Posted on 06/19/2022 6:21:00 PM PDT by SamAdams76
Fifty years ago this week, the week of June 17, 1972, Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan debuted on the Billboard HOT 100 at number #88 with the song "Alone Again (Naturally)".
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)
Also debuting that same week at #68 was "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)".
Looking Glass - Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)
Both these subtitled songs would compete each other later that summer for the number one spot and become two of the biggest pop hits of that year.
"Alone Again" topped the charts for a total of six weeks with an initial run of four weeks before allowing 'Brandy" to claim the number one spot. Then "Alone Again" went back on top for two more weeks.
Gilbert O'Sullivan would spin off a few more Top 40 hits such as "Get Down", "Clair" and "Out Of The Question" during the early 1970s. Gilbert is still alive and kicking today at the age of 75 and no doubt still collecting some nice royalty checks.
As for Looking Glass, "Brandy" was their one big hit but they were saved from one hit wonder status with the 1973 Top 40 hit "Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne", which peaked at #33. Elliot Lurie, who wrote and sang both the Looking Glass hits is still alive at the age of 73.
Arcane trivia, Barry Manilow's first big hit "Mandy", was originally titled "Brandy" but the title was changed to avoid confusion with the Looking Glass song.
You can hear the original "Brandy" song here (as performed by Scott English who co-wrote the song with Richard Kerr):
Three great songs here from half a century ago.
We’ll now, if you really wanna talk depressing, talk about a song that would make you want to hang yourself, and shoot yourself and throw yourself off a bridge, you can’t do any better than Imagine by John Lennon. 1971.
Barry was a fan of beagles.
Mrs. Partridge was a widow. Do you mean Reuben (I think that was his name), their manager?
That happened because of the advent of MTV in 1981 which put image ahead of music in importance and it’s really never changed since. In the past music sold primarily if it was good. It was played on the radio or in concert and if people liked it, they bought it. That all changed with MTV. The industry realized they could sell using just a video which is pretty much an infomercial for music and it still goes on today. All they do today is put out some nonsensical gibberish and a cool video on Youtube and the kids eat it up. What’s ironic is the very first video MTV ever played was “Video killed the radio star”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs
“Brandy” was always one of my favorites - brings back teenage memories. I bought the album because of it, but there was nothing much else good on it. Probably still have it in a box in the garage.
I never thought about that, but it makes perfect sense. The music didn’t have to stand on its own any more. It became all about the visual glitz.
(I did like Michael Jackson, and I think he was the ‘80s.)
You want “Depression as Performance Theater”? Try this rather unknown song from Lou Reed of 1973:
“They’re Taking Her Children Away” aka The Kids.
It’s about a doped up mother losing custody of her children.
How sad is it?
It even has the sounds of her babies crying in the courtroom!
This was on one of Lou’s best album collections. The albums name is Berlin.
Ah, the Cowsills. Grew up hete in my neck of the woods. Newport nevy brats. Great music, tragic family stories.
Grew up here , and Newport navy brats
“if I’m remembering my Tiger Beat magazines correctly.”
Whoah!
Did you buy your bubblegum by the box?
The case?
Yeah, Brandy remains one of the finest pop songs ever recorded. Lots of memories from that one.
I remember staying up all night, listening to the radio while waiting to help a friend with his early morning paper route, and this being played several times.
As a youth I deeply despised that song. As an elder I greatly enjoy it.
“After the ‘70s there was no really good music.”
Agree. I think you get imprinted with the music you grow up with. After a certain age, you never enjoy the music of later eras as much. At least, that’s the case with me.
I was newly stationed at Vandenberg AFB, CA. when it came out.
Right and lets not forget ‘Seasons in the Sun’ by Terry Jackson. Plenty of songs back in the 70s that could trigger someone to run screaming off of a bridge
Terry Jacks was said to be a wife beater. Susan Jacks divorced him in 1973. She died last April. Was best known for the song “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” under the name The Poppy Family. Terry Jacks was lead guitar. I like this one better;
T
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dZKVy7Gqfc
Just realized I got his name wrong. Sounds like he was a real dog
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