Jess didn’t know yet that I was a complete dork, so it took every ounce of will in my body to not start singing along with the lyrics.Īnd speaking of the lyrics: I can’t believe someone got credit for writing these. So we arrived at the show, and I read that he had a Top 40 hit in ’77 for 'Gonna Fly Now' (oddly, his was a hit partially due to the fact that it was released before the official Rocky soundtrack), and all I could think was: when the fuck is he going to play the Rocky song? So finally, the band played it (by 1997, Ferguson was only playing maybe ten notes a concert, and the rest of his time was spent waving his hands in the air like he just didn’t care), and I let out a sigh of relief. Go to hell, Mark Morrison – this is the real return of the mack! (Ohmygod!) Now, I didn’t know a damn thing about Ferguson, but I knew that Jess played the trumpet, and that this move would probably make me look really classy. My wife and I consider 'Power Of Two' by Indigo Girls to be 'our song,' but if you want to get technical, this one could also be considered 'ours.' On one of our first dates, I took her to see famed trumpet player Maynard Ferguson, who was appearing on campus. Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti ( download)īonus Rocky Download: Gonna Fly Now – Maynard Ferguson ( download) I don’t know if it’s true, but I like any book that makes Henley look like a little bitch.ħ. Plus, there’s an awesome afterword where the author talks about how Don Henley essentially coerced bookstores not to stock the book, promising them he’d do an in-store performance in return. I don’t own it, but I imagine I read about 45% of it one day while in Barnes & Noble. So, instead, I’ll tell you this: if you’re interested in the complicated history of The Eagles, check out To The Limit: The Untold Story Of The Eagles by Marc Eliot. What can you say about the song that hasn’t already been said? Plus, if you’re interested in the musical structure of the song, look no further than this page. I just don’t know what to say about 'Hotel California.' Blah blah blah, colitas, blah blah blah, steely knives, blah blah blah, Satan. Why did I pick this chart? I mean, it’s not that I don’t like 'Hotel California.' I recognize that many people hate it, but I don’t at all (other than the fact that it goes on forever). Written by Allan Toussaint and introduced to Campbell by his friend Jimmy Webb, 'Southern Nights' topped the Country charts as well (right behind stupid Kenny Rogers, I guess), and was the #1 jukebox hit of 1977. But 'Southern Nights' was yet another #1 smash for Campbell, following the unstoppable hit 'Rhinestone Cowboy' two years prior. I’m not even sure how many people my age will know much about him other than his unflattering mugshot a few years ago. Southern Nights – Glen Campbell (download)Ī(That riff, by the way, was reportedly influenced by Jerry Reed.) Man, remember when Glen Campbell was just huge? Because I don’t. I really gotta do that post about Lionel and Kenny on CMT Crossroads.ĩ. Unless you’re performing with Lionel Richie. Sadly, the song fades out, so I consider it a failure. Here’s what would have made 'Lucille' a winner for me: an abrupt switch to double triple-time, or a loud, electric guitar chord right at the very end. It even has the key change (although sadly, only one). I covered 'Coward Of The County' a few months ago, and this song is pretty much the same sound – just slower and with no drums. Why did the country just fall in love with a singer who sounded like he was falling asleep standing up? And suddenly, Kenny Rogers realized he could climb aboard the scratchy-voiced gravy train from here to kingdom come.

It took him two years to reach major success with 'Lucille,' which reached #5 here and topped the Country charts. His first attempt, 'Love Lifted Me,' made a slight impact on Country charts but peaked at a dismal #97 on the Hot 100. In 1975, Kenny Rogers left The First Edition – the band that had made him a success with 'Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town' but had rapidly declined, leaving Rogers $65,000 in debt – and ventured off to start a solo career.

When I Need You – Leo Sayer Amazon iTunesġ. Couldn’t Get It Right – Climax Blues Band AmazonĢ. I’m Your Boogie Man – KC & The Sunshine Band Amazon iTunesģ. Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti Amazon iTunesĥ. Hotel California – Eagles Amazon iTunesħ. Southern Nights – Glen Campbell Amazon iTunesĨ. Enjoy as we attack the charts from May 21, 1977!ĩ. (See my Pablo Cruise t-shirt?) I thought it’d be fun to see what songs were on the radio as my parents were frantically racing to the hospital. Hi everybody, and welcome back to CHART ATTACK! It’s true: I turned 30 on Wednesday.

Sweet j band youtube