvin Gaye like version of the Supremes former #1 record. Van De Pitte also arranged Gaye's LETS GET IT ON and WHATS GOING ON projects.

The Motown Review:

BOOGIE DOWN is now Motown's hottest single as it approaches the Top 10. Diana Ross is still strong as well as is Marvin Gaye as he nears the Top 40. Smokey has slowed down while the Temptations leave the Top 40 altogether. Motown reigns at the top still on the Soul chart as Eddie Kendricks replaces The Temptations at #1. No new singles but also none fall off for a total of six charters on the Hot 100.

The Top 10:

Week six of 1974 and as many singles have reached #1. Barry White's LOVE'S THEME nudges Barbra Streisand and THE WAY WE WERE to #2. The Top 10 on the Hot 100 has mirrored the Easy Listening chart greatly so far in 1974, where LOVE'S THEME has already been #1 while not reaching the Top 10 of the Soul chart. [Diana Ross' LAST TIME I SAW HIM is also only at #16 on the Soul chart while it's #4 Adult Contemporary]. Former #1, The JOKER by Steve Miller gets his last laugh on the Top 10 dropping to #11 from #9 and Kool and the Gang quickly jump in to replace him with JUNGLE BOOGIE their first time there at #10 from #14.

The Top 40:

Motown:
Four 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:
^ BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks zooms to #14 from #19 with a bullet
LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder drops to #16 from #13
^LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross climbs to a bulleted #21 from #27
^BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson eases to #29 from #33
LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations OFF to #46 from #31
Offs: one

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 9 spots
DARK LADY - Cher #31 from #40

5 debuts, 4 US, 1 Canada, 2+Top 10 bound+, 1 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country.

+SEASONS IN THE SUN+ - Terry Jacks #27 up 22 from #49 [One Hit Wonder]
CAN THIS BE REAL - Natural Four #35 up 8 from #43 [One Hit Wonder]
I SHALL SING - Garfunkel #38 up 7 from #45 [2nd Top 40 hit]
I LIKE TO LIVE THE LOVE - BB King #39 up 3 from #42 [4th and final Top 40 hit]
+COME AND GET YOUR LOVE+ - Redbone #40 up 7 from #51 [2nd and final Top 40 hit]

The Hot 100:

8 newbies: 2 Top 40 bound, 2 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 1 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 4 Country

Highest debut:
third tier:
#69 - JET - Paul McCartney

#84 - HOUSTON I'M COMING HOME - Glen Campbell
#85 - TELL ME A LIE - Sami Jo
#90 - I'VE GOT A THING ABOUT YOU BABY - Elvis Presley
#96 - SHES GONE - Hall & Oates
#98 - HOMELY GIRL - Chi-lites
#99 - A MOTHER FOR MY CHILDREN - Whispers
#100 - AMERICANS - Tex Ritter

Motown:

debuts: none
3rd week: ^YOU SURE LOVE TO **** - Marvin Gaye #53 up 13 from #66
8th week: LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations #46 down 15 from #31
OFFS : none
____

A very good week for:
Comedy
While the heavier themed AMERICANS holds a place in the Top 5 again this week, there is also room for the lighter side. Joining it in the Top 10 is Jim Stafford's SPIDERS AND SNAKES
An American/Southern Californian phenomenon, Cheech and Chong will soon be releasing their fourth studio album. The last two have reached #2 on Billboard Top 200 LP chart. Reaching back to their 1972 LP, BIG BAMBU, is this track, now on 45:



Having peaked at #24 [now #61], SISTER MARY ELEPHANT is one of a very few records to reach the Top 40 that is all verbal having no musical accompaniment.

***
Five Month Club : THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL 20 weeks on the Hot 100 and still at #23

***
Full-page ad toting Motown's Anthology collections adding Gladys Knight/Pips and Smokey Robinson/Miracles 2-record sets to the existing Temptations set with the promise of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross /Supremes, Jr Walker/ All Stars, and Stevie Wonder soon to come.

***
Record World
Money Music:

Hottest tip of the week: If you recall, we were super positive and adamant in our continuous tips about
such current bubblegum smashes as Wednesday and the up and coming next
#1 record in the country Terry Jacks ...We are just as positive right now
about Blue Swede "Hooked On A Feeling" on EMI [[distributed by Capitol). Note:
This song was a standard by B. J. Thomas. We guarantee that this record becomes the hottest record in town within the first 24 hours it is played.

***
Noteworthy:
The duo Hall & Oates debut on the Hot 100 this week for their first time but the Arif Mardin production will go largely unnoticed [this round.]

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #07
Feb 16, 1974

Number of singles reviewed this week: 104
last week: 108
including:
Soul:
MARTHA REEVES- Power Of Love [3:85]; producer: Richard Perry; writers: Gamble. Huff, Simon; MCA 40194. Martha knows that
her right man does all the right things, all under the guise of
the power of love. She socks home this message, with a powerful chorus expressing its own power and the power of the man's kiss, walk, talk.

Record World Sleeper:

MARTHA REEVES, "POWER OF LOVE" [prod. by Richard Perry] . With sparkling horn arrangements by James Taylor and dynamite
production from Richard Perry, Martha [sans the Vandellas] comes across with a powerhouse tune with untold cross-over possibilities. An extremely well-integrated item, it should be a hot phone request regular. MCA 43194.

Cash Box Newcomer:

MARTHA REEVES [MCA 40194]
Power Of Love [[3:05) [Gamble, Huff, Simon]
Martha [formerly with the Vandellas] kicks off her solo career [with Richard
Perry as her producer] with this top flight Gamble-Huff-Joe Simon tune that
just can’t miss. Vibrant as any of her work with her former association, the
lady really gets down to it in letting loose with a funky performance that will
attract immediate pop and r&b attention. Also worth the price of admission is
that horn section, running in and out throughout the track, accenting every-
thing Martha does [arranged, by the way, by James Taylor]. Hitbound, and
big too!



Under the influence of their future producer Richard Perry, Martha sounds a bit Pointer Sisters here with a cover of the Joe Simon song that reached #11 in 1972 [#1 Soul]

The Motown Review:

Diana Ross is #1 !!!
on the Easy Listening chart with LAST TIME I SAW HIM , while also bulleting into the Hot 100's Top 20 while stalling on the Soul chart up one to #15. Eddie Kendricks is now Top 10 while Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye move up some. Same six 45s are charting from the label.

The Top 10:

Barbra Streisand returns to the way she was two week ago, at the top at #1. Rare for songs to return to the peak but THE WAY WE WERE usurps Barry White's instrumental LOVES THEME which now drops to #2 after one week at #1. One new arrival British star David Essex and ROCK ON on at #10. Off Gladys Knight and the Pips with I'VE GOT TO USE MY IMAGINATION [after peaking at #4] now #14 from #9.

The Top 40:

Motown:
Four 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:
^ BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks zooms to #9 from #14 with a bullet
^LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross climbs to a bulleted #17 from #21
LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder drops to #23 from #16
^BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson eases to #27 from #29

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 15 positions
SEASONS IN THE SUN - Terry Jacks #12 from #27

6 debuts, mostly chart visitors, 4 US, 1 Canada, 1 Spain 3 +Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 1 by proxy, 1 Country.

