Each week, I am releasing a list of my 15 favorite songs from the first 15 summers I lived in my beloved hometown of Toms River, N.J. between 1974-88. That takes me from the summer I was 7 until the summer I was 21. Each song from each summer has a special meaning and I will try to convey them as best as I possibly can. So I will rank each summer's hit song memory from Nos. 15 through No. 1. Each song was a hit that peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend.
This week, it's the Sounds of the Summer of '75:
15. Love Won't Let Me Wait—Major Harris (#5, June)
Sultry, sexy, and not too embarrassing to the ears of an 8-year-old. OK, maybe the actual act of fornication on the cord may have turned me all sorts of shades of red, but I was a fan of the music, not necessarily the words other than the title of the song. What's an 8-year-old to believe anyway? Major Harris was a terrific teller of this tale of resisting temptation. So smooth the R&B on this that you never hit a speed hump once.
Sultry, sexy, and not too embarrassing to the ears of an 8-year-old. OK, maybe the actual act of fornication on the cord may have turned me all sorts of shades of red, but I was a fan of the music, not necessarily the words other than the title of the song. What's an 8-year-old to believe anyway? Major Harris was a terrific teller of this tale of resisting temptation. So smooth the R&B on this that you never hit a speed hump once.
14. Dyn-o-mite—Bazooka (#10, August)
I remember this song for two reasons. That fun-sounding piano you heard every so often on that tune (I was crazy about a good-sounding piano on a record then). The other was the fact that "Dyn-o-mite" was the catch-phrase for none other than Jimmie "J.J." Walker from the TV show "Good Times." And as a fan of the old "$10,000 Pyramid" game show on ABC at the time, I remember the week Jimmie Walker went up against Meredith Baxter (before the Birney) and in all 10 games they played all week, not ONCE did Jimmie Walker win. It was as if every contestant who got sent to play with him after winning some money on the show by Ms. Baxter was destined to not come back.
I remember this song for two reasons. That fun-sounding piano you heard every so often on that tune (I was crazy about a good-sounding piano on a record then). The other was the fact that "Dyn-o-mite" was the catch-phrase for none other than Jimmie "J.J." Walker from the TV show "Good Times." And as a fan of the old "$10,000 Pyramid" game show on ABC at the time, I remember the week Jimmie Walker went up against Meredith Baxter (before the Birney) and in all 10 games they played all week, not ONCE did Jimmie Walker win. It was as if every contestant who got sent to play with him after winning some money on the show by Ms. Baxter was destined to not come back.
13. Someone Saved My Life Tonight—Elton John (#4, August)
I used to call this the "Sugar Bear" song. And I always remember how it was just Elton and his piano narrating this song about that night in which he contemplated taking his own life. Song goes beat-less until drummer Nigel Olsson hits the cymbals and puts a beat and Elton exclaims, "I never realized the passing hours, of evening showers, a slip noose hangin' in my darkest dreams. I'm strangled by your haunted social scene, just a pawn outplayed by a dominating queen. It's four o'clock in the morning, dammit. Listen too me good! I'm sleepin' with myself tonight! Saved in time, thank God my music's still alive!" I was 8 and even I thought the future Sir Elton was tormented. Did I mind that the song was almost six minutes long? Hell, no! That man could spell out a dramatic song so well. Great backing vocals, it's one of the best Sir Elton ever recorded.
I used to call this the "Sugar Bear" song. And I always remember how it was just Elton and his piano narrating this song about that night in which he contemplated taking his own life. Song goes beat-less until drummer Nigel Olsson hits the cymbals and puts a beat and Elton exclaims, "I never realized the passing hours, of evening showers, a slip noose hangin' in my darkest dreams. I'm strangled by your haunted social scene, just a pawn outplayed by a dominating queen. It's four o'clock in the morning, dammit. Listen too me good! I'm sleepin' with myself tonight! Saved in time, thank God my music's still alive!" I was 8 and even I thought the future Sir Elton was tormented. Did I mind that the song was almost six minutes long? Hell, no! That man could spell out a dramatic song so well. Great backing vocals, it's one of the best Sir Elton ever recorded.
12. Fallin' In Love—Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds (#1, August)
I always loved the lush, dreamy sound of this record. Did I ever believe it to be a No. 1 hit? Oh, no! But it fit perfectly in the middle of the Summer of 1975. Dan Hamilton gave a great vocal and the strings on this one made this memorable for generations to come … even as Drake did his best to recapture even a slight little bit of the nostalgia on his first hit "Best I Ever Had." Personally, I wish he wouldn't have ruined my summertime memory.
