American Top 40 1978 September 9th

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:

"If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago is played as a Long-Distance Dedication. I swear I always thought that song was by Paul Anka!

Alicia Bridges debuts with her hit, "I Love The Night Life" (at number 37). Boston is also burning up the chart. In their third week, "Don't Look Back" is at number 12. You could always hear one of these songs during the last 16 months of the 70's. It didn't matter where you went.

Casey relates how Beach Girl Toni Tennille used to play with the Beach Boys, and security (thinking she was a groupie) would give her trouble getting backstage to earn her living. She is at number 36 this week with "You Never Done It Like That" (as part of the Captain & Tennille).

A listener who couldn't find the address to Dear Abby writes in to ask, "Which song in the rock era holds the record for the most consecutive weeks in the Top 40?" Casey says it is a neck-and-neck tie between the biggest ever hit instrumental, and the song that allegedly launched the rock era.

Linda Ronstadt has the highest debut of the week, "Back In The U.S.A." (a former Chuck Berry hit at number 30). Casey says in the 23 years since Berry's first Top 40 hit, virtually every major rock act from the Beach Boys to the Beatles to Bob Dylan to the Rolling Stones has paid tribute to Chuck Berry. The Electric Light Orchestra covered Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven" on September 14th, 2014, at the group's first live performance in almost 30 years. Get an audio copy of the full show by properly orienting the torrent I've included for "RocketMan_Extras_1983_09_03" included in this file folder.

Kenny Loggins has his first solo hit but, in order to get it, he has to be part of a duo that includes Stevie Nicks. Their song, "Whenever I Call You 'Friend'" is at number 23. Who knew Loggins would eventually find his groove writing theme songs for movies? A partial list would include "I'm Alright" (Caddyshack), "Nobody's Fool" (Caddyshack2), "Footloose" (Footloose), "Danger Zone" (Top Gun), and "Meet Me Halfway" (Over The Top).

Seeing as the Beatles are the male group with the most number one singles, a listener queries, "Which American male group has had the most number one singles?" Casey says this group started out being known as The Four Lovers.

The longest span of time between a group split-up and one of their unreleased songs hitting the chart is six years. Group: the Beatles. Song: "Got To Get You Into My Life" (at number 10 this week by Earth, Wind & Fire).

Any teen-aged boy who didn't have a crush on Olivia Newton-John before she hit the chart with "Hopelessly Devoted To You" (at number 4 this week) sure forgot about his Farrah Fawcett poster while it was playing (where IS my Farrah poster anyway?).

And finally, this week marks the first time ever that a group has hit number one on Billboard's Pop, Soul, and Disco charts with the same song.

40: 5-7-0-5 - City Boy
39: Steppin' In A Slide Zone - The Moody Blues
38: Talking In Your Sleep - Crystal Gayle
37: I Love The Night Life - Alicia Bridges
36: You Never Done It Like That - The Captain & Tennille
35: She's Always A Woman - Billy Joel
34: Think It Over - Cheryl Ladd
33: Come Together - Aerosmith
32: Get Off - Foxy
31: Rock & Roll Fantasy - The Kinks
30: Back In The U.S.A. - Linda Ronstadt
29: Right Down The Line - Gerry Rafferty
28: Just What I Needed - The Cars
27: My Angel Baby - Toby Beau
26: Close The Door - Teddy Pendergrass
25: (Love Theme From "The Eyes Of Laura Mars") Prisoner - Barbra Streisand
24: Oh Darlin' - Robin Gibb
23: Whenever I Call You "Friend" - Kenny Loggins
22: Two Tickets To Paradise - Eddie Money
21: Love Will Find A Way - Pablo Cruise
20: Magnet And Steel - Walter Egan
19: Hollywood Nights - Bob Seger
18: You Needed Me - Anne Murray
17: Reminiscing - Little River Band
16: You And I - Rick James
15: Miss You - The Rolling Stones
14: Love Is In The Air - John Paul Young
13: Fool If You Think It's Over - Chris Rea
12: Don't Look Back - Boston
11: Hot Child In The City - Nick Gilder
10: Got To Get You Into My Life - Earth, Wind & Fire
9: Shame - Evelyn "Champagne" King
8: Summer Nights - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
7: An Everlasting Love - Andy Gibb
6: Grease - Frankie Valli
LDD: If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
5: Kiss You All Over - Exile
4: Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John
3: Hot Blooded - Foreigner
2: Three Times A Lady - The Commodores
1: Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey