The 100 Greatest Songs Of 1978 #1. Werewolves of London (1 Viewer)

[northern exposure]

I do like Too Much Time on My Hands...video is amazing and the Fallon remake is even more amazing.

It's just one of those bands that nobody would request at a party...Blondie?  of course.  Van Halen?  you betcha.  Styx?  Not so much.

A party hasn't started until Mr. Roboto has been heard!

 

[northern exposure]

Fun fact: Journey had previously toiled for 4 years as a prog rock band, with Gregg Rolie as their primary singer. In 1977, after 3 unsuccessful albums, their record label was fed up with the lack of sales, and basically told them: "Hire a real frontman and start recording pop songs, or else we're dropping you."

So they went out and hired.........Robert Fleischman.

Fleischman was with Journey for about 3 months in 1977, but due to various clashes (personality/management/musical direction) he was replaced by Steve Perry.

Anyway, while Fleischman was in the band, they wrote and recorded an album's worth of songs......including an early version of "Wheel In The Sky":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI4ko8CezGs

Another significant addition to the band occured when Jonathan Cain left The Babys to join Journey. He replaced Gregg Rolie on keyboards.He was one of the writers on "Don't Stop Believin" and wrote "Faithfully" too.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

69. Kenny Rogers “The Gambler” (from The Gambler) 

reaction.

 

[northern exposure]

69. Kenny Rogers “The Gambler” (from The Gambler) 

https://youtu.be/7hx4gdlfamo

This list has lost too much of its cheese factor; time to bring it back! 
Actually this is one of the all time great country songs, and there’s no way I could leave it off the list. As iconic as the Grease tunes or YMCA. I never have followed his advice about counting money. I always seem to count my chips. 

Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away
And knowin' what to keep.

This song should have been thrown away.

 

[rockaction]

69. Kenny Rogers “The Gambler” (from The Gambler) 

https://youtu.be/7hx4gdlfamo

This list has lost too much of its cheese factor; time to bring it back! 
Actually this is one of the all time great country songs, and there’s no way I could leave it off the list. As iconic as the Grease tunes or YMCA. I never have followed his advice about counting money. I always seem to count my chips. 

You gotta know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run

You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done

Masterpiece. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

BTW, for any Styx fans, their last two albums are both fantastic, 2017's The Mission and then Crash of the Crown that was released this past summer.  DDY isn't in the band anymore, but the current band, led by Tommy Shaw, hit it out of the park with both of those records. 

 

[timschochet]

68. Atlanta Rhythm Section “Imaginary Lover” (from Champagne Jam)

https://youtu.be/nVQFHy6mM5A

This band was actually pretty big for a while there in the late 70s. This was probably their best remembered song. It’s pretty decent soft rock. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

68. Atlanta Rhythm Section “Imaginary Lover” (from Champagne Jam)

https://youtu.be/nVQFHy6mM5A

This band was actually pretty big for a while there in the late 70s. This was probably their best remembered song. It’s pretty decent soft rock. 

Moreso than the title track of the album it came from? Or So Into You? 

 

[timschochet]

Moreso than the title track of the album it came from? Or So Into You? 

Yeah I would say so. “So Into You” was actually a bigger hit at the time but I think “Imaginary Lover” is remembered better. 

 

[Doug B]

“So Into You” was actually a bigger hit at the time but I think “Imaginary Lover” is remembered better. 

Both songs peaked at #7 on the Hot 100. Both seem to get about equal airplay on the appropriate formats these days. "So Into You" was a somewhat bigger hit on '70s adult contemporary radio (#11 vs #20 on the AC chart).

 

[wikkidpissah]

Yeah I would say so. “So Into You” was actually a bigger hit at the time but I think “Imaginary Lover” is remembered better. 

Both songs peaked at #7 on the Hot 100. Both seem to get about equal airplay on the appropriate formats these days. "So Into You" was a somewhat bigger hit on '70s adult contemporary radio (#11 vs #20 on the AC chart).

ARS combined the two sentiments for their followup single, but "Popped my Sex Doll" was nowhere near as successful

 

[TripItUp]

68. Atlanta Rhythm Section “Imaginary Lover” (from Champagne Jam)

https://youtu.be/nVQFHy6mM5A

This band was actually pretty big for a while there in the late 70s. This was probably their best remembered song. It’s pretty decent soft rock. 

never heard of them, really like this one.

 

[TripItUp]

When Journey was inducted into the Rock and Roll HOF, Steve Perry was there. But, he didn't perform with the band. 

Yeah, I watch all of the R&R HOF shows.  Was really happy that Perry was included.   There is no Journey without Perry.

 

[TripItUp]

69. Kenny Rogers “The Gambler” (from The Gambler) 

https://youtu.be/7hx4gdlfamo

This list has lost too much of its cheese factor; time to bring it back! 
Actually this is one of the all time great country songs, and there’s no way I could leave it off the list. As iconic as the Grease tunes or YMCA. I never have followed his advice about counting money. I always seem to count my chips. 

