American Top 40 1976 September 11th

American Top 40 with Casey Kasem aired on radio from July 4, 1970 until August 6, 1988. This recording is a rebroadcast from internet radio.

In this countdown:

Casey says one song in this countdown was based on the work of Edgar Allen Poe. The artist got his big break from this tune and then said, "Never more!"

"Rock & Roll Music" by the Beach Boys (At number 37 - just look down people!) is a Chuck Berry remake that contains "Rock 'n' Roll" in the title. The Electric Light Orchestra covered Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" on September 14th, 2014, at their first live performance in almost 30 years. Further, the term "Rock 'n' Roll" was first heard in a 30's hit by the Boswell Sisters and ELO thought it was still catchy enough 50 years later to use in their 1983 hit, "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" which they played on September 14th, 2014, at Hyde Park. Lastly, "A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band is at number 5 this week. It is a song that takes classical music and combines it with modern instruments. You know who else does that? The Electric Light Orchestra! (I'm going to plug thi$ thing like it$ making money for me!). Get your video copy of ELO'$ full 2014 Hyde Park performance [as a collection of MP4's] by activating the scratch 'n' sniff torrent file "RocketMan_Extras_1980_09_13_MP4" included in this download.

Who has 5 gold singles, 4 gold albums, 3 Grammys, 2 big round eyes, and her 10th Top 40 hit at number 35? (Olivia Newton-John - don't look down people, her eyes are up here!) This week, "Don't Stop Believin'" is NOT by Fleetwood Mac.

One artist in the countdown found himself on the cover of time magazine and it almost ruined him. Casey gives the details and the details given by Casey were what finally put this artist over the edge, broke the camel's back, and ruined him.

Extra number 2 (segment 8) is hosted by Casey and is from this broadcast, and I swear I heard an echo right before #16 (right before #16 (right before #16)).

A Pennsylvania listener declares, "I'd like to know the age of the youngest solo performer to hit number one." Casey says the record of 13 years and 11 months was established in 1952, just to be broken in 1963 by 13-year-and-5-month-old Little Stevie Wonder and his "Fingertips."

"Still The One" by Orleans (at number 18 this week) was adopted in short order by ABC Television as its promotional theme song. As an In-Show RocketMan Extra, I've included the 3 minute promo for the fall of 1979. in it you will catch glimpses of Robin Williams and Pam Dawber (from Mork & Mindy), Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall (from Lavern and Shirley), Hal Linden and Ron Glass (from Barney Miller), Suzanne Somers, Audra Lindley, and Norman Fell (from Three's Company), Danny DeVito (from Taxi), Gavin McCloud and Fred Grandy (from Love Boat), Tom Bosley (from Happy Days), as well as many, many others and fittingly enough, a clip of the World Trade Center for this September 11th broadcast from 1976; the 200th birth-year of the USA (but if you asked for a show of hands from those who see 9-11 as a self-inflicted wound, you would be able to count both of mine).

40: Superstar - Paul Davis
39: Dr. Tarr & Prof. Fether - Alan Parsons Project
38: The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
37: Rock & Roll Music - Beach Boys
36: Turn the Beat Around - Vicki Sue Robinson
35: Don't Stop Believin' - Olivia Newton-John
34: Kiss and Say Goodbye - Manhattans
33: Love Is Alive - Gary Wright
32: Get Closer - Seals & Crofts
31: Magic Man - Heart
30: One Love In My Lifetime - Diana Ross
29: I Can't Hear You No More - Helen Reddy
28: Street Singing - Lady Flash
27: Rock 'N Me - Steve Miller
26: Disco Duck - Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots
25: That'll Be The Day - Linda Ronstadt
24: Baby I Love Your Way - Peter Frampton
23: Shower The People - James Taylor
22: She's Gone - Hall & Oates
21: Wham Bam - Silver
20: Who'd She Coo - Ohio Players
19: Getaway - Earth, Wind & Fire
18: Still The One - Orleans
17: A Little Bit More - Dr. Hook
16: This Masquerade - George Benson
15: Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel - Tavares
14: With Your Love - Jefferson Starship
EXTRA: (I Know I'm) Losing You - Temptations
13: Devil Woman - Cliff Richard
12: Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac
11: If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
10: Summer - War
9: Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John & Kiki Dee
8: Let 'Em In - Wings
7: Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
6: You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
5: A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy
4: I'd Really Love To See You Tonight - England Dan & John Ford Coley
3: Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
2: You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - Lou Rawls
1: Shake Your Booty - K.C. & The Sunshine Band