What Was Going On When This Song Was Number One?

Minority Moments in Pop Culture: On this podcast we have fun exploring some of the unique moments in American pop culture that featured, highlighted or happened to, through or because of a connection with a minority culture or group. Most everybody knows the big stuff: Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali, Caesar Chavez, Bruce Lee, Shirley Chisholm, Rita Moreno, etc. Those icons are in a class by themselves and chiseled into our culture. In this podcast, we are going to look for little things that will make you say, Hmmm, I didn’t know that or thanks for reminding me. Our first show features the Marvin Gaye’s culturally impacting live performance of the National Anthem at the 1983 NBA All Star Game. It opened the door for other celebrities to from Roseanne Barr to Whitney Houston to put their unique stamp on our Anthem. Listen in for other intersecting tidbits about Marvin Gaye and this unique Minority Moment in Pop Culture “

After being refused to being allowed to perform at a public venue in Washington D.C. famed African American contralto, Marion Anderson blazed a trail of civil rights with the noted assistance from First Lady, lEleanor Roosevelt.

There was not a whole lot going on when Maria Maria by Carlos Santana surprised everyone by reaching the number 1 slot on Billboard. The world was taking a breather from Y2K.   It is hard to believe it now, but the world was on edge because of the potential computer glitch phenomenon of Y2K. It is hard to believe that the young boy, Elian Gonzales was even a story now that Cuba and the United States have formalized relations after 50 years. There was not a whole lot going on when Maria Maria by Carlos Santana surprised everyone by reaching the number 1 slot on Billboard. The world was taking a breather from Y2K.   It is hard to believe it now, but the world was on edge because of the potential computer glitch phenomenon of Y2K. It is hard to believe that the young boy, Elian Gonzales was even a story now that Cuba and the United States have formalized relations after 50 years.

In the Spring of 1967, deep cultural seeds were being planted that would germinate in ’68 an ’69 and then mature and linger over the ’70’s, 80’s and ’90s. Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the US army and becomes a mainstream social pariah.   Full redemption comes to him as a Parkinson’s afflicted man lights the torch with a shaking hand body.  The first electric car is launched by Westinghouse.  Electric cars are mainstream in 2010.   Barbara Walters prominence rises on the today show.  This daughter of the owner of the famed, “Latin Quarter” venue would become a TV icon in the 80’s and launch a talk staple named, “The View”. Herb Alpert, Aretha, The Temptations and Lou Rawls are carving out their entertainment turf.  Rowan and Martin and The Smothers Brothers are redefining TV.   Twiggy is creating “The Waif” look that would remain desirable until the Bulimia of Karen Carpenter. Let’s Get Into This–Take a listen.

During the summer of 1976, people thought that the title fo the song was about “making mid-day whoopie” (thanks Newlywed Game), when they heard the song, Afternoon Delight.  This catchy little earworm reached number one during the week that America was celebrating a 200 year anniversay.  According to Billboard Chart HIstorian, Fred Bronson, the song was actually named after a great meal at a restaurant.  That is certainly different than the. first top-ten hit ever recorded by a porn star, “More More More”, by Andre True.   How do you like it…. Bruce Jenner was an Olymian and Nadia was the first 10 in Gymnastics.  Atari was a “Breakout” hit and it’s creators, Wozniak and Jobs were still unknown to the world.  John Lennon was allowed to stay in the U.S.  The last slide rule was made and mercy sakes alive, we were about to start a CB convoy!

