American Top 40 in 1973
I’ll Take You There
I enjoy reading about and writing about music on Medium and on Substack. Over the past month or so, the topics of Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 and 70’s music in general have been bandied about. This lead me to search for a 1973 playlist on Spotify, as 1973 is a particularly important year for me. I was 14 and it was the start of my lifelong appreciation of pop/rock music.
I could not find a playlist that captured my AT40 view of 1973 so I built one of my own. And that playlist is all that I could hope it to be. I blew my own mind building this playlist.
It turns out that 1973 was one helluva year for pop/rock. Working from an AT40 chronology that I found on the web, I built the list in less than 10 minutes — just dropping one song after another into the list. I tried to limit it to 20 songs and that turned out to be the only difficulty, because the width and breadth of the selection pool is staggering.
Caveat #1: The playlist has full length versions of all or most of the songs. I am sure that AT40 played cut down versions and Casey talked over the intro/outro.
Caveat #2: The subtitle to this article is from a 1972 classic, but I had to use it because it works better than “Frankenstein”.
Without further ado (a link to the playlist is given at the bottom of this article).
Kodachrome: This is the one that started it all for me. Just a solid pop song. The opening line is candy for a high school freshman.
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown: This song does not resonate with me today, but it did back then. Croce was a genius and he contributed to the pantheon. And the porn mustache — my god.
Right Place Wrong Time: The Doctor brings the funk. Still does it for me. Brain salad surgery.
Diamond Girl: Seals and Croft are on the all-time underrated list.
Frankenstein: The only instrumental in the playlist. I didn’t know much about The Edgar Winter Group but I do know that I played this song one bazillion times (at 45 RPM).
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Daniel: Elton and Bernie were on quite a roll from ’70 to ’75. This single is one of their 1973 releases. It does not rock out but it is a beautifully written pop song that still resonates with me. “I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain……”
Feelin’ Stronger Every Day: I had completely forgotten about this one until it popped up on Sirius XM a couple weeks ago. Very uplifting, especially when it kicks into high gear at the halfway point. This single was released before Chicago became just another soft rock band (Chicago X).
Drift Away: Not much to say. This is a stone cold classic. I really connect with the message of music being good for the soul. Just another example of how musically strong 1973 was.
Give It to Me: Another song that I had to include even though I don’t spin it today. J. Geils contributed in their own way. A Boston band! Three of the band members got kicked out of the college that I attended.
Soul Makossa: How did a jazz saxophonist from Cameroon score a hit in 1973? It’s the 1973 magic. I remember enjoying this song when I was 14 and I have no idea how that happened. Still a fun listen in 2024.
Helen Wheels: Another African hit (recorded in Lagos, Nigeria)! A prelude to the Band on the Run album. I liked this song before I understood what the breakup of the Beatles meant, even before I learned that McCartney/Lennon was a thing. Ah, the innocence. To love a song simply for how it makes me feel when it enters my ears…………
You’re So Vain: Such a beautiful song, beautifully sung. Carly Simon’s voice is a national treasure. I love that Mick sang backup vocals. Perfect. At the time, apricot scarves, Saratoga, and Lear jets were just fantasies in my mind. I mean, who gavottes?
The World Is A Ghetto: A pretty trippy song. I did not know anything about the band, I just liked the music and the message. As good as this song is, I don’t think it needed to be more than 10 minutes long. So thank you AT40 for giving us the abridged edition!
Love Train: Look, I understand that people all over the world are probably not going to start a love train. But this song gives me a jolt of love every time I hear it. If this song does not make you feel just a little bit better about the world, even if only for 2 minutes and 58 seconds, then I feel sorry, sorry for you.
I’m Just A Singer: A little darker than Love Train, but a driving, powerful rocker. I am actually kind of surprised that this came from the Moody Blues. If you had asked me, before I started this list, if the Moody Blues would be included, I probably would have assumed that it was just your medications kicking in.
We’re An American Band: Another absolute classic. Memorable guitar riffs and solid power chords. Lyrics that drew up the blueprint for how rock bands should tour. All from a group of Michiganders with one of the best band names ever put on a label.
Brother Louie: Did not know that this is a cover. I fell in love with the plaintive vocals over the soulful sound. With horns! This is not an all time classic, but it was an instant classic in 1973.
If You Want Me to Stay: Finishing with another true classic. It is impossible to bring more funk than this song brings. Sly was bad, man.
And that’s the list. Pretty eclectic for a 14 year old kid just listening to pop radio on the FM band. Click below, be happy.
