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Post by Jeff Michaels on Jan 24, 2012 5:27:41 GMT -5
The spot to leave your thoughts on the 60's countdowns or specials we have aired such as Top 50 Elton John, Top 100 Country Crossover Artists, Top 50 Written or Sung by The Bee Gees and others!
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Post by albe on Feb 18, 2012 12:34:43 GMT -5
Hey guys & dolls just before the airing of the Top 50 Written or Sung Songs by The Bee Gees and others on the weekend of March 3-4 I'll be doing a critique of this countdown...just because they're my favorite group of all time!!! So why not give it a read and of course listen to this fantastic countdown on WBME Veetle Channel.
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Post by countdownfan on Feb 19, 2012 16:39:20 GMT -5
I have listened to a few of these 60's countdown shows. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! Brings me back!
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Feb 19, 2012 20:53:48 GMT -5
COMING SOON: a few specials that were in the planning stages in the past will see the light of day... stay tuned for more information!
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Post by albe on Feb 25, 2012 9:59:48 GMT -5
This is my critique of this upcoming weekend March 3-4, 2012, MERC: Top 50 Hits by the BEE GEES
Originally Aired 7-4-2011 to 7-10-2011 on WBME
Countdown also includes some notable Bonus Tracks!!
#50 HE’S A LIAR - From the Living Eyes album...this song hearld the Brothers return to the charts in the 80s after their tremendous success in the 70s. This song was also a departure from the previous sounding disco hits and probably accounted for it's peak of #30 on the Hot 100.
#49 EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE (LIVE)- From the Here at Last live album...great song.
#48 NEW YORK MINING DISASTER 1941- While the lyrics of this song does not reflect the title, some copies were retitled with the added "Have you seen my wife Mr. Jones. This was the BGs first entry into the US. Nice sad song about a miner waiting to be rescued.
#47 HOLIDAY- A haunting melody that always gets me and the organ accompaniment also adds to its mystique
#46 THE WOMAN IN YOU- While this song and the others from the Staying Alive album couldn't recapture the success from SNF nevertheless a funky beat but the Boys hearts weren't really into the project
#45 THIS WOMAN - Kenny Rogers - The BGs...always happy to collaborate with other artistes and Kenny sings this song as only he can.
#44 COME ON OVER - Olivia Newton-John - Beautiful country rendition of this song giving ONJ six straight number 1s on the Easy Listening chart... on par with the BGs version
#43 (THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN) MASSACHUSETTS - Remember singing this song on a drive from NY to Boston to visit relatives....seemed appropriate and we all had a great time as this song really captures that coming home feeling
#42 TO LOVE SOMEBODY - This song was a favorite of many artists accounting for the numerous cover versions. This song also showed the versatilty of the BGs music as this song was done to reflect their soulful side.....hey they are not only a Disco act
#41 RUN TO ME - Another great ballad featuring Barry and Robin
#40 MY WORLD - Wonderful play of words in the refrain with the word "world"
#39 ALONE - Great pop ballad and the bagpipes are outta this world
#38 WORDS - If there ever was a love song that touches the heart of a woman...this is it. Barry really sings this with honesty
#37 OH DARLING - Robin Gibb - Great version of a Beatles song rumored to be about John leaving Paul for Yoko...who knew
#36 I CAN’T HELP IT - Andy Gibb & Olivia Newton-John - Beautiful duet really moves you
#35 BOOGIE CHILD - Long before Silver Convention this song instructed us to "Get up and Boogie"
#34 TIME IS TIME - Andy Gibb - With accompaniment by his brothers this song serves up a good rock and roll time
#33 HOLD ON TO MY LOVE - Jimmy Ruffin - Never really heard this version before but it can on grow you
#32 I STARTED A JOKE - Probably can be described as Robin's signature sound...I always feel melancholy after hearing this...but beautiful song all the same
#31 LOVE ME - Yvonne Elliman - Nice ballad extra touch of heart
#30 WHAT KIND OF FOOL - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - The power duo as I like to call them. Collaboration by Barry and Barbra on the Guilty album was a touch of magic. This song really brings out that type of magical feeling
#29 FANNY (BE TENDER WITH MY LOVE)- Easy listening at its best...nice flowing and great harmony
#28 I’VE GOTTA GET A MESSAGE TO YOU- Vintage Bee Gees only they can take a song about a man waiting to be excuted and turn it into a classic
#27 ONE - The song that returned the BGs to the American listenership. This was undoubtedly their biggest hit in the 80s...great song aptly title for a Number 1 Band
#26 LONELY DAYS- Nice transition from slow to upbeat in this track....kinda makes you forget about those lonely days
#25 NIGHTS ON BROADWAY - Nice upbeat song which followed on the heels of their No. 1 Jive Talkin.
