Music Virgins No More

17/01/2024

This week 43 years ago a lot of major changes occurred on co-host John's weekly charts. First off, Bruce Springsteen's grip loosened to allow Blondie and The Police to take over the two top positions. But maybe the most interesting move was AC/DC's "Back In Black" debut at #6 on the LP chart. Here's John to explain:

"My recollection of the first single, 'You Shook Me All Night Long' and the album were they’d been playing EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME, and EVERYONE owned a copy. That it was a cultural event and personal necessity to have 'Back In Black' in your record collection.

I was incorrect, I’ll admit.

I recently discovered the album preceded the single by three weeks. Maybe that was a 1980 marketing strategy or the record company didn’t have faith in it. After their previous singer Bon Scott died unexpectedly in February 1980, the band went back into the studio two months later with a new lead singer at the helm. Who knew how their fans would deal with the latest line-up? However, with over 30 million certified album sales . . . I think we liked it a lot.

Released in mid-August 1980, I’m surprised it took me until November to get the 45 single of 'You Shook Me'. Even weirder, 'Back In Black' didn’t enter my charts until the week ending January 17, 1981! No matter, both would do very well, even when you overlook the #45 of Top 50 ranking for 'You Shook Me' on the 1980 year-end Singles chart! 'Back In Black' would eventually displace The Police and end 1981 as John's #3 album of the year, behind Foreigner's ‘4’ and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' ‘Hard Promises.'"

What are your favourites from this week's charts? Leave your comments below and keep on rocking!

AC/DC

11/01/2024

An incredible 43 years ago today, co-host John complied Chart #21 (of 106). Bruce Springsteen maintained his reign at #1 on the Singles and Albums listings, but The Police were making their move to the top. John remembers this week for another reason:

"Earlier in the week I had purchased a stereo system and was excited to hear new music coming out of the large speakers. With that in mind I recall buying 45 singles of 'Games People Play' and 'Hey Nineteen' at a small record store in the Elgin Mall in St. Thomas, ON. They both sounded excellent and peaked at #3 and #4 in the coming weeks."

What are your favourites from Chart #21?

30/12/2023

Co-host John recently found this 1974 beauty in a thrift shop, immediately knowing it was (likely) the first record compilation his older siblings or he (age 😎 owned! For John, the main selling points would have been the novelty smash, THE STREAK” as well as his first exposure to great Canadian artists like April Wine, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Terry Jacks, Lighthouse, Gary and Dave, Ian Thomas, and Anne Murray.

We’ve created a Spotify Playlist that contains all available songs for your end of the year listening pleasure! Enjoy!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06RiUdDRh6fOWEGNnrbFWM?si=BqeBK_ncSQmC-eaqJChuUw&pi=u-k3gy-FR7TcWb

21/12/2023

Here are the answers to our Monday night quiz! Co-host John recalls his thinking about ranking the biggest albums of 1983:

“In retrospect, aside from the not unexpected The Police at #1 … it’s a very interesting list reflecting the various types of music I was getting into at age 17. I became immersed in Pink Floyd’s #2 follow-up to the mega-selling THE WALL - it’s great with headphones on and the songs are very personal. Def Leppard and U2 were two very different “new” bands but both broke out in 1983 in spectacular fashion. Then there were the even then classic rock bands - The Rolling Stones and Genesis - filling my speakers with songs that weren’t quite Pop or radio-friendly, but I loved over similar artists, like Paul McCartney (Pipes of Piece #12) and David Bowie (Let’s Dance #19). Canadian acts did very well at #8, #9, and #26. Over the next decade I would continue to buy new offerings by a major of the musicians listed. Of course, there were the one-hit wonders of the day (or for me) - Peter Shilling, Big Country, The Fixx, Quiet Riot, and Thomas Dolby. Another deciding factor was the amount of time I was in my first car - a black 1975 Monte Carlo with a powerful Alpine stereo system - during 1983, either just driving to the city, to my gas jockey job at a Hwy 401 Service Station, or early morning drives home after an out of town date. Looking back, the year-end Albums chart now includes many long forgotten titles, but each had an effect on me over many listens.”

What were your favourites albums in 1983?

