The Ben Maynard Program
"Tell Your Story". Everyone has a story. Not just the famous. This is a guest driven program but when we are "guest free", It's just YOU and ME! I love music and we will talk a lot about it. Enjoy the ride!
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The Ben Maynard Program
EP. 101 Breakfast with Ben: Music Memories and Masterpieces
What makes an album perfect from start to finish? This question sparked a lively exploration during this special "Breakfast with Ben" episode, where we journeyed through the musical landscape of 1975 and beyond.
Taking a nostalgic dive into the top 30 singles of 1975, we rediscovered gems that shaped a generation - from War's "Lowrider" and KC and the Sunshine Band's dance floor anthems to Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy" and the year's #1 hit, Captain and Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together." Each song carries its own memory, creating a rich tapestry of musical history that still resonates nearly five decades later.
The conversation turned deeply fascinating when discussing what constitutes a true masterpiece album - one without a single skip-worthy track. I shared my personal picks: Van Halen's explosive 1978 debut, the iconic Led Zeppelin IV, Foreigner's flawless first album, and Journey's career-defining "Escape." The Journey analysis proved particularly intriguing as we explored how the addition of Jonathan Cain transformed their sound, and how "Don't Stop Believin'" - originally not even their biggest hit from the album - eventually became one of the most streamed songs in history thanks to a certain TV series finale.
Between musical discussions, we celebrated International Bacon Day, reflected on historical moments like Cal Ripken Jr. breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive games record, and shared personal memories that these songs evoke. The music we love isn't just about melodies and lyrics - it's about the moments they soundtrack in our lives.
Ready for more compelling conversations? Mark your calendar for October 4th when Sheriff Chad Bianco, 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidate, joins us live. Have questions? Prepare them now, as we'll be taking your comments during this special broadcast. Subscribe now so you don't miss a moment of the discussion!
Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram: benmaynardprogram
and subscribe to my YouTube channel: THE BEN MAYNARD PROGRAM
I also welcome your comments. email: pl8blocker@aol.com
Hey, good morning to you. We are live. Welcome into the Ben Maynard program. Thanks for being here. I make a couple adjustments here, real quick, producing like on the fly. Let me see if I can. Not that you need me to be any closer, but let's see if I can do this, let's see. Let's see. Do we like that? Let's go down, let's adjust that Wrong way and okay, that's better. Okay, cool, cool. So again, welcome into the Ben Maynard program. Thanks for being here. Hope you're all doing well.
Speaker 1:On this Saturday morning it is breakfast with Ben. Yes, it is. We haven't done that in a long time. It's been uh, wow, it's been a little over a believe, anyway. So let's just have some fun for a little bit this morning. Break out your I don't know your Cheerios, lucky Charms, I don't know Frosted Flakes, whatever, or okay, yeah, or your avocado toast, if you have it, you know, if you just, if that's the route you choose to go, then all right, cool. You know, if you've, just if that's the route you choose to go, then all right, cool. And yeah, just sit back with me and enjoy with a cup of coffee and all that good stuff. All right, we'll just be here for a little while, I don't know an hour or so. You know we're just here to have some fun. Let's get those things ready right there, okay, oh wait, before we get started, though, some housekeeping to take care of.
Speaker 1:Okay, as you know, this program is available. Wherever you get your podcasts. All you have to do is search the Ben Maynard Program Boom, it's right there and subscribe to it. Anytime you subscribe, you get notifications when a new episode drops. That's the purpose of subscribing, all right, and you know, if you can't resist this right here and you happen to be watching live, because we're live this morning, we're live on YouTube. Thanks for doing that, I appreciate it. But when you're watching on YouTube, you have to subscribe to the channel. Okay, please subscribe Again. You get notifications anytime a new episode posts or drops. Then you got to give me a thumbs up. All right, give me a thumbs up and leave a comment. I love your comments. So, oh yeah, that's right Again.