Highest debut:
+MOCKINGBIRD+ - James Taylor and Carly Simon -#30 up 33 from #66 [*First time artist as duo]

+ERES TU+ - Mocedades - #36 up 6 from #42 [One Hit Wonder]
MY SWEET LADY - Cliff DeYoung #36 up 9 from #45 [One Hit Wonder]
TRYING TO HOLD ON TO MY WOMAN - Lamont Dozier #37 up 7 from #44 [*first time artist]
+SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER+ - John Denver #39 up 12 from #51 [3rd Top 40 hit]
LAST KISS - Wednesday #40 up 3 from #43 [One Hit Wonder]


The Hot 100:

10 debuts: 5 Top 40 bound, 3 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 1 by proxy, 2 Country

Highest debut:
third tier:
#69 - BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John

#77 - BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME -Gladys Knight former Motown act
#87 - HOOKED ON A FEELING - Blue Suede
#90 - VIRGINIA TOUCH ME LIKE YOU DO - Bill Amesbury
#92 - WOULD YOU LAY WITH ME [IN A FIELD OF STONE] - Tanya Tucker
#93 - IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME - New Birth
#94 - I'LL BE THE OTHER WOMAN - Soul Children
#97 - BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON - Lou Christie
#98 - THE CRUDE OIL BLUES - Jerry Reed
#99 - STAR BABY - Guess Who

Motown:

debuts: none
4th week: ^YOU SURE LOVE TO **** - Marvin Gaye #50 up 3 from #53
9th week: LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations #62 down 16 from #46
OFFS : none

______

A very good week for:
the Boogie
with two titles in the Top 10: BOOGIE DOWN by Eddie Kendricks and JUNGLE BOOGIE by Kool & The Gang

***
Full-page ad: Smokey Robinson single BABY COME CLOSE boasts of sales numbers: over 800, 000 total, 64,000 Detroit, 63,000 NYC, 38,000 Memphis etc.
Full-page ad: HELL UP IN HARLEM movie soundtrack by Edwin Starr

***

Five Month Club :
HELLO ITS ME - Todd Rundgren 20 weeks, now #63
TOP OF THE WORLD - Carpenters 20 weeks, now #64
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich 21 weeks on the Hot 100 and still at #29

***
Out of NYC, the second single about the dance craze there called "The Bump" debuts on the Soul chart at #96 sounding a bit Junior Walker like.

Two-sided number, a DJ pleaser, here's Part II:

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #08
Feb 23, 1974

Number of singles reviewed this week: 71
last week: 104
including:

POP:
TEMPTATIONS - Heavenly [3:45]; producer: Norman Whitfield; writer: N. Whitfield; Gordy 7135 . Love can be heavenly is the message of this lovely melodic tune, featuring fine solo and ensemble vocal work. The message is subliminally presented and carried along by the fine arrangement.

Soul recommended:
*THE HUES CORPORATION - Rock The Boat [3:05]; producer: John Florez; writer: W. Holmes; RCA 0232.
*disco significant record

The Motown Review:

Diana Ross is in the Top Ten!!
of the UK singles chart with ALL OF MY LIFE [#9 second week.] Stevie Wonder is Motown's other charter there at #15 with LIVING FOR THE CITY. In the US, Diana and Marvin are each twice on the Hot 100 splitting a new one between them. Smokey Robinson peaks, and Eddie Kendricks is bulleting within the Top 10 from #9 to #7. One record departs and one enters maintaining Motown's five records charting on the Hot 100.

The Top 10:

The Top 10 is largely the way it was last week, with Barbra Streisand again at #1 and with mostly a slight reshuffling of positions. Just one new entry, but it's significant: SEASONS IN THE SUN by Terry Jacks jumps over all others from #12 to land at #2, a very rare entry mark. Also rare, a 45 dropping out of the Top 10 in just its 8th week on the Hot 100, but that's what's happened to AMERICANS by Byron MacGregor down to #12 from #6 [peaking at #4 , #1 in Cash Box.]

The Top 40:

Motown:
Four 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:
^ BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks builds to #7 from #9 with a bullet
^LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross climbs to #14 from #17
LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder drops to #33 from #23
BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson dips to #34 from #27

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 15 positions
SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER [sic]- John Denver #24 from #39

4 breakers, 3 US, 1 UK, 1+Top 10 bound+, 1 PI related, 0 Motown, 1 by proxy, 1 Country.

Highest debut:
+JET+ - Paul McCartney & Wings #27 up 20 from #47 [9th Top 40 hit]

THERE WON'T BE ANYMORE - Charlie Rich #36 up 8 from #44 [5th Top 40 hit]
MIGHTY LOVE - part 1 Spinners #37 up 11 from #49 [8th Top 40 hit]
ENERGY CRISES '74 - Dickie Goodman #40 up 16 from #56 [*1st time artist]


The Hot 100:

13 debuts:8 Top 40 bound, 4 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 1 Motown, by proxy, 1 Country
Highest debut:
second tier:
#63 - A VERY SPECIAL LOVE SONG - Charlie Rich

#71 - THE LORD'S PRAYER - Sister Janet Mead
#73 - ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS - Bob Dylan
#77 - LET IT RIDE - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
#79 - TOUCH A HAND MAKE A FRIEND - Staple Singers
#84 - MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye
#91 - OUTSIDE WOMAN - Bloodstone
#94 - PIANO MAN - Billy Joel
#95 - THERE'S GOT TO BE A LITTLE RAIN IN YOUR LIFE - Dorothy Norwood
#97 - MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS - Maria Muldaur
#98 - WHAT IS HIP - Tower of Power
#99 - TUBULAR BELLS - Mike Oldfield
#100 - HONEY PLEASE CANT YOU SEE - Barry White

Motown:

debuts: one
1st week: ^MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross DEBUT at #84
5th week: YOU SURE LOVE TO **** - Marvin Gaye #50 repeat
10th week: LET YOUR HAIR DOWN - Temptations OFF from #62
OFFS : one

Norman Whitfield lets The Temptations down with this first single from their last collaborating LP. It found success on the Soul chart going to the top, and had momentum entering the top 40 but came to a sudden halt at #27. The next single from 1990 is already in the pipeline. See above.

______



A very good week for:

Charlie Rich
with a trifecta. He has the longest running single on the chart with THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL , which drops out of the Top 40 to #45. It is replaced there with the debut of THERE WON'T BE ANYMORE at #36, a single pulled from the vault from Rich's time at RCA records . Meanwhile his current label, Epic, releases his latest which is the Hot 100's highest debut, A VERY SPECIAL LOVE SONG, comes in on the 2nd tier, an increasing rarity, at #63.

