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Playing the Hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s

11/14/2025

WDGY’s Doctor Don presents the Top 5 songs this week in 1980

1 LADY –•– Kenny Rogers
2 WOMAN IN LOVE –•– Barbra Streisand
3 THE WANDERER –•– Donna Summer
4 ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST –•– Queen
5 I’M COMING OUT –•– Diana Ross

HIGH DEBUT OF THE WEEK: AT #79 — TURN AND WALK AWAY –•– The Babys

IT WOULD ONLY GET TO #42.

11/14/2025

Music notes for Nov. 14:

Happy birthday Stephen Bishop. His two big hits were “On and On” in 1977 and “It Might Be You” from the the 1982 film “Tootise” which starred Dustin Hoffman. The song was nominated for an Oscar, but the winner that year was “Up Where We Belong” from the don”An Officer and a Gentleman”

The late Freddie Garrity born this date. He was the leader of the British Invasion group Freddie and the Dreams who hit #1 in 1965 with “I’m Telling You Now”.

1987 - George Michael went to No.1 on the album chart with his debut solo album 'Faith'. The album won several awards including the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1989. To date, the album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide. Between 1987 and 1988, Faith produced six Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hits, four of which ('Faith', 'Father Figure', 'One More Try', and 'Monkey') reached No.1, making him the only British male singer to have four No.1 singles from one LP on the Billboard Hot 100.

1987 - The Dirty Dancing soundtrack hits #1. Even though it was set in 1963, the movie featured modern, original songs "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life", "Hungry Eyes” and “She’s Like the Wind”.

1962 - The Beatles played the final show of a 14 night run at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany. Their time there proved to be a great training ground for the band.

11/13/2025

Music notes for Nov. 13:

2019 - Rod Stewart was featured on the cover of Britain’s Railway Modeller magazine. The singer had put the finishing touches to a 25-year project building a railway city, which was modelled on both New York and Chicago around 1945. The model railway which spans 1,500 square feet was housed in the attic of his Los Angeles home.

2016 - Leon Russell died in Nashville, he was 74. He led Joe Cocker’s band Mad Dogs & Englishmen and appeared at George Harrison’s 1971 Concert for Bangladesh. Many of his songs became hits for others, among them 'Superstar' (written with Bonnie Bramlett) for the Carpenters, 'Delta Lady' for Joe Cocker and 'This Masquerade' for George Benson. More than 100 acts have recorded 'A Song for You,' which Russell said he wrote in 10 minutes.

2000 - The Beatles launched their first official website www.thebeatles.com. The site went live on the same day as the release of their retrospective 'Compilation 1' album.

1982 - Men At Work started a 15-week run at No.1 on the album chart with their debut album 'Business As Usual', which went on to sell over five million copies. It was dethroned by Michark Jackson’s “Thriller”.

1976 - Rod Stewart started an 8 week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Tonight's The Night'. It was Rod's second No.1 after “Maggie Mae”. The song features whispers from actress Britt Ekland who was Stewart's girlfriend at the time.

1975 - Morris Albert's tearjerker "Feelings" is certified Gold. The song never rises higher than #6 on the Hot 100, but stays on the chart for an amazing eight months, driving some to madness with repeated listens.

11/12/2025

Music notes for Nov. 12:

Happy birthday Neil Young. His amazing career includes being a member of The Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and a very successful duo career. His biggest solo hit was “Heart of Gold” which hit #1 in 1972. He is a two time inductee into the Rock Hall of Fame going in as a solo act in 1995 and as a member of Buffalo Springfield in 1997.

Happy birthday Booker T. Jones who with has band The MG’s produced the instrumental hits “Green Onions”, “Time is Tight” and “Hang ‘Em High”.

2001 - The three living former Beatles met for the last time at George Harrison's hotel in New York City for lunch. Harrison died two weeks later at a friend's home in Los Angeles on 29 November 2001, aged 58.

1976 - All This And World War II opens in theaters. The film is a disjointed collection of WWII newsreel footage and clips from other movies soundtracked to covers of Beatles songs, the most successful of which is Ambrosia's version of "Magical Mystery Tour."

1973 - In Leeds, England, Queen begin their first tour. They're the opening act for Mott the Hoople.

1969 - The Supremes and The Temptations' second joint TV special, G.I.T. On Broadway, airs on NBC. (The title stands for "Gettin' It Together"; the show consists of both groups performing show tunes.).

1966 - The Monkees debut album started a 13-week run at No.1 on the album chart, selling over 3 million copies in three months.

11/11/2025

WDGY’s Doctor Don presents the Top 5 songs this week in 1972:

1 I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW –•– Johnny Nash
2 NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN –•– The Moody Blues
3 I’D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME –•– Lobo
4 FREDDIE’S DEAD (Theme From “Superfly”) –•– Curtis Mayfield
5 I’LL BE AROUND –•– The Spinners

HIGH DEBUT OF THE WEEK: AT #55 — SWEET SURRENDER –•– Bread

IT WOULD PEAK AT #15

11/11/2025

Music notes for Nov. 11:

2005 - Billy Joel begins touring again, launching his first solo tour in eight years.

