Category: Flashback

New York, New York

Flashback

On the 7th of february 1985 New York’s Mayor “Edward I. Koch” proclaimed Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York the city’s official anthem, although it was never actually made official.

The song was written and performed by Liza Minnelli in the movie of the same name in 1977. In 1979 it was recorded by Sinatra for his album Trilogy: Past Present Future (1980), and became closely associated with him as one of his signature songs. It made the Top 40 in the US and some European Countries and reached Number 4 in Ireland and Number 2 in Canada.

New York, New York was Frank Sinatra’s last hit song.

Tell Me Your Plans

Flashback

“The Shirts” were formed in 1975 in Brooklyn, New York. The group made their record debut in 1976 with three songs on a compilation album, Live at CBGB. Their career really took off after singer “Annie Golden” played a role in the successful musical Hair. Their first album, The Shirts, was released in 1978 and included the single, Tell Me Your Plans. The song became a big hit, but only in the Netherlands, where it reached number 4 in the Top 40, and Belgium, reaching number 6.

The band went on to tour Europe opening for Peter Gabriel, at his request.

If You Got a Problem, Billy Can Help

Flashback

“Billy Swan” is an American country singer-songwriter who learned drums, piano and guitar and began writing songs as a child. He is best known for his 1974 single, I Can Help. The story goes that Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge had bought Billy Swan a small “RMI” organ as a wedding present. Billy was fiddling around with it when the chorus of I Can Help “appeared.” Twenty minutes later he had written the lyrics.

In the USA I Can Help topped the “US Billboard Hot 100” as well as reaching number 1 on the Country chart. The song was a hit throughout most of Europe and also reached number 1 in Australia and New Zealand.

I Can Help is generally recognized as being Billy Swan’s only major hit single release. However, he continued to have success as a songwriter for other artists and as a session musician.

Charlie Dore – Pilot of the Airwaves

Flashback

Pilot of the Airwaves is a song by English singer-songwriter “Charlie Dore.” It was released in as a single in 1979 from her album Where to Now. This ode to an unnamed DJ became a big hit reaching number 13 on the US Billboard chart in 1980. The song also charted in Australia, New Zealand and Canada and, even though it received heavy airplay in the UK, it didn’t do nearly as well there.

This song is another example of a classic hit that is largely ignored by commercial radio today but still gets played on RadiJohan.

Saturday Night Fever Hits The World

Flashback

This week in 1978 the soundtrack album to the movie “Saturday Night Fever,” starring John Travolta, hit number 1 in the US. It is one of the best-selling albums in history, and remains in the top 10 biggest-selling soundtracks of all time. The album stayed at number 1 of the US album chart for 24 straight weeks from January to July 1978 while in the UK it spent 18 at the top.

Producer Robert Stigwood approached the Bee Gees to write songs for the movie after its filming had already taken place. At the time the Bee Gees were working on producing their next album but, not wanting to let the opportunity pass them by, wrote a few songs during a weekend and tweaked some songs they had already started working on, including “Stayin’ Alive.“

Baby It’s You!

Flashback

“Promises” was a Canadian band formed in 1978. The Three band members were siblings. In 1979 their single “Baby It’s You” became a smash hit around the world, particularly in Europe but also in Australia where it reached number 2, and New Zealand where it topped the chart for five weeks. This one hit wonder is another example of a classic song that is largely being ignored by commercial radio but still gets played on RadiJohan.

Don McLean’s American Pie Goes Gold

Flashback

On 3 January 1972 Don McLean received a Gold record for his song “American Pie.” Recorded and released in 1971 on the album of the same name, the single was number 1 in the USA for four weeks in 1972. The song also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand while, in the UK, it reached number 2. American Pie’s repeated phrase “the day the music died” refers to a plane crash in 1959 that killed rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. In 1991 Don McLean, a man with an evident sense of humour, was quoted saying:

 “So when people ask me what American Pie means, I tell them it means I don’t ever have to work again if I don’t want to.” 

Cara Mia (My Beloved)

Flashback

Written by the Italian composer “Mantovani,” “Cara Mia,” which means “My Beloved,” was a huge UK hit for British singer “David Whitfield” in 1954. Mantovani’s string orchestra played on his version. It made the charts in the United States and the UK was the first record to spend ten consecutive weeks at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart.

“Jay and the Americans”recorded  “Cara Mia” on their 1965 LP Blockbusters. It became an international Top 5 hit and reached number 1 in Canada. Their version was re-released in 1980 when it topped the charts in The Netherlands.

You can dance if you want to…

Flashback

The Safety Dance is a song released in 1982 by Canadian band “Men Without Hats.” Lead singer “Ivan Doroschuk” has explained that it was a protest song against bouncers who prohibited dancers from “pogo-ing” to 1980’s new wave music in clubs when disco was declining and new wave was coming onto the music scene. Ivan wrote The Safety Dance after he had been kicked out of a club for pogo dancing. The song became a top 10 hit in numerous countries, was a number 1 in South Africa and has been inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.