Saturday, June 28, 1975

10cc “I’m Not in Love” hit #1 in UK

I’m Not in Love

10cc

Writer(s): Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman (see lyrics here)


First Charted: May 10, 1975


Peak: 2 US, 3 CB, 2 GR, 3 HR, 5 RR, 10 AC, 1 CL, 12 UK, 12 CN, 3 AU, 7 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.)


Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.4 UK


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 99.82 video, 244.72 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

10cc formed in Stockport, England in 1972. All four members were singers, songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists. They found their greatest success in the UK with five consecutive top-10 albums in the 1970s. In the United States, the group’s big break came with the song “I’m Not in Love,” from the group’s third album. It landed in the runner up spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks – behind three different #1 songs. 10cc had previously only charted with “Rubber Bullets” (#73) in 1973. They would reach the top-40 only once more with 1976’s “The Things We Do for Love” (#5). In the UK, “I’m Not in Love” was the second of the band’s three chart-toppers and eleven top-10 hits.

With the suggestion that the band should write a ballad, members Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman decided, as Stewart said, if we “were going to write a love song anyway, we decided to turn it on its head and say ‘I’m Not in Love,’ which would be very 10cc, but the songs says ‘I do love you.’ You don’t want to admit it, but you keep giving all the reasons why you are in love. It is a twist on words like that country song, ‘She Thinks I Still Care.’” KL

Stewart wrote most of the song as an apology to his wife for not telling her often enough that he loved her. WK He argued that if he said it to her too often, it would lose its meaning. Gouldman then helped him finish it. It originally had a bossa nova rhythm, but bandmates Kevin Godley and Lol Crème didn’t like it. That version was scrapped, but Stewart convinced them to give the song another try. Godley agreed, but had the idea of recording it only with vocals and no instruments. WK

By multi-tracking their voices and using tape loops, they created the backing vocals and basic melody for the song. It was only then that they added instruments, but kept them to a minimum. They included a bass drum sound which Godley played on a Moog synthesizer that “was very soft and more akin to a heartbeat” WK than a drum sound. They also added a recording of Kathy Redfern, the secretary at the recording studio, whisperingthe phrase “Be quiet, big boys don’t cry.” WK On his Freaky Trigger blog about UK #1 songs, Tom Ewing says “no other No. 1 sounds quite like it.” FT

The song won Ivor Novello Awards (the British equivalent of the Grammy) for Best Pop Song, Internatoional Hit of the Year, and Most Performed British Work.


Resources:

  • DMDB encyclopedia entry for 10cc
  • KL Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh (2005). 1000 UK Number One Hits. Omnibus Press: London, UK. Page 211.
  • FT Freaky Trigger (3/29/2008). “Popular” by Tom Ewing
  • WK Wikipedia


First posted 12/6/2022.

Saturday, June 21, 1975

Captain & Tennille hit #1 with “Love Will Keep Us Together”

First posted 3/11/2021.

Love Will Keep Us Together

Captain & Tennille

Writer(s): Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield (see lyrics here)


First Charted: Arpil 5, 1975


Peak: 14 US, 12 CB, 13 HR, 16 RR, 11 AC, 32 UK, 11 CN, 14 AU (Click for codes to singles charts.)


Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US + UK)


Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 3.0 radio, 11.9 video, -- streaming

Awards: (Click on award for more details).

About the Song:

The Captain & Tennille had almost finished their debut album when they realized they needed one more uptempo song to show off Daryl Dragon (The Captain)’s keyboard playing. The problem was solved when Kip Cohen from A&M’s A&R department had them listen to Neil Sedaka’s “Love Will Keep Us Together.” They knew it was the right song and spent two weeks arranging it. When they played it for label heads Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, everyone knew they had a hit. BR1

Sedaka first recorded the song in 1973 and released it as a single in France. It was released in the United States on his 1974 compilation Sedaka’s Back. He said the main chord progression was lifted from the Beach Boys’ “Do It Again” with some augmented chords inspired by Al Green. In addition, the melody was written with Diana Ross in mind. WK

When the song became a hit, the duo recorded a Spanish version of “Love Will Keep Us Together.” “Por Amor Viviremos” charted on August 16, 1975, giving the Captain & Tennille the distinction of being the only act to have two versions of a #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously that were recorded by the same act in two different languages. BR1

Interestingly, Dragon – who was a former keyboardist with the Beach Boys – wanted the first single to be “I Write the Songs,” which was written by Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys. The Captain & Tennille did record the song for the album, but it wasn’t released as a single. However, Barry Manilow’s rendition of it became a #1 song in early 1976. SF Things turned out okay for the duo, though. Their version of “Love Will Keep Us Together” topped the year-end chart, was the best seller of 1975, WK and was certified by BMI as the most performed song of 1975. SF It also won a Grammy for Record of the Year.


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Tuesday, June 10, 1975

Eagles’ One of These Nights released

First posted 3/26/2008; updated 10/17/2020.

