Each week William and I will select two top hits from the charts starting with 1960 for two weeks followed by 1961 etc..through to 1985. We will also include some of the notable events in those years for the up and coming stars who were centre stage at the time.
Welcome to this week’s show and we are excited to share decades of music with you in 2021. Here is my first selection of top 1972 hits which I hope you will enjoy. William.
News Event: January 27th World premiere of Scott Joplin’s rediscovered opera “Treemonisha” at Morehouse College in Atlanta
Roberta Flack – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” written by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, was covered by Roberta Flack in 1972 and topped the charts around the world, winning Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Billboard ranked it as the #1 Hot 100 single of the year. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was played as the wake-up music on flight day 9 to the astronauts aboard Apollo 17, on their last day in Lunar orbit (Friday, December 15, 1972) before returning to earth, thus ending the last manned explorations of the Moon. Clint Eastwood, in his directorial film debut “Play Misty for Me,” highlighted the song in a love scene featuring himself and Donna Mills.
News Event: February 13th “Cabaret”, directed by Bob Fosse, based on the musical of the same name and starring Liza Minnelli and Michael York, is released
Don McLean – American Pie
“American Pie,” composed by Don McLean, was a monster hit worldwide. It topped the charts in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The song was listed as the #5 song on the RIAA project “Songs of the Century” and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry as being “culturally, historically, or artistically significant.” The repeatedly mentioned phrase “ the day the music died” refers to the plane crash in 1959 that killed rock and roll performers Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens.
News Event: February 17th Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti receives record 17 curtain calls after his performance in “La fille du régiment” at New York’s Metropolitan Opera
Now time for my first chart picks from 1972 and they certainly bring back memories of my teenage years.
Elton John – Rocket Man
“Rocket Man” (officially titled “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)”) is a song composed by Elton John and Bernie Taupin and originally performed by Elton John. The song first appeared on Elton John’s 1972 album Honky Château and as the lead single from the album. The song eventually rose to No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 becoming a major hit single for John. Elton John
News Event: June 6th David Bowie releases his breakthrough album “The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Helen Reddy – I am Woman
“I Am Woman” is a song written by Australian musicians Helen Reddy and Ray Burton. Performed by Reddy, the first recording of “I Am Woman” appeared on her debut album I Don’t Know How to Love Him, released in May 1971, and was heard during the closing credits for the 1972 film Stand Up and Be Counted. A new recording of the song was released as a single in May 1972 and became a number-one hit later that year, eventually selling over one million copies
Additional sources: On This Day – Music – Wikipedia
Your Hosts for The Breakfast Show
William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.
His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.
While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.
Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson
Sally Cronin is an author, blogger and broadcaster who enjoyed four years as part of the team on Onda Cero International’s English speaking morning show in Marbella and then for two years as a presenter on Expressfm the local radio station in Portsmouth. She co-presented two ‘Drive Time’ shows a week with Adrian Knight, hosted the live Thursday Afternoon Show and The Sunday Morning Show guests including musicians and authors. Following this she became Station Director for a local internet television station for two years, producing and presenting the daily news segment, outside broadcasts and co-presenting the Adrian and Sally chat show live on Friday evenings.
She and her husband David have now returned to Ireland where they live on the Wexford Coast where she blogs and continues to write books.
Books :Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin
Next week 1972 Part Two. We hope you will tune in.. as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.
HI Sally, this is a lovely post and I knew three out of four of these singers. Helen Reddy is the only one I didn’t know. Thank you, William for your great contribution.
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Thanks Robbie and delighted to introduce you to Helen Reddy.. wonderful artist…hugsx
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You are most welcome, Robbie. I am glad you got to meet Helen Reddy. Hugs
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The First Time Ever I saw Your Face and American Pie are both particular favourites of mine. Thanks for remindning me!
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You are most welcome, Alex. Thanks. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Delighted to hit the memory button Alex..hugs
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Thank you, Sharon. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Great memories!
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Thank you for another wonderful selection. ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ is so beautiful.
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It certainly is, Wendy. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Thanks Wendy.. a lovely song.. haunting…hugsx
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I love all these, Sally and William. I have a special fondness for American Pie. With a runtime of 8:37 it offered the opportunity to hit the loo and another cup of coffee before the next intro.
