Welcome back to another edition of CHART ATTACK!, everyone! Sick of the ’90s? Sick of the ’80s? Sick of … uh … the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, 1970, 1971, and 1973 - 1979? (I’m reaching here.) Then have we got a year for you! This time last year, guest writer Beau Dure covered a 1976 CHART ATTACK!, and he’s back to tackle 1972! By the way, Beau runs his own fantastic blog, Mostly Modern Media, and is also all over the Sports section at USA Today. Between the two sites, it’s almost like you were at the Olympics yourself! But for now, enjoy Beau’s fine writing right here at Popdose! - JH

Are you ready to rock? Or R&B? Or AC? Or whatever you call Looking Glass?

Welcome to a diverse bunch of classics, most of which you can still hum today. You can also still hum Kid Rock’s latest, but only because you’re really humming “Werewolves of London.”

September 2, 1972:

10. Back Stabbers — O’Jays Amazon iTunes
9. Rock and Roll Part 2 — Gary Glitter Amazon iTunes
8. You Don’t Mess Around With Jim — Jim Croce Amazon iTunes
7. Goodbye to Love — Carpenters Amazon iTunes
6. Baby Don’t Get Hooked on Me — Mac Davis Amazon iTunes
5. Hold Your Head Up — Argent Amazon iTunes
4. Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) — Looking Glass Amazon iTunes
3. I’m Still in Love With You — Al Green Amazon iTunes
2. Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) — The Hollies Amazon iTunes
1. Alone Again (Naturally) — Gilbert O’Sullivan Amazon iTunes

10. Back Stabbers — O’Jays

I had a lot of insights into this song as an allegory reaching beyond mere relationship paranoia to the greater social realm into which many R&B contemporaries were operating, but AllMusic already did that. They also noted the dichotomy between this one, their first hit, and the next one, the #1 ray of sunshine “Love Train.”

So what can I add to this? Probably just the performance clip from Soul Train to get us all feeling that 70s vibe …

9. Rock and Roll Part 2 — Gary Glitter

Upon reading a few books on Tibetan mysticism, a young Gary Glitter made a pilgrimage to the region. He was stunned to be greeted by the Dalai Lama himself. The Dalai’s teachings on happiness and desire were a revelation to Glitter, who had been raised on French existentialism. Now convinced that his actions and words had meaning far beyond anything he had encountered in Western philosophy, Glitter returned to the studio determined to explore connections between Buddhist meditation and the obscure Austrian philosophical school that rejected nihilism.

Then Glitter remembered that he wasn’t in Yes, and he recorded something for American sports teams to play during timeouts.

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Last week I reported on the recent spate of old school soul releases by, for the most part, younger artists. It’s a trend that I’m as grateful for as I am for the sunlight and warm breezes that have replaced the cold and dark of winter. So while I will not diminish those efforts in any way, I must take note of the fact that one of the form’s great masters has returned, and in essence is here to show the young bloods how it’s really done.

I can clearly recall the first time I heard “Tired of Being Alone.” It was 1971, and my friend Billy owned Village Records in South Orange, N.J. It was still above the camera shop at that point, but would later move down the street into a storefront of its own. I was a regular customer, and a semi-regular employee, so Billy was well aware of my penchant for the great soul and r&b on the ’60s. One day, no sooner had I reached the top of the stairs leading to the store when Billy said, “hey, you have to hear this.” He wiped off a 45 rpm single that bore an unfamiliar label, and slapped it on the turntable. It was a seminal moment in my appreciation of music.

Al Green spent the rest of the ’70s enjoying one hit single after another, and the albums that included the hits were must-listens as well. But all of the success apparently didn’t provide Al with what he was really looking for, and eventually God, as he will do, intervened. Soul legend Al Green became Reverend Al Green, and the ’80s and ’90s saw him release a series of gospel albums. Just when it seemed that the secular music world had lost him for good, he released the brilliant I Can’t Stop in 2003, and followed it up two years later with the even greater Everything’s OK.

Now the 62 year-old Green has returned with Lay It Down (Blue Note), and it’s a career-capping triumph. The Good Reverend hasn’t lost a bit off his fastball, and he still slings a pretty effective curve too. On several tracks he duets with prominent neo-soul exponents Anthony Hamilton, Corinne Bailey Rae, and John Legend, and while they all acquit themselves nobly, they are something of an afterthought. There’s no doubt about who the star of this show is. (more…)