Billboard's Hot 100/ Top 40 Motown Chronicles -- 1975 --- [Pt. 1]

[Boogiedown]

1975
begins with the music industry's chart conquerors still in competition with the continuous releases from the studios of Motown with offerings ranging from those of established superstars, to long-time strugglers, to recruits and newcomers that are hoping to build a name for themselves under the famed Motown banner.

Let's get to it!!

*********

Because of the amount of content,

the year 1975 is being divided into four threads.

This is Part I:
January -March
______________

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

1974:
link for: 1974 Part III - September - December
link for: 1974 Part II - May - August
link for: 1974 Part I - January - April

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]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #01
January 4, 1975

Number of singles reviewed this week: 32!
last week: 63

The Motown Review:

1975 begins with Motown's releases performing best on the Soul chart where Stevie Wonder is at #1 with BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN which also bullets within the Pop Top 10. PLEASE MR POSTMAN by The Carpenters also becomes Top 10. The Temptations are bulleting as well as Motown's only other strong charter. There are seven singles carrying over from 1974 with none dropping off and no new ones joining in on the Hot 100.

The Top 10:

Billboard: - LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS - week 1
Record Word: - LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS - week 1
Cash Box: - LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS - week 1

New year, new #1 and it's unanimous as Elton John's remake of The Beatles' LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS knocks out Helen Reddy's ANGIE BABY to #6.
First week of the year and already a chart movement irregularity. KUNG FU FIGHTING has been slow to leave after hitting #1 on Dec. 21. This week it reverses course and heads back up to #3 from #4.
Two entries ease in but each with bullets: PLEASE MR. POSTMAN by the Carpenters checks in at #9 from #11 and MANDY comes in at #10 from #12 by newcomer Barry Manilow. Out: Former #1, CATS IN THE CRADLE by Harry Chapin tips to #11 from #5 and it's a good question from the Three Degrees as WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN departs to #17 from #7.

The Top 40:

Motown:

One 45 from Motown is on the Top 40:
^BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN - Stevie Wonder bullets to #8 from #10 from #13 from #23 from #27 from #38

Biggest mover in the Top 40: 12 rungs :
PICK UP THE PIECES - Average White Band to #27 from #39

4 titles , all US, 1+Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country, 0 Disco
highest debut:
I BELONG TO YOU - Love Unlimited #34 up 7 from #41 [2nd and final Top 40 hit]

FREE BIRD - Lynyrd Skynyrd #35 up 8 from #43 [2nd Top 40 hit]
+YOU RE NO GOOD+ - Linda Ronstadt #37 up 9 from #46 [3rd Top 40 hit]
STRUTTIN' - Billy Preston #40 up 17 from #57 [5th and final Top 40 solo hit]

The Hot 100:

10 newbies, 3 Top 40 bound, 2 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 1 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 2 by proxy, 1 Country , 3 Disco
Highest debut:
2nd tier:
#67 - NIGHTINGALE - Carole King

#83 - MIDNIGHT SKY Pt. I - Isley Bros. former Motown act
#88 - RHYME TYME PEOPLE - Kool/Gang
#90 - DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME - Manhattans
#92 - LOVE DON'T YOU GO THROUGH NO CHANGES ON ME #5- Sister Sledge
#94 - WHAT A MAN MY MAN IS - Lynn Anderson
#95 - POETRY MAN - Phoebe Snow
#96 - LET ME START TONIGHT - Lamont Dozier former Motown producer-writer
#98 - LADY MARMALADE #7 - Labelle
#99 - UP IN A PUFF OF SMOKE - Polly Brown

Motown:

Debuts: none
3rd week ^HAPPY PEOPLE - Temptations #63 up 11 from #74 from #85
3rd week ^DON'T CHA' LOVE IT - Miracles #82 up 1 from #83 from #88
4th week: ^I AM, I AM - Smokey Robinson #72 up 3 from #75 from #82 from #85
5th week: ONE TEAR - Eddie Kendricks #71 again from #71 from #77 from #84 from #88
8th week: ^I FEEL SANCTIFIED - Commodores #86 up 3 from #89 from #81 from #77 from #75 from #84 from #78 from #84
11th week: WHATEVER YOU GOT, I WANT - Jackson Five #69 down 9 from #60 from #64 from #54 from #47 from Top 40
Offs: none
____

