Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Music Column – The Breakfast Show with William Price King and Sally Cronin – Chart Hits 1979 Part Two – Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand, Earth Wind and Fire, Abba and Dire Straits

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 1979 hits which I hope you will enjoy.

News Event: May 2nd 14th Academy of Country Music Awards: Kenny Rogers and Barbara Mandrell win

Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand – You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

“You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” was composed by Neil Diamond and Marilyn Bergman for the TV sitcom “All That Glitters.” In 1977 Diamond recorded the song for his album “I’m glad you’re here with me tonight” as a solo performance. Early in 1978, Streisand covered the song on her album “Songbird.” These solo recordings were spliced together creating unofficial duets, the success of which led to the studio bringing both singers together for an official duet recording. The duet reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a monster hit worldwide throughout 1978- 1979

News Event: August 24th Musical film “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” directed by Allan Arkush featuring the Ramones is released in NYC (released throughout the US 20 days later)

Earth, Wind and Fire – Boogie Wonderland

“Boogie Wonderland,” recorded by Earth, Wind and Fire with the Emotions, peaked at #14 on the Dance chart, #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA and in the UK by the BPI and was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best R&B instrumental Performance and Best Disco Recording.

News Event: October 8th 13th Country Music Association Award: Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers & Barbara Mandrell wins

Now time for my second picks from 1979 and I hope you will enjoy my selection too.

 Abba – Chiquitita

“Chiquitita” proved to be one of ABBA’s biggest hits. It was featured in a 1979 UNICEF charity event, the Music for UNICEF Concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly. As a direct result of this event, ABBA donated half of all royalties from the song to UNICEF. “Chiquitita” hit No. 1 in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, South Africa and Rhodesia, and was a Top 5 hit in ABBA’s native Sweden, the United Kingdom (peaking at No. 2 in both countries) Australia, Germany and Norway, making it the most successful single from the Voulez-Vous album in terms of global charts and one of the most famous charity songs ever.

To this day, 50% of the proceeds from the song go to UNICEF in recognition of the “International Year of the Child” in 1979. In 2014, all ABBA members agreed on donating 100% of the royalties from the song to UNICEF.  In the United Kingdom, “Chiquitita” debuted at No. 8 in the singles chart, making it the highest place début for any ABBA single release. ABBA 

News Event: November 30th Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” released, sells 6 million copies in 2 weeks

Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing

“Sultans of Swing” is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, written by frontman Mark Knopfler. The demo of the song was recorded at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977 and quickly acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. Its popularity soon reached record executives, and Dire Straits were offered a contract with Phonogram Records. The song was then re-recorded in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for the band’s eponymous debut album.

The record company wanted a less-polished rock sound for the radio, so an alternative version was recorded at Pathway Studios in April 1978 and released as the single in some countries including the United Kingdom and Germany.[citation needed]. The single would go on to reach the top 5 in Canada, South Africa, and the United States as well as the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

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 19780 Part One. We hope you will tune in.. as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.