#24 DESIRE - Andy Gibb- Another haunting ballad and great harmony by Andy's big brothers
#23 HEARTBREAKER - Dionne Warwick- With Barry backing vocals and the synthesizer music Dionne gained No1 success on the adult contempory chart and international popularity of this mega hit
#22 (OUR LOVE) DON’T THROW IT ALL AWAY - Andy Gibb- Classic ballad
#21 AN EVERLASTING LOVE - Andy Gibb- Not quite having the success of his last 3 singles before this one...which all went to number 1 but a great track all the same....nice feel good music
#20 EMOTION - Destiny’s Child - Truthfully I loved Samantha's version better
#19 YOU SHOULD BE DANCING- Disco's anthem if there should be only one
#18 JIVE TALKIN’- When this song begins its very recognizable intro you can help but get ready for a rocking good time
#17 LOVE YOU INSIDE OUT - The last number 1 in a string of six and nine altogether..
#16 TRAGEDY - Explosive is the only way to describe this track...heck Barry's voice was transformed into a big bang..pure genius
#15 GUILTY - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Chemistry in this song is remarkable
#14 LOVE SO RIGHT - Falsetto at its best...Barry'e signature sound can really be felt on this song of love which was not meant to be. IMHO this should have been a No. 1 in 1976 beautiful stirring ballad.
#13 HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART - Their first US No. 1 and fantastic unparallel harmony in this song..from Robin's intro to Barry's verses..the BGs were signalling to us about the greatest that was yet to follow. BTW Al Green did a great cover as well
#12 GREASE - Frankie Valli - A song with groove and meaning what more can be said..instant classic
#11 EMOTION - Samantha Sang - Another great collaboration with the BGs taking care of business in the chorus
#10 IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU - Yvonne Elliman - Disco music at its pinnacle and Yvonne definitely adds a powerful voice to this version. When this song hit number 1 it also sealed Barry's contribution to chart history by he being the only songwriter to have penned four consecutive US No. 1s
#9 TOO MUCH HEAVEN - Classic ballad and the use of a song to demonstrate the generousity of the BGs by donating the royalities of the song to UNICEF.
#8 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - Two great country singers plus the songwriting skills of the BGs equals an exceptional hit
#7 WOMAN IN LOVE - Barbra Streisand - Her last to date No 1 on the Hot 100....she also demonstrates her musical gift by holding a note for the word "all" about 10 seconds in the line "I stumble and fall but I give you it all".....why not count along when she sings this inspiring ballad
#6 NIGHT FEVER- 8 weeks at number 1 this dance classic can get a club all fired up once that familiar intro is heard.
#5 SHADOW DANCING - Andy Gibb - Andy's last No 1 for 7 weeks and the number 1 song for 1978 great dance track and signature song
#4 LOVE IS THICKER THAN WATER - Andy Gibb - Andy's second of three No 1s and part of a 15 week 4 song run at No 1 on the HOT 100 in 1978 by songs written by the BGs. An easy groove track very much appreciated today
#3 STAYIN’ ALIVE - The BGs signature song and if you need to survive in a metropolitan city especially NY you better be singing this sometime during your day. Infectious melody great drums and distinctive BGs harmony makes this a true Disco/Dance classic
#2 I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING - Andy Gibb- Andy's first No 1 and also appreciated on the Black Singles Chart peaking at number 19. Smooth groove
#1 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE - Although the BEE GEES are noted for thier Disco endeavors..its really their heart felt and soulful ballads which distinguishes them as well. A moving love song second to none and their greatest hit to date...this really puts the approving stamp on a group that have given music eternal classics to span all generations
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Post by franky on Feb 25, 2012 12:08:26 GMT -5
^Great critique Albe!!! I remember a Casey show in 78, in which Everlasting Love was skyrocketing up the charts and Casey said that for sure, it was going to be Andy Gibb's fourth # 1 in a row. Too bad it stalled in the Top 10. Great song!! Just like all the others.
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Feb 26, 2012 21:15:39 GMT -5
Yeah, I feel special because someone did a critique of my show! Im glad it was a show you enjoyed and hopefully you and many others will be tuning in.
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Post by dukedeb on Mar 3, 2012 23:47:12 GMT -5
I can tell you that I tuned in. Very well done! Had forgotten the critique that albe did so did not know where songs were. Interesting that the top 6 songs were all from a 12 month period from the summer of 77 to the summer of 78. Glad you didn't take the Joel Whitburn approach and just automatically place "Night Fever" or "Shadow Dancing" for that matter at the top of the heap because they had the most weeks at #1. I would like to ring some PDs necks over dissing their 1987 single because of the disco beat. Enough already with the disco backlash people!