Jeopardy with new host, Alex Tribek, was coming back on the air after an absence of many years. Captain Kangaroo says, “Goodbye” and Vanessa Williams is crowned, “Miss America”. Purple Rain is making Prince, a king! Mary Lou Retton is Queen of the Olympics. Richard Burton passes away at only 58 years of age! Jerry Fallwell says Michael Jackson is a passing and inappropriate fad that will not last. Ghostbusters and the Karate kid are kicking butt at the movies. VCRSs are ruling the land and we are starting to feel the first cultural tugs pulling us away from analog and into the digital age. “

Springtime, It happens every Salem and “The Marlboro Man”, were regular slogans on TV as cigarette ads were still allowed. 8-track tapes were new to the land and the Empire State residents were concerned that the new World Trade Center, would block and disrupt TV signals. Jimmy Hendrix, makes his debut at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go. Chuck Berris, added “The Family Game” to his existing stable of “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game”–all precursors to the best game show of all time:  “The Gong Show”!  Over 75% of African American homes had at least one of these items:  Jet Magazine, Ebony Magazine,  a James Brown Record or an Aretha Franklin record.  If you were at the movies you were checking out Sydney Poitier with, “To Sir With Love” with a Lulu of a song or were hanging out “Barefoot in the Park” with Cat Ballou who was soon to be “Hanoi Jane” and later a fitness guru and Mrs. Ted Turner!

The United States was still at war in Vietnam.  The Mai Lai Massacre is alive in the press as an American soldier is convicted of mass murder.  Archie Bunker, was just getting started and Ali-Frazier was about to be chiseled into American history.  And how did a Marijuana reference “one toke over the line”, get past the sensors and get played on AM radio?  Central Florida gets on the map and D.B. Cooper, takes the money and runs (or drops) out of sight.  The last puff of cigarette commercials are aired as we say goodbye to the Marlboro man on TV for the last time.   A U. S. Building is bombed and our reaction was much different than what would happen on 9/11 a generation later.

The world was at war as Desert Storm was just starting and names like Colin Powell and Schwartzkoff would soon be part of every newscast.  MTV was the king of music.  AIDS had unfortunately claimed more than 100,000 live in the U.S.  Sony Handycam was introduced that week and would soon take over the “Camcorder” as the leader in consumer video.  A position it would hold until the camera phone decades later.  Cheers, Designing Women and A Different World ruled the airwaves.  Delta Burke was suing the producers and Lisa Bonet was getting married to Mrs. Willis’ son!  Wolfgang Puck and the new McLean Burger from McDonalds were fighting for taste-bud supremacy! MC Hammer, Portable lie CD Players, this kid named Clinton is a long-shot for the presidency.

Muhammad Ali had just made Howard Cosell say, “Down goes, Frazier! Down goes, Frazier!  Down goes, Frazier!  Zingy Stardust had matured with, FAME.  Saturday Night had two Live shows launching at the same time.   The one without Cosell would last over 40 years. The wars had just begun between Beta and VHS.  The Service Academies were just admitting the first female students and Disco was about to become the way we like it-uh-huh-uh-huh!  Sunset Sam had yet to emerge on MTV.  The mid-to-late ’70s were the end of analog and the beginning of digital. Goodnight John-Boy had beaten out Flip Wilson in the ratings and Fred was coming to Join Elizabeth!  

New icons were on the horizon.  Barack Obama is sworn in on that date and Lady Gag arrived at the Billboard #1 chart position.   Paul Blart was busy being a Mall Cop at the movies and Sully was landing a plane on the Hudson river that week.   Steve Jobs was taking medical leave and everyone knew something was wrong with his health.  The Pope went on You Tube and Father Quido Sarducci, stayed in retirement as he was not offered the Ed Mcmahan chair next to the pope.  Netflix said that “streaming is the new thing and iTunes removed copyright protection from your purchases.  There was a lot going on when Lady Gaga went #1 for the first time and Russia turned off the gas on the Ukraine!

Prince and the New Power Generation, Nov. 7, 1991 The year was 1991. The month was November and the date was the 7th. We were still nine years away from Y2K and 12 years removed from The Artist formerly know as Prince’s first successful top-40 hit single, “I Want To Be Your Lover”. Jimmy was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Magic was shocking the world with the announcement that he had contracted the AIDS virus. The Reagan Library was being dedicated and some guy named Geraldo, was kissing and telling about his sexcapades with the Devine Bette Midler and Michael Jackson was about to be “Dangerous”. A father of three sons also left the world and a TV generation. Check out the podcast and explore what else was going on when Prince and the New Power Generation had the hit song: CREAM on Nov. 7. 1991

