Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

Many an eyebrow was raised when "I'm Easy" won the Best Original Song Oscar over "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)", which Diana Ross had performed earlier in the broadcast.

 

Frankly, I prefer the original Keith Carradine version from the Nashville soundtrack. The version he did on his own 1976 Asylum LP was way different.

 

I liked I'm Easy and it was simple to pick up on the guitar. Mahogany? Meh. I was well over D Ross and Berry Gordy trying to buy their way into Hollywood at that point. She's no actor. Keith is and he wrote it. That counts for something in my book, as its such a rare thing.

 

I inherited a copy of Nigrini’s 1986 album, The Drift, from my parents’ record collection. I remember hearing the title track on Toronto radio; had to be CFRB. Until this thread, I knew nothing else about him.

 

Sorry for the briefness of this entry, but it was an improvement over my original write-up, which was merely the single sentence, "For the love of God, can't punk happen already?"

 

Funny. I was thinking that every time I heard Paul Anka.

 

​

"I'm Easy" spent 20 weeks on the chart, #10 at both CFRA and CFGO in Ottawa, #11 for two weeks on the MOR playlist. "I'm Easy" was on the charts so long it charted on both RPM's Pop Music Playlist and the MOR Playlist. It entered the Pop Music Playlist on September 27, 1975 when "The Homecoming" was the highest rated Canadian song on it (it peaked at #40 back then, also #41 on the Country Playlist. Rich Things entered the album chart on July 17, 1976, peaked at #41 the week of August 14, spending 16 weeks on the charts. I can't find a picture of the back cover on the Interwebs.



B-side "For Someone On The Road", which was from his first LP



His next (and last) single for Attic "You're The Reason" came out in December of 1976 (#15 on RPM's Adult Orientated Playlist week of September 3, 1977).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0biX2IAgDY

B-side "Rich Things"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Dnc4BYHHE



N

"Baby, I'm A Lot Like You", #14 0n the Contemporary Adult Chart, #29 on the Country 50 Singles Chart in January of 1984.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlwGIAtiq4k



Now that's what I call "spindle wear"!

 

That was basically the attitude, ex post facto, of Brits regarding their own charts. I mean, Laurel & Hardy at #2 behind Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"? The after-the-fact hate for J.J. Barrie's rendition of "No Charge" (hitting #1 over there at the same time his wife's co-composition as recorded by Cliff Richard made #9)? Plus insipid novelties and like that?

 

I'm pretty sure you'll be just fine without that chair, @JamieC - after all, I don't remember exactly what I wrote about "(She's) Having My Baby", but I know it was rather less than complimentary...

I think I hate "(She's) Having My Baby" more than "I'm Easy". I don't think I hate "I'm Easy" at all... it's just so difficult to feel much of anything for it at all. Maybe if I watched the movie...

When I was a kid in the 80s, the unanimous critical opinion was that the 60s were the artistic peak of modern music and the 70s were a disappointing letdown. In the many decades that have passed since then, that's shifted to the point that I think most critics today would say the 70s was the best musical decade of the modern era. And it really is a paradox: with so much great music produced in the 70s, why were the charts so mundane (on occasion)?

I'd love to be talking about "Magic Man" or, say, something from Hejira instead of Ron Frickin Nigrini. But it seems that radio programmers, and 7" single purchasers, were marching to the beat of a different drum back then. I guess it's that the single/album split, and the nearly identical AM/FM split, led to rigid never-the-twain-shall-meet segmentation of music fans. I dunno.

Anyway it's all good news starting tomorrow, when greatness returns...

 

At #57 the week of July 17, 1976, "Freight Train" b/w "A Piece Of Wood" by Eugene Smith (#23 at CKLW in Windsor)



As you can see from the labels, "A Piece Of Wood" was intended as the A-side. It was on Goldfish Records, produced and arranged by Terry Jacks.