Speaker 1:Tell a thousand, tell a thousand of your family and friends. Okay, you know a thousand people out there. That's not too many people to get out there and tell about this really cool podcast called the Ben Maynard program. So tell your buddies, tell your family, you know all your friends. You know what. If there's some people out there that you don't care too much about, tell them too, all right. So, yeah, then you can follow me on Instagram all one word Ben Maynard program. Or follow me on TikTok, which you're right there, right there, yeah, and that's the Ben Maynard program, okay.
Speaker 1:So plenty of ways to take in this show for your dancing and listening pleasure. And here we are with that. We're live. We're live this morning Breakfast with Ben, yours truly right here.
Speaker 1:Okay, let's just have a little. Let's see where did we leave off? We left off last week. We talked about the top 30, not top 30. We talked about the albums turning 50. So albums from 1975 turning 50. This year. I think I covered 15 of them. That was a lot of fun and it's getting a lot of good response. People are liking it, they're watching it, they're listening to it and it's good stuff.
Speaker 1:If you're of my age, it takes you all the way back to when you were like 9, 10 years old and just remembering those albums, remembering the songs on those albums. Maybe a particular album had some great artwork Back then. Remember, albums were 12-inch acetate. It came in big covers. I got several of them right here. I got several of them right here on the shelf. See, there you go, there's my Paul Stanley Paul Stanley solo, and so artwork was tremendously important and it was great to look at. So, hang on, put that thing right back. So, yeah, albums were just. Look, I love albums. I don't have a turntable any longer, so I don't listen to them, but I like to, I like to buy them every once in a while, just so that, uh, especially the ones that I, you know, used to have when I was a wee lad, just to look at, just to look at and have and remember everything that I was going through at the time that I had it. So, anyway, that episode is doing really well and I thank you guys for that. You guys are real helpful with that. So we'll cover some more music this morning. How's that? Before we get into that, though, I want to remind you all to mark your calendars.
Speaker 1:Saturday, october the 4th. Saturday October the 4th, 9 am Pacific time, right here in this studio, sheriff Chad Bianco, who is a 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidate, we'll be here in that chair, right there. We're going to have a great time, get into some good discussion. So you're going to want to join us for that. It is going to be live. We're going to be streaming live, so we'll be fielding questions and comments. If you have any, write them down, save them up and be with us that morning. And, yeah, find out everything you need to know, or you want to know, about your Republican gubernatorial candidate for 2026. We're going to talk a lot about that stuff. It's going to be a ton of fun and, like I said, I'm hoping that it'll be quite educational as well. So, again, mark your calendars.
Speaker 1:Saturday, october the 4th, 9 am Pacific time. Okay, cool, let's see. Saturday, October the 4th, 9 am Pacific time. Okay, cool, let's see. All right, where do we want to start? Let's put something on so that I can see what I'm doing here. All right, like we do when we go live, let's get it right here. Open this up and where is it? There it is.
Speaker 1:So today is Saturday, september the 6th, right, yeah, what is today? Hmm, all you bacon lovers out there, today is International Bacon Day. Okay, I myself. I don't. You went down, you went down. Yes, you did. I myself. I don't eat pork, so I don't eat bacon. I don't have turkey bacon or anything like that, either. So, but for those of you who do excellent, today's your day. Celebrate it. Celebrate it.
Speaker 1:Crispy, savory strips that make breakfast extra awesome, right, it's a delicious high five to your taste buds, right, it's a delicious high five to your taste buds, right? Yeah, I tell you what it smells delicious when it's cooking. Bacon smells absolutely delicious when it's cooking, just like coffee. I'm not a coffee drinker either, but when coffee's brewing man, it really really smells good. But yeah, not so much on the taste side of it, not for me anyway. I mean, if you guys enjoy it, great, love it. So. International Bacon Day.