I always loved the lush, dreamy sound of this record. Did I ever believe it to be a No. 1 hit? Oh, no! But it fit perfectly in the middle of the Summer of 1975. Dan Hamilton gave a great vocal and the strings on this one made this memorable for generations to come … even as Drake did his best to recapture even a slight little bit of the nostalgia on his first hit "Best I Ever Had." Personally, I wish he wouldn't have ruined my summertime memory.
11. One Of These Nights—The Eagles (#1, August)
I have always thought of "One Of These Nights" as one of the more mysterious songs I've ever heard. Maybe that was the lead vocals of drummer Don Henley, whose vocals always seemed to have that mysterious tone to them, like on "Witchy Woman" or on "Hotel California" later on. The opening musical drop was unique and Don Felder's lead guitar is spot on. I can always go back in my mind every time I hear that song and remember the place I was that Summer of '75 when I heard that song.
I have always thought of "One Of These Nights" as one of the more mysterious songs I've ever heard. Maybe that was the lead vocals of drummer Don Henley, whose vocals always seemed to have that mysterious tone to them, like on "Witchy Woman" or on "Hotel California" later on. The opening musical drop was unique and Don Felder's lead guitar is spot on. I can always go back in my mind every time I hear that song and remember the place I was that Summer of '75 when I heard that song.
10. Wildfire—Michael Murphy (#3, June)
That story about the ghost horse and the woman who the horse belonged to who in a blizzard was lost -- it gets me every single time. What gets me more are the piano intros and outros to this record. Makes me cry of the beauty of this country-pop record by Michael Murphy. Even if the horse wasn't real in the lyrics of this song Murphy had co-written seven years earlier, you still end up being attached to whatever happened to it. Sometimes it's the illusion that captures our imaginations and we just don't know it until a long time later. That's "Wildfire" in its 4-minute, 45-second glory.
That story about the ghost horse and the woman who the horse belonged to who in a blizzard was lost -- it gets me every single time. What gets me more are the piano intros and outros to this record. Makes me cry of the beauty of this country-pop record by Michael Murphy. Even if the horse wasn't real in the lyrics of this song Murphy had co-written seven years earlier, you still end up being attached to whatever happened to it. Sometimes it's the illusion that captures our imaginations and we just don't know it until a long time later. That's "Wildfire" in its 4-minute, 45-second glory.
9. Magic—Pilot (#5, July)
It's another piece of guilty pop music pleasure! That song comes on the radio and you can't turn it off. "Ho-ho-ho, it's Magic! You knooooow! Never believed it's not soooooo!" There are those songs that put smiles on your face the moment you hear it. You hear that hard-driving opening and you know it's leading to this one. The Scottish group that did this song, Pilot, had a bigger international hit that year called "January." But that's a wintertime song. This is a summertime memory forever that you hear at the end of the Adam Sandler movie "Happy Gilmore." Right to the very last note, it's a classic.
It's another piece of guilty pop music pleasure! That song comes on the radio and you can't turn it off. "Ho-ho-ho, it's Magic! You knooooow! Never believed it's not soooooo!" There are those songs that put smiles on your face the moment you hear it. You hear that hard-driving opening and you know it's leading to this one. The Scottish group that did this song, Pilot, had a bigger international hit that year called "January." But that's a wintertime song. This is a summertime memory forever that you hear at the end of the Adam Sandler movie "Happy Gilmore." Right to the very last note, it's a classic.
8. Sister Golden Hair—America (#1, June)
In 1989, I saw America as part of a '70s two-act performance with Three Dog Night. I saw Gerry Beckley pick up his acoustic guitar and when he counted down to start this song and then strum those first few notes, I went nuts. When I think of a warm, Jersey Shore/California beach song, "Sister Golden Hair" comes to mind. You aren't sure Beckley is singing about joining the ministry or thinking about marriage when he's singing, "Well I ain't ready for the alter." Lets your mind figure out exactly what he sings, but there's one thing definitely for sure about this record -- he can't live without this golden-haired girl. Great harmony involving Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and the late Dan Peak and one of two No. 1 hits the group had, the other being 1972's "Horse With No Name."
In 1989, I saw America as part of a '70s two-act performance with Three Dog Night. I saw Gerry Beckley pick up his acoustic guitar and when he counted down to start this song and then strum those first few notes, I went nuts. When I think of a warm, Jersey Shore/California beach song, "Sister Golden Hair" comes to mind. You aren't sure Beckley is singing about joining the ministry or thinking about marriage when he's singing, "Well I ain't ready for the alter." Lets your mind figure out exactly what he sings, but there's one thing definitely for sure about this record -- he can't live without this golden-haired girl. Great harmony involving Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and the late Dan Peak and one of two No. 1 hits the group had, the other being 1972's "Horse With No Name."
