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.
Always liked the song...brings back great memories of growing up in the 70’s
I liked the music too.
I LOVE this song. It’s almost my theme song.
Karma! I was JUST singing, ‘Brandy’ this morning!
‘Alone, Again’ is SUCH a depressing song. Catchy tune, but so, so sad. But then, again, totally sardonic.
I mean, can life really be THAT bad? ;)
Barry Manilow wrote ‘Mandy’ about his dog. He was crazy for Spaniels of some sort, if I’m remembering my Tiger Beat magazines correctly. ;)
Still a great song if you’ve ever loved a dog (or a person) that much. And who hasn’t? :)
I recall this song. It was very well written and believably performed. Similar to another deeply introverted song that came out the previous year:
“That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be”, by Carly Simon. Artfully done by her. Nobody could have done it better.
No doubt. I heard an interview with Al Stewart recently where he said he has been living a comfortable life all these years due to his biggest hit from the early 70’s, “Year Of the Cat”.
Somebody once asked Don McLean in an interview “what is the song “American Pie” about, what does it mean?”
“It means I’ll never have to work again”.
Coast to Coast had on the remaining members of the Cowsills band last night. I had no idea who they were until I listened to the show. Usually Coast to Coast has on wackos who insult my intelligence so I seldom listen. The Partridge Family TV show was based on them, but without the tyrannical dad
Yes, great song by Carly Simon you mentioned. I grew up on Top 40 radio during the 1970s and remember that one well. Some people dump on 70s music but there was a tremendous variety of music on Top 40 that you just don’t get today and much of it was top notch. It wasn’t all Disco Duck and Muskrat Love.
Tiger Beat! LOL! You wild child!
Music to hang yourself by
BTW, there was no dad on The Partridge Family as Shirley Jones played a single mom. You might be thinking of Reuben Kincaid, who was the (TV) manager of the band. I actually wrote that guy a letter when I was 9 years old asking to audition for the band, because I was pretty sure I could drum better than Chris. All I got in return was a complimentary membership to the fan club and a 8x10 glossy of David Cassidy that I immediately handed over to my sister.
As for the Cowsills, this was my favorite from them (and very much in the sunshine pop genre):
My sister had a stack of Tiger Beat covering the years between David Cassidy and Leif Garrett!
“Some people dump on 70s music”
After the ‘70s there was no really good music.
As in Nobody Does it Better?
Never liked her until I saw her on TV doing a small venue at a harbor where she changed clothes in a shed/shack and the camera showed her silhouette through the window while she changed. After that, I kinda liked her.
An even more depressing song from that era was Harry Chapin’s “Cat’s In The Cradle”.
Dang thanks for the earworm 🤣
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