***
Five Month Club :
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL - Charlie Rich 22 weeks on the Hot 100 and now at #45

***
After a lackluster teaming with Quincy Jones in 1973, it was all hands on deck for this single at the end of the year, the same period Aretha was to perhaps renew her contract at Atlantic. UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME peaks this week at #3, [already #1 Soul] the same week Aretha's new album on that label debuts following her re-signing.
Written in part by Stevie Wonder and recorded by him in 1969, his version of UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME will remain vaulted until 1977.



Piano opening by Aretha.
This will be Aretha's last Top Ten record of the seventies.

****
Formed in 1963 in New Jersey and signed to De-Lite records in 1969, after three lackluster LPs , their label advised the horn-based ensemble group to simplify their sound. WILD AND PEACEFUL, Kool & The Gang's 4th LP, features rapid fire compositions like FUNKY STUFF, HOLLYWOOD SWINGIN', and JUNGLE BOOGIE which this week is at #6 and will peak at #4:



***
Significant artist debut : Billy Joel

[SatansBlues]

Interesting factoid about Aretha Franklin.

[Boogiedown]

Interesting factoid about Aretha Franklin.

Yes the success from Aretha's tenure at Atlantic has now peaked, she'll put out seven more albums, including her just released one and the SPARKLE ST, resulting in two more Top 40 mid-charters from them, but that's it. Her Arista years will bring her back for a spell, first JUMP TO IT will reach #24 in 1982, then two others in 1985 will chart her back into the Top 10.
_______

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #09
March 2, 1974

Number of singles reviewed this week: 84
last week: 77

including:
Pop:
THE JACKSON 5 - Dancing Machine [2:29]; producer: Hal Davis; writers: H. Davis, D. Fletcher, W. D. Parks; Motown 1286. The girls speak of a dynamite attraction who can "really blow your mind" and of course she's a dancing fool. Michael has the lead.

Soul:
THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH - Help Yourself [3:02]; producer: Norman Whitfield; writer: N. Whitfield; . Gordy 7134 . The right combination of catchy instrumental funk and powerful vocal interplay combine righteously on this plea for self assistance.

Cash Box:

THE JACKSON 5 [Motown 1286F]
Dancing Machine [2:29] [-Davis, Fletcher, Parks]
This funky, syncopated tune is guaranteed to launch the energetic quintet back up into the spotlight with its intricate rhythms spotlighting some expansive harmonies and a clear lyric line. One of the group's better recent efforts.

THE HUES CORPORATION [RCA 0232]
Rock The Boat [3:05] [W. Holmes]
From the LP, "Freedom For The Stallion" this spirited uptempo number has
the strength to gallop right up the charts. Fine production, including judicious use of strings, showcases the group's impeccable harmonies deftly.

The Motown Review:

Only Eddie Kendricks is hot this week as he enters the Top 5 at #4. Motown's other charters have all now begun to slide or advance modestly including the latest Marvin and Diana record that in its second week moves up 5 on the Hot 100 to #79 without a bullet. All 5 Motown records from last week continue to chart although two of them this week leave the Top 40. It now slips a bit on the Top 40, but with a three week reign, Diana Ross' LAST TIME I SAW HIM is #1 again on the Adult Contemporary chart.

The Top 10:

Canadian Terry Jacks has his moment in the sun with his first single release, SEASONS IN THE SUN at #1 displacing Barbra Streisand's THE WAY WE WERE which is now at #2 after 3 weeks at the top. Two Top 10 entries both from performers since the mid-sixties: At #9 is Cher's DARK LADY jumping from #16, her 6th Top Ten single as a single, and applause to The O'Jays for being back in the Top 10 for the third time with PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER at #10 from #11 [already #2 Soul]. The two that drop, to #11 from #9, YOU'RE SIXTEEN by Ringo Starr and Olivia Newton John's LET ME BE THERE which falls to #15 from #10.

The Top 40:

Motown:
Two 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:

^ BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks builds to #4 from #7 from #9 with a bullet
LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross slips to #16 from #14
LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder OFF from #33
BABY COME CLOSE - OFF from #34
Offs : 2

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 8 notches
5 records advance accordingly

Just 3 make it, 2 chart visitors, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 Swedish, 2+Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country
highest debut:
+BENNIE AND THE JETS+ - Elton John #32 up 19 from #51 [10th Top 40 hit]

ROCK AND ROLL HOOCHIE KOO - Rick Derringer #36 up 6 from #42 [One Hit Wonder]
+HOOKED ON A FEELING+ - Blue Swede #38 up 21 from #59 [One Hit Wonder]

The Hot 100:

10 debuts:2 Top 40 bound, 2 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 2 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country
Highest debut:
second tier
#65- TSOP - M.F.S.B.

#73 - I'LL HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU IN A SONG - Jim Croce
#83 - YOUR CASH AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT TRASH - Steve Miller
#86 - WATCHING THE RIVER RUN - Loggins & Messina
#89 - UNBORN CHILD - Seals & Crofts
#94 - I'M A TRAIN - Albert Hammond
#95 - GOING DOWN SLOW - Bobby Blue Bland
#97 - NEWSY NEIGHBORS - First Choice
#99 - BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME - Persuaders
#100 - MUSIC EYES - Heartsfield

Motown:

debuts: none
2nd week: ^MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross #78 up 6 from #84
5th week: YOU SURE LOVE TO **** - Marvin Gaye #53 down 3 from #50
16th week: BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson #43 down 9 from #34
17th week: LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder #42 down 9 from #33
OFFS : none
_______

A very good week for:
The energy crisis
Not an issue of Billboard goes by without an article concerning the effects of the current national energy crises, especially its affects on the limited availability of polyvinyl chlorides essential for pressing records. The entire nation though is enduring the situation as gas prices soar and products like plastics become scarce. Three records are on the Hot 100 related to the topic: At #34 is Dickie Goodman's comedic ENERGY CRISES '74 which features snippets of current hits including Stevie Wonder's LIVING FOR THE CITY; at #70 is GET THAT GASOLINE by NRBQ; at #93 is Jerry Reed's CRUDE OIL BLUES. Meanwhile the dance clubs are playing the Philly tune WHEN THE FUEL RUNS OUT as it charts #54 on the Soul chart




Record World:

Gasoline Shortages Hampering Dealers
By GARY COHEN
NEW YORK-A survey of record stores around the country finds that most are affected in one way or another by the gasoline shortage and general energy crisis.
Outlets most seriously affected are reportedly free-standing record stores, remote shopping centers and rural and suburban areas. The reports of weakening sales also
come at a time when there have been very 'few major releases,
which some retailers blame instead for the poor sales showing.
Since some of the nation's communities have begun implementing a form of gasoline allocation as a result of tediously long lines at gasoline service station pumps,
consumers are apparently altering their traveling and buying habits.........

***
Following Sylvia's big hit, the pillow talk out of the All Platinum studios continues, this time with the fellas providing the erotica. The Moments full nine minutes worth on the LP version of SEXY MAMA will set the stage for the 17-minute bedroom romp that will catapult Donna Summer onto center stage in just over a year.



The moaning musical love-gates have been opened.

