Sunday, March 7, 2010

Ruby Anniversary Song of the Week: "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" by the Friends of Distinction


Should "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" by the Friends of Distinction be a guilty pleasure? Retiring Guy doesn't think so. He thinks it ranks among the best songs of the year.

The song entered the Hot 100 at #82 for the week ending March 7, 1970. It climbed its way into the top 10, peaking at #6, and spent 13 weeks on the chart.

Other songs making their first appearance on the Hot 100.
(Entry position, peak position, weeks on chart.)

"Up the Ladder to the Roof" by the Supremes*. (57, 10, 11)
(*Stormy, why didn't you just call your local public library?)
The first Supremes song without Diana Ross does pretty well for itself.

"Come Together" by Ike & Tina Turner. (78, 57, 8) The Beatles' version had recently finished up a 16-week stay on the Hot 100, spending 1 week at #1.

"Easy to be Free" by Rick Nelson. (80, 48, 6) The former Ricky Nelson is gathering material for his "Garden Party".

"Gonna Give Her All the Love I Got" by Marvin Gaye. (81, 67, 6) A surprising misfire during a period when just about everything Gaye touched turned to gold.

"Let's Give Adam and Eve Another Chance" by Gary Puckett & the Union Gap. (83, 41, 7) After five top 10 hits in two years, radio listeners were not inclined to give Gary Puckett & the Union Gap another chance.

"Who's Your Baby" by the Archies. (87, 40, 7) Bubblegum music was a short-lived phenomenon. Those younger baby boomers ruined everything for the rest of us.

"Add Some Music to Your Day" by the Beach Boys. (90, 64, 5) The Beach Boys spent ten years out of the top 10 -- from "Good Vibrations" in 1966 to "Rock and Roll Music" in 1976.

"Brighton Hill" by Jackie DeShannon. (93, 82, 4) Jackie's two top 10 hits were love songs: "What the World Needs Now is Love" in 1965 and "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" in 1969.

"Don't Worry Baby" by the Tokens. (95, 95, 2) The one-hit wonder ("The Lion Sleeps Tonight" reached #1 in early 1962) makes their final appearance on the Hot 100.

"Mighty Joe" by the Shocking Blue. (96, 43, 7) "Venus", the group's only hit, falls out of the top ten this week, after having spent 1 week at #1 in early February.

"Mississippi Mama" by Owen B. (99, 97, 2). Who the hell is Owen B. Apparently, not even Joel Whitburn knows. It's Owen's only appearance on the Hot 100.

"Run Sally Run" by the Cuff Links. (100, 76, 6) The one-hit wonders -- the execrable "Tracy" -- make a final appearance on the Hot 100.

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