Speaker 1:So when we're done here, or if you're watching by yourself or you've got the television on in the living room but you can see from the kitchen, maybe you're frying up some bacon right now. Have at it. What else? It's also National Read a Book Day. I don't know if that means you're just supposed to read a book today, like, read the whole book, or just at least be reading a book today. If you're like me, yeah, you're not getting in a whole book in one day. I am like the slowest reader. I love to read, but boy am I slow. I'm very, very slow at it. Yeah, I got something up there. I just don't want to reach because then I get too far away from the microphone and you can't hear me. But yeah, I mean, if it's like a 50 pager, okay, I could take that in a day, that's no big deal, but other than that it's not happening.
Speaker 1:It's also National Coffee Ice Cream Day. We were talking about bacon, we're talking about coffee. Now it's Coffee Ice Cream Day. Huh, I know that some of you out there, there, it's got to be your favorite flavor me. Just give me some like chocolate chip cookie dough and I'm good. I'm good with that, but whatever, uh, what else? What else do we have going? Oh yeah, I don't have one of these.
Speaker 1:But it's World Beard Day. World Beard Day. You know, that's just not for me. That's not for me. I'll go a few days without shaving. I'll go a week without shaving. It's great, especially now that I'm 60 years old. I have no gray on top of my head, no gray hairs on top of my head. However, my beard is very gray. When I was much younger a much younger man being that, even though my hair doesn't look too blonde anymore, it looks very dark I had really light blonde hair, but my beard had a lot of red in it. But now, like I said, it the right old age of 60, it is very gray and I tend to start looking a lot like Papa Smurf, which, okay, that's fine, I'm all right, cause there's a little contrast here, you know, from from here to here.
Speaker 1:But, um, catherine doesn't like it, so she doesn't like it, so she doesn't like the beards, even when I, after a week, week and a half or so, because I'll do it when I'm lazy, I'm either I don't feel like doing it for a week while I'm working, or maybe I'm working nights, I don't have to see people, it's not a big deal or I'm on vacation. You know, usually towards the end of the year I always take a couple of three weeks in a row for vacation. I don't like to shave, I hate shaving. I always say that I wish I had never started shaving when I was a teenager.
Speaker 1:How does this lead into World Beard Day? Well, this is how it does. Okay, we say something, I say something, I just go on a bird walk, but nonetheless, uh, beards just don't work for me. So, sorry, if you got one out there and you're rocking it, then, good on you, good on you and continue to rock it. You guys know, brother Jim, brother Jim's been on the, on the podcast, uh, a few times. And yeah, yeah, brother Jim, he rocks his beard pretty pretty well, but it's not for me, it just doesn't work. So, even if I like, trim it up and I go with the mustache and goatee, yeah, it kind of looks okay for a little bit, but, um, but, like I said, catherine's not digging it. So, okay, good enough, good enough for you, good enough for you there, good enough for you, good enough for me, good enough for all of us.
Speaker 1:All right, so next, this day in history, this day in history, september the 6th, the 6th, let's see, let's hit a few of these right here. Let's see, you guys won't care about that, I won't care about it, uh, okay, well, this day in 1944, september the 6th 1944, germany fired the first long-range v2 missile at an allied target during world war ii. Yeah, not too long after that, they threw their hands up and surrendered. Uh, let's see, in 1991, the Soviet Union, who was falling apart at the time, breaking apart recognized the independence of the Baltic states Estonia, latvia and Lithuania. Oh, here's a good one for all you sports nuts out there baseball nuts, cal Ripken Jr.
Speaker 1:Yes, on this day, september the 6th 1995, cal Ripken Jr played in his 2,131st consecutive game, surpassing Lou Gehrig's record which stood for more than 56 years. Quite a feat. That was a tremendous feat. I'm trying to remember was he, I think they? Who were they playing the Angels? I don't remember if they were playing, no, maybe they weren't playing the Angels. Who were they playing at that time? I can't remember who they played that day. I do remember seeing all the clips and on SportsCenter and all that stuff and I was happy for Cal. I was happy for Cal. I mean, that's a tremendous feat.