7. Jive Talkin'—Bee Gees (#1, August)
Another song that I always will equate to a great Summer of '75 musically. Hearing that guitar- and bass-inspired open that Barry Gibb once said was the sound he heard under the wheels going over the causeway that led him to the Miami-based studio the brothers recorded the "Main Course" album at gives way to a great guitar jam for which Gibb sings, "It's just your jive talkin', telling me lies." Fantastic melody, fantastic vocals by Barry Gibb and great production put together by Arif Mardin, whose goal was to make the Bee Gees a funkier act than their ballad-laden records of years past. "Jive Talkin'" is simply a wonderful ride from Point A to Point B on your car radio that you never want to end, causeway drive or not
Another song that I always will equate to a great Summer of '75 musically. Hearing that guitar- and bass-inspired open that Barry Gibb once said was the sound he heard under the wheels going over the causeway that led him to the Miami-based studio the brothers recorded the "Main Course" album at gives way to a great guitar jam for which Gibb sings, "It's just your jive talkin', telling me lies." Fantastic melody, fantastic vocals by Barry Gibb and great production put together by Arif Mardin, whose goal was to make the Bee Gees a funkier act than their ballad-laden records of years past. "Jive Talkin'" is simply a wonderful ride from Point A to Point B on your car radio that you never want to end, causeway drive or not
6. I'm Not In Love—10cc (#2, July)
Arguably one of the greatest productions ever put together for a song. The "Wall of Voices" delivered by group members and co-producers Kevin Godley and Lol Crème are still amazing to hear all these years later. Eric Stewart tries to convince the audience he's not in love and in the middle of the song, the record changes direction and you hear that one woman singing over and over again, "Big boys don't cry … big boys don't cry … big boys don't cry … big boys don't cry." That wall of voices gets louder and they dictate the rest of the musical direction. Best version of this song is the entire 6-minute version where the vocals just fade out slowly at the end along with the musical backdrop. Brilliance has always been how I thought of this song and it still amazes me that three different records ("The Hustle," "One Of These Nights" and "Jive Talkin'") kept "I'm Not In Love" out of the top spot. Blasphemy, I say!
Arguably one of the greatest productions ever put together for a song. The "Wall of Voices" delivered by group members and co-producers Kevin Godley and Lol Crème are still amazing to hear all these years later. Eric Stewart tries to convince the audience he's not in love and in the middle of the song, the record changes direction and you hear that one woman singing over and over again, "Big boys don't cry … big boys don't cry … big boys don't cry … big boys don't cry." That wall of voices gets louder and they dictate the rest of the musical direction. Best version of this song is the entire 6-minute version where the vocals just fade out slowly at the end along with the musical backdrop. Brilliance has always been how I thought of this song and it still amazes me that three different records ("The Hustle," "One Of These Nights" and "Jive Talkin'") kept "I'm Not In Love" out of the top spot. Blasphemy, I say!
5. Swearin' To God—Frankie Valli (#6, July)
Another of the amazing songs I remember from the Summer of '75, one of my all-time favorite summers musically. Whenever I hear that opening to this record, I don't turn off the radio whatsoever. It's pure magic, even from the falsetto-tenor vocals brought forward by the Four Seasons lead vocalist. "Just touch me again. I'm king of all men. And reigning from above!" Also, "I cross my heart and hope to diiiiiiiiie … I doooooo! Just call me a one-woman lover. I can't even look at another." It's a Disco record that doesn't sound overly Disco and memorably features Valli taking turns on this song with a young female backing singer named Patti Austin. The horns take this song out in a grand manner.
Another of the amazing songs I remember from the Summer of '75, one of my all-time favorite summers musically. Whenever I hear that opening to this record, I don't turn off the radio whatsoever. It's pure magic, even from the falsetto-tenor vocals brought forward by the Four Seasons lead vocalist. "Just touch me again. I'm king of all men. And reigning from above!" Also, "I cross my heart and hope to diiiiiiiiie … I doooooo! Just call me a one-woman lover. I can't even look at another." It's a Disco record that doesn't sound overly Disco and memorably features Valli taking turns on this song with a young female backing singer named Patti Austin. The horns take this song out in a grand manner.
