Each week William and I select two top hits from the charts in the US and UK 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. We are now in the 1970s.
Welcome to our show and we are excited to share decades of music with you in 2021. Here is my second selection of top 1976 hits which I hope you will enjoy. William.
News Event: May 31st The Who set the record for the loudest concert of all time, 120 decibels at 50 metres, at The Valley in Charlton, London, England
ABBA – Dancing Queen
“Dancing Queen” was ABBA’s only #1 hit in the US. Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson, this song topped the charts around the world making it a colossal hit. The original video of this song has been viewed over 469 million times as of January 2021, and has become ABBA’s most recognizable and popular song. In 2015, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
News Event: September 24th “Oh! Calcutta!” revival opens at Edison Theater NYC for 5,959 performances, Broadway’s longest-running musical revue
Lou Rawls – You’ll Never Find Another Love like Mine
“You’ll Never Find Another Love like Mine” (written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff) was Lou Rawls’ breakthrough international hit, topping the charts in the US, Canada, and the UK. This song got Lou Rawls nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Lou Rawls
News Event: September 25th Bono, David Evans, his brother Dik and Adam Clayton respond to an advertisement on a bulletin board at Mount Temple posted by fellow student Larry Mullen Jr. to form a rock band, which would eventually become U2
Now time for my second picks from 1976 and I hope you will enjoy my selection
Elton John and Kiki Dee – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is a 1976 duet by Elton John and Kiki Dee. It was written by Elton John with Bernie Taupin under the pseudonyms “Ann Orson” and “Carte Blanche”, respectively, and intended as an affectionate pastiche of the Motown style, notably the various duets recorded by Marvin Gaye and singers such as Tammi Terrell and Kim Weston. Elton John
News Event: December 18th Second remake of “A Star is Born” film, directed by Frank Pierson and starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, premieres
The Four Seasons – December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
“December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” is a song originally performed by The Four Seasons, written by original Four Seasons keyboard player Bob Gaudio and his future wife Judy Parker, produced by Gaudio, and included on the group’s album, Who Loves You (1975). The single was released in December 1975 and hit number one on the UK Singles Chart on February 21, 1976. It repeated the feat on the US Billboard Hot 100 on March 13, 1976, remaining in the top spot for three weeks.Billboard ranked it as the No. 4 song for 1976. It was the final Four Seasons’ song to reach number one.
Additional sources: On This Day – Music – Hits of the 70s: Playback FM – 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 1977 Part One. We hope you will tune in.. as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.
It’s interesting that two hit Broadway shows came out of two groups featured here. Jersey boys and Mama Mia. (Four Seasons and Abba)
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Good choices, William and Sally.
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Thanks John… hugsx
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Both amazing range of songs that were hits with our generation. And have stood the test of time. Mama Mia the films are in my ‘need a boost today’ file lol..hugsx
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I enjoyed both.
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I remember all of these. 1976 was a strange year . . .
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It was Liz.. I remember it well for being very crazy… hugsx
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Gee whiz, haven’t heard any Lou Rawls in ages. Thank you for the smiles all around.
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Glad you enjoyed the blasts from the past Annette… ♥♥
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Hi Sally, hi William! While your choices are still a bit on the “easy listening” side for me, as usual, I have a story. As you may know, the string arrangement for “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart” was written by Elton’s new music director and keyboard player was James Newton Howard. This is right out of my memoir, “Making It, Music, Sex & Drugs in the Golden Age of Rock.” From 1974…
We cut solid basic tracks on four songs. Next, David Foster (who later went on to become one of the most successful record producers of all time, recording artists such as Chicago, Kenny Rogers and Barbra Streisand) came in and laid down some beautiful acoustic piano tracks. While listening to the playback of one, a song called “It’s Too Bad,” he commented, “I’d cut that.”
But Bruce and I felt there was still something missing. The tracks needed more going on, even after we added background vocals. We decided that what we needed was a synthesizer. The next time I came into the studio, Bruce had an Arp synthesizer set up and ready to go. Only none of us had a clue as to how to get a sound out of it. Like the Moog, the Arp had several patch bays that looked like a telephone switchboard. Rob said he knew someone who could play it. The next day James Newton Howard arrived in the studio and added synth on all four tracks and electric piano on one. His spontaneous arrangements were nothing short of brilliant and my tracks really came alive. James went on to become the arranger and music director for Elton John and then one of the most successful screen composers in Hollywood.