Speaker 1:The longest streak up to that point to challenge Lou Gehrig's streak was Steve Garvey of the Dodgers and that streak was broken. I think he played in around 1,200 or 1,300-plus games in a row. Of course most of that was with the Dodgers. Then it was after the 82 season. He signed as a free agent with San Diego Padres and I think it was like one or two seasons after that. In spring training I think he was sliding and he broke his thumb and that was it. That was it. Ended that streak. So I mean that was a good run, but talking 2,100 games, 2,131 to be exact, let's see.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, I remember this. This date, this day, I should say September the 6th in 1997. I'm going to tell you a little story about this one. Oh no, I'm sorry. A week after her death, I'll to tell you a little story about this one. Oh no, I'm sorry. A week after her death, I'll still tell you a story. A week after her death, in a car accident, a funeral was held for Princess Diana, and an estimated 2.5 billion with a B watched the televised ceremony, which included a performance by Elton John. Yeah, do you remember where you were when you heard that Princess Diana had passed? I do. I was here at home. I was here at home, and so this is 1997.
Speaker 1:And I used to have a watch. It was a Seiko watch. It was called a Seiko watch, made by Seiko, of course it was. It was really really kind of inventive, creative. I mean, it was certainly.
Speaker 1:We didn't have cell phones back then. We didn't have any handheld electronic devices that gave us this type of information. So the Seiko watch, it received text messages. It also gave me news updates. It gave me sports updates, gave me all those, the weather worldwide, all this kind of stuff, stuff that you're thinking, oh well, so what? I get that all the time. Now they don't big deal. It's right here in the palm of my hand, you know, with my cell phone. But remember, this is 1997. This is really. I mean, yes, we had cell phones back then, but they were so primitive that I mean you could barely, you could barely get a signal anywhere.
Speaker 1:So so my Seiko watch I had it sitting on top of I don't know somewhere in the bedroom dress or whatever it was, and it's about I don't know somewhere in the bedroom dresser, whatever it was, and it's about I don't know eight, nine o'clock at night and it goes off and there's an alert and I walk over to it and I pick it up and I look at it and it simply said Princess Di dies, die, dies. And I remember that was a, that was a Friday night here in uh, at home in America, but so I'm sure it was Saturday. Uh, saturday morning, saturday, I mean, uh, yeah, saturday, early morning hours, uh, whatever it was. But uh, that was something, that was something, that was a trip. But I remember where I was when I heard about Princess Di dying.
Speaker 1:Yep, right here at home and let's see what else, what else on this day? Oh, we're going to go. Let's go back a little bit, all right. This day in 1901, president McKinley was fatally shot Shot this day in 1901 by Leon Zolgaz I think that's how you say it An anarchist at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, new York, and President McKinley died eight days later. So there you go. There you go for this day in history.
Speaker 1:And you know, normally, when we do the live thing, like this morning breakfast with Ben, hey, you get your coffee, your donuts, your cereal, your bacon. Right, bacon, you want some bacon? We usually do whatever national day it is. And then we do celebrity birthdays and we cover this day in history. And I'm not giving you any celebrity birthdays because when I popped it open and looked it up, it was nothing but TikTok stars, tiktok stars and, I think, instagram stars and YouTube stars, and I'm thinking no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, you're not a star, because you know, a million people watch you on TikTok or a million people watch you on YouTube or Instagram, whatever. No, you're not. No, sorry, you're not a celebrity because of that. It just that doesn't work for me. I don't care if this podcast gets 10 million views. It's not going to make me a celebrity at all, it's never going to happen. But it's not going to make me a celebrity, I don't have to worry about it. So yeah, sorry, no celebrity birthdays today. So yeah, we talked about the.
Speaker 1:You know, I recapped a little bit on the albums from 1975. I was going to pop up some more, but instead I thought that I got this list of the 30, the top 30 singles, singles from 1975. Based on popularity, not necessarily based on the Billboard Hot 100 chart I'm sure a lot of that applies but based on their popularity, which, of course, that's also going to rank you high on the Billboard Hot 100 too. So yeah, so I thought I'd go over a few of those real quick and we'll just have some fun with it. What do you say? All right? Well, look, you can't talk back to me unless you come up with a popular single yourself. You can drop it in the comments and I'll shout it out.
