Who Do You Think You Are - Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods (1974)

Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods are best remembered today for their version of "Billy, Don't Be A Hero," which topped the Billboard chart for two weeks in the U.S. in June 1974. Although the group was not able to duplicate the massive success of that hit with their subsequent singles, they did achieve several more chart hits during the 1970s, the most successful of which was "Who Do You Think You Are."

"Who Do You Think You Are" was released as the follow-up single to "Billy, Don't Be A Hero"; it would achieve a peak placing of #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early fall of the same year. The catchy, upbeat song was composed by Clive Scott and Des Dyer, both members of Jigsaw (see the previous posting on "Love Fire"), who also recorded it for one of their own LPs.

A reformed version of Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods still continues to tour today as part of The Original Idols Live. The group's four studio albums do not appear to have been issued on CD, although a compilation of the group's material, The Best of Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, was released by Varese Sarabande in the mid 1990s. "Who Do You Think You Are" is also included on several 1970s compilations, including Vol. 13 of Rhino's Super Hits of the '70s: Have A Nice Day series.

Listen to the track in its entirety on YouTube: .

That Old Song - Ray Parker, Jr. and Raydio (1981)

By the time Ray Parker, Jr. had reached his late twenties, he was already a long-time veteran of the music industry. Not only had he worked as a session guitarist for many of the most prominent R&B and pop artists, he also had developed considerable skills as a songwriter and producer. In 1977, Ray and three other musicians formed Raydio, a collaboration which produced several top 40 hit singles, including "Jack and Jill," "You Can't Change That," and "Two Places at the Same Time" during the years 1978 to 1980.

A Woman Needs Love, the group's fourth album, was released in 1981. Credited to Ray Parker, Jr. and Raydio, the title track became the group's most successful single. It was followed by "That Old Song," a smooth midtempo effort featuring Ray on lead vocals. The single peaked at #21 and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts respectively in the summer of 1981, and also gave the group their first Adult Contemporary chart hit, with a peak of #7.

"That Old Song" is included on the compilations Greatest Hits and The Best of Ray Parker, Jr., as well as A Woman Needs Love, available as an import. Listen to the track on YouTube:

Better Love Next Time - Dr. Hook (1979)

The early 1970s recordings of Dr. Hook, for a time billed as Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, were more country-oriented in style and sometimes featured humorous subjects. As the decade wore on, however, the group's sound gradually evolved to a more pop/rock based style, with love and relationships as dominant lyrical themes. During the years 1976-79, the group would release nine singles, several of which did very well on the charts, especially 1979's "When You're in Love With a Beautiful Woman," a #6 hit in the U.S. and #1 in the U.K.

Later that year, the group recorded its eighth studio album, Sometimes You Win. "Better Love Next Time" was the first of several singles to be released from the album. Debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 in the autumn of 1979, the radio-friendly hit achieved a solid #12 placing on the U.S. singles chart. It was also quite successful in the U.K., where it peaked at #8.

Listen to the complete track at YouTube via this link: .
Although Sometimes You Win does not appear to be currently in print, "Better Love Next Time" is featured on a number of the group's hits compilations, including the excellent Greatest Hits (And More).

Love Fire - Jigsaw (1976)

By the early-to-mid 1970s, the band Jigsaw had recorded several albums as well as established themselves as a popular live act in their native Britain. Although they released several singles during that time, they had not yet achieved the breakthrough hit that would bring them worldwide success. That all changed in 1975, when the single "Sky High," originally recorded for the film The Man from Hong Kong, became a huge hit, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and at #9 on the U.K. chart, as well as achieving similar acclaim in other countries.

The band quickly followed up the success of "Sky High" with the release of "Love Fire," an uptempo track somewhat similar musically to its predecessor. While not a hit in the U.K., it did moderately well on the U.S. chart, achieving a #30 placing in March 1976. Both hits were included on the group's 1975 self-titled album released on Chelsea Records, also issued as Sky High on the Splash label for the U.K. market.

"Love Fire" is included on several collections of the group's material, including The Very Best of Jigsaw and Anthology. The song was also released on Volume 24 of Rhino's Have A Nice Day: Super Hits of the '70s series. You can listen to the track in full by clicking on this YouTube link:
. If, like me, you are a fan of "lost" singles, be sure to check out MusicMike2's other videos on YouTube, as he has a number of good tracks posted there.

Sequel - Harry Chapin (1980)

In 1972, singer/songwriter Harry Chapin released "Taxi," one of his best known and most loved recordings. Loosely based on a similar event he personally experienced, the song told the compelling and bittersweet story of Harry and Sue, former lovers who unexpectedly meet again years later in Harry's taxi cab. Chapin's poignant storyline and artful portrayal of the characters struck a chord with listeners, but left a sense of wondering if there would be more to the tale. Eight years later, Harry answered that question with the single, "Sequel."