Will It Go ‘Round In Circles, Billy Preston, July 7’ 1973.   The summer was hot and sticky in Southern California and Billy Preston, “The original “fifth” Beatle” was topping the charts with “Will It Go Round In Circles! Disco was yet to be heard, Nixon had a few more months as President and you could be a calculator for $239 at Radio Shack. Most people still had antenna TV on the roof or rabbit ears if you didn’t. If you did any significant typing and wanted to be state of the art you used an IBM Selectric Typewriter–And you made corrections with Liquid Paper (Invented by Mike Nesmith (of the Monkees) mother. Mike went on to have a big part in getting MTV started, but that is another trivia story…The PC or Mac were still waiting to be born

Cassette Tapes are competing with 8-Tracks, Goldie Hahn, is leaving Laugh-in and Chevy goes , VEGAtarian! Say What? The hit making machine, The Carpenters only had one number one hit. They had several number 2s. Once they were held back by The Jackson Five (makes sense) and another time by The Partridge Family (Yikes!) During the summer of ’70, the U.S. was taking a deep breath from the tumult of the ’60’s and preparing itself for the two “D’s” that were about to descend: Disco and Digital! Nothing earth shattering in technology or music although the floppy disk was invented that year.”

How come it took so long (2015) for James Taylor, to have the Number 1 Album in the U.S? The FCC comes up with standard rules for this new-fangled thing called Cable TV in the summer of 1971.  Carol King, creates some tapestry with an album for the ages. Holy Trinitron Batman, Nixon is going to China! The South Tower of the NEW World Trade Center is completed and we have aa new toy called the Weeble! “The Pentagon Papers” were deemed public information and how this relates to Edward Snowden!  Yikes!  There was a lot going on when “You’ve Got A Friend” was the Number 1 song!

Sammy Davis Jr. and Muhammad Ali: Goofing Around Before she becomes Wonder Woman a few years later, Wonder Woman–Lynda Carter was from Tempe, Arizona and Miss World USA. The Watergate Break-in had just happened and no one knew this would lead to impeachment of Nixon. Sears had a cartridge TV (Pre-VCR) and it cost $1600 and only recorded a few hours. The Staple Singers had the highest selling and probably the best dance gospel tune of all-time: I’ll Take You There by the Staple Singers. Do you remember Marlee Matlin dancing to it in the movie: Children of a Lesser God?”  June-’72, the ’60s are definitely over and in a few years disco would be king.

Meatloaf In The Oven! The Food Network is launched. “The Bridges of Madison County” was competing with Howard Stern’s, “Private Parts“, for the number 1 spot on the Best Seller’s list. BAM! became another word for garlic thanks to Emeril Legasse. Bill Bixby (The Hulk), would turn green no more and Michael Jackson was booted by Pepsi. Who knew that the launch of this network would re-season the taste buds of America?

The O.J. Simpson verdict happened on this date. The United States was once again forced to look at its racial divide. CD ROM was soon to be overtaken by this new thing called a DVD. Denzel Washington was breaking out.  E.R. was on top and Howard Stern was fired again in Chicago. While the racial divide played out in the O.J. trial and politics, it was the magic of the arts, music and entertainment that continued to show the multi-cultural excellence of the United States

Jessie’s Girl was Number One on the pop charts. The world was changing faster than we knew it was at the time. MTV was born on that day. The last gasp of the analog world was upon us as the USA Today was being conceived and the first IBM PC was being launched. At the movies The Empire was striking back and Zorro announced he was a gay blade. AIDS was named and the first fundraiser we held. And the US Army was worried about pregnancies, strength, stamina and sole parenthood were core concerns about female recruits!”

I heard it through the grapevine: I Heard it Through The Grapevine was Number One on December 14, 1968. That year was one of the most tumultuous in American history. There was a social-cultural revolution going on that year. We had a Nun that flew. We were just six months away from Woodstock and landing on the moon. Sadness also settled on the land with the loss of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. And what was a Radar Range? And,did Richard Nixon really say, “Sock it to me!?”