My mom went to high school with Jimmy Webb and I remember all through the 70s when that Garfunkel song came on the radio (or Up up and Away or pretty much any Glen Campbell song) my mom would yell out "That's a Jimmy Webb song!" She would then follow it up with "Did I ever tell you about the time back in high school . . ." and tell some story about Webb. I guess he was mildly dorky kid from Oklahoma who had the ability to play pretty much any instrument. I guarantee you I remember more about Jimmy Webb's senior year of high school than he does.
dslifton
· 2 weeks ago
I so, so love Midnight Train To Georgia. Such an underrated song.
Michael Parr
· 2 weeks ago
I attended an Indigo Girls show many moons ago with Joan Osbourne and Michael Franti & Spearhead opening. At the close of the show they absolutely brought the house down with their rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia". The lead was taken by Spearhead's female vocalist at the time, whose name escapes me, with Joan, Emily, Amy and Michael playing "The Pips." I swear I get goosebumps just recalling the performance.
So is it safe to say, that if I yell out requests for "Start Me Up" or "Mixed Emotions" tonight I will have objects thrown at my head?
bama
· 2 weeks ago
Michael, check out the site www.coverlaydown.com. It's generally devoted to mellow/twangy versions of the classics. I little while back, they posted a dozen or so covers by the Indigo Girls; I think including "Midnight Train."
JT
· 2 weeks ago
"she is half woman, half horse"...lol.. good week and great write up. I wish music was this diverse these days.
jefito
· 2 weeks ago
McD covered "All I Know" as a duet with his wife in 1994 -- as a cut for the SBK-affiliated "One Life to Live" soundtrack album. It is, unsurprisingly, out of print.
gigi
· 2 weeks ago
8. When I was a high school teacher back in the late 90s, it was apparent to me that my students all thought "Let's Get It On" was a Jack Black original (see "High Fidelity").
4. I miss Cher's real nose.
2. Tori Amos does an absolutely beautiful cover of "Angie." BTW there's major rock-n-roll drama behind that song: the "Angie" of the title is Angie Bowie, David's ex. Apparently after she (allegedly) caught Mick and David in bed together, she took a turn with the Stones singer herself. You'd never know any of this from watching the two guys palling around together in the video for "Dancing in the Streets." Rock stars: they're so NOT just like us!
eddie_w
· 2 weeks ago
I'm with you on Midnight Train to Georgia too, Jason - awesome song, and you've got to love those Pips. Speaking of first iTunes purchases, this song was one of mine.
DwDunphy
· 2 weeks ago
What does it say about 1973 that almost all the songs here deserved to be hits? Almost every song had a right to be regarded by the public. Almost.
"Heartbeat - It's A Lovebeat"? Sounds like a Ron Paul campaign slogan.
Eric S.
· 2 weeks ago
I'd never heard that full Billy Preston song before. I don't know who had it first, but either he or Mike Post should have a lawsuit ready to go since this sounds just like the "Rockford Files" theme
KellyStitzel
· 2 weeks ago
Is it wrong that every time I hear "Ramblin' Man" I think of the scene in "When Harry Met Sally" when Sally tells Harry about her days of the week underpants? That song is playing during that scene and I just can't separate the two now.
JonCummings
· 2 weeks ago
Having devoured "Doonesbury" compilations when I was a kid, I can never hear "Midnight Train to Georgia" without thinking of this Sunday strip from 1974:
By coincidence, the AT40 broadcast of the countdown three weeks prior to this chart was aired...er, three weeks ago on an AM station in Houston that runs vintage AT40s from that week in history every Saturday night. I can honestly say there's not a song on this list I despise, although I'm only peripherally familiar with 9 and 10. Yes, "Midnight Train to Georgia" deserves top honors, but I'm always quick to defend the Sturm und Drang of "Heartbeat - It's a Lovebeat". The finest display of minor-major tension in fave-rave pop since "I Think I Love You".
As you can probably surmise, I'm also fond of "Paper Roses". I first saw the clip you embedded on Vh1 some years ago (possibly on 8-Track Flashback); it gives Ms. Osmond's reading an almost ethereal quality.
Lisa Marie Smith
· 2 weeks ago
I <3 the DeFranco Family! One important fact: The Love Generation provided the backing vocals rather than the actual DeFranco siblings. They were also the voices of The Partridge Family and appeared on many other well-known tunes as backing artists. They were talented in their own right, releasing two albums. Never before have I heard the word groovy used in so many song lyrics!
jasonhare
· 1 week ago
Fascinating. Thanks, Lisa!
SteveA
· 2 weeks ago
The Marvin Gaye demo has such a different texture to it than the version we all know - what a remarkable singer!
Geoff
· 1 week ago
It is hard to convey the awesomeness of "Midnight Train" in writing, but that "Goldmine" article does the song justice. I too indelibly associate the song with the "Midnight Train to Cranston" Doonesbury strip. Thanks for posting it, JonCummings! Gladys & Pips followed up with two more very fine Jim Weatherly compositions, "I've Got to Use My Imagination" and "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me."
I have a funny memory of some Denver-area DJ ragging on "Paper Roses" at the time it was a hit. After playing the song he said something like "People ask me if I like this song. With all due respect to Miss Osmond, no I do not."
Michael Burke
· 1 week ago
I don't actually like Miss You, or even that line about the boriquas. I recognize that it is a terrible song.
But it's one of those lines that is just great fun to imitate, and that disco octave bassline is tailor made for one of Jason's favorite things in the world, bassist rock squats.
All Comments
So is it safe to say, that if I yell out requests for "Start Me Up" or "Mixed Emotions" tonight I will have objects thrown at my head?
It's generally devoted to mellow/twangy versions of the classics.
I little while back, they posted a dozen or so covers by the Indigo Girls; I think including "Midnight Train."
good week and great write up.
I wish music was this diverse these days.
4. I miss Cher's real nose.
2. Tori Amos does an absolutely beautiful cover of "Angie." BTW there's major rock-n-roll drama behind that song: the "Angie" of the title is Angie Bowie, David's ex. Apparently after she (allegedly) caught Mick and David in bed together, she took a turn with the Stones singer herself. You'd never know any of this from watching the two guys palling around together in the video for "Dancing in the Streets." Rock stars: they're so NOT just like us!
"Heartbeat - It's A Lovebeat"? Sounds like a Ron Paul campaign slogan.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3442959270_...
As you can probably surmise, I'm also fond of "Paper Roses". I first saw the clip you embedded on Vh1 some years ago (possibly on 8-Track Flashback); it gives Ms. Osmond's reading an almost ethereal quality.
I have a funny memory of some Denver-area DJ ragging on "Paper Roses" at the time it was a hit. After playing the song he said something like "People ask me if I like this song. With all due respect to Miss Osmond, no I do not."
But it's one of those lines that is just great fun to imitate, and that disco octave bassline is tailor made for one of Jason's favorite things in the world, bassist rock squats.