"Sequel" was the first and only single released from the album of the same name, issued on Boardwalk Records. It peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1980, one place higher than "Taxi" had peaked in 1972. Sadly, it would be Harry's final hit, as he would pass away less than a year later at just 38 years of age.

"Sequel" is included on several collections of Chapin's greatest hits, as well as the original album, which was reissued in 2003 under the name Storyteller but appears to be out of print. It was also included on Volume 4 of Rhino's Radio Daze: Pop Hits of the '80s series. View a clip of Harry performing "Sequel" on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCAdlnkjCgM.

Believe in Humanity - Carole King (1973)

By 1973, Carole King had firmly established her place as one of pop music’s most talented and respected singer/songwriters. In addition to writing numerous compositions for other artists, she had achieved one of the best-selling and most awarded albums in pop/rock history with Tapestry in 1971. During the two years following the release of Tapestry, she recorded three albums - Music, Rhymes and Reasons, and Fantasy, all of which were quite successful as well.

“Believe in Humanity,” a jazzy piano-based track with a timely and socially conscious message, was the debut single to be released from Fantasy. It first appeared in the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1973, peaking at #28. Interestingly, the “B” side of the single, “You Light Up My Life,” simultaneously charted in its own right; although it did not quite make the top 40 on the pop chart, peaking at #67, it did achieve a #6 placing on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Listen to an audio sample of “Believe in Humanity” and other tracks from Fantasy via this link: http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/mediaplayer.asp?ean=886972456621&track=12&disc=1.
The song is also included on several of Carole’s greatest hits compilations, including A Natural Woman: The Ode Collection (1968-1976), an excellent overview of her early solo career.

My Fair Share - Seals & Crofts (1977)

The harmony-rich, folk-influenced soft rock stylings of Jim Seals and Dash Crofts were a perfect fit for AM radio during the years 1972 to 1976. In that time span, the duo achieved an impressive nine singles on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, including three top 10 hits, as well as solid album sales. Jim and Dash were also guests on many television programs of the time, including several talk and variety shows.

In 1977, the duo began recording vocal and instrumental tracks for One On One, the soundtrack album to the film of the same name starring Robby Benson and Annette O’Toole. The project was something of a departure for Seals and Crofts, as on previous albums they had written nearly all of their own material. In this case, however, the songs were penned by Charles Fox and Paul Williams. The beautiful, poignant love theme from the album, “My Fair Share,” was released as a single and generated respectable airplay and sales, peaking at #28 and giving Jim and Dash their tenth Billboard pop hit.

After many years of very limited availability of many of the albums, the remaining catalog of Seals & Crofts was recently reissued on CD on Wounded Bird Records. You can view a videoclip of Jim and Dash performing "My Fair Share" via this link:

Love You Like I Never Loved Before - John O'Banion (1981)

Is it just me, or did John look quite a bit like actor Hugh Laurie?

John O'Banion's career as an entertainer had begun at an early age in television and theater in his native Indiana. It was as a singer and songwriter that he achieved his greatest success, however. His expressive, soulful tenor voice and melodic style were right in step with the Westcoast/AOR genre which was quite popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

"Love You Like I Never Loved Before" was the first single from John's debut album, John O'Banion. Released in the spring of 1981, the song peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Although it would be John's only hit, he continued to record music and make appearances in films until his death in 2007 from injuries he sustained in an accident.

John's earlier albums, including his debut, are currently not widely available, but hopefully will be reissued at some point. "Love You Like I Never Before" was also included on the Rhino compilation Radio Daze: Pop Hits of the '80s, Vol. 5.

Steppin' in a Slide Zone - The Moody Blues (1978)

The year 1978 was a comeback of sorts for The Moody Blues. After releasing a string of seven solid and well-regarded albums during the late 1960s and early 1970s, the band members decided to part ways in 1974 to concentrate on their own solo projects. Three years later, the group agreed to reform for the recording of Octave, which was recorded in early 1978 and released in the summer of that year.

“Steppin’ in a Slide Zone” was the first single released from the album. Written by John Lodge, the track was recorded in a similar symphonic/progressive rock style that had been characteristic of their earlier work, but featured a synthesizer in place of the once-prominent mellotron. The single peaked at #39 in September, and while not as popular as some of their earlier tracks, it rekindled interest in the band and paved the way for even greater success in 1981 with the release of their chart-topping album, Long Distance Voyager.

Listen to a sample of “Steppin’ in a Slide Zone” via this link: http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/mediaplayer.asp?ean=731453580022&track=11&disc=1. The availability of Octave has varied over the years, but it appears to be currently in print. The track is also included on several of the group’s greatest hits compilations.

Winners and Losers - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds (1975)

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds had scored a #4 Billboard hit in 1971 with "Don't Pull Your Love," but soon found themselves unable to sustain the momentum that hit had generated. Their next two singles, also released in 1971, were only moderately successful on the charts, not quite reaching the top 40. During the next few years, the band underwent several changes, including the replacement of group member Tommy Reynolds with Alan Dennison (although the group would continue to use its original moniker for a time afterward), and signing with a new label, Playboy Records.