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Excellent, John. Delighted that you enjoyed. All the best.
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Lol…glad we made your morning run more efficiently John hugsx
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I was referring to when I was an FM jock.
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Elton John!! I still hum “I am Woman” spontaneously. Such great songs! I didn’t know Pavarotti had 17 curtain calls!
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Indeed he did, Jennie. Glad you enjoyed our selection. Hugs
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Very much so. 🙂
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Thanks Jennie..and one of my regrets is not haring Pavarotti sing live.. what a voice..hugsx
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I never did, either. Yes, what a voice!
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♥
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Ah, so glad you got to hear Don McLean live. Lucky you. I love American Pie, too. Hugs
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Wow! What an amazing lineup. American Pie is a classic and you featured the long version. I was lucky to have seen Don McLean sing this song in a concert in Calgary, Alberta. And, I am Woman was the theme song for my generation of women. Thanks!
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Wonderful to see Don Mclean live Darlene and with you on I Am Woman…hugs
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All great music! American Pie has always been a favorite, and it seems like every time I hear (sing) it, I find some subtle little thing I hadn’t noticed.
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Good for you, Dorothy. So glad to have you singing along with us. Hugs
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Thanks Dorothy.. amazing song.. delighted you enjoyed…hugsx
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Thank you for todays musical smiles.
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Thanks Sue and delighted you enjoyed..hugsx
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You are most welcome, Sue. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Apart from Sir Elton, I only know the names of the other performers, but not the songs. But great songs. Typical 1970s I think. Thank you for another great lesson, William and Sally! Have a beautiful day! xx Michael
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Glad we were able to introduce you to some new songs, Michael. Do enjoy your week. Thanks for hanging in there with us. All the best.
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Thank you, William! Have a beautiful week as well. xx Michael
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Delighted you enjoyed Michael.. and the 70s were rich with great songs…have a lovely day too..hugsx
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thanks for sharing, Michael. All the best.
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:-)) Thank you, William! You and yours as well. xx Michael
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Thanks for reblogging Michael.. appreciated as always..hugsx
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I always think of the film – and I couldn’t remember the title – Play Misty for Me when I hear The First Time. That is my favourite of today’s choices.
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Thank you very much. Play Misty for me was a great film. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Thanks Janet.. that was a great film and the first I think where I saw Clint Eastward playing a part out of the saddle…it certainly kicked off his directorial career…glad you enjoyed…hugs
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You never disappoint you always transport back…Thank you both of you…Hugs xx
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Thank you very much, Carol. Glad to have you along. Hugs
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Delighted to hear Carol..♥
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I’m a big fan of three of the four. I never really liked American Pie, though I always was fascinated by Don McLean’s story about this song.
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I was fascinated by McLean’s story, too. Glad you enjoyed. Thanks, Pete. All the best.
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Thanks Pete.. for an artist who couldn’t read music and never wrote his lyrics down.. just sang directly into a recorder, Don certainly produced some memorable material. I think not being American at the time meant I probably did not appreciate the references in the song, and was more focused on rock and roll.. but I do get the lyrics better now.. xx
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Classics, every one! ❤
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Indeed. Many thanks, Annette. Hugs
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Thanks very much Annette..♥♥
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These are fantastic, William and Sally. “I Am Woman” is my favourite today. Toni x
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Fantastic, Toni. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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Fabulous Toni.. and that song always resonates with me too…hugsx
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Oh yaaaaaaaa, taking me back. Thank you. ❤ xx
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Thank you, Debby. Glad we’re taking you back. Hugs
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A pleasant respite ❤
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Doesn’t it just.. I have even put together a playlist of 100 70s songs and some are cheesy but most are brilliant.. ♥
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They will go great with a pitcher of margs ❤
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or two lol ♥
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Lol ❤
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Instant high school flashback!
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Ah, good to hear, Liz. Glad you enjoyed. Hugs
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🙂
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Thanks Liz… the amazing power of music..hugs
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You’re welcome, Sally. It is amazing the way music can immediately transport us to another place and time, with all the sights, sounds, and smells right there!
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Apparently the last thing we lose is our memories of music we have loved…xx
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I didn’t know that.
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