Mr. Oldie Knows

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 Tommy James & The Shondells' early hits such as "I Think We're Alone Now", "Hanky Panky" and "Mony, Mony" could be classified as "bubblegum". For example the bass playing the eighth notes on the first mentioned number became a template for such bubblegummers such as the 1910 Fruitgum Company with "Simon Says" and the Ohio Express with "Yummy Yummy, Yummy". But in late 1968, Tommy James decided to change his sound to something a bit serious- possibly to get street credibility. He was rewarded with a hit song about two of his favorite colors-"Crimson & Clover". It was number one this month in 1969 and would be Tommy James & the Shondells' biggest hit-selling five and a half million copies. As you know there were two different versions. One was the original 3:23 single version. The 5:26 album version contained a tacked on jam session. In the misheard lyric some people heard the tag lyric "Crimson & Clover-over and over" as "Christmas is over". I recall the song was starting to get airplay around that Holiday season.  

 The Raspberries had a brief career that produced four top forty hits such as the million selling "Go All The Way". I recall when the song was all over the radio in the Fall of 1972, I can hear traces of sixties pop-rock—everything from the early Beatles to the Beach Boys. Reportedly the main guitar riff was inspired by the Who's cult classic "The Kids Are All Right" and Eric Carmen's rock tenor vocal reminds me of Jay Black of Jay & The Americans. After those four singles and a like number of albums, dissension set in and the Raspberries disbanded. Undaunted, Eric Carmen started a solo career and on this date in 1976 was on the charts with the lonesome ballad "All By Myself". This single would peak at #2 the following month-and go gold. The parent self-titled album would be certified gold and yield two more top forty hits with "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" and "Sunrise".

One of the more enigmatic "singer-songwriter" numbers was climbing the charts this month in 1972. By a trio who were sons of Air Force personnel stationed in England, called America. Originally titled "Desert Song", "A Horse with No Name", inspired by a painting, was initially excluded from their debut album when issued only in Europe. Group member Gerry Bunnell was also inspired to write this song from his childhood days in Arizona and New Mexico. When it was added to their debut album, "A Horse with No Name" became a number one hit for four weeks-their biggest hit. It was their first of 11 top 40 hits and their only gold single.

On the charts in February, 1973 was a demo by Timmy Thomas (Friends of Distinction), a gentleman from Evansville, Indiana who recorded "Why Can't We Live Together" with just his impassioned vocal, a Hammond organ and a rhythm machine. The tune was going to be cut with a full band but Steve Alamo, a Florida-based record producer, liked the demo so much that it was released. This raw demo recorded in mono peaked at #3 and became his only big hit. No surprise. It was number one on the R&B chart.