***
5 Month Club:
20 weeks
SHOW AND TELL - Al Wilson at #26
THE JOKER - Steve Miller at #31

***
General News Article in Billboard titled:

Bogart Label Promotion Based

- which promotes the new label by saying the label is all about ...promotion!

The last paragraph:

Bogart is not one for outlining
long-range master plans for his operations. "I suppose it sounds like a
cop-out, but I really do live day-to-day and shift plans to suit new situations that interest me."

.... The thirty year-old Bogart unwittingly stating his new label is laying-in-wait as the one best-ready to embrace the soon to arrive disco phenomenon.

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #10
March 9, 1974
Number of singles reviewed this week: 105
last week: 94
including:

First Time Around:
*AL DOWNING - I'll Be Holding On [2:50]; producers: T.
Bongiovi, M. Monardo, J. Ellis for DCA: writers: Al Downing, Lance Quinn; Janus 234. This is a happy, bouncy kind of soul song done expertly by this fine vocalist with a punchy instrumental sound.

Cash Box Newcomer pick:

*GLORIA GAYNOR [MGM 14706]

Honey Bee [2:58] [ Steals, M. Steals, M. Ledbetter]
In utilizing that established hit making sound of early Freda Payne and more
recently The First Choice, Gloria delivers a hard driving, funky ton of funk certain
to rocket straight to the top of the r&b charts and come close to the top of thee`
pops as well. Strong vocal performance is aided by great background harmonies
are high flying strings. Everything works here and there's little room for disagreement.
* disco significant record

The Motown Review:

Eddie Kendricks is #2!
as BOOGIE DOWN advances two notches with a bullet. Marvin and Diana also bullet up this week to #67. Diana Ross alone is still Top 40 although with a big dive of 11 places, while LAST TIME I SAW HIM is pop Top Ten [#9] in Cash box. The other half of last week's charters fall off completely. With three gone, Motown has 3 records charting the Hot 100.

The Top 10:

SEASONS IN THE SUN by Terry Jacks shines again at #1, its 2nd week ablaze there. Underneath at #2 is BOOGIE DOWN by Eddie Kendricks. Cher's DARK LADY is the biggest internal mover, bulleting from #9 to #6. Two new ones : Carly Simon & James Taylor's remake of MOCKINGBIRD from 1963 by the Fox siblings enters at #8 from #13, and bolting to #10 from #17 is John Denver's SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS. Dropping out after just one week is PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER by The O'Jays now at #15 from #10, and Barry White's former #1, LOVE'S THEME eases down to #11 from #8.

The Top 40:

Motown:
Two 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:

^ BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks builds to #2 with a bullet from #4 from #7 from #9 .
LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross slips to #27 from #16 from #14
Offs : none

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 9 notches
BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John at #23 from #32

5 score, 3 US, 1 Scottish, 1 Australian, 3+Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 1 by proxy, 1 Country
highest debut:
+THE LORD'S PRAYER + Sister Janet Mead - #31 up 19 from #50 [One Hit Wonder]

+ BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME +- Gladys Knight & the Pips #32 up 12 from #44 [20th Top 40 hit]
STAR - Stealers Wheel - #33 up 9 from #41 [2nd and final Top 40 hit]
A VERY SPECIAL LOVE SONG - Charlie Rich - #36 up 15 from #51 [6th Top 40 hit]
+ LOOKIN FOR A LOVE +- Bobby Womack - #37 up 9 from #46 [4th and final Top 40 hit]

The Hot 100:

9 debuts: 4 Top 40 bound, 3 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country
Highest debut:
2nd tier:
#65 - OH MY MY - Ringo Starr

#82 - LOCO-MOTION - Grand Funk Railroad
#86 - KEEP ON SINGING - Helen Reddy
#89 - SHE - Southcote
#90 - TOUCH AND GO - Al Wilson
#95 - MIGHTY MIGHTY - EW&F
#96 - PEPPER BOX - The Peppers
#98 - MR. NATURAL - Bee Gees
#100 - ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND - Think

Motown:

debuts: none
3rd week: ^MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross #67 up 11 from #78, from #84
6th week: YOU SURE LOVE TO **** - Marvin Gaye OFF from #53, from #50
16th week: BABY COME CLOSE - Smokey Robinson OFF from #43 , from #34
17th week: LIVING FOR THE CITY - Stevie Wonder OFF from #42, from #33
OFFS : three
1] Marvin Gaye's mistake was to release this third single from his LET'S GET IT ON LP. It's off after getting halfway up the Hot 100.
2] Smokey Robinson came close to having a moderate hit with BABY COME CLOSE which seems to have caught Motown off guard , waiting too late to promote it. #27 is not a bad peak but Smokey will have to wait another five years before getting into the Top 20.
3] Stevie Wonder peaks at #8 [#1 Soul] with LIVING FOR THE CITY his first of four singles in this busy year for him.

A very good week for:
Canada
Six records charting including this week's #1 by Terry Jacks with SEASONS IN THE SUN while newscaster Byron MacGregor is at #30 with his former #4 record, AMERICANS. Anne Murray is just outside the Top Ten with A LOVE SONG. Wednesday is still Top 40 with their remake of LAST KISS and The Guess Who are at #78 with STAR BABY. Most intriguing is this new entry at #89 by Southcote out of Toronto:



***
They haven't quite convinced the world yet, but the production team of Tony Bongiovi, Meco Monardo, and Jay Ellis [DCA Inc*] has delivered a solid entry into what will soon be recognized as disco. The record is by Oklahoman Al Downing as heard here:



I'LL BE HOLDING ON will slip away unnoticed for now .... but toward the end of the year it'll get an extended remix by an as yet unknown shaker named Tom Moulton....and it will then do very nicely.....
as will their project with Gloria Gaynor.

* DCA Inc., established in 1973, is said to stand for Disco Corporation of America [wiki], which would be pretty remarkable [and unlikely.]

***
Lengthy article from Cash Box:

[HOLLYWOOD -MARTHA REEVES: STUDYING THE SINGULAR
opening:
It was anything but a "heatwave" during the near freezing conditions of
Detroit in the early sixties, yet in spite of this, Martha Reeves got on a bus every
morning and went to her thirty five dollar a week job at 2648 West Grand
Boulevard. To Martha and to everyone else, taking a bus to a thirty five dollar a
week job was something prestigious. Prestigious? Yes, if you happened to have
been working for a company called Motown Records which Martha was lucky
enough to be doing. Then the bus, the cold, the salary, didn't matter because
even Motown secretaries were the envy of the city. She wanted to be a singer but
had settled for a secretary in the A&R department, in the little house on West
Grand that brought hit after hit alive even though, oddly enough it was situated
next to a funeral home. Here she worked everyday with Eddie and Brian Holland,
Lamont Dozier, Mickey Stevenson, Smokey, and of course the company's founder
Berry Gordy, whom she considered a "genius maker." .....