4. Why Can't We Be Friends?—War (#6, August)
To this day, this song has international appeal to it. We can agree to disagree, but let's put those disagreements away and find out how each other is doing. That's "Why Can't We Be Friends?" Seems each member of the group gets a line to sing for the record. It's just a great summertime sing-a-long record. You can't help it! You end up singing "Why can't we be friends?" over and over again. Funky horns and a great percussion. It's as much a summertime jam as their 1976 song "Summer" would turn out to be.
To this day, this song has international appeal to it. We can agree to disagree, but let's put those disagreements away and find out how each other is doing. That's "Why Can't We Be Friends?" Seems each member of the group gets a line to sing for the record. It's just a great summertime sing-a-long record. You can't help it! You end up singing "Why can't we be friends?" over and over again. Funky horns and a great percussion. It's as much a summertime jam as their 1976 song "Summer" would turn out to be.
3. Get Down Tonight—KC & The Sunshine Band (#1, August)
These guys from Hialeah, Fla., came along in the latter part of the Summer of '75 and blew the rest of the summer away with this raucous romp, featuring a plucking guitar and a great keyboard played by Harry Wayne Casey, group leader and lead singer. Fantastic backbeat, amazing horns, and just puts a smile on your face. This one was push-all-chips-to-the-middle-all-in Disco without apologies. And there never should be any apologies for a part of my childhood that I won't ever forget on such a great debut hit in this country.
2. Love Will Keep Us Together—Captain & Tennille (#1, June)
Love or hate it's schlockiness, "Love Will Keep Us Together" is considered one of the all-time greatest summertime songs ever. It came out in early May, hit No. 1 by the start of the Summer of '75 and just stayed at the top for four weeks. You knew from listening to Toni Tennille on vocals she was no doubt in love and explaining, "Young and beautiful, someday your looks will be gone. When the others turn you off, who'll be turning you on -- I will! I will! I will! I will!" How do you NOT forget that one … and when Tennille sings "Sedaka's back!" in telling the world that Neil Sedaka was making a comeback and that he co-wrote this tune. Whether you love it or hate it, "Love Will Keep Us Together" is a part of our summer soundtracks forever!
1. The Hustle—Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony (#1, July)
From the moment you hear those first three bass notes, you're hooked on this dance craze song. Van McCoy only "heard" this dance was big in the early forms of discos everywhere, but he never actually "saw" it and came up with a musical backdrop that had dancer partners learning their own steps to this really funky and irresistible tune, full of fantastic horns provided by McCoy's Soul City Symphony and backing vocals simply echoing "Do the hustle!" with a flute playing over those horns. Who does that?! Who puts a flute front and center over horns?! It worked magnificently and left us with one of the all-time great Disco instrumentals ever recorded ... and a summertime memory that went to No. 1 to boot!
These guys from Hialeah, Fla., came along in the latter part of the Summer of '75 and blew the rest of the summer away with this raucous romp, featuring a plucking guitar and a great keyboard played by Harry Wayne Casey, group leader and lead singer. Fantastic backbeat, amazing horns, and just puts a smile on your face. This one was push-all-chips-to-the-middle-all-in Disco without apologies. And there never should be any apologies for a part of my childhood that I won't ever forget on such a great debut hit in this country.
2. Love Will Keep Us Together—Captain & Tennille (#1, June)
Love or hate it's schlockiness, "Love Will Keep Us Together" is considered one of the all-time greatest summertime songs ever. It came out in early May, hit No. 1 by the start of the Summer of '75 and just stayed at the top for four weeks. You knew from listening to Toni Tennille on vocals she was no doubt in love and explaining, "Young and beautiful, someday your looks will be gone. When the others turn you off, who'll be turning you on -- I will! I will! I will! I will!" How do you NOT forget that one … and when Tennille sings "Sedaka's back!" in telling the world that Neil Sedaka was making a comeback and that he co-wrote this tune. Whether you love it or hate it, "Love Will Keep Us Together" is a part of our summer soundtracks forever!
1. The Hustle—Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony (#1, July)
From the moment you hear those first three bass notes, you're hooked on this dance craze song. Van McCoy only "heard" this dance was big in the early forms of discos everywhere, but he never actually "saw" it and came up with a musical backdrop that had dancer partners learning their own steps to this really funky and irresistible tune, full of fantastic horns provided by McCoy's Soul City Symphony and backing vocals simply echoing "Do the hustle!" with a flute playing over those horns. Who does that?! Who puts a flute front and center over horns?! It worked magnificently and left us with one of the all-time great Disco instrumentals ever recorded ... and a summertime memory that went to No. 1 to boot!
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