I discovered to my delight that Eugene Smith had already charted in 1971 under the name Lucifer, so that's less work for me.
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

S

Two more singles on Goldfish would come out in 1977, "The Warm Up Band" b/w "Brother To Sister", then "That's The Way It Goes" b/w "Brother To Sister"



In 1979, he released the single with the Warm Up Band, "Amy (Why I Love You)" b/w "In The Dark" on A&M, his last major label release.



"Amy" would be re-recorded for his 1981 album Warmin' Up which came out on his own Warm Up label.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSXWFWE7Y8k

Finally, here's a TV performance from May 16, 1980 (introduced by Murray McLauchlan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXAOYArf0V8

 

Freight Train. Another record I have not heard in 45 years. For some reason I thought it was Cat Stevens. Another thing who the hell have they got as the authors? Jones and Williams? News to the friends and fans of Elizabeth Cotton who wrote this. Who the hell are these guys? It wasn't PD as far as I know regardless of a new verse.

 

At #58 the same week of July 17, "Old Time Movies" by Garfield, #27 for two weeks at CKLG in Vancouver.



B-side "Ride The Waves"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGQB7DEijgA



SPILL FEATURE: GARFIELD'S LONG-AWAITED RETURN - A CONVERSATION WITH GARFIELD FRENCH | The Spill Magazine

Their big break came when Garfield opened for 10cc in Ottawa
Ottawa Journal (October 29, 1975 )



Ottawa Citizen (October 30, 1975 "No mail, no albums, but silly rumours")

They were signed by Polydor, and an album produced by Elliot Mazer, Strange Streets, would come out on Mercury.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD821C73C6698DA24




RPM (May 15, 1976)
SRM-I-I082-Q

Strange Streets would enter the RPM charts on May 15, peaking at #18 during a 14 week chart run. They will be back.

Canadian Bands.com - Garfield

 

What's more, she was all of 11 when she did write it . . . the "James/Williams" credit was there when The Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group (featuring Nancy Whiskey) and Rusty Draper recorded it back in '57 . . .

 

At #40 for the first of two weeks (week of July 24), Airlift covering The Rolling Stones with "Tell Me" b/w "You Got Me Dancin'"





"You Got Me Dancin'" had earlier charted at #61 (week of January 31) when backed with "The Good Is Gone". Airlift was...our old friends Ian Guenther and Willi Morrison, with help from George Semkiw. There would be one more released, "All The Hours Of Love" b/w "Daddy Was The Leader Of A Rock 'N'N Roll Band" before the name "Airlift" was tossed by Morrison and Guenther into the wastepaper basket.

 

At #52 the week of July 24 for the first of two weeks, "Doing The Best That I Can" by Wednesday



B-side "Could You Refuse Her"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSkzE69N7ng

 

At #59 the week of July 24 for the first of two weeks, Terry Jacks with "In My Father's Footsteps", #9 in Hamilton (CKOC), #19 in Ottawa (CFGO), #27 in Windsor (CKLW) and #38 on the MOR Playlist.



B-side "Until You're Down" (from the last LP)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=renxlCB44rs



German picture sleeve



Portugal



Netherlands

 

Terry Jacks attempt for another "Season's In The Sun" couldn't have been more blatant. The song wasn't written by Jacks (his father, Dr. Quentin Jacks, would live until 2011) but by Mel Mandel and Norman Sachs and sent to Jacks' manager. Mandel and Sachs were a songwriting team, who had also written for comedian Pat Cooper.

https://www.discogs.com/artist/8892...dits&subtype=Writing-Arrangement&filter_anv=0
https://www.discogs.com/artist/8891...dits&subtype=Writing-Arrangement&filter_anv=0

Their main passion was writing musicals. After You, Mr. Hyde was an adaptation of Dr. Jeckyll And Mr. Hyde that premiered in 1968 and was made into a 1973 NBC production starring Kirk Douglas (after being spruced up by Lionel Bart)