ending:
.......Truth of the matter is that
the act had quite indeed been put on a shelf. Martha remembered that at this
point she felt so alienated that she had even given thought to finding another
secretarial job, but since her clothes were now all lavish performing gowns she'd
have to have found a pretty high class position. Fortunately she was approached
by Ron Strasner [Rare Earth's manager] with the idea of becoming a solo artist.
Martha relocated in Hollywood and with the help of her new manager negotiated
a new record deal with MCA Records. Her new single "Power of Love," is from the
soon to be released album produced by prodigal Richard Perry.
Martha Reeves is happy about the change of scenery. In comparing the two
cities she says that she'd never want to live in Detroit again. She explains that it
has the highest crime rate and shudders as she continued with "Detroit is
frightening." Then by memory and rather matter of factly she offers "Last year
alone there were 485 homicide deaths." Perhaps figuratively one could say 486
that is when you stop to think that there will never be a Martha and the
Vandellas again except on "oldies but goodies" repackages. The last time Martha
and the Vandellas performed together was Dec. 21, 1971 at the Cobo Hall, in
Detroit. She made her solo debut last November at Madison Square Garden. In
addition to just having completed her first solo album she is also taking acting
lessons in Hollywood with Lee Strasberg. She has been studying there how to
speak in the first person instead of the "we" and "us," which had been the idiom
Martha had become familiar using as the leader of a group for 12 years. Martha
Reeves reported that she feels like she has been "recycled." This dynamite singer
who is also featured on the score to the new movie "Willie Dynamite," concluded
with "I feel like I graduated from Motown, cum laude. And my degree has helped
me to further my career; to get another job

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #11
March 16, 1974
Number of singles reviewed this week: 117
last week: 105

including:
GLORIA GAYNOR - Honey Bee [2:58]; producer: Paul Leka
for DCA; writers: M. Steals, M. Steals, M. Ledbetter;. MGM 14706. A stomping, buzzing arrangement sets the climate for the vocalist's adequate vocal range.

Record World Sleeper:
* GLORIA GAYNOR,"HONEY BEE" [prod. by Paul Leka]. The finest soulstress to emerge on the label in years, Gloria buzzes out with a real pop and r&b crossover stinger. There's no insecticide imaginable that can prevent this one from making a bee-line to the highest chart hive. Disc should make her a queen bee of soul.MGM14706.

Cash Box Pick:
THE NITE-LITERS [RCA APBO 0244]
Serenade For A Jive Turkey [3:05] [Russell]
Coming from the same home run league that "Jungle Boogie" came from, this high powered instrumental should make just about that same impact. Great dance track will be a strong disco item and will pick up r&b support with pop market attention following soon after. Definitely no turkey here. Just stone hitbound.

Record World:
FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS - Motown 1288
HICKORY [prod.by Bob Crewe]
The Seasons 4 are most assuredly back on the hit track with this "Sherry"- styled foot stomper in contemporary boots. It's their new rock renaissance and most welcomed!

ZELL BLACK - Motown1290
I BEEN HAD BY THE DEVIL [prod. by Bob Crewe]
Funky personal account no doubt brought on by seeing "The Exorcist." Belting it out in pop-soul style, Zell should bring Satan to the charts in a helluva hurry with her own black magic. [not found on you tube]

The Motown Review:

Eddie Kendricks is #1!!
in both Cash Box and Record World, at Billboard, Eddie holds steady at #2.
Not a moment too soon, Motown places two new releases on the Hot 100 bringing their dwindling total up to five. The J5 have the week's highest Hot 100 debut and The Temptations come in at #94. Diana Ross is still in the Top 40 [and Top 5 Easy Listening] while she and Marvin continue to move up toward it with MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU.

The Top Ten:

SEASONS IN THE SUN by Terry Jacks is still #1, third week there. Eddie Kendricks' BOOGIE DOWN goes neither up or down staying fixed at #2 for week 2. John Denver's SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS bullets five spots from #10 to #5.
One new record in the Top 10: Wings' JET lands at #10 from #14. Off drops Aretha Franklin's UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME to #19 from #9.

The Top 40:

Motown:
Two 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:
^ BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks repeats at #2 from #2 from #4 from #7 from #9 .
LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross slips to #33 from #27 from #16 from #14
Offs : none

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 2 titles, 11 notches
BENNIE AND THE JETS - Elton John again - at #12 from #23 from #32
THE LORD'S PRAYER - Sister Janet Mead to #20 from #31

5 score, all US, 3+Top 10 bound+, 1 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country
highest debut:
+TSOP+ - MFSB #25 up 17 from #42 [One Hit Wonder]

WE'RE GETTING CARELESS WITH OUR LOVE - Johnnie Taylor #38 up 5 from #43 [9th Top 40 hit]
+JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONELY+- Main Ingredient #36 up 11 from #47 [2nd Top 40 hit]
+I'LL HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU IN A SONG+ - Jim Croce #38 up 20 #58 [7th Top 40 hit]
W.O.L.D. - Harry Chapin #40 up 4 from #44 [2nd Top 40 hit]

The Hot 100:

9 debuts: 5 Top 40 bound, 1 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 2 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country
Highest debut:
3rd tier:
#79 - DANCING MACHINE - Jackson Five

#80 - IVE BEEN SEARCHIN' SO LONG - Chicago
#84 - SKY BIRD - Neil Diamond
#87 - HELP ME - Joni Mitchell
#88 - OH VERY YOUNG - Cat Stevens
#89 - DANCE WITH THE DEVIL - Cory Powell
#90 - THE SHOW MUST GO ON - 3 Dog night
#96 - HEAVENLY - Temptations
#99 - ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK - Bill Haley & The Comets

Motown:
debuts: two:
1st week: ^DANCING MACHINE - Jackson Five DEBUT #79
1st week: ^HEAVENLY - Temptations - DEBUT -#96

4th week: ^MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross #55 up 12 from #67 from #78, from #84.
OFFS : none
______

A very good week for:
Devilsh tunes
21 year-old Mike Oldfield's TUBULAR BELLS [music from The Exorcist movie] is #60 with a bullet in its 4th week and
Record World reports:

'Exorcist' Sparks 'Devil Disc' Craze
By, ROBERT ADELS

NEWYORK -
Concurrent with the popularity of the film "The Excorcist," the record business is
witnessing a resurgence of titles and the mesdealing with Satan, the occult and death.
New Releases
Devil-oriented singles released last week include Zell Black's vocal "I Been Had By the Devil" [Motown], an instrumental by Chapter Thirteen entitled "My Exorcism"
[Playboy], the debut disk from Exorcist Records in L.A., Lucifer's version of the Stones '"Sympathy for the Devil" and from another
L.A.-based independent, Sam Fuller's "Devil, I Command You"
[Joyce]. Warner Bros. will soon release
the original soundtrack to "The Exorcist." Meanwhile, Mike Oldfield's"Tubular Bells" featured in the score is already a hit album
[9] and single [bulleted 53].