A very good week for:
Woman
within six titles, some repeatedly
highest charting:
#8 - BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN - Stevie Wonder

#13 ONE MAN WOMAN/ONE WOMAN MAN - Anka/Coates
#30 FROM HIS WOMAN TO YOU - Barbara Mason
#41 LOOK IN MY EYES PRETTY WOMAN - Orlando/Dawn
#43 WOMAN TO WOMAN - Shirley Brown
#78 I'M A WOMAN - Maria Muldaur



Like Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston continues to hone in on his electric keyboard skills as he enters the Top 40 with another instrumental. Although the song on the b-side of STRUTTIN' is not getting radio play, it has not gone unnoticed:



***
Billboard Disco:
#1 Audience Response:
I'LL BE HOLDING ON - Al Downing

Tom Moulton alphabetically list the Top 50 disco songs in 1974, including two from Motown:
BOOGIE DOWN - Eddie Kendricks
MACHINE GUN - Commodores

and the list includes these Motown related titles:
HANG ON IN THERE BABY - Johnny Bristol
LA LA PEACE SONG - OC Smith
NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE - Gloria Gaynor
MAINLINE - Ashford & Simpson
TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT - Jimmy Ruffin
THEN CAME YOU - Spinners/Warwick

***
UK charting;
only the Top 50 LP chart gets published this week. Nothing on it from Motown.

[Boogiedown]

RIP
Record producer Richard Perry [June 18, 1942 – December 24, 2024]
who this week is #1 on the Easy Listening chart with Ringo Starr's remake of ONLY YOU.

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #02
January 11, 1975

Number of singles reviewed this week: 43!
last week: 32!

The Motown Review:

Motown's inventory is cut back this week as two strugglers fizzle out. Stevie Wonder continues as the labels chief representative with the sole 45 from the company charting in the Top 40 as it climbs within the Top 10 although this week without a bullet. With the loss of two Motown records and no new arrivals, the label has a count of five charters.

The Top 10:

Billboard: - LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS - week 2
Record Word: - LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS - week 2
Cash Box: - YOU'RE THE FIRST THE LAST MY EVERYTHING - week 1

The Top 40:


Elton John remains at #1 with LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS on a rather stable Top 10 with only one song bulletting upward within: Barry Manilow's MANDY at #5 from #10. Taking that #10 spot is Paul Anka and Odia Coates with ONE WOMAN MAN/ ONE MAN WOMAN, in from #13, and the only record to enter, replacing ANGIE BABY by Helen Reddy descending from #6 to #13.

Motown:

One 45 from Motown is on the Top 40:
^BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN - Stevie Wonder to #7 from #8 from #10 from #13 from #23 from #27 from #38

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 3 titles move up eight digits:
FREE BIRD - Lynyrd Skynyrd #27 from #35
YOU'RE NO GOOD - Linda Ronstadt #29 from #37
STRUTTIN' - Billy Preston #32 from #40

5 titles make it: 3 US, 2 UK, 2+Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 1 Country, 0 Disco
highest debut:
LOOK IN MY EYES PRETTY WOMAN - Orlando/Dawn #33 up 8 from #41 [10th Top 40 hit]
+#9 DREAM+ - John Lennon#35 up 12 from #47 [8th Top 40 solo hit]
READY - Cat Stevens #36 up 5 from #41 [9th Top 40 hit]
SWEET SURRENDER - John Denver #37 up 27 from #64 [6th Top 40 hit]
+BLACK WATER+ - Doobie Bros. #38 up 8 from #46 [6th Top 40 hit]

The Hot 100:

Just five arrive: 3 Top 40 bound, 3 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 0 Motown, 1 by proxy, 0 Country , 1 Disco
Highest debut:
3rd tier:
#81 - DING DONG DING DONG - George Harrison