Theatrically Speaking: Jekyll, Adapted
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (TV)



Then there was the attempted Captain America musical:

80's comic ads

"Captain America - When A Musical Won't Fly"
CAPTAIN AMERICA' - WHEN A MUSICAL WON'T FLY
The Unproduced Captain America Musical About Cap's Mid-Life Crisis

But back to Terry Jacks. Here's an insane story about a Terry Jacks imposter from the September 23, 1976 Evening Sun (Hanover, Pennsylvania)
Terry Jacks Imposter - Newspapers.com
Terry Jacks Imposter Part 2 - Newspapers.com



My favourite parts:

 

I had been presuming that George Semkiw was the third Hat since he's credited as an engineer on everything they did. But he's credited as an engineer on thousands of recordings, so I couldn't be sure. Seeing him listed as a co-producer here seems to more or less confirm it.

I've spent pretty much all day today listening to Morrison and Guenther. It's like pulling a thread on a knit jumper with these two.

 

For those of you in the Toronto area you should recognize this tune. CHCH Hamilton used it as the closing theme for their mid-week Toronto Maple Leaf hockey games all thru the mid-late '70s.

 

At #62 for the first of two weeks (week of July 24), "I Got Your Love" by Stratavarious

I screwed up, this is the same song covered in the earlier post. It earlier peaked at #76, re-entered and made it to #62
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

Anyway, Stratavarious And Lady's second single was "Let Me Be Your Lady Tonight" b/w "Love Me"



Here's the 12" Disco Version, the 45 edit not being on youtube.



A self-titled album would be released.




Final single "Yes It Is" in September of 1977
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGFTBmQg0JA

B-side "Touching"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8-Yuf9WCzE

 

At #68 for the first of two weeks without a MAPL wheel (week of July 24), Cheech & Chong with "Framed" b/w "Pedro's Request" (#13 for two weeks at Ottawa's CFGO). In the U.S. #41 in Billboard, #1 in Pawtucker RI, #3 in San Diego and Tucson, #4 in Pittsburgh.



B-side
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaNeWRMXAkM



From the album Sleeping Beauty

 

At #34 the week of July 31 (for the first of two weeks), Shirley Eikhard with "Say You Love Me" (#4 on the MOR Playlist). It reached #13 in Vancouver (CKLG), #19 at CHUM. Fleetwood Mac's version would peak at #29 on September 11.



The flipside "Child Of The Present" also charted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SntXlsFtM7U



Both songs were on her new album "Let Me Down Easy"

 

At #44 the week of July 31, "Old Time Movie" by the Lisa Hartt Band. It was big in Vancouver, making it to #12 at CKLG



B-side "Starwatcher"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stPtc2QQwo4



Lisa Eisenhardt came from Montreal. She made her recording debut in 1973 on Polydor as Lisa with "Touch Me" b/w "Aftermath"



The Lisa Hartt band would be formed later in 1973

RPM (April 17, 1976)

Their first single came out late in 1975 as the first release on the Rising label, "The Last Blues I'll Ever Sing" b/w "Let's Live Together"



Their third single would be "Easy Come, Easy Go" b/w "Dream Me Away" (#23 for two weeks at Vancouver's CKLG in November of 1976)



Then "All Over The World" b/w Didn't You Know"

 

Starwatcher would be the title of their debut album, produced by Phil Ramone and Ralph Murphy and released in January of 1977.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8HkxsnL48Q



On CBC-TV's 90 Minutes Live (March 3, 1977) performing "Starwatcher" and "Dream Me Away"



"Dream Me Away" b/w "Sweet Serenade" would come out as a single in July of 1977
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m47ZKnBswY



Old Time Movie by Lisa Hartt Band - 1976 Hit Song - Vancouver Pop Music Signature Sounds

From the July 20 Toronto Globe and Mail ("Lisa At Larry's; She looks like a fashion model from vogue and sings with the dreamlike clarity of a crystal ball")