This was Iron Butterfly’s very last singled in 1971 titled “Silly Sally”, right after the departure of Doug Ingle. Mike Pinera and M. Jones wrote “Silly Sally” in an attempt to keep Iron Butterfly together. The single didn’t make the charts, and Iron Butterfly soon after disbanded. This is an interesting song where Iron Butterfly made use of a horns section.

Can you believe this? Dixie Chicken was never a top 100 Billboard single. The song was of course the title track off of Little Feat’s third album. “Dixie Chicken” is considered their landmark album with the title track as the bands signature song that helped further define the Little Feat sound. This was augmented by two additional members, guitarist Paul Barrere and percussionist Sam Clayton were added to make the more complete familiar line-up that continued until their 1979 break-up. Bassist Kenny Gradney was brought in to replace original bassist Roy Estrada. This new line-up radically altered the band’s sound, leaning toward New Orleans R&B/Funk.

This week we’re going to talk about one of the best bands out of Ireland, hin lizzy!@ in 1979 Thin Lizzy released Black Rose: A Rock Legend. It debuted at its #2 peak in the UK album charts and it is the bands most successful studio album. The single reached #14 in the British Charts and remained in the charts for nine weeks. it reached #25 in Ireland, charting for two weeks. Despite past US chart success, this song NEVER made the US charts!

Check out the music video!

Here’s an artist who had tremndous success, but never had a Billboard Top Ten Hit song or album in his lifetime! Ironically, this Seattle born guitar legend had plenty of top ten hits in Europe – Jimi Hendrix! In 1967, the Jimi Hendrix Experience released their debut album “Are You Experienced”. They first released Hey Joe as a single which completely missed the US charts, then Purple Haze, hitting #65 with the Wind Cries Mary as it’s B-Side… The UK release did not include the Wind Cries Mary, and it did not appear on a 12″ LP until it’s American release. The Wind Cries Mary is said to have been inspired when Hendrix and his then girlfriend Kathy Etchingham had an argument over her cooking; after she stormed out of their apartment, Hendrix wrote “The Wind Cries Mary”, as Mary was Etchingham’s middle name… The song was picked as the 3rd US single, but never even hit the Top 100! Hendrix had outstanding success with this album in the UK, Hey Joe hit #6, Purple Haze #3, and The Wind Cries Mary hit #6 as well…

Shoulda been a SINGLE is more like it… Joan Baez’s cover of this song became a top 5 US hit! Why did they not pick this? It became one of their best known songs.. It would have been an easy chart topper for The Band!

This track comes off of Moxy’s second album, titled “Moxy II” – Moxy was a Canadian rock band that one critic called the “Canadian Led Zeppelin” for a lack of better terms… The song and a few others from the album hit the Canadian charts just below the top ten, which led them to do heavy touring in Canada and the US!
In the spring of 1974, Buzz Shearman joined up with Earl Johnson , Bill Wade, and bassist Kim Fraser. Still calling themselves Leigh-Ashford, they made their first appearance on the music scene in October 1974 at Scarborough’s notorious rock club “The Knob Hill Hotel”. Shortly thereafter, Fraser was replaced by Terry Juric on the recommendaion of Earl Johnson and the group changed its name to Moxy. Their first single release was a trial run of “Can’t You See I’m A Star”, which was distributed by Yorkville Records. The promising sound of the single received heavy radio support from CHUM (AM) in Toronto and led to the band’s signing of a contract with Polydor Records of Canada in December 1974. The Polydor Records contract was mainly due to the popularity and success of the former band, Leigh Ashford, and to Buzz Shearmans reputation. Buddy Caine was added to the group in 1975 after Tommy Bolin help record the bands first album.

Moxy then toured the United States on the strength of their radio airplay. Markets in which the band was very popular included Ontario, Canada, Chicago, Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan and San Antonio, Texas . Joe Anthony, the Godfather of Rock in San Antonio on KISS-FM was largely responsible for the popularity of the band in south Texas and helped bring about their first headline appearance in the U.S in 1977, appearing with AC/DC.

The Flock were a Chicago based jazz-rock band featuring violinist Jerry Goodman who went on to play with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. This is a 1968 single that got a ton of play in Chicago, but never made the charts!

Off of Smokin’ from 1972. First album without Peter Frampton, which opened up for more writing opportunity to guitarist Steve Marriot who wrote this track. It was released as Humble Pie’s 7th single, but never touched the charts… WHY!? Here’s a live version for you!

This week I picked Walk Away by the James Gang. It comes off of their third album appropriately titled “Thirds” from 1971. The album reached #27 on the Billboard Top charts, but Walk Away only reached #51 on the Hot 100!

Let’s take a look at other songs on the Hot 100 after April (The release of the album) in 1971…
April 3-10 “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” The Temptations
April 17-May 22 “Joy to the World” Three Dog Night
May 29-June 5 “Brown Sugar” The Rolling Stones
June 12 “Want Ads” The Honey Cone
June 19-July 17 “It’s Too Late” / “I Feel the Earth Move” Carole King
July 24 “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)” The Raiders
July 31 “You’ve Got a Friend” James Taylor
August 7-28 “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” Bee Gees
September 4 “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney
September 11-25“Go Away Little Girl” Donny Osmond
October 2-30 “Maggie May” / “Reason to Believe” Rod Stewart
November 6-13 “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” Cher
November 20-27 “Theme from Shaft” Isaac Hayes
December 4-18 “Family Affair” Sly and the Family Stone
December 25 “Brand New Key” Melanie

This week I featured a track from one of my favorite Doors albums, Morrison Hotel!

Peace Frog/Blue Sunday! Morrison Hotel peaked at #4 on the US charts, despite having NO major hits on the charts… The chosen single for the album was “You Make Me Real” which peaked at #50! I’m surprised Roadhouse Blues wasn’t picked as a single? Robbie Krieger showcases his guitar skills with a funky, percussive wah pedal lick intro.. The song seamlessly continues into “Blue Sunday”, so we played that track as well.. I’m sure you all know the track by now, but here’s a live version I’ve never heard before!

If “Peace Frog/Blue Sunday” were selected as the single(s) for the album, here’s what it would have had to compete with in 1970 for the #1 spot:

January 3-January 24 “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” B.J. Thomas
January 31 “I Want You Back” The Jackson 5
February 7 “Venus” Shocking Blue
February 14-21 “Thank You / “Everybody Is a Star” Sly & the Family Stone
February 28-April 4 “Bridge over Troubled Water” Simon & Garfunkel
April 11-18 “Let It Be” The Beatles
April 25-May 2 “ABC” The Jackson 5
May 9-23 “American Woman” / “No Sugar Tonight” The Guess Who
May 30-June 6 “Everything Is Beautiful” Ray Stevens
June 13-20 “The Long and Winding Road” / “For You Blue” The Beatles
June 27-July 4 “The Love You Save” The Jackson 5
July 11-18 “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” Three Dog Night
July 25-Aug 15 “(They Long to Be) Close to You” Carpenters
August 22 “Make It with You” Bread
August 29-Sept 12 “War” Edwin Starr
September 19-Oct 3 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” Diana Ross
October 10 “Cracklin’ Rosie” Neil Diamond
October 17-Nov 14 “I’ll Be There” The Jackson 5
November 21-Dec 5 “I Think I Love You” The Partridge Family
December 12-19 “The Tears of a Clown” Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
December 26 “My Sweet Lord” / “Isn’t It a Pity” George Harrison