T10FB Redux: August 18, 1973 – KKLS-FM Rapid City, SD

Originally written August 9, 2013.

Good evening, and welcome to Top 10 Flashback!  I’m your host, (name withheld).  This week we’re flashing back to 1973, and we’re doing something a little different this time.  The music surveys we’ve been using so far have come from famous Top 40 stations in major markets such as New York, L.A., San Francisco, Detroit, and Chicago.  But what were they listening to in Flyoverville?

Let’s take a look at the top ten songs from forty years ago this week as determined by the crack staff of 93.9 FM, KKLS, Rapid City, South Dakota, a/k/a The Rock Of The Black Hills, Double KLS!  Survey dated August 17, 1973.

Ready?  Let’s go!

#10:
Elton John – Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting

Well, this is a promising start.  One of Sir Elton’s best rockers.

#9:
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Get Down

Say what you will, but Gilbert O’Sullivan was NOT going to be typecast as a purveyor of schlocky songs about suicide and death.  No, he would show the world that he could do schlocky songs about anything!

#8:
Stories – Brother Louie

Brown sugar’s sweet, too!

#7:
Grand Funk – We’re An American Band

Story goes that Bill Clinton almost had a steamy session with “sweet, sweet Connie,” a legendary groupie, when he was governor of Arkansas.  I don’t doubt it.

#6:
Chicago – Feeling Stronger Every Day

Good song.  That’s all.

#5:

Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando – Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose

Imagine a world where this song never existed.  Pretty fucking nice, ain’t it?

#4:
Led Zeppelin – Over The Hills & Far Away

Wow, this was a surprise.  Never seen this show up in a singles chart before, especially not this high.

#3:
Diana Ross – Touch Me In The Morning

Look at the other songs on this list.  Note that they are all by white people.  This is the one exception, unless you count Tony Orlando & Dawn.  Killer bass line by Bob Babbitt really redeems this song.

#2:
Helen Reddy – Delta Dawn

Do yourself a favor.  Don’t play this video.  You’re welcome.

http://thebig8.net/tymp.wav <— Click for tympani roll!

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the number one song this week in 1973, according to Double KLS in Rapid City, South Dakota, is:

Just like everywhere else.

Questions?  Comments?  Flames?  Post them below.  Seeya next week!