Paper Lace - Billy don't be a Hero 1974

Bo Donaldson - Billy Don't Be A Hero 74

“I need a volunteer to ride up" and bring us back some extra men" Billy's hand was up in a moment forgettin' all the words she said

Quick Double Shot

“Billy Don’t Be a Hero”, Paper Lace (1974)

“Billy Don’t Be a Hero”, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (1974)

The Paper Lace version of this song went to number 1 in the U.K. in March of 1974. They had planned to release it in the U.S., but in the meantime, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods had rushed it out and it had already gone to number one in the U.S. by June of 1974. The Bo Donaldson version sold over three and half million copies and was awarded gold record in June of 1974.

The Babys - Everytime I think of You.

Every time I think of you it always turns out good Every time I’ve held you I thought you understood

70’s Pick of the Week

“Everytime I think of You”, The Babys (1979)

We previously talked about John Waite in the context of “Bad English” in the late 80’s. Now let’s go back to his days in the band, the Babys.

Spinning on a Summer evening...

David Essex - Rock On

Eurogliders - This Island

Sopwith Camel - Hello Hello

Chilliwack - Dreams, Dreams, Dreams

The Knack - My Sharona

Oh my little pretty one, pretty one When you gonna give me some time Sharona When you make my motor run, my motor run Gun it coming, off the line Sharona

Quick Hit

“My Sharona”, The Knack (1979)

If you snapped on the radio in 1979 you may have heard “Born to Be Alive” by Patrick Hernandez, or “Good Times” by Chic. In the midst of the new wave craze an American band, dressing up in the skinny ties hit us with “My Sharona” that year. This crazy little song went to #1 and sold a million copies. The album “Get the Knack” sold over two million copies in the U.S. alone.

Karla Bonoff-All my life

And I never really knew how to love I just hoped somehow I'd see oh I asked for a little help from above send an angel down to me

Sappy Song Department

“All My Life”, Karla Bonoff (1988)  

I ordered a CD a few years ago off Karla’s website and when I got it, it was autographed by her. I thought that was a very nice touch.

You may not really know who Karla Bonoff is, but you may have heard songs she has written for other successful artists. She wrote “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me” done by Linda Ronstadt for example.

In early days back in the seventies in Southern California, Bonoff formed a band with (recently deceased) Andrew Gold, then boyfriend Kenny Edwards (who had started the Stone Poney’s with Linda Ronstadt) and friend Wendy Waldman. The band they called "Bryndle", played top-40 stuff and broke up by 1971, having made an album that the record company did not know what to do with.