***

More grumblings from the Soul Sauce column. Rather than focusing on Soul music's substantial wins within this year's Grammy and AMA awards, Robinson is dismissive of the ceremonies because of their weak focus on jazz [Donald Byrd in particular]:
In part:

AMA & Grammy Awards Point Up R&B's Advances
By LEROY ROBINSON
LOS ANGELES-
Well, now that we've had two groups of music
awards - the Grammy and its painstaking attempt to become meaningful, and the American Music Awards which is meaningless from the outset, and only serving to reduce Grammy to a more meaningless position - it's time for Black Music and its acts to continue its unequivocal credibility posture in 1974....

....But even with the accuracy in voting the correct winners, there is still
the inaccuracy when extending acknowledgements to viable elements
of our music. Namely, the gross and harmful crime committed by the
American Music Awards with the absolute disregard for the only music indigenous to America, Jazz. How any award for "American Music" could exclude jazz is beyond this
writer, and because of that oversight it was beyond this writer's plans to attend and support such an insult to Black Music, and American music in particular.
It is beyond us as well as to why another awards show, especially one
that put jazz and blues, the roots for all the music awarded for greatness,
back another 100 years. And at a time when Donald Byrd, a sterling
jazz artist, had overcome and "Black Byrd," showed that jazz and rhythm
and blues is really one with his album.....

In his coverage of these events, Robinson might have included a mention of this showstopper performance at the Grammys by the Spinners



of MIGHTY LOVE which peaked last week at #1 on the Soul Singles chart which Robinson's Soul Sauce column each week runs alongside.
This week MIGHTY LOVE moves up to #21 on the Top 40.

***
Another group benefitting from the Philly sound and will soon to be charting Top 5 disco, is NYC's Ecstasy Passion & Pain lead by North Carolinian Barbara Roy, breaking into the Soul charts Top 30 this week with their debut, I WOULDN'T GIVE YOU UP:



***
Full-page ad from Stevie Wonder proclaiming MOTOWN IS THE PLACE FOR ME as he gives thanks to those that assisted his Grammy wins.

***
*weeks ago HONEY BEE was released on Columbia records [see Chart #5] but it went nowhere. Now MGM has picked it up and tweaked its sound a little.

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #12
March 23, 1974
Number of singles reviewed this week: 105
last week: 117
including:
Pop:
STEVIE WONDER - Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing [3:40];
producer: Stevie Wonder; writer: S. Wonder; Tamia 54245. .
Stevie starts this one with an interesting conversational banter which soon fades into a strong ballad with gentle arrangements.

The Motown Review:

This might be the first time [??] or at least in a long while, that Motown finds itself down to just one record within the Top 40. And even it has peaked as BOOGIE DOWN drops just a bit to #4, remaining Motown's biggest current record and still Top 5. Diana Ross is now just outside the Top 40 boundaries this week after 8 weeks there. She and Marvin continue their approach to that upper end of the Hot 100. No new singles and none drop off; Motown is charting with five 45s, three with bullets.

The Top 10:

After three weeks of blazing sunshine, Cher brings darkness to the #1 spot. Terry Jack's SEASONS IN THE SUN gives way to DARK LADY. Eddie Kendricks is boogieing downward as BOOGIE DOWN begins its descent from its two week peak at #2. The top six songs remain tight, while a shake-up at the bottom brings in three new records: Elton John and BENNIE AND THE JETS comes in at #6 from #12. Blue Swedes HOOKED ON A FEELING in at #7 from #12, TOUCH THE WIND ERES TU by Mocedades enters at #9 from #11. Out: She was #1, but now Barbra Streisand departs the Top Ten from #5 to #13 with THE WAY WE WERE. All the way to #21 for SPIDERS AND SNAKES from #9 by Jim Stafford,while ROCK ON by David Essex rocks off to #12 from #8.

The Top 40:

Motown:
One 45 from Motown is on the Top 40:
BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks dips to #4 from #2
from #2 from #4 from #7 from #9 .
LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross drops out to #41 from #33
from #27 from #16 from #14
Offs : one
______

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 9 notches
TSOP MFSB to #16 from #25

6 enter, mostly squeakers, 5 US, 1 UK*, 1+Top 10 bound+,0 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 2 Country
highest debut:
+OH MY MY+ - Ringo Starr#28 up 17 from #45

TOUCH A HAND, MAKE A FRIEND - Staple Singers #33 up 8 from #41 [7th Top 40 hit]
TELL ME A LIE - Sammi Jo #37 up 4 from #41 [Oner Hit Wonder]
I'LL BE THE OTHER WOMAN - Soul Children #38 up 5 from #43 [One Hit Wonder]
I'VE GOT A THING ABOUT YOU BABY/ TAKE GOOD CARE OF HER - Elvis Presley #39 up 3 from #42 [98th Top 40 hit]
LET IT RIDE - Bachman-Turner Overdrive #40 up 5 from #45 [First time artist]
*recorded in the US

The Hot 100:

9 debuts: 3 Top 40 bound, 3 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 1 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 1 by proxy, 0 Country
Highest debut:
3rd tier:
#81 - THE PAYBACK Part I - James Brown

#84 -YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW - Stylistics
#87 HAPPINESS IS ME AND YOU - Gilbert O'Sullivan
#88 - THE ENTERTAINER - Marvin Hamlisch
#90 - SUMMER BREEZE Part I - Isley Bros.
#96 - CHAMELEON - Herbie Hancock
#97 - KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY - Leon Haywood
#98- LOVING ARMS - Kris Kristopherson & Rita Coolidge
#99 - JUST MIGHT TAKE YOUR LIFE - Deep Purple
#100 - PUT A LITTLE LOVE AWAY - Emotions
_____

Motown:
debuts: none:
2nd week: ^DANCING MACHINE - Jackson Five #58 up 21 from #79
2nd week: ^HEAVENLY - Temptations - #85 up 11 from #96
5th week: ^MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross #45 up 10 from #55, from #67 from #78, from #84.
OFFS : none

***
A very good week for:
double headers
In the Top Ten there are:
SEASONS IN THE SUN and SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS; BENNIE AND THE JETS and JETS ; BOOGIE DOWN and JUNGLE BOOGIE.

***
How likely was it that former Poppy Family member, Canadian performer Terry Jacks, would re-record 1963's Rod McKuen's English adaptation:



of Belgian Jacques Brel's LE MORIBOND, turning it into the biggest hit so far of 1974?

Also unlikely that Spain's second place winner of the 1973 Eurovision song contest , sung in Spanish, would find its way onto the American Top 10 as it has this week:



Translated into English, as IT'S YOU [TOUCH THE WIND], radio listeners rejected it, preferring the single's "B" side that offers ERES TU in its original language.

***
5 Month Club:
20 weeks:
ROCK ON - David Essex at #12 from #8
SPIDERS AND SNAKES - Jim Stafford at #21 from #9
both records are dropping out of the Top Ten [!] in their 20th week.

****
Soul Sauce interviews Martha Reeves:
[excerpt]

...Prior to the last performance of
Martha Reeves and The Vandellas on December 21, 1972 at Cobo Hall in Detroit, the former Motown vocal trio had shown signs of deterioration as a group, but Ms. Reeves remained a perennial favorite right up to the disbanding of the group. The reasons for the disbanding? "I don't know. It just disbanded," explained Ms. Reeves. "Sandra Tilley moved back to Cleveland to get married, I believe. And my sister, Lois, and I went back to Detroit, and things just petered out at Motown
Records....