Speaker 1:I see some of you are joining here. Yeah, I'm live on TikTok this morning as well, just for kicks, just because I can, and people will check in and out. If you've checked in and you're sticking around. Excellent, do it All right and have some fun with us. Some of these, I'm looking at the list here and some of these I recognize and some of them I don't. So I may be doing some singing and then on some of these I may not do anything at all. We'll see. But let's go, we'll start from number 30 and work our way down.
Speaker 1:Number 30 was Lido Shuffle from Boss Gags. Come on, if you're my age, and even if you're not, it doesn't mean you don't know the song, because music is timeless and young people like older stuff and so I mean so it goes without saying. But Lido Shuffle from Boss Gags, that was a great song. And I talked about having singles last week, some of the singles that were released on these albums that we celebrated last week, and I had the single for Lido Shuffle, 1975. I remember that it was a good song, good catchy song too. I remember that it was a. That was a good song, good catchy song too. I dig it Really, really good one.
Speaker 1:And I think Boz Boz is, you know, pop rock, jazz, blues, kind of all that fused together, real popular, real big artist from the Chicago area, and um had a good run there in the mid to late seventies into the early eighties. And, uh, from the late seventies through the early eighties, um, did a lot of work with Toto. Everybody knows Toto, or I should say Toto did a lot of work with him. They were his band in the studio on a lot of his stuff during that time and if any of you remember out there, the members of Toto were all known in the LA area for their tremendous musicianship. They're all studio musicians and from a very, very young age these guys are like in the late seventies. These guys are like kids. Steve Lukather, when they're recording their debut album in 78, he's 17,. You know crazy stuff Anyway.
Speaker 1:So Lito Shuffle, boss Gags, see, you say one thing or I say one thing and I just start bird walking and talking about all kinds of other stuff. This one I don't. Oh, no, I know I do. That's right. This was Linda Ronstadt's when Will I Be Loved? That's the cover of the Buddy Holly song. That's right, right, how's it go? Oh, you guys know that one.
Speaker 1:I'm getting the hook stuck in my head. That'll be the day when you make me cry. That'll be the day. Yeah, there you go. You say you're going to leave me. You know it's a lie, because that'll be the day. No, that's not it. That's when I wait, wait. No, when will I be day? No, that's not it. That's when I wait, wait. No, when will I be loved? No, that was a different song. It kind of sounded like that. But wait, wait, when will I be loved? I know the song. I know the song. Hook's stuck in my head though. But no, it's not. It's not the Buddy Holly cover. Sorry, I'm singing the wrong song, holly cover. Sorry, I'm singing the wrong song. If you enjoy my singing, though great, then good on you. I hope you do. Hope you enjoy it.
Speaker 1:Number 28. This one I definitely don't recognize by name. I might recognize it if I heard it. How lucky can you get? From Barbra Streisand the Great Babs? Let's see, I don't know that one. If you guys know that one, give me it. You can leave a thumbs up in the comments or whatever. Let's see Number 27. I'm not familiar with this one. I don't like to sleep alone. From Paul Anka. You guys know that one. Anybody out there know that one? I do not know that one. Paul Anka, though, big time songwriter, wrote so many songs that were covered by just a bazillion different artists. What was it? What was the one that wasn't it Having my Baby? Yeah, having my Baby. And that's Paul Anka too, I believe. Right, I should look it up Just so, I fact check myself. Right, I think that's Paul Anka, number 26,.
Speaker 1:Everyone knows this one. Big, big time song. Big time song, lowrider from War, yep. Time song, big time song, lowrider from war, yep. And then it's made even probably made even bigger and more famous from comedian george lopez, like he's he. That's his walking out music when he had his um, when he had his late night show several years back I don't know what is that 10, 15 years ago that was his walkout music. It was the music theme song for his sitcom when he had that 20 years ago. Let's see, it's his walkout music when he does his standup. So George has really latched onto that one. George has made it probably even bigger than it used to be in 1975.