Their first album on the Playboy label, Fallin' in Love, was released in 1975. The title track became a major hit for the group in the summer of 1975, reaching #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. In November of that year, the band followed it up with the release of “Winners and Losers,” an excellent ballad written in a similar breezy, soft rock/pop style as its predecessor, although slightly more uptempo. While “Winners and Losers” did not duplicate the success of “Fallin’ in Love,” it achieved a very respectable #21 placing on the Hot 100 in early 1976.

Until fairly recently, “Winners and Losers” was a difficult track to obtain on CD, but happily that changed with the release of the compilation Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds: The Playboy Years in 2005. A sample of the song can be heard via Barnes & Noble at http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/mediaplayer.asp?ean=630428014428&disc=1&track=1.

Winds of Change - Jefferson Starship (1982)

"Winds of change" would be an apt description of Jefferson Starship's long history and musical evolution as of 1982. Not only were musical styles and the industry itself considerably different than when the group was formed as Jefferson Airplane in the mid 1960s, but the band had gone through several personnel changes and even a new group name. Despite all the changes, the group showed a great deal of flexibility and resilience, and continued to be a consistent album and Billboard Hot 100 chart presence throughout the 1970s and well into the 1980s.

The group's album Winds of Change, their eighth under the Jefferson Starship name, was released on Grunt Records in September 1982. The title track was the second single from the album, following the top 30 hit "Be My Lady." Unfortunately, despite impressive lead vocal performances from Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas, "Winds of Change" was not quite as successful, spending only two weeks in the Billboard top 40 in March 1983 and peaking at #38.

Although there have been numerous hits compilations released of the group's work, the single appears not to have been included among the track listings. The album Winds of Change is still available, however. You can listen to audio samples of the title track and others via Barnes & Noble: http://music.barnesandnoble.com/Winds-of-Change/Jefferson-Starship/e/886972404226.

Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone - The Manhattan Transfer (1979)

In 1979, the disco phenomenon was in full swing, and exerted a great deal of influence over the American music market. Many artists who recorded music in genres as diverse as jazz, rock, and country were inspired to record material with a disco flavor. Some of the efforts were quite successful and well done, and among these was The Manhattan Transfer's "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone," a danceable tune inspired by the music from the popular 1960s television program.

The song was recorded during a time of transition for the group, as they moved from a more pop-vocal based sound into a more jazz-oriented one. "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" was the most successful single from the well-regarded 1979 Extensions album, peaking at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late spring 1980, as well as a #12 placement on the Disco chart. The group would go on to even greater pop success in 1981 with their remake of the Ad Libs' hit, "The Boy from New York City."

Listen to a sample of "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" here: http://music.barnesandnoble.com/Extensions/The-Manhattan-Transfer/e/075678156526/?itm=4 . The song is included on several of their hits collections as well as Extensions.

Happiness Is Just Around the Bend - The Main Ingredient (1974)

The Main Ingredient's first two top 40 Billboard singles, "Everybody Plays the Fool" and "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" were earnest ballads with a decidedly pensive tone. However, "Happiness Is Just Around the Bend," their third hit single, found the group taking a more upbeat and optimistic approach, both in lyrical content and musical style.

"Happiness is Just Around the Bend" was the second single from the group's Euphrates River album, which also featured the aforementioned "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" and the excellent "California My Way," a minor pop and R&B hit. "Happiness" was not as successful as its predecessor hit singles, managing only a #35 placing on the Billboard Hot 100 in late summer 1974, although it did do quite well on the R&B chart, peaking at #7. Organist Brian Auger had also recorded a version of the song for his 1973 album, Closer to It.

A remastered version of Euphrates River is currently available as an import, and "Happiness Is Just Around the Bend" is also available on several greatest hits collections from the group. Click on the link to access an audio sample of the song, via Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Everybody-Plays-Fool-Best-Ingredient/dp/B0009VNBS8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222360991&sr=1-1.

Wrack My Brain - Ringo Starr (1981)

Following a solid run of hit singles earlier in the decade, Ringo Starr experienced a bit of a chart dry spell in the mid-to-late 1970s. His fortune changed somewhat, however, with the release of his eighth album, Stop and Smell the Roses. The album, which was recorded during late 1980 and early 1981, featured contributions from several of Ringo's musical contemporaries, including former Beatles Paul McCartney and George Harrison, the latter of whom wrote the single, "Wrack My Brain."

"Wrack My Brain" was released as a single on Boardwalk Records in November 1981; it would peak at #38 on the Billboard chart the following month. While not as commercially successful as Ringo's earlier hits, it was a catchy song that featured him in top form. It remains Ringo's last top 40 single to date, although he has continued to record and tour to much acclaim.

Stop and Smell the Roses is currently out of print, but "Wrack My Brain" is available on the collection Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr. A brief sample of the song can be heard on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Ringo-Starr/e/B000APT4V6/ref=ntt_mus_dp_pel .