Two page ad celebrating Stevie Wonder's Grammy ALBUM OF THE YEAR win with INNERVISIONS and the latest single released from it, DON'T YOU WORRY 'BOUT A THING.

Record World Article :

Grammy Winner Wonder Reveals Future Plans
By CRAIG FISHER
LOS ANGELES - For the first time since he suffered a brain
contusion in an automobile accident last August, Stevie Wonder will be making a U.S. concert appearance when he does a benefit performance at Madison
Square Garden March 25. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Minisink Town House, a Harlem organization which provides recreation facilities and maintains a summer camp for New York ghetto children.
During a press conference here last Thursday [14] at which he announced plans for the benefit, Wonder also said that shortly after his accident he had begun
thinking about moving to Ghana, "And I do plan to do this in maybe two years."

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #13
March 30, 1974

Number of singles reviewed this week: 91
last week: 95

Record World:
STEVIE WONDER "DON'T YOU WORRY 'BOUT A THING" [prod. by S. Wonder]
Quasi-Spanish banter introduces a Latin-lilting third single from his Grammy-winning "Innervisions" album. The feeling he produced on "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" goes uptempo and uptown

Cash Box Pick:
STEVIE WONDER [Tamla 54245F] Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing [3:40][-S.
Wonder] Another top track from Stevie's classic "Innervisions" LP, this interesting Latin flavored disk is going to become the next chapter in the top-of-the-charts escapades of Stevie's career. The vocals are soft and perfectly accented by some fine piano by Stevie and great backing percussion. No worries here, this one is a certain winner.

Newcomer Pick:
LARRY WEISS [20th Century 2084] Rhinestone Cowboy [3:05] [L. Weiss]
Neil Diamond soundalike with a Neil Diamond-like tune appears as the
brightest hope of 1974 thus far. Very pretty lyrics, backed by sweet orchestration and tasty guitar picking makes this a strong dark horse possibility for the Top 10 in the not too distant future. If you haven't yet heard this artist [especially this track], do so. It will be three minutes well spent.



The Motown Review:

What a difference a week makes:
Motown has three singles charting on the Top 40, the added 2 have bullets. BOOGIE DOWN leaves the Top Ten. Diana and Marvin are peaking on the Soul chart at #15. On the UK chart the two enter at #25 with YOU ARE EVERYTHING.
Same five 45s from the company are on the Hot 100 this week.

The Top Ten:

First sun, then darkness, and this week it's back to brightness as SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDER[S] by John Denver outshines Cher's DARK LADY who does a significant tumble to #5, dipping below Terry Jack's SEASONS IN THE SUN at #3, the single that proceeded Cher at the top. Vying for #1, Elton John's BENNIE AND THE JETS at #4 and at #2 we catch HOOKED ON A FEELING by Blue Swede. Eddie Kendricks BOOGIEs DOWN below the Top Ten this week to #11 from #4 as do Kool and the Gang with JUNGLE BOOGIE to #13 from #10, as two newcomers hop on: Redbone at #8 from #11 with COME AND GET YOUR LOVE and Sister Janet Meed with THE LORD'S PRAYER at #10 from #14.

The Top 40:

Motown:
Three 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:
BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks dips to#11 from #4 from #2
from #2 from #4 from #7 from #9 .
^MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross DEBUT: #37
^DANCING MACHINE - Jackson Five DEBUT: #40

Offs: none

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 9 notches
OH MY MY - Ringo Starr to #19 from #28

5 newbies, , 4 US, 1 UK, 3+Top 10 bound+,0 PI related, 2 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country
highest debut:
+TUBULAR BELLS+ - Mike Oldfield #34 up 14 from #48 [One Hit Wonder]

KEEP ON SINGING - Helen Reddy #35 up 8 from #43 [6th Top 40 hit]
MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross #37 up 8 from #45 [2nd and final Top 40 hit]
+THE LOCO-MOTION+ - Grand Funk #38 up 12 from #50 [6th Top 40 hit]
+DANCING MACHINE+ - Jackson Five #40 up 18 from #58 [14th Top 40 hit]

The Hot 100:

10 premieres: 2 Top 40 bound, 1 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 1 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 1 by proxy, 0 Country
Highest debut:
3rd tier:
#81 - ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR - Barbra Streisand

#87 - LETS GET MARRIED - Al Green
#89 - I AM WHAT I AM - Lois Fletcher
#92 - POWER OF LOVE - Martha Reeves former Motown act
#94 - UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LOVE - Love Unlimited
#95 - IT ONLY HURTS WHEN I SMILE - Tony Orlando & Dawn
#96 - ONE HELL OF A WOMAN - Mac Davis
#97 - LA GRANGE - ZZ Top
#98 - IF IT FEELS GOOD DO IT - Stories
#99 - WEREWOLF - Five Man Electrical Band


Motown:
debuts: none
3rd week: ^DANCING MACHINE - Jackson Five Top 40 from #58 from #79
3rd week: ^HEAVENLY - Temptations - #74 up 11 from #85 from #96
6th week: ^MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross Top 40 from #45, from #55, from #67, from #78, from #84.
13th week: LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross #47 down 6 from #41, from #33, from #27, from #16, from #14
OFFS: none
_________

A very good week for:
John Denver
Not only is John at #1 on the Hot 100 with a song from a previous album, but the album that contains the redone version, GREATEST HITS, is this week's #1 LP on Billboard's Top 200. [Denver is at #1 on both the singles chart and the LP chart in all three trades]
A much simpler version of Denver's self-written SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS was featured four albums back and was a b-side to his single I'D RATHER BE A COWBOY. :



Now doctored up with flutes and violins, John Denver has his first #1.
The record will only get to #41 on the Country chart, while hitting #1 on the AC chart and #1 in Canada.

***
Also a very good week for:
Gladys Knight.
On Billboard's Top 200 album chart, Gladys Knight and the Pips is the only act there that has four titles on it concurrently:
#23 - IMAGINATION
#80 - ANTHOLOGY
#175 - KNIGHT TIME
#184 - CLAUDINE ST
That as the group also advances toward a return to the Top 10 [now #14] with BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME

***

Motown Goes $6.98
HOLLYWOOD,CAL. - Motown Records has announced an increase in list price for all new releases, effective March 1, to $6.98 list for albums. In addition, the company has revealed that tape prices wil remain the same. The first release at the new $6.98 album/$6.98 tape price is the new Smokey Robinson album, "Pure Smokey."

Full-page ad for Smokey Robinson's latest LP PURE SMOKEY.
Full-page ad for Gladys Knight & The Pips "new" material from Motown that reads ALL NEW ALL KNIGHT for their freshly released KNIGHT TIME LP

***
Streaking has become such a national rage that naturally the music industry sees it as an angle for a hit, as with the energy shortage, and the movie The Exorcist,
so much so that Record World, for the second week, has printed a list of relevant titles:

STREAKS OF THE WEEK:

RAY STEVENS- Barnaby 600
[Chess/Janus]
THE STREAK [prod. by Ray Stevens/ Ahab Prod.]