Speaker 1:But big song though, this one I'm not familiar with, definitely familiar with the band at number 25, bad Time from Grand Funk Railroad, who are still out doing it, still out on the road doing it year after year, of course, without founding member and co-lead singer, mark Farner. He hasn't been in the band in forever. Oh, here we go. Number 24, another song from war, another really good song as well. Why can't we be friends? So I asked the question why can't we? Why can't we be friends? Come on, you out there, me right here, all of you spending your time with me. I do consider you family or friend. So it's all good stuff. Yeah, why Can't we Be Friends? From War, two songs in the top 30. At number 23. Yep, we love this one. Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight. Not get down tomorrow, get down tonight Like now.
Speaker 1:Good song from Casey and the Sunshine Band. I saw Casey a couple of years ago and guy was 70 years old at the time and was awesome, so good. All real, all live probably had 13 people on stage, counting himself between musicians and backup singers, and he'd stand there at the keyboard a lot of times. Because he was a keyboardist in the band, he'd stand there behind the keyboard a lot, but at times he'd come out and he'd start, you know, shaking his tail, feathers and that kind of stuff. He was so good it, you know, I would really, really dig seeing Casey and the sunshine band. Uh, again, that was good stuff. Um, what else? Oh, okay, number at number 22. Um, maybe you guys know this one, maybe I know this one. Um, maybe you guys know this one. Maybe I know this one.
Speaker 1:Rock me gently from Andy Kim. Um, yeah, I could sing the hook, but I kind of don't want to. Let me see, let me see How's that go. Rock me gently, rock me slowly, take it easy. Don't you know that I have never been loved like this before? And I think did Andy. I think Andy Kim changed his name at one point, 35 years ago or whatever, maybe even longer. I think he changed it to Baron Longfellow. Go figure, go figure. I didn't have that single, but I remember that song. It was a good song, good, good, hooky, catchy song. And, yeah, so you know, to Baron Longfellow, aka Andy Kim. Thumbs up. All right, here we go.
Speaker 1:Here's another repeat offender in the top 30 most popular songs in 1975. At number 21,. That's the Way I Like it, by, again, casey and the Sunshine Band. You kidding me? We know that one. Right, that's the way, uh-huh, uh-huh, I like it. Yes, uh-huh, uh-huh, good, good, good, good. Um, yeah, here we go. So number oh, let's see. Hmm, let's see, not, oh, they got a fake one in here, I'm skipping it at number 20,. Not, oh, they got a fake one in here, I'm skipping it at number 20. But at number 19, a song that I talked about last week in covering the 15 albums that I did celebrating 50 years.
Speaker 1:In 1975, paul McCartney and Wings listened to what the man said off of the Venus and Mars album. We talked about that one. That's a really really good song, real big song in the Paul McCartney and Wings catalog, and just a real easygoing song. And I didn't have that single. I think I stated last week I didn't have that album either. I remember the album cover, but I didn't have that single. I think I stated last week I didn't have that album either. I remember the album cover, but I didn't have the album.
Speaker 1:But great song, oh, number 18. Number 18, such a good song, huge song for this band as well Blackwater from the Doobie brothers, so good. I wouldn't even try to attempt that one because, um, there's only me here and you got to have, like, you have to have like five different vocalists singing that stuff. Um, and if you had it back then in 75, quad stereo, quadraphonic sound, quad stereo was out, it was still relatively new in 75. And if you had that and you listened to Blackwater, oh man, it was just coming at you from all over the place. So good, really really good stuff. And the Doobie Brothers have always been known for their great harmonies. They're just those lush harmonies, really really good stuff.
Speaker 1:Number 17, I'm Sorry, no, no, not me, I'm not sorry. I'm Sorry from John Denver. I don't know that one. I'm not. No, no, not me, I'm not sorry. I'm sorry from John Denver. I don't know that one I'm not familiar with. Give me a little Rocky Mountain High or take me home country road, sunshine on my shoulders, whatever. Yeah, I know that stuff, but I'm not familiar with. I'm sorry, from John Denver. Number 16 from Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony. Do you guys know who they are? Because if you'd given me the song I would not have been able to tell you the artist. But we all know the song. Great song, it really is the Hustle, and it's right at the beginning stages of disco, right at the front side of disco, the hustle.