#85 - YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL - Joe Cocker
#86 - AIN'T THAT PECULIAR - Diamond Reo [Marvin Gaye 1965 #8 hit]
#90 - SAD SWEET DREAMER - Sweet Sensation
#98 - SHAME SHAME SHAME #1 x 4 - Shirley & Co.
#99 - I WONT LAST A DAY WITHOUT YOU/ LET ME BE THE ONE - Al Wilson

Motown:

Debuts: none
4th week: ^HAPPY PEOPLE - Temptations #53 up 10 from #63 from #74 from #85
4th week: ^DON'T CHA' LOVE IT - Miracles #78 up 4 from #82 from #83 from #88
5th week: I AM, I AM - Smokey Robinson #74 down 2 from #72 from #75 from #82 from #85
6th week: ONE TEAR - Eddie Kendricks #77 down 6 from #71 from #71 from #77 from #84 from #88
9th week: I FEEL SANCTIFIED - Commodores Off from #86 up 3 from #89 from #81 from #77 from #75 from #84 from #78 from #84
12th week: - WHATEVER YOU GOT, I WANT - Jackson Five Off from #69 from #60 from #64 from #54 from #47 from Top 40

Offs: two
Commodores second charting single, I FEEL SANCTIFIED, a vocal funk exercise falls short of the Top 40 and peaks at #12 Soul. The group's next album will be released next month.
The Jackson Five's WHATEVER YOU GOT, I WANT during its 12 week run, made the Top 40, just barely, hitting a wall at #38 while peaking #3 Soul. Their next single is already in the pipeline.
________

A very good week for:
The Beatles
The #1 record is a Beatles remake.
Two Beatles are in the Top 10:
Paul McCartney is #3; Ringo Starr is #6 [and #1 Adult Contemporary.]
All four Beatles are Top 40:
George Harrison moves up to #15 while his newest is the week's highest debut.
John Lennon enters the Top 40.
____

Also a very good week for:
The Douglas'
Although not related, the two one hit wonders, Carol Douglas [#17] and Carl Douglas [#9] share their Top 40 journeys at the same time.
Although the Soul chart was slow to list it, this week Carl Douglas is #1 there and he is the first English act to score a #1 American soul song. But, not without insult, even at #1, the chart continues for some reason to incorrectly list the record's title as KUNG FU FIGHTING MAN.

***
Billboard Disco:
#1 Audience Response:

I'LL BE HOLDING ON - Al Downing

For the first time albums get reviewed under a DISCO banner:
Gloria Gaynor - NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE
Kay Gees - KEEP ON BUMPIN' AND MASTERMIND

Tom Moulton has segued 3 songs on NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE as a continuous side of an album, a concept meant to mimic the non-stop disco club experience. It includes a remake of the Four Tops 1967 #1:



which as a single will reach #14 in the UK.

***

As mentioned last week, Billy Preston's latest hit features a B-side gem that A&M label mate Joe Cocker has tapped into:



The single was released last November and has now picked up momentum. Joe Cocker is about to have his biggest hit of the 70's.

***
New Column called 'Soul Radio' debuts with a byline by Jean Williams.

[Boogiedown]

Billboard’s Hot 100/ Top 40
Chart #03
January 18, 1975

Number of singles reviewed this week: 62
last week: 43!
including:
recommended:
REUNION - Disco-Tekin [3:15]; producers: Joey Levine, Marc
Bellack and Paul diFranco; writers: Bellack-diFranco-Levine
Dolph-Holmes; RCA 10.10150.[references many acts including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder]

The Motown Review:

Stevie Wonder inches up one spot again. The Temptations meanwhile are leaping each week ten places at a time landing them just outside the Top 40. It's goodbye to The Miracles, hello Jackson Five, Motown holds steady at 5 on the Hot 100. PLEASE MR POSTMAN is #1 on the Easy Listening chart.

The Top 10:

Billboard: - MANDY- week 1
Record Word: - MANDY - week 1
Cash Box: - MANDY - week 1

A trifecta #1 for Barry Manilow's first hit MANDY. Elton John's LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS does a big dipper to #5. PLEASE MR POSTMAN by The Carpenters is the strongest mover this round stopping at #2 from #8. Donny and Marie Osmond remake of Tommy Edward's medium hit from the 50's THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN climbs to #9 from #11. NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE returns this time not by the J5 but by Gloria Gaynor to #10 from #14. Ringo's ONLY YOU dips to #12 from #6, while Carl Douglas' KUNG FU FIGHTING hits the mat at #20 falling from #9.