One of These Nights

Eagles


Released: June 10, 1975


Peak: 14 US, 8 UK, 2 CN, 5 AU


Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 0.03 UK, 7.5 world (includes US and UK)


Genre: country rock


Tracks: Click for codes to singles charts.

  1. One of These Nights (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [4:51] (5/30/75, 11 US, 11 CB, 1 CL, 20 AC, 23 UK, 13 CN, 33 AU)
  2. Too Many Hands
  3. Hollywood Waltz
  4. Journey of the Sorcerer
  5. Lyin’ Eyes (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [6:21] (9/13/75, 2 US, 3 CB, 2 CL, 3 AC, 8 CW, 23 UK, 19 CN, 34 AU)
  6. Take It to the Limit (Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Randy Meisner) [4:48] (12/20/75, 4 US, 5 CB, 5 CL, 4 AC, 12 UK, 16 CN, 30 AU)
  7. Visions
  8. After the Thrill Is Gone (Don Henley/Glenn Frey) [3:56] (20 CL)
  9. I Wish You Peace


Total Running Time: 43:08


The Players:

  • Glenn Frey (vocals, guitar, piano)
  • Don Henley (vocals, drums)
  • Bernie Leadon (guitar, vocals, banjo, mandolin, pedal steel guitar)
  • Randy Meisner (bass, vocals)
  • Don Felder (guitar, vocals)

Rating:

3.967 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings)


Awards:

About the Album:

“The Eagles recorded their albums relatively quickly in their first years of existence, their albums succeeding each other by less than a year. One of These Nights, their fourth album, was released in June 1975, more than 14 months after its predecessor.” AMG

“Anticipation had been heightened by the belated chart-topping success of the third album’s ‘The Best of My Love’; taking a little more time, the band generated more original material, and that material was more polished.” AMG

“More than ever, the Eagles seemed to be a vehicle for Don Henley (six co-writing credits) and Glenn Frey (five), but at the same time Randy Meisner was more audible than ever, his two lead vocals including one of the album’s three hit singles, Take It to the Limit, and Bernie Leadon had two showcases, among them the cosmic-cowboy instrumental Journey of the Sorcerer (later used as the theme music for the British television series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy].” AMG

“Nevertheless, it was the team of Henley and Frey that stood out, starting with the title track, a number one single, which had more of an R&B – even disco – sound than anything the band had attempted previously, and continuing through the ersatz Western swing of Hollywood Waltz to Lyin’ Eyes, one of Frey’s patented folk-rock shuffles, which became another major hit.” AMG

One of These Nights was the culmination of the blend of rock, country, and folk styles the Eagles had been making since their start; there wasn’t much that was new, just the same sorts of things done better than they had been before. In particular, a lyrical stance – knowing and disillusioned, but desperately hopeful – had evolved, and the musical arrangements were tighter and more purposeful. The result was the Eagles’ best-realized and most popular album so far.” AMG

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Thursday, June 5, 1975

Syd Barrett showed up while Pink Floyd recorded a tribute to him: June 5, 1975

Left: Syd visiting Abbey Road in 1975; right: Syd in 1969. Images from Wikipedia.

When Pink Floyd hit the studios to record their follow-up to Dark Side of the Moon, they were inspired to record an album (1975’s Wish You Were Here) commenting on the music business and former bandmate Syd Barrett. His is a tragic story of a gifted musician derailed by drugs and psychological problems.

The singer, songwriter, and guitarist was a founding member of the group and was so instrumental in shaping psychedelic rock that Pink Floyd’s debut, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, is rated the #1 album of the genre (see full list here) by Dave’s Music Database.

As the band’s star rose, Syd’s mental state became increasingly precarious, a problem at least partly intensified by drugs, especially LSD. During concerts he might strum one note for the entire show or not even play at all. In interviews, he was terse or might stare ahead blankly. The group was turning to substitutes before the tour’s conclusion. For their sophomore effort, Pink Floyd thought they could use Barrett as a non-touring member, but even that became unbearable and his sole contribution to album #2, A Saucerful of Secrets, was the song “Jugband Blues.”

Barrett released two solo albums in his post-Pink days. The material was recorded from 1968 to 1970, but the songs were generally written from 1966-67. During the ‘70s, he withdrew from the music industry and became a recluse living at his mother’s house.

Shine on You Crazy Diamond

The band assured that Barrett continued to receive royalties, but didn’t interact with him. In a strange twist of fate, Pink Floyd was completing a final mix of “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” at Abbey Road Studios when Barrett made an impromptu appearance. He was overweight and had shaved his head and eyebrows. The band didn’t even recognize him initially. Barrett talked with them for awhile, but wasn’t really there. Bassist and lyricist Roger Waters was reportedly reduced to tears. According to Wikipedia and This Day in Music’s Facebook page, it was the last time any of the band saw Barrett alive. He died in 2006.


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