1991 - Per Michael Jackson's wishes, one week before his controversial "Black Or White" music video airs, a memo circulates at MTV instructing the network's on-air personnel to refer to Jackson as the King of Pop at least twice a week during the next two weeks.

1982 - Prince kicked off his 87-date '1999' North American tour at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The opening acts are two groups he put together: The Time and Vanity 6.

1978 - Donna Summer started a three week run at No.1 on the singles chart with her version of Jimmy Webb's 'MacArther Park', also a hit for actor Richard Harris in 1968. Also on this day Summer went to No.1 on the album chart with 'Live And More'.

1978 - The Cars released 'My Best Friend's Girl', the first picture-disc single commercially available, which went on to be a No.35.

1971 - Alice Cooper releases "I'm Eighteen," the shock rocker's first hit. The song connects with young people in America who could be drafted to fight in Vietnam but are too young to drink or vote.

1965 - The final recording session for The Beatles Rubber Soul album took place, at Abbey Road, London. They needed three new songs to finish the album so an old song ‘Wait’ was pulled off the shelf and the group recorded two new songs from start to finish. Paul's ‘You Won't See Me’ and John's ‘Girl’, the basic tracks for both songs being completed in two takes

11/10/2025

Music notes for Nov. 10:

The late Dave Loggins born this date. In 1974 his song “Please Come to Boston” went to #4 on the Billboard chart. His second cousin is singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins.

1986 - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band releases Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live: 1975-85; it sells one-million copies in one day.

1984 - Former Rufus singer Chaka Khan was at No.1 on the singles chart with 'I Feel For You.' Written by Prince, the song featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica. The repetition of Khan's name by rapper Melle Mel at the beginning of the song was originally a mistake made by producer Arif Mardin, who then decided to keep it.

1979 - The Eagles went to No.1 on the singles chart with 'Heartache Tonight', the group's 5th and final No. 1.

1973 - Elton John started a eight week run at No.1 on the album chart with 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road', the singers third No.1. It is his best selling studio album with worldwide sales of over 15 million copies. Many great songs including the title track, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”, and “Bennie & The Jets”.

1967 - The Beatles filmed three promotional films for their new single ‘Hello Goodbye’ at the Saville Theatre in London. Each of the three film clips featured different costumes and Beatle antics. In the first film they wear their Sgt. Pepper uniforms, for the second The Beatles are wearing everyday clothes, the third film clip features shots from the first two films, plus additional shots of (especially John) doing the twist. A Musician's Union ban on lip-sync broadcasts prevented the films being used on British television.

11/09/2025

Music notes for Nov. 9:

The late Mary Travers of Peter, Paul & Mary born this date. She sang lead on their #1 hit “Leaving on a Jet Plane”.

2023 - Tracy Chapman's 35-year-old song 'Fast Car' was named both song and single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville. Chapman became the first black songwriter to win Song of the Year in the ceremony's 57-year history.

1985 - Jan Hammer went to No.1 on the singles chart with the 'Miami Vice Theme’, the last instrumental song to hit #1.

1976 - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released their debut album on Shelter Records. The album received little attention. After nearly a year and many positive reviews, the album reached the album chart where it peaked at No. 55 in 1978 and eventually went Gold.

1974 - Bachman Turner Overdrive went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet'. Randy Bachman stuttered through the lyrics of the demo recording as a private joke about his brother Gary, who had a speech impediment. The record company liked that take better than the non-stammering version and released it.

1973 - Billy Joel releases his second album, Piano Man. The title track, based on his nights performing at a piano bar in Los Angeles called The Executive Room, becomes his first hit when it peaks at #25.

1971 - Carly Simon attends James Taylor's concert at Carnegie Hall and meets him backstage. They get together that night, become inseparable, and marry a year later.

1969 - Simon and Garfunkel record what would become their signature tune, 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. Art wanted Paul to sing the song, but Paul insisted that Art's voice was better suited for it. It was a decision that Paul would later say he regretted.

1967 - The first issue of Rolling Stone Magazine was published in San Francisco. It featured a photo of John Lennon on the cover, dressed in army fatigues while acting in his recent film, How I Won the War. The name of the magazine was compiled from three significant sources: the Muddy Waters song, the first rock ‘n’ roll record by Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones
1961 - Brian Epstein saw The Beatles playing live for the first time during a lunchtime session at The Cavern Liverpool. Epstein went on to be the group's manager.

11/08/2025

Music notes for Nov. 8:

Happy birthday musician, songwriter, Rickie Lee Jones, who is a two-time Grammy Award winner. Her 1979 single 'Chuck E.'s In Love' was a No.4 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Jones has since released 15 studio albums and two live albums.