The Top 40:

One 45 from Motown is on the Top 40:
^BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN - Stevie Wonder to #6 from #7 from #8 from #10 from #13 from #23 from #27 from #38

Biggest mover in the Top 40, 8 notches :
YOU'RE NO GOOD - Linda Ronstadt at #21 from #29

5 titles jump on: all US, 4+Top 10 bound+, 0 PI related, 0 Motown, 0 by proxy, 0 Country, 0 Disco
highest debut:
+NIGHTINGALE+ - Carole King #36 up 19 from #55 [10th Top 40 hit]

+LONELY PEOPLE+ - America#37 up 13 from #50 [6th Top 40 hit]
YOUR BULLDOG DRINKS CHAMPAGNE - Jim Stafford #36 up 12 from #48 [5th Top 40 hit]
+LADY+ - Styx #39 up 12 from #51 [1st time artist]
+MY EYES ADORED YOU+ - Frankie Valli #40 up 8 from #48 [32nd career Top 40 hit]

The Hot 100:

10 arrive: 4 Top 40 bound, 3 first time to chart on the Hot 100, 0 Philly International related, 1 Motown, 1 by proxy, 0 Country , 0 Disco
Highest debut:
2nd tier:
#67 - ROLL ON DOWN THE HIGHWAY - Bachman-Turner Over Drive

#70 - MOVIN' ON -Bad Company
#80 - LOVIN' YOU - Minnie Ripperton [produced by, keyboards by Stevie Wonder]
#83 - FUTURE SHOCK - Hello People
#87 - I AM LOVE [PT 1 & 2] - Jackson Five
#89 - STAR ON A TV SHOW - Stylistics
#90 - HOTDAWGIT - Ramsey Lewis/EW&F
#94 - NEVER LET HER GO - David Gates
#97 - THANKS FOR THE SMILES - Charlie Ross
#100 - ITS ALRIGHT - Jim Capaldi

Motown:

Debuts: one
1st week: ^ I AM LOVE - Jackson Five DEBUT at #87
5th week: ^HAPPY PEOPLE - Temptations #43 up 10 from #53 from #63 from #74 from #85
5th week: DON'T CHA' LOVE IT - Miracles OFF from #78 from #82 from #83 from #88
6th week: ^I AM, I AM - Smokey Robinson #65 up 9 from #74 down 2 from #72 from #75 from #82 from #85
7th week: ONE TEAR - Eddie Kendricks #85 down 8 from #77 from #71 from #71 from #77 from #84 from #88
OFFS: one

The answer is "no" as The Miracles latest, DON'T CHA' LOVE IT, fizzles after 5 weeks and a peak of #78.
______

A very good week for:
Disco in the UK

Gloria Gaynor surges into the Top 10 to #6 from #20 as Disco Tex joins in as well [#8 from #11].
A curious record by the artificial band, Kenny, about the dance craze THE BUMP also rockets up to #4 from #21 .



Danceable but not disco.

Dropping out of the Top Ten is Barry White's YOU'RE THE FIRST, THE LAST, MY EVERYTHING after a #1 peak.
The French group, The Peppers, 1974 record, PEPPER BOX, has found its way to the islands and has reached #6. Meanwhile The Trammps are also breaking out in England reaching #29 with their 1972 tune
as covered here:

https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthrea...652#post731652:



Tom Mouton will later this year revive this number in a fabricated Trammps LP called THE LEGENDARY ZING ALBUM.
Also still untapped in the US, KC & The Sunshine Band are at their most popular in GB having first peaked with QUEEN OF CLUBS at #7 and are now at #23 with SOUND YOUR FUNKY HORN after a #17 peak.

***
Billboard Disco:
#1 Audience Response:

SHAME SHAME SHAME - Shirley and Co.

***
'Soul Radio' column is not repeated this week, however Jean Williams is credited with this week's SOUL SAUCE column.