American Top 40 1975 January 25th

Originally broadcast on January 25th, 1975, this program is brought to you by RocketMan's College of Musical Knowledge in conjunction with the CoPilot of the Airwaves (and his faithful dog Shukatoom). This is American Top 40 with Casey Kasem.

There is a song in this countdown by the son of Lt. Col. Henry John Deutschendorf, an Air Force officer (who set three speed records in the B-58 Hustler supersonic, strategic bomber and earned a place in the Air Force Hall of Fame). His son is at #25 with "Sweet Surrender."

Casey receives and reads a belated Christmas poem from Alan O'Day, author of "Angie Baby" (sung by Helen Reddy and at number 36). O'Day is pleased his song is part of Casey's countdown. He will eventually return with a similarly themed song, "Undercover Angel," which goes to #1 on July 9th, 1977, but neither song is as clever as his Christmas poem (just my opinion).

A listener asks if any artist has had a hit song that failed to make #1 its first time out, and then later released that same song only to hit #1 the second time around. Casey says it has happened twice, and gives the details right before "#9 Dream" by John Lennon (at number 21).

A listener asks, "If 12 year-old Jimmy Boyd was the youngest singer ever to have a #1 single (with "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause"), who was the youngest singer ever to have a #1 album?" Casey says "Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius" by little Stevie Wonder went to #1 in 1963.

In the Rock Era, only 2 songs have ever gone to #1 twice, each by different artists: "Go Away Little Girl" (by Steve Lawrence then by Donnie Osmond) and "The Loco-motion" (by Little Eva and then by Grand Funk). Each of those songs was co-written by Carole King who is at number 28 this week with "Nightingale" but hold on . . .

Fourteen years earlier, The Marvelettes gave Motown their very first #1 with "Please Mr. Postman." It returns to #1 this week in January, 1975, by Karen and Richard Carpenter, to become only the third song in the Rock Era to reach #1 twice by different artists (Remember? We talked about this!).

40: Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell
39: I’m A Woman – Maria Muldaur
38: Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas
37: Ride ‘Em Cowboy – Paul Davis
36: Angie Baby – Helen Reddy
35: The Entertainer – Billy Joel
34: I Belong To You – Love Unlimited
33: Can’t Get It Out Of My Head – Electric Light Orchestra
32: My Eyes Adored You – Frankie Valli
31: Lady - Styx
30: Your Bulldog Drinks Champagne – Jim Stafford
29: Lonely People - America
28: Nightingale – Carole King
27: Only You - Ringo
26: Ready – Cat Stevens
25: Sweet Surrender – John Denver
24: Bungle In The Jungle – Jethro Tull
23: Look In My Eyes Pretty Woman – Tony Orlando & Dawn
22: Struttin’ – Billy Preston
21: #9 Dream – John Lennon
20: Black Water – The Doobie Brothers
19: Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
18: You’re The First, The Last, My Everything – Barry White
17: Junior’s Farm – Paul McCartney & Wings
16: Rock ‘N Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life) – Mac Davis
15: Best Of My Love – The Eagles
14: Get Dancin’ – Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes
13: Doctor’s Orders – Carol Douglas
12: Some Kind Of Wonderful – Grand Funk
11: Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds – Elton John
10: Pick Up The Pieces – The Average White Band
9: Never Can Say Goodbye – Gloria Gaynor
8: Morning Side Of The Mountain – Donny & Marie Osmond
7: One Man Woman/One Woman Man – Paul Anka with Odia Coates
6: You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt
5: Boogie On Reggae Woman – Stevie Wonder
4: Fire – The Ohio Players
3: Mandy – Barry Manilow
2: Laughter In The Rain – Neil Sedaka
1: Please Mr. Postman – The Carpenters