Speaker 1:I remember my buddy. I remember my buddy, john. We were in well in 1975. Well, we were 10 then, but we were in junior high, seventh grade, and we went to different junior high schools. The one that he went to was giving after school I think it might even been in the evening disco lessons. And he took disco lessons at his junior high school and I remember they were dancing to the hustle, so they were learning the hustle. And man, I remember his dance partner. Wow, was she good looking. She was a great looking seventh grade girl man. I had a crush on her and I don't even know her name. I never said one word to her, but I was jealous of. John Got to dance with this pretty girl, holy Toledo, her. And I don't even know her name, I never said one word to her, but I was jealous of John Got to dance with this pretty girl, holy Toledo.
Speaker 1:And you know, in case you guys don't know, but line dancing, country, western line dancing is when it, when it first started. There's all kinds of crazy stuff that goes on with it. Now I watch people and I just, I mean, I my my head's spinning because they're just, they're killing it, they're doing all kinds of crazy stuff, good stuff, but it's bananas, but it all originated from the hustle. Check me on it, I dare you, let's see, let's get past that one and let's move to number 15. I remember this one Fly, let's move to number 15.
Speaker 1:I remember this one Fly, rob and Fly. I had the single, this one. I had the single on Fly, rob and Fly from the Silver Connection. It's probably the only song that they ever had, probably only put out one single, probably never even put out an album, but I do remember there was this and if you're my age you know, but there was, uh, there were these tv ads from a company called ktel. They put together all kinds of different stuff like pocket fisherman I won't say pocket fisherman, I think that was rompo appeal, but but they put together these little gadgets, you know stuff, and you'd order by phone, pay through the mail, whatever that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:But they used to put out music all the time. They put out albums, compilation albums, and I remember they put out some kind of a disco compilation, you know K-Tel, disco Fever or whatever, something like that, and it would have, you know, 20 different artists with their big hit on there. And and, uh, I remember Fly, robin Fly was on that. I remember the TV ad and and the, the the song title would kind of float across the screen and, uh, would say Fly, robin, fly. They play a clip of the of the song and it would say Silver Connection and none of that really matters, but that's what I remember about the song.
Speaker 1:So, oh, you guys know. No, you guys probably don't know this one. At number 14, you will know the number 13 song, though. At number 14, feelings by Morris Albert. I don't know, I'm not even familiar with Morris Albert. I might be, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Now that I say it, now that I actually say the name, oh, yes, I do remember Because, yeah, feelings, nothing more than feelings. Yes, I do remember. See, it came back, it came back to me. How's that? Pretty good, huh, yeah, feelings, whoa, whoa, whoa, feelings. Yeah, that was it man, that was it man. Sound pretty good. I pulled that one right out of my rear end.
Speaker 1:Number 13. We all know this one. You're so Vain from Carly Simon. We all know this one and I don't, honestly, I don't know to this day if it's ever been revealed who she wrote the song, for there was all. There was speculation and I don't think she had ever said it. But then, I don't know, five, six, ten years ago I think Carly was talking about. Oh yeah, I'm going to tell everyone who I wrote the song about. Maybe she actually did reveal it and I never saw it, but the speculation was that there was two people, two people that was speculating she wrote the song for or about, and that was one was Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and the other one was Warren Beatty. So I don't know, like I said, I'm not sure if it was ever revealed or not, but wouldn't that be something if for all these years and and decades, everyone speculated that it was written about mick or warren and then carly reveals that it is actually about somebody else? Completely, that'd be cool, right, I don't know who knows.