This was getting heavy radio play in the 80s, must have been non-stop in the late 70s.

 

[Doug B]

This was getting heavy radio play in the 80s, must have been non-stop in the late 70s.

Plus a popular series of TV movies kept if going for a while. The 1980 film I remember being event television for a lot of families.

 

[zamboni]

Fun fact: Journey had previously toiled for 4 years as a prog rock band, with Gregg Rolie as their primary singer. In 1977, after 3 unsuccessful albums, their record label was fed up with the lack of sales, and basically told them: "Hire a real frontman and start recording pop songs, or else we're dropping you."

So they went out and hired.........Robert Fleischman.

Fleischman was with Journey for about 3 months in 1977, but due to various clashes (personality/management/musical direction) he was replaced by Steve Perry.

Anyway, while Fleischman was in the band, they wrote and recorded an album's worth of songs......including an early version of "Wheel In The Sky":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI4ko8CezGs

Good call. Fleischman had great range, but one can see that his more bombastic singing style couldn't have worked well with Neal Schon, who wouldn't have wanted to be upstaged that much. Of course, Perry's legendary vocals did wind up upstaging Schon a bit anyway, much to Neal's chagrin.

 

[zamboni]

68. Atlanta Rhythm Section “Imaginary Lover” (from Champagne Jam)

https://youtu.be/nVQFHy6mM5A

This band was actually pretty big for a while there in the late 70s. This was probably their best remembered song. It’s pretty decent soft rock. 

Moreso than the title track of the album it came from? Or So Into You? 

"So Into You" is so smooth.

 

[northern exposure]

Did tim wander into the Political Forum and get banned? 

 

[wikkidpissah]

Did tim wander into the Political Forum and get banned? 

he's older now - considering Imaginary Lovers takes longer than it used to...

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Did tim wander into the Political Forum and get banned? 

His last post here was on Sunday morning. His last post anywhere on the board was a few hours later in the PSF. 

 

[ProstheticRGK]

Did tim wander into the Political Forum and get banned? 

I'll take over. Based on what we have so far, just go ahead and listen to the rest of the Grease soundtrack, some more Manilow, a lot of Andy Gibb, disco hits and I Just Want to Stop by Gino Vanelli. then throw in a couple Stones songs, 2 more Van Halen songs, Village People and a Roberta Flack.

 

[Dennis Castro]

Did Wham! put out a Christmas record in 1978?

 

[northern exposure]

I'll take over. Based on what we have so far, just go ahead and listen to the rest of the Grease soundtrack, some more Manilow, a lot of Andy Gibb, disco hits and I Just Want to Stop by Gino Vanelli. then throw in a couple Stones songs, 2 more Van Halen songs, Village People and a Roberta Flack.

rockaction's 5 year old self needs to speak to you about the lack of "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack mentions in your post.

 

[ProstheticRGK]

rockaction's 5 year old self needs to speak to you about the lack of "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack mentions in your post.

Salient point. Moved, seconded and approved. Consider that the top 10. I actually didn't even look too deep at what was out there, just to avoid futurecasting. Well, aside from Gino Vanelli. And everybody loves Gino.

 

[Gr00vus]

I  Gino.

 

[wikkidpissah]

i just wanna stop

 

[northern exposure]

His last post here was on Sunday morning. His last post anywhere on the board was a few hours later in the PSF. 

I read a rumor that "So Into You" is Joe's jam and he wouldn't stand for tim's assertion that "Imaginary Lover" is better remembered.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I  Gino.

I wish I could remember the article where they asked various artists who their favorite current (for then) singer was. The one answer I still remember was David Bowie saying his was Gino Vanelli.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Did Wham! put out a Christmas record in 1978?

maybe?

 

[squistion]

I wish I could remember the article where they asked various artists who their favorite current (for then) singer was. The one answer I still remember was David Bowie saying his was Gino Vanelli.

Gino had a really good voice (maybe still does). I heard another song by him outside of his one hit that I really liked, but I can't recall the title or what year it was done. 

 

[Gr00vus]

Gino had a really good voice (maybe still does). I heard another song by him outside of his one hit that I really liked, but I can't recall the title or what year it was done. 

My favorite of his is Black Cars - it's a veerrrry mid 80's tune, it doesn't really utilize his full vocal range, but I think it's good. Still in my regular rotation.

 

[northern exposure]

My favorite of his is Black Cars - it's a veerrrry mid 80's tune, it doesn't really utilize his full vocal range, but I think it's good. Still in my regular rotation.

As Gino taught all of us, black cars look better in the shade.

 

[rockaction]

Ah, tim. The man got you, huh? 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Ah, tim. The man got you, huh? 

His homepage shows a last visit of just 10 hours ago.

 

[squistion]

His homepage shows a last visit of just 10 hours ago.

