NOSTALGIC DIP REJECTS, 1977, Part One

In this post I will be sharing my reasons for omitting eighteen (18) of the ‘first’ fifty songs (1-50) on the 1977 Billboard Top 100 list; i.e., I chose not to share them on my Facebook timeline.

[[The following paragraph is repeated from previous posts for context.]]

[[ I choose songs for Nostalgic Dip from annual Top 100 Billboard charts to share on my Facebook timeline.  I could share every song on every list, but for various reasons I choose not to share some of them. (‘various reasons’ are described in the ‘opening post’ of this series)   This series of posts is my way of giving at least a modicum of recognition to the songs that I have rejected for my Facebook routine.  They were legitimate “hits,” after all.  The recognition I proffer here is somewhat back-handed, though, because I am telling you why I snubbed these songs.  You may or may not agree with my reasons, but no worries, they are MY reasons.  Nobody has to agree with them.  >> smiley face << ]]

 

Here we go!!

 

“Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright),” Rod Stewart ~ I do not need to go into detail, here. I cannot even bring myself to repeat some of the lines in this song. The title itself hints, but the lyrics leave no doubt. The saxophone solo in the middle, from Jerry “Honker” Jumonville. That is all I will recommend.

 

“Angel in Your Arms,” Hot ~ So… this is a pep song for infidelity? Celebrating cheating lessons? Slut mentorship? Whatever. No thanks.

 

“I Like Dreamin’,” Kenny Nolan ~ Pathetic delusion as romance. I mean, wow. He takes the hallucination all the way to picket fences and multiple children. How is this not just sad and creepy?

 

“Don’t Leave Me This Way,” Thelma Houston ~ This is a much-loved, iconic song of the disco era. I do not mean to malign the song, the artist, the producer, the musicians, or the millions of fans who apparently loved it. Perhaps time, distance, and advanced age have caused in me a certain cynicism toward the sad, desperate cries of jilted lovers. This song does not make me want to show off my best disco moves. It makes me sad.

 

“Undercover Angel,” Alan O’Day ~ This must have been a banner year for singing about fantasy. Even though he apparently succeeds for real in the last verse, it still seems to be pathetically superficial and focused on sex. Besides being about that, it is also more than a little goofy. I dare you to try dancing to this song.

 

“Torn Between Two Lovers,” Mary McGregor ~ Blech. Sweet confession about unfaithfulness. Blech. Did I say, “Blech”?  Blech.

 

“I’m Your Boogie Man,” K. C. and the Sunshine Band ~ I have always wondered whether K.C. and the Sunshine Band would have been successful at all if it had not been for the disco craze. This tune is highly danceable, I guess; especially if you don’t mind doing the same moves over and over and over and over… and over. The subject matter is debatable. Could just be about dancing, right? The repetition in this song is mind-numbing; and not just the lyrics. The melody line, if one wishes to be generous enough to refer to it as “melody,” is monotony exemplified. Snoresville.

 

“Margaritaville,” Jimmy Buffett ~ Oh, my. How could I possibly have chosen not to share this track with my Facebook friends? I confess. I know the words to this song by heart. I never avoid it when it comes up in a playlist. But, hey. It is straight up about getting drunk to foster denial in the face of brokenheartedness. It is about being lazy and bored and pouring another drink to escape reality. Not actually a healthy mindset, y’all.

 

“Do You Wanna Make Love,” Peter McCann ~ This is the only tune that Peter McCann managed to get onto the charts. That is a bit sad in itself, but of course he is by far not the only “one-hit wonder” in the annals of music history. The title sets the stage, and then the rest of the story fills in the blanks exactly the way you would expect. Meanwhile, the musical setting is heart-wrenching and sappy, and probably caused more breakups than hookups.

 

“Got to Give It Up, Pt. 1,” Marvin Gaye ~ Um. This is Marvin Gaye? Wow. All falsetto. Can hardly understand the words. This cut makes me think the record producers forced Marvin to do this song. Or maybe someone threatened him somehow. I’m just thinking, “What? Why?”

 

“Feels Like the First Time,” Foreigner ~ I like Foreigner. I do. I even like this song, actually. This song is about discovering true love. I think. Maybe. But… they are saying essentially, “Hey, this feels good, and familiar, and… what does this feeling remind me of? Oh, yeah! The first time!” Gee, Foreigner. What do you mean? What “first time”?

 

“Couldn’t Get It Right,” Climax Blues Band ~ So… true story. I haven’t the foggiest idea how or why I did not put this out there with the rest of my “Nostalgic Dip” selections.  It has the right strut for the era without being a cookie-cutter robotic disco anthem. And it even has a decent coast-to-coast “hoping for a break” story.  It should not be on this list of rejects.  Who’s paying attention now, Slick?

 

“Right Time of the Night,” Jennifer Warnes ~ I love Jennifer’s voice, and I like the sweet country feel of this song.  I have sung along with it many, many times.  But there is simply no doubt about the “something to do” that Jennifer and her lover “could think of” to do.

 

“I’ve Got Love on My Mind,” Natalie Cole ~ Another beautiful song by a beautiful woman with a gorgeous voice, and of course it has to be about you-know-what.  It’s what she has on her mind.  Surrender is what she wants.  She can’t resist your tender kiss, mate.  She’s looking for you to satisfy her.  Get to work.

 

“Looks Like We Made It,” Barry Manilow ~ One of the best songwriters of the 1970s-80s.  This one is sad; telling the tale of new love that is overshadowed by the old love that is not going away.  Too sad.  Not the kind of feel I want when I am listening to music.  Sorry, Barry.  Glad you “made it,” I guess.

 

“Da Doo Ron Ron,” Shaun Cassidy ~ Hmm. Is that the Partridge Family or the Cowsills backing him up?  Or maybe it is the Osmonds. Whatever.  Yawn.  I mean, take me back to The Crystals, please. Thank you very much, and “Good night.”

 

“You and Me,” Alice Cooper ~ Wow. Did I yawn during Shaun Cassidy’s “Da Doo Ron Ron”?  Well, then, what I am doing now is, like, yawning to the nth degree.  Ya feel me?  This is not why people listen to you, Alice Cooper.  The “official music video” is sort of creative and amusing, though… if a (large) bit bizarre.

 

“Lonely Boy,” Andrew Gold ~ When 20^th century psychobabble hits the pop charts.  Victim mentality and permission to behave badly.  I mean, come on – having a baby sister irrevocably destroyed his ability to trust his parents?  Navel-gazing claptrap.  Some decent instrumental elements, but – for me, at least – the lyrical content is just too whiny and pathetic.

 

 

That’s it for now.

 

Sayonara et shalom!