19/12/2023

Quiz Time: Can you match these five albums to the year-end order co-host John came up with 40 years ago? 🤔 Leave your list in the comments section today and all will be revealed this Wednesday at 7:00pm! And … GO! 🤘

12/12/2023

What does Chart #69 for December 12, 1981, a high school basketball team (see list of players below), and Canada's Second City Television's Bob & Doug McKenzie have in common? Co-host John explains:

"I vividly remember this week because the only basketball team I was ever a player on toured to London, ON. (30 minutes from West Lorne) for a two-day tournament. As Coach Silverman lived in London he housed the team overnight. I don't recall how we did that first day on the court, but we must have done enough to warrant appearing the second day. To kill time that night, I think we either went to a nearby mall or walked around the busy city's downtown core. At some point, I bought the newly released comedy record, 'The Great White North' by Bob & Doug. As good Canadian teenage lads, we all loved SCTV and its quirky characters. The single from the album, 'Take Off' with guest vocalist Getty Lee of Rush, was already a huge hit. Once everyone was back at Coach's house, we immediately found a record player and listened, and sang, and laughed together for the next several hours. I do know the team didn't win any medals or trophies at the tourney, but a great time was had by all. Did I mention the Coach also took us to see a re-release of the profanity-laced classic 1977 hockey film, 'Slapshot', where we laughed so hard our sides hurt? That's another story for another day.

As for Chart #69, The McKenzie Brothers entered both the album and single listings. 'Take Off' would hit #2 (for three weeks as Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' sat in the top spot). The album would climb to #3 and remain there for six straight weeks.

If you are unfamiliar with the song 'Take Off' I beg of you to find it on YouTube or any streaming service. You will not be disappointed. Have a good day, eh!"

p.s. The West Elgin Secondary School JUNIOR BOYS BASKETBALL:

Front Row: John Schlarbaum, Chris Leys, Mike Agbaba, Kevin Steele, Ray Oke

Middle Row: Danny McAlpine, Tony Mezenberg, Bruce Mcintyre, Don Barnet

Back Row: Kevin Drouillard, Greg Lashbrook, Peter McMillan, Coach Silverman.

08/12/2023

To answer yesterday’s quiz … here are co-host John’s Top 5 Singles of 1984! There really isn’t a bad song on this Top 30 list. Feel free to make a weekend playlist to relive this great year in music.

07/12/2023

The year is 1984 and these were co-host John’s Top 5 singles. Can you correctly put them in order? The answer will be revealed tomorrow!

05/12/2023

Co-host John was saddened to hear of the passing of Canadian rock icon Myles Goodwyn of April Wine. For reasons he can’t fully explain now … John never owned any of their amazing late 1970s and early 1980’s albums. He did obtain their crazy good “The Hits” compilation CD, and attended two of their concerts in London, Ontario, in 1981 and 1984.

Thanks for the music, Myles!

“He said he wouldn't get led around, or caught up in the games / Or end up in a gallery, of faces with no names / And rock 'n' roll was in his soul, and music was a friend / He recorded a song that made us sing along, and he was on the road again” ~ Rock n’ Roll Is a Vicious Game (1978)

28/11/2023

Co-host John resides 15 minutes south of Windsor, Ontario but still loves to sing, “Born and raised in SOUTH Detroit!” with all the other Journey fans. 🤘 View the full list of songs here: https://ultimateclassicrock.com/worst-rock-lyrics/

23/11/2023

If you have PRIME Video there is a new interesting documentary about the evolution of 1970’s soft rock into today’s Yacht Rock! Enjoy!

Sometimes When We Touch charts a musical movement through its most treasured songs, stories and stars.

09/11/2023

43 glorious years ago these were the songs and albums co-host John was listening to and eventually ranking! The biggest addition this week was Cheap Trick's follow-up to 1979's "Dream Police" produced by The Beatles' George Martin and Geoff Emerick. Here are John's thoughts on this historic collaboration:

If you were to ask me what my favourite Cheap Trick songs were "Everything Works If You Let It" would be in the Top 5. Even so, back in 1980 it only charted for two weeks and peaked at its debut #13 position! I have no rational explanation for this. The song was produced by George Martin, aka The 5th Beatle, and engineered by another Beatle alumni, Geoff Emerick. Recorded during the sessions for their follow-up album to "Dream Police," it was only available on the "Roadie" film soundtrack in June 1980. Although not on the "All Shook Up" album, the single I possess was included in their four-song EP “Found All The Parts” has an official Epic Records label but is white with the words “NOT FOR SALE” and “DEMONSTATION” on it. From what I remember it was included free inside the album. Without this gift from the band, I doubt I’d have ever heard the song until the release of their box set titled, "S*x, America, Cheap Trick" in 1994.

There were several homages to The Beatles on this album. The first single, "Stop This Game" opens and closes with a droning guitar note similar to the piano chord that ends "A Day in the Life." The bridge to "Baby Loves to Rock" features the line "Not in Russia!" with the sound of an airplane in the background, a subtle reference to "Back in the U.S.S.R." "World's Greatest Lover" has vocals reminiscent of John Lennon.