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Post by jlthorpe on Mar 4, 2012 0:45:52 GMT -5
#24 DESIRE - Andy Gibb- Another haunting ballad and great harmony by Andy's big brothers I like the song, but to me the opening sounds like the Bee Gees are having an orgasm. And where was Michael Bolton's version of "To Love Somebody"? It reached #11 and spent 20 weeks on the Hot 100 (not sure about weeks in the Top 40), so I assume it would have made the list. |
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Mar 4, 2012 7:12:36 GMT -5
RE: Bolton's version. We decided that it sounded TOO similar to the original when we compiled the show, unlike Destiny's Child's version of Emotion which was different in style.
Another factor was that it would have knocked He's A Liar out and made us open with Edge Of The Universe.
Both reasons made us decide to not count it. Now, if I re-record it with my new time frames, I may include it.
(I do plan on re-doing the specials in the future so they sound better and conform with real radio commercial break times, you never know, maybe I can sell a station on them!)
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Mar 4, 2012 7:14:25 GMT -5
Dukedeb: Yep, weeks on chart made a difference, plus weeks in the top 10. How Deep Is Your Love deserves to be up there! (Plus I was glad because its less annoying than Staying Alive and less played these days than Night Fever)
Did you notice the shorter versions of some of the songs?
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Post by jlthorpe on Mar 4, 2012 7:34:11 GMT -5
Personally, I think Bolton's version should have been included, or at the very least ranked (maybe you could mention that it's on the list but avoid playing it because it sounds similar to the original). Otherwise the list doesn't reflect the real Top 50, in my opinion.
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Mar 4, 2012 21:59:14 GMT -5
I'll take it into consideration when I remaster and re record the show.
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Post by dukedeb on Mar 10, 2012 7:33:08 GMT -5
Based on your comment about Freddie Hart, it looks like one pop chart single was enough for some artists to make the top 100 country crossover artists. And Dottie West. Great song with Kenny Rogers!
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Post by dukedeb on Mar 10, 2012 7:43:22 GMT -5
I didn't catch whether Troy Shondell was related to the Shondells. Was he?
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Mar 10, 2012 7:52:33 GMT -5
Yep, depended on how many weeks, if they had one HUGE hit, it would help them.
Tommy James named his backing band The Shondells after Troy because he was a fan.
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Post by dukedeb on Mar 16, 2012 18:44:16 GMT -5
RE: Bolton's version. We decided that it sounded TOO similar to the original when we compiled the show, unlike Destiny's Child's version of Emotion which was different in style. Another factor was that it would have knocked He's A Liar out and made us open with Edge Of The Universe. Both reasons made us decide to not count it. Now, if I re-record it with my new time frames, I may include it. (I do plan on re-doing the specials in the future so they sound better and conform with real radio commercial break times, you never know, maybe I can sell a station on them!) I am just getting around to listening to this special. Tavares' version of "More Than a Woman" just missed the top 50 but if you had used R&R instead of Billboard, the Bee Gees version would have easily made the top 50 since it was a top 10 hit there. Not saying you should have done that, just making an observation. BTW, "Nights on Broadway" peaked at 7 not 3. If it had peaked at 3, the singles from their 1975 and 76 albums would have had all peaked at the same positions in this way....both first singles at 1, both seconds at 3 and both thirds at 12. Maybe that's what you thought....lol |
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Mar 16, 2012 20:11:18 GMT -5
Is that from the original download or recorded off of Veetle?
Yeah, I just slipped when I said it.
As for the Tavares, I actually like their version better.
This Weekend, The Elton Top 50.
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Post by dukedeb on Mar 16, 2012 20:20:40 GMT -5
That's off veetle from a couple weeks ago. You also messed up the breakdown of #1s. Said Andy had 3, other artists had 5 and the Bee Gees had 8. Actually the breakdown is Andy 3, other artists 4, and the Bee Gees 9. But a great production just the same. A LOT of tight voice overs during song intros. Do that consistently on that demo that I just downloaded and you will be on real radio soon!
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Mar 16, 2012 21:26:22 GMT -5
Oh, you mean 4-4-70? Let me know what you think!
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Post by domino5s on Mar 23, 2012 15:58:32 GMT -5
Jeff, I'm listening to 4/4/70 right now and loving it! I promise to send you a long overdue email this weekend.
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Post by Jeff Michaels on Mar 23, 2012 22:34:53 GMT -5
Looking forward to it! Give me your real name and location in the email and I'll use your feedback in my "sales pitch" to radio stations!
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Post by Jeff Michaels on May 7, 2012 16:17:39 GMT -5
I hope everyone is enjoying the return of the 60's Countdown.
We have alot of great things planned for the coming weeks and are working hard to get this on real radio! If you know a station that plays 60's music, feel free to send me a PM with the info so I may try to get it on a station near YOU!
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