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Wow that is an incredible story Ted and it must have been an amazing time to be involved at that level in the music industry. As to our personal selections for the Breakfast Show… sorry they are a little pedestrian for you but at least as today we prompted an interesting background story.. enjoy the rest of the week…x
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Ted, what a fab story. I love how things just come together suddenly. Magic! I had several 6 degrees of separation moments reading this. Kiki’s lead guitarist at one time, Jo Partridge – who has a studio in Cornwall near ours at one time – played on one of our artist’s records back in the 1990s and, of course, he played on War of the Worlds! David Foster is a good friend of our son’s and other friends of ours in LA – we always missed meeting him for some reason. We have worked with Diane Warren who worked with David many times. We worked with several producers – including Humberto Gatica – who worked with Streisand, and worked with one of her songwriters back in the day, Marsha Malamet – I have not heard if she has pulled through her illness of 2018, or not. I do hope so, she was a delight to work with and so giving of her experience and knowledge when working with two of our teenage singer-songwriters. The only song with Elton I can listen to is with Kiki Dee. I am not a fan. My cousin used to share a house with him and his band years ago, and a friend and composer, Andy Street, sang for him at his 40th birthday party. I love how things all come together in a spider’s web of connections in this business. I am going to get your book as t sounds ace. Happy days and enjoy your memories. They are fab. xx
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Those were the days – thanks again for these great hits, Sally and William. Toni x
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Thanks Toni, glad you enjoyed today’s selection..hugsxx
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Oh what a year!
1976 I left teacher training college and worked for a while in the local flight simulation company.
I retrained as a ‘Tracer’ led me to drawing and measuring on a large scale.
(Measuring a bus for a start)
I aquired a huge roll of dyline paper which enabled me to draw out and paint the large designs ready to transfer onto the Playbus… and that was the next part of my journey.
Loved all of the songs today and am off to my Tuesday morning zumba with a spring in my step! LOL
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Thanks for sharing that Sue what an interesting job background and how it led to where you are now… hope you enjoyed your zumba…hugsx
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Thanks for this week’s selection. Great to see the video of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. I saw Jersey Boys a few years ago, and loved it.
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Thanks very much Wendy and I heard it is an amazing show…hugsx
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing Michael.. hugsxx
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Great information. Thank you for your efforts, finding so wonderful music, Sally! hugsx
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Today I’m closer to breakfast time. 😉 I had already blown Jericho’s horns to some authorities today. It’s unbelievable how lazy work is now being done here. I am only hugging pillows on weekends. Thank you for sharing another great list of unforgettable songs. Enjoy your day! xx Michael – I am just polishing the horns, and will take another alarming. 😉 xx Michael
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That should wake them from their slumbers Michael.. go get them…hugsx
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By 1976 I was more into album bands than the pop charts, but there are some undeniable classics among these choices. And you can never go wrong with ABBA, can you!
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Thanks Clive.. I was on the move most of 76 and 77 and had to rely on radio plays as no record player.. but I bought a lot of albums later and then as CDs.. wonderful memories..
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I can see how restrictive that must have been, as radio stations tend not to stray too far from the mainstream. Glad you had a chance to catch up – I can’t imagine life without my music!
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Me neither and thank goodness over the years have downloaded most of my favourites in digital versions and have a very eclectic ipod playlist..
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Mine is all digital now too. All of the vinyls and cassettes have long since gone but I still have a massive CD collection – most of which I can get from Apple Music anyway! So much choice!
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Love Dancing Queen but can’t believe it was ABBA’s only number one in the US! Thanks for these.
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Amazing isn’t it.. ♥
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Good choices once again, Sally & Will …Thank you..Hugs xx
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Thanks very much Carol…hugsx
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These song were taking me right back to early high school years. At least I can still remember. LOL ❤
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The remembering bit is something I am grateful each day for lol. ♥♥
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No kidding!!!!!!!!! Lol ❤ xx
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♥
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Sally and William, you hit a home run with every song!! I have goosebumps.
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Wonderful thanks very much Jennie..♥
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You’re most welcome! 🙂
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Great selection of music! Thank you
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Thanks Cecily so pleased you enjoyed.
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You will not believe this, Sally and William, but I’ve never seen a video with Elton John so young before. He was so cute, wasn’t he? Not quite as glitzy as now. We took the boys to see a production of Frankie Vallie and The Four Seasons at the theatre back in the days before we had horrible fun-killing Covid.
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Some of us remember him fresh faced Robbie lol.. but he was very quirky even back then.. I am sure you all love the production and I hear the music is amazing.. hugsx
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These are all great songs to sing along to. Lou Rawls had such an amazing, deep, seductive voice. Abba was one of my favourite groups to listen to and I can watch Mama Mia over and over. Great shares.
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Thanks Carla and with you on ABBA love both the films.. xx
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