That doesn't mean he hasn't been given a time out. I have seen people I know to who have been suspended that continue to log in regularly during the suspension (how they do that. I have no idea, as every suspension I have been given I am completely blocked from entering the site at all).

 

[Leroy Hoard]

That doesn't mean he hasn't been given a time out. I have seen people I know to who have been suspended that continue to log in regularly during the suspension (how they do that. I have no idea, as every suspension I have been given I am completely blocked from entering the site at all).

Same here on the last part. Someone who is signed out somewhere can view but won't show up as viewing.

 

[Mookie Gizzy]

i just wanna stop

I just wanna stop this list

 

[squistion]

I just wanna stop this list

I don't, as it this has a watching a train wreck quality to it. 

I keep telling myself the list can't get any worse, but Tim probably has a few surprises left up his sleeve (won't mention them, as I don't want to put any ideas in his head he doesn't already have). 

 

[Mr. Mojo]

I think 1978 is just a tough year to do a list for. 

Disco was in full swing and rock music was at a real low point. 

There were some good songs as every year has them, but there were much less than the early and even the mid 70s.

Fortunately things picked up in the early 80s.

 

[squistion]

I think 1978 is just a tough year to do a list for. 

Disco was in full swing and rock music was at a real low point. 

There were some good songs as every year has them, but there were much less than the early and even the mid 70s.

Fortunately things picked up in the early 80s.

Any year is problematic

With the different genres of music, I would not be so presumptuous to even attempt such a list. 

Seriously who is to say that a song by Journey, Van Halen, or Styx is better than one by Kenny Rodgers, Billy Joel, Foreigner or Toto?

I can see a listing by certain categories like Best Pop Song, Best Soul/RnB, Best New Wave, Best Dance Music, Best Alternative, etc., but to try to determine which song is better among such a disparate group is a rather daunting task. 

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Disco was in full swing and rock music was at a real low point. 

This wasn't a bad thing.

 

[HellToupee]

I keep telling myself the list can't get any worse

same here

 

[squistion]

I can definitely say I am not a fan of his voice.

Yes, I can agree that Nick Gilder's vocals are not everyone's cup of tea.

Forgot to add that Pat Benetar did a cover of one of his songs Rated X, that didn't chart here but was a minor hit in France. Below link is Benetar's cover - on Gilder's original, he sings it higher that she does. 

Pat Benatar - "Rated X"

https://youtu.be/EYsfLdot90w

 

[Pip's Invitation]

So we've been talking about Atlanta Rhythm Section and Nick Gilder for a week because Tim is MIA. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

So we've been talking about Atlanta Rhythm Section and Nick Gilder for a week because Tim is MIA. 

I like Atlantic Rhythm Section and smile nostalgically when I hear  Hot Child In The City

 

[squistion]

So we've been talking about Atlanta Rhythm Section and Nick Gilder for a week because Tim is MIA. 

I think we should be grateful that Tim is MIA now instead of when the draft first started as we might be have been talking about Andrew Gold, Barry Manilow and Barbara Streisand until he returned. 

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Did tim wander into the Political Forum and get banned? 

We wont be seeing much of Timmy no more? 

It’s pretty clear there is a sub section of posters whose only aim is to get Tim and his ilk banned forever so they have a far right utopia sub forum. They hammer the report button when Tim and others fall into the trap. It used to be an anti president forum,Has been since GWB. Honest discussion is hard to come by there these days, but at least Tim was trying. Tough when those who oppose his viewpoints choose to bait him into posting something stupid, which he is very capable of, instead of discussing issues. 

 

[Pip's Invitation]

We wont be seeing much of Timmy no more? 

We don't know how long his ban was for. And he's always come back after his previous ones. 

 

[Tin Cup]

We don't know how long his ban was for. And he's always come back after his previous ones. 

The Rasputin of the FBG forums…which reminds me of Tim’s unfinished Russian History thread which might have also been interrupted by one or more time outs

 

[squistion]

We wont be seeing much of Timmy no more? 

It’s pretty clear there is a sub section of posters whose only aim is to get Tim and his ilk banned forever so they have a far right utopia sub forum. They hammer the report button when Tim and others fall into the trap. It used to be an anti president forum,Has been since GWB. Honest discussion is hard to come by there these days, but at least Tim was trying. Tough when those who oppose his viewpoints choose to bait him into posting something stupid, which he is very capable of, instead of discussing issues. 

Like Tim, I am a part of that "ilk" (should I put that on my resume?) and seems like I got a target on my back with that crowd.

I am trying figure what happened with Tim as his last posts gave no indication that he posted anything untoward (although those may have been deleted by the mods).

I do recall he was getting into it with jon_mx who (and this is just my perception) likes to push the buttons of people here on the left. Now coincidentally (or not) jon also seems to be MIA and has been conspicuously absent from the Kyle Rittenhouse Thread since the trial started. Perhaps they had a back and forth that got out of hand and both were put in the forums' jailhouse.