“All Shook Up” would hit #2 on my Albums chart but not sustain the enthusiasm I have for “Dream Police” – their best album, in my humble opinion – over the next four decades, yet still fun to listen to today. Give it a spin and let me know what you think!

Cheap Trick CheapTrick Fans Cheap Trick: Class of 2016 - Rock and Roll Hall of Fame #1980

02/11/2023

Co-host John concurs 100% with the findings of this Top 40 Album Openers list! Check out the other 39 entries on The Ultimate Classic Rock social pages or here: Top 40 Album-Opening Songs https://ultimateclassicrock.com/album-opening-songs/

30/10/2023

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25/10/2023

These are the songs and albums co-host John was listening to 42 years ago this week! On the Singles chart, The Police finally reached #1 and would remain in the top spot for the next five weeks, keeping the week's Fastest Mover, "No Reply At All" stuck in the #2 position for four of those weeks! On the Albums chart Meat Loaf's 7-week reign at #1 would end the following week, with Foreigner "4" taking over for the next 20 weeks! Another interesting fact: debuting at #6 was Jim Steinman's solo album that contained all of the songs written for Meat Loaf's follow-up to 1977's classic "Bat Out Of Hell". When Mr. Loaf was unable to perform them, Mr. Steinman figured he could! Their next collaboration was the above "Dead Ringer" LP.

What are your favourites?

20/10/2023

Flashback to 1977: this was co-host John's one and only K-Tel compilation. The interesting thing about this double album collection was there were ten (10) Canadian artists spotlighted: Klaatu, Richard Tate, Prism, Chilliwack, Burton Cummings, Shirley Eikhard, Toulouse, Rush, Jackson Hawke, and Greg Adams. The songs John recalls playing the most were Rush's "Closer To The Heart" and Kiss' "Christine Sixteen" which was kind of creepy even to the 11-year-old listener! A year later, K-Tel released the same STAR POWER set in the USA that featured ZERO Canadian acts, replaced by the likes of Foreigner, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Bay City Rollers, The Babys, The Little River Band, and David Soul! What are your favourites from this two album collection?

17/10/2023

Of the Top 10 Albums for this week 42 years ago, co-host John owned five (Moody Blues, Foreigner, Bob Seger, Pat Benatar, and Phil Collins), which all charted on his charts! Of these, it would be Foreigner's "4" that would become the longest-running #1 album on John's Top 10 Albums Chart for 20 weeks!

1. ROLLING STONES - Tattoo You
2. MOODY BLUES - Long Distance Voyager
3. STEVIE NICKS - Bella Donna
4. JON AND VANGELIS – Friends Of Mr.Cairo
5. FOREIGNER - 4
6. JOURNEY - Escape
7. BOB SEGER – Nine Tonight
8. PAT BENATAR - Precious Time
9. SOUNDTRACK - Heavy Metal
10. PHIL COLLINS - Face Value

10/10/2023

Today we reveal co-host John's Top 15 NEW Groups of 1980 created when he was 14 years old and a new-ish record collector. Here are his thoughts on those exciting times:

"Along with the year-end Singles and Albums charts, I created one more: Top 15 New Groups of 1980 – at least new to me – as only a handful were actually “new” that year. The rest were very well established in the musical world outside of my bedroom. However, the list shows where my tastes were at . . . and not surprisingly, the majority of these groups are still played by me quite a lot. The remarkable thing is that aside from owning their current releases, I essentially had no previous knowledge of many of the even then classic groups: Genesis, Pink Floyd, The J. Geils Band, Pete Townshend (The Who), and the BIG ONE - Bruce Springsteen - an artist I discovered only a few weeks earlier with the help of my minister father."

06/10/2023

Co-host John's new single is available now on all music streaming platforms! Enjoy!

04/10/2023

On this day 43 years ago, co-host John did the next logical step in his charts’ evolution: adding a Top 10 Albums list. Here’s what he had to say about that event:

“I don’t know why this didn’t happen sooner . . . like, you know, on Chart #1. When you look at this week’s debut chart it’s obvious I had most of these albums at the end of August. A few were fairly new, but had I started a month or two earlier albums like 'In The Heat Of The Night' by Pat Benatar, The Pretenders’ debut album, 'Love Stinks' by the J. Geils Band, 'Damn The Torpedoes' by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, '... But The Little Girls Understand' by The Knack, and probably, 'The Wall' by Pink Floyd all would have been in the Top 10, each possibly #1 at some point.

At the beginning of 1980 I was also listening to albums carried over from 1979 like the Eagles’ 'The Long Run', Cheap Trick’s 'Dream Police', E.L.O.’s 'Discovery' and even 'Breakfast In America' by Supertramp – it was released in March 1979 and was still hanging onto the #10 album spot on CJBK’s weekly chart in March 1980! The lead-up to my Albums chart was a very exciting time for a new teenager who was discovering what type of music, bands, and genres that were out there and what kinds I liked.

