Songs Casey Never Played, 3/20/76

By Wm. on April 4, 2026

Fifty years ago this weekend I was hearing the Stampeders retool "Hit the Road Jack" and Larry Santos croon "We Can't Hide It Anymore" for the first time as they embarked on their respective two-week runs on AT40. What had been failing to reach such great heights two weeks before?

97. Michael Zager's Moon Band featuring Peabo Bryson, "Do It With Feeling"
Was unaware until now that Bryson had any label credit in the 70s (it turns out he Bubbled Under a couple of times and had some minor chart action prior to his mid-80s breakthrough). Zager would reach the Top 40 two years later with "Let's All Chant," but this is his only other Hot 100 appearance.

As for "Do It With Feeling," the groove is quite solid but there's not much else going on; even Peabo's vocals are kinda pedestrian. It's about to reach #94.

84. Kiki Dee, "Once a Fool"
I was still a few months away from learning of Dee's existence–I feel pretty certain that "I've Got the Music in Me," which I now adore, wasn't on WSAI's playlist in the fall of '74. It's another of those tunes about a woman putting up with her man's wandering ways. Even it is well-delivered, I can see why it didn't get past #82 (for the curious, it didn't chart in the UK).

80. Tom Scott, "Uptown and Country"
The prolific session saxophonist also has a lengthy list of albums under his own name. This groovy piece, from New York Connection, is the one and only time Scott had a single chart. It's at its peak in its third and final week. I will be coming back occasionally to listen to this.

79. Brown Sugar, "The Game Is Over"
The discovery of the month, a tasty slice of Philly soul by a trio of women who vanished as quickly as they appeared. Absolutely should have received greater attention, and another one that's about to fall off the Hot 100 from its high point.

68. John Miles, "Highfly"
Sorta proggy, sorta anthemic, thoroughly enjoyable. Even though the object of Miles's attention is Icarus-like, the buildup and resolution of a sad line like, "Your chance has gone/your chance to be someone," is one of the best musical moments I've discovered in a while. "Highfly" was peaking here but had a second run up to #69 in the summer.

(From the If The Shoe Fits department: six years ago I wrote a piece about "Slow Down," the one Top 40 hit Miles earned as a solo act. I'm seeing now–after I wrote the above paragraph, mind you–that I used the words "proggy" and "anthem" in reference his most well-known song in the UK, "Music." Apparently my vocabulary is more limited than I wish it was.)

49. Charlie Ross, "Without Your Love (Mr. Jordan)"
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to learn that this is the brainchild of Paul Vance, the man responsible for unleashing the schlocky "Playground in My Mind," and "Run Joey Run" on the public. I'm not sure I like it, but I do like it more than I should–it's definitely a catchy thing, so I encourage you to give it one listen if, like me, you're just learning of its existence. I harbor a strong, strong suspicion that the uncredited female vocal is that of Paula Vance, Paul's daughter and 'Julie' in "Run Joey Run."

Friend of the blog Jim Bartlett wrote about Ross and his almost-hit eight years ago, which you can read here.