Happy birthday singer, guitarist, and songwriter Bonnie Raitt. She was also a frequent session player and collaborator with other artists, including Warren Zevon, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, the Pointer Sisters, John Prine, and Leon Russell. She had a major hit with her tenth studio album, Nick of Time, which included the song 'Nick of Time'. The album reached No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

The late Minnie Riperton born this date. She hit number one in 1975 with the Stevie Wonder produced single 'Loving You'.
She is the mother of comedian/actress Maya Rudolph.

1977 - Suzie Quatro makes her first of seven appearances on the TV series Happy Days, playing tough-yet-adorable Leather Tuscadero, the little sister of Fonzie's ex-girlfriend Pinky

1975 - David Bowie made his US TV debut performing 'Fame', on the Cher CBS-TV show. Bowie who was living in New York at the time had written the song with John Lennon during a jamming session.

1971 - Led Zeppelin IV - the one with "Stairway To Heaven" - is released. It would rise to #2 on the Billboard albums chart.

1961 - The Beach Boys release their first single, "Surfin'."

11/07/2025

WDGY’s Doctor Don presents the Top 5 songs this week in 1964:

1 BABY LOVE –•– The Supremes
2 LAST KISS –•– J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
3 DO WAH DIDDY DIDDY –•– Manfred Mann
4 LEADER OF THE PACK –•– The Shangri-Las
5 LET IT BE ME –•– Betty Everett and Jerry Butler

HIGH DEBUT OF THE WEEK: AT #75 — GOIN’ OUT OF MY HEAD –•– Little Anthony and the Imperials

IT WOULD PEAK AT #6

11/07/2025

Music notes for Nov. 7:

Happy birthday Joni Mitchell. Born Roberta Anderson she is one of the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s, Mitchell became known for her lyrics and unconventional compositions, which grew to incorporate elements of pop, jazz, rock. Her 1971 album Blue is often cited as one of the greatest albums of all time. Mitchell produced or co-produced most of her albums and designed most of her own album covers, describing herself as a "painter derailed by circumstance".
\
Happy birthday Johnny Rivers. Born John Ramistella in New York City. His family moved to Baton Rouge. DJ Alan Freed suggested he call himself Johnny Rivers since the Mississippi flows through that city. Rivers had a total of nine top-10 hits and 17 top-forty hits between 1966 and 1977. “Poor Side of Town” went to #1.

1987 - Tiffany became the youngest singer to score a No.1 since Michael Jackson ('Ben', in 1972) with 'I Think we're Alone Now'. The song was initially a 1967 hit for Tommy James & the Shondells.

1987 - Bruce Springsteen went to No.1 on the album chart with 'Tunnel Of Love.' His eighth studio album went triple platinum and featured the song ”One Step Up”.

1981 - Hall and Oates started a two week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Private Eyes', the duo's third No.1. A detective-themed video that got lots of airplay on MTV, which debuted three months earlier was a big help.

1979 - The Rose, starring Bette Midler as a rock singer who hits the big time, opens in theaters. The film is based on the life of Janis Joplin, but filmmakers can't secure the rights to use her image or story. Midler gets an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. She lost out to Sally Field.

1967 - Reg Dwight (Elton John) and his song writing partner Bernie Taupin signed to DJM publishing, their signatures had to be witnessed by their parents because they were both under 21 years of age. Taupin answered an advertisement for a lyric writer placed in the New Musical Express, the pair have since collaborated on over 30 albums.

11/06/2025

Music notes for Nov. 6:

The late Glenn Frey born this date. He was a founding member of the Eagles. He was the co-lead singer and frontman, roles he came to share with fellow member Don Henley, with whom he wrote most of Eagles' material. Frey played guitar and keyboards as well as singing lead vocals on songs such as 'Take It Easy', 'Peaceful Easy Feeling', 'Tequila Sunrise', 'Already Gone', 'James Dean', 'Lyin' Eyes', 'New Kid in Town', and 'Heartache Tonight'. He scored the solo hit in 1985 with 'The Heat Is On'. Frey died on 18 Jan 2016 at the age of 67.

2005 - The Four Seasons musical Jersey Boys open on Broadway to rave reviews.

1976 - The Steve Miller Band went to No.1 on the singles chart with 'Rock 'n' Me', the group's second No.1 after “The Joker”.

1971 - Cher started a two-week run at No.1 on the singles chart with 'Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves', the singer's first solo No.1. The song earned Cher a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance category.

1971 - Isaac Hayes' soundtrack LP Shaft hits #1.

1970 - Aerosmith perform their first-ever gig when they play at Nipmuc Regional High School in Mendon, Massachusetts. They go on to become the best-selling American rock band of all time, selling over 150 million albums worldwide. They also hold the record for the most gold and multi-platinum albums by an American group.

1968 - The Monkees movie Head is released. The studio that commissioned the film expected something light and funny, but got a trippy commentary on the manipulation of The Monkees, complete with a scene where the group jumps to their death off a bridge. The film bombs when it is released, but later becomes a cult classic.

1965 - “Get Off Of My Cloud" by The Rolling Stones hits #1 in for the first of two weeks. The song was written in response to record company pressure to follow up "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" with another hit. It knocked The Beatles “Yesterday” from the #1 spot.

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