TIM WEISBERG - A&M1520
STREAK-OUT [prod.by Dick Bogert]

STREAKS - 20th Century 2087
STREAKIN' & FREAKIN' [prod.by Jannsen, B.
Hart)

HOT ICE - Atlantic 3023
STREAKIN' & FREAKIN' PT. 1 [prod.by Hit
Factory)

HIGH VOLTAGE - Drive 6233[[T.K.)
STREAKIN' [prod. by Henry Stone]

Last week:

STREAKS OF THE WEEK:

FLESH GORDON & THE NUDE
HOLLYWOOD ARGYLES - Paramount
0289
SUPERSTREAKER [prod. by White Tornado)

HAROLD HARDSELL - Dunhill 4384
SPEAKING OF STREAKING [prod. by Amigo Prod.)

The Gordon disc is "Alley Oop" without his bearskin. It's produced in a party atmosphere and everyone's invited to sing along. The Hardsell is a Dickie Goodman-ish anthology record with an ersatz Cosell doing the play-by-play.
The streakers novelty category seems to be racing to the fore week by week.

Also in Cash Box:

RICK SPRINGFIELD AND SPRINGFIELD MASS [Columbia 4-46032]
Streakin' Across The U.S.A. [2:57]
Teen idol Rick enters the streaking race with this bright, up rocker that
touches upon the latest collegiate craze. Perfect for Top 40 rockers looking to
add a bit of good time cheer to their playlists. Just as with streaking itself, this
disk is all for fun and fun for all. Flip: Music To Streak By [2:21]

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #14
April 06, 1974

Number of singles reviewed this week: 122
last week: 95

Record World:

WILLIE HUTCH - Motown M1292F
THEME OF FOXY BROWN [prod.by Willie Hutch]
Hutch has been multiplying his talents like a rabbit as an artist-producer genius. This latest in a string of hit movie themes is his best effort to date.

The Motown Review:

Motown has the Hot 100's highest debut with Stevie Wonder's DON'T YOU WORRY 'BOUT A THING. BOOGIE DOWN is still the label's highest ranker with four other titles all moving up with bullets. One single drops off as Wonder reenters for a total of five 45s charting.
_____

The Top 10:

#1 Blue Swede - HOOKED ON A FEELING - All three trades

It took the unknown cover band from Sweden, Blue Swede, just 8 weeks to reach #1 with their quirky rendition of BJ Thomas' 1969 hit [#5] HOOKED ON A FEELING. This version will also reach #2 in Canada and #4 in Australia, but will fail miserably in the UK peaking at #90. That's because they'd had their fill of an "ooka" customizing of the song created by the zany Jonathan King a couple of years back which Blue Swede has now lifted.*



Last week's #1, John Denver's SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS, is now #3 as Elton John's BENNIE AND THE JETS jets its way toward the top at #2 with a bullet from #4. The Top 10's biggest mover is just as unlikely as this week's #1, THE LORDS PRAYER by singing nun Janet Mead bullets five spaces from #10 to #5.
MFSB are OTTT [On The Top Ten] with TSOP for their first time at #8 from #12, while Gladys Knight and the Pips are back on at #10 from #14 with BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME. Dropping off: JET descends to #11 from #7 by Paul McCartney, Mocedades' ERES TU does too, falling to #14 from #9.

The Top 40:

Motown:
Three 45s from Motown are on the Top 40:
BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks dips to#14 from #11, from #4, from #2, from #2, from #4, from #7, from #9 .
^MY MISTAKE WAS TO LOVE YOU - Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross bullets to #29 from #37
^DANCING MACHINE - Jackson Five bullets to #31 from #40
OFFS: none
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3 Arrivals, 3 US, 1+Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country
highest debut:
PIANO MAN - Billy Joel #33 up 8 from #41 [*first time artist]

+[I'VE BEEN SEARCHIN'] SO LONG+ - Chicago #39 up 10 from #49 [13th Top 40 hit]
OUTSIDE WOMAN - Bloodstone #40 up 5 from #45 [2nd and final Top 40 hit]

The Hot 100:

8 premieres: 2 Top 40 bound, 2 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 1 Philly International related, 1 Motown, 0 by proxy, 1 Country
Highest debut:
3rd tier:
#73 - DON'T YOU WORRY 'BOUT A THING - Stevie Wonder

#78 - I'M IN LOVE - Aretha Franklin
#85 - A DREAM GOES ON FOREVER - Todd Rundgren
#94 - SO GOOD - The Eleventh Hour
#97 - WHO IS HE AND WHAT HE TO YOU - Creative Source
#98 - SILVER THREADS AND GOLDEN NEEDLES - Linda Ronstadt
#99 - SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR TAKE YOUR LOVE BACK - Harold Melvin/Blue Notes
#100 - BAD BAD LEROY BROWN - Frank Sinatra


Motown:
debuts: one
1st week: ^DON'T YOU WORRY 'BOUT A THING - Stevie Wonder DEBUT at #73

4th week: ^HEAVENLY - Temptations - #55 up 19 from #74 from #85 from #96
14th week: LAST TIME I SAW HIM - Diana Ross OFF from #47 from #41 from #33 from #27 from #16 from #14
OFFS: one
LAST TIME I SAW HIM
Diana Ross will spend some time on the charts with Marvin Gaye [here and the UK] then this will be the last time we'll see her on the Top 40 until late next year. The title track to Ross' latest LP made it to #14, #15 Soul, and #1 AC.
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A very good week for:
Bobby Womack
Womack is enjoying his first record to reach into the Top 40's top half as his self-revived version of his [The Valentinos] LOOKIN' FOR A LOVE from 1962 bullets to #16. Also this week, Aretha Franklin enters the Hot 100 at #78 with her version of the Womack written I'M IN LOVE.

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5 Month Club:
20 weeks:
THE WAY WE WERE - Barbra Streisand #34 and still Top 40.
UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME - Aretha Franklin #38 and still Top 40.
22 weeks:
David Essex ROCK ON at #17
Jim Stafford SPIDERS AND SNAKES at #35

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*Mark James and BJ Thomas grew up friends in Texas. Besides providing several songs for Thomas, including HOOKED ON A FEELING, James handed Elvis Presley quite a gift with SUSPICIOUS MINDS already laid out for Presley on a 45 under James' own name with little need for improvement:



James also has credits on ALWAYS ON MY MIND [he helped tie the lyrics together in its final stage] and it became the b-side for the Elvis Presley million selling SEPARATE WAYS before becoming a trademark song for Willie Nelson and winning Grammy Song Of the Year in 1983.

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Strangest new record:
- doesn't seem like that distinction would come from Frank Sinatra, but there he is at #100 with BAD BAD LEROY BROWN.

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A hugely significant disco record debuts on the UK chart this week at #42: DOCTOR'S ORDERS by Sunny. More on it to come.