For positions #5 - #10, aside from the new Supertramp album, the others were big earlier in the year – not only for me but for everyone listening to the radio. Of these six, 'Christopher Cross', 'Against The Wind', and 'Glass Houses' would’ve dominated my stereo and probably alternated being #1 week by week for a month or two. The Top 4 albums were recent releases and at #1 – really no surprise as they already held down the #1 Single and #1 Group positions – was Queen’s 'The Game' which was basically the #1 Album all over the world. You couldn’t escape it.

For comparison purposes, London’s CJBK and Billboard Magazine also had 'The Game' at #1; while Canada’s RPM Magazine had The Rolling Stones’ 'Emotional Rescue' clinging to the top spot.”

26/09/2023

Chart #6 from 43 years ago today shows one song that was the week’s Highest Debut and Fastest Mover, as well as one of only two songs to debut at #1 in the 106 weeks of charting: “Another One Bites The Dust” by Queen. It was the fourth release from their album THE GAME, and is credited as the band’s best-selling single having sold 7 million copies worldwide. Written by bassist John Deacon, the song is known for its distinctive bass line, apparently inspired by the song “Good Times” by the disco group Chic. In a magazine article, Chic co-founder Bernard Edwards stated, "That Queen record came about because that Queen bass player spent some time hanging out with us at our studio.”

For those keeping track of co-host John’s music charts, “Another One Bites The Dust” was technically Queen’s second #1 single, after “Play The Game” from THE GAME. However, for him, it was really the fourth #1 song from that LP! Before starting his charting hobby, Queen had pre-released “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” in October 1979, followed by “Save Me” in January 1980, both of which were John’s favourite songs for weeks.

15/09/2023

London, Ontario's CJBK was co-host John's Top 29 radio station of choice and these are the songs and albums he was probably playing on his bedroom turntable this weekend 41 years ago! Of all the songs listed, it's the "Somebody's Baby" debut at #27 that would have the greatest effect on John's listening habits and growing interest in all things Jackson Browne for decades to come! What were your favourites back then and today?

14/09/2023

Co-host John has written a new song that will be released on October 6, 2023, on all music streaming platforms! Check out his earlier releases by searching for the band Glorious Jewels wherever you get your music!

John: “This fall be prepared to fall in love with my new song about falling out of love 💔. . . but on your terms!”

12/09/2023

Today we're posting Chart #56 (of 106) from September 12, 1981, because of the Singles' fastest mover: "Start Me Up" by the ageless Rolling Stones. This past week, an amazing 42 years later, they released a new song, "Angry" which no one is angry about! Our profile picture also has a Rolling Stones connection: although not dated, co-host John knows it had to be taken in October 1981 because the "Start Me Up" picture sleeve single is in the first slot of his 45 rack on the dresser . . . meaning it was #1 that week! Note: we'll discuss the week's surprising new #1 album in a future post! Have a great day!

06/09/2023

Growing up only 90 minutes east of Windsor, Ontario, co-host John spent much of his youth listening to music on the influential Big 8 - CKLW AM 800 radio station. These September 1979 charts give you an idea of what might have been playing on John’s bedroom stereo back then!

05/09/2023

These were co-host John's #1 singles heading into a new school year:

Queen - "Play The Game" (1980) - Grade 9
Foreigner - "Urgent" (1981) - Grade 10
Eddie Money - "Think I'm In Love" (1982) - Grade 11

What was playing on your turntable going back to class?

29/08/2023

This week in 1981 saw an incredible 17 new albums debut on Canada’s RPM Magazine’s Top 50 countdown, including four in the Top 10! The Moody Blues’ comeback LP would remain in the #1 position for six weeks. On co-host John’s Albums chart, Tom Petty remained in the top spot for a 13th consecutive week! The Moody Blues would debut on his September 19th chart ultimately climbing to #5.

Feel free to create a playlist of these fantastic albums from both lists and have a great day!

26/08/2023

While researching for the podcast we came across this interesting fact: Fleetwood Mac’s “You Make Loving Fun” is unquestionably a classic. Yet on the Billboard Hot 100 chart it technically ranks lower than their irresistible, but unconventional “Tusk” single from their 1979 double album of the same name! Have a fantastic weekend!

Billboard

23/08/2023

This is the one year anniversary edition of co-host John’s musical hobby! We highly recommend making a playlist of the Top 15 singles to experience the utter awesomeness of The Summer of 1981! Fun fact: Billy Squier’s “Don’t Say No” album had the longest chart run of 40 weeks, yet never hit #1. 😱