Episode 72: The Week Ending March 17, 1979

Episode 72: The Week Ending March 17, 1979

Author: Mark Roback March 16, 2024 Duration: 2:28:55

Don’t cry out loud, we know it’s St. Patrick’s Day. Maybe I’m a fool, or just falling for what a fool believes, but I once saw a leprechaun and gave chase. I don’t know if it’s right, but I swear it’s got to be real, he was the greatest dancer that I’ve ever seen! This week we go stublin’ in to the Billboard Top 40 from the Week of March 17, 1979. Heaven knows I miss the 70’s so please take me home.


Link to a listing of the songs in this week’s episode: https://top40weekly.com/1979-all-charts/#US_Top_40_Singles_For_The_Week_Ending_17th_March_1979


Data Sources: Billboard Magazine, where the charts came from and on what the countdown was based.

Websites: allmusic.com, songfacts.com, wikipedia.com (because Mark’s lazy)

Books: “Ranking the 70’s” by Dann Isbell, and Bill Carroll

“American Top 40 With Casey Kasem (The 1970’s)" by Pete Battistini.


Rejected Episode Titles:


Do Ya Think I’m Le Freak?


Groove Thing Bustin’ Loose


Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? What a Fool Believes


I Was Made for Music Box Dancin’ Shoes


Stumblin’ In My Dancin’ Shoes


Livin' It Up at the Y.M.C.A


Some links to things we discussed in this episode:


Chic - Feat Slash & Sister Sledge (He's The Greatest Dancer) - Live in Tokyo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teIw5u1SSfQ


Will Ferrell Gap commercial Neil Diamond Forever in Blue Jeans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xABWHG8-1P4


Rick Beato Interview of Michael McDonald: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLAcQIfoauQ&t=5s


SCTV 3 Michael McDonald Ride Like the Wind Backing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JLbhEUE_5U


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Every week, Mark Roback and his friend Pete dust off a random episode of Casey Kasem's American Top 40 from the 1970s. 70s Weekly Countdown with Mark and Pete is more than just a nostalgic trip through the charts. Each song in that week's lineup gets a thoughtful rating and a deep dive-they unpack the stories behind the music, the artists' trajectories, and what made those particular tracks resonate. But the context is just as important as the countdown. The conversation naturally expands to include the major headlines, the TV shows everyone was watching, and the cultural moments that defined that specific week in history. Woven into the analysis are personal anecdotes from Mark and Pete, connecting the music to their own coming-of-age experiences during that era. This podcast is a layered exploration of a decade, using the pop chart as a starting point to examine the sound, the spirit, and the surprising details of the 1970s. You'll hear passionate debates, learn obscure facts, and get a feel for what it was like to live through that time, all through the shared lens of two friends who genuinely love the material.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

70s Weekly Countdown with Mark and Pete
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