Speaker 1:Now, this one at number 12, I don't recognize him. I recognize the artist. I think the artist was a country. I think in like 75, we weren't just calling it country music, I think we called it country Western music. But uh, number 12, I'm not the same from Lynn Anderson. Yeah, I, I, I, the name is sort of familiar, but that's about all I get out of it. So we're going to move on to number 11. Okay, cool, cool with you, it's cool with me. We'll do that at number 11. And I don't know this one either. And the artist it's like do I recognize that name? Kind of sort of I'm Not Lisa from Jesse Coulter. So maybe I know the song. If I'd heard it I can't say and the way it's spelled, heard it? I can't say, and the way it's spelled it looks like it's a woman. And she's saying, hey, I'm not Lisa, I'm Jesse, I'm not Lisa. So I don't know, maybe.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, here we go, number 10. We're going to break the top 10. Number 10. Thank God I'm a country boy From John Denver. I just mentioned that. That one I remember. That's a good one. Yeehaw. Here's another one.
Speaker 1:Talked about this one last week, also From the Eagles, off of the album. We talked about the title track, one of these Nights, just a staple in the Eagles catalog. I just got a text message. What's happening, larry? My good buddy, larry Reedy, is watching live. He just sends me a text to let me know he's watching. You could have put it in the comments, larry, and I hope you know some of these songs too because, as we've established, you're a little bit older than I and you like to tease me and you tell me hey, I got kids older than you, ben. So you should know some of these. And you love music as well. So Larry's a Larry's a big music lover too. Um, but thanks for tuning in. I really appreciate that, larry. Oh, and you know what I'm going to plug Larry's podcast too Larry Reedy's America. Again, wherever you get your podcasts, wherever you stream them, it's there, larry Reedy's America.
Speaker 1:And Larry's done so much stuff. He's had his podcast going now for I don't know, I think it's like four years, so he's got a ton of episodes. Right now he's in the middle of doing a series on all the presidents of the United States. He started at George Washington. I believe he started that right at the 4th of July, so he's going to carry it all the way into next year as we, the nation, celebrate our 250th anniversary. He's doing a really, really bang up job with that, doing a great job.
Speaker 1:He's very informative. You know, when we were all in school at our age, yeah, we studied presidents, but you know we studied like this much on most of them. You know the big hitters, the big names Washington, jefferson, adams. You know, of course, abraham Lincoln, you know, and then, as we got into the 20th century, little Teddy Roosevelt, fdr you know, we studied a little bit more on those, like I said, those big guys, the heavy hitters. But Larry's breaking down each one, each president, and he's giving you some great information. He's bringing in guests to go over the discussion and the biography on each of these guys as well, and it's good stuff. It really is.
Speaker 1:So check out Larry Reedy's America. Wherever you stream your podcasts, free plug Larry. I'm not going to charge you a dime for that. I love Larry. He is such a great guy, such a great guy. He is my buddy, that is for sure. So Eagle is one of these nights Great song. Still do it every night in the set. It's just one of those things. It's a staple for that band and let's see. So let's move up to number eight. How's that Number eight?
Speaker 1:We, I think we all know this song laughter in the rain from Neil Sadaka and, uh, I mean I know the song. It's a good song too. Uh, and Neil was still. Neil was still relevant in the seventies, uh, but he was more on the backend of his, of his career and his popularity. But that's a good song, it's a mainstay. I mean, everyone knows that song. Actually, I think in 75, he also had a single Check my math on this one, people, because I had the single.
Speaker 1:But neil wrote a song and performed. He did a. He did a duet or duo. I always think it's a duo when it's two guys but but he did a duet with, uh, elton john. The song is called bad blood and uh, you know a young I don't want to say up and coming elton john, because he'd been established at that point, but he was still early in his career but nonetheless still quite popular. But yeah, bad Blood, neil Sadaka and Elton John, great single, and check me on that I'm almost positive, that was 1975. Okay, moving on to number seven, we all know this one too, from David Bowie Fame. I think this was John Lennon's favorite David Bowie song. But yeah, fame, great song, Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you all remember it. I did a poor job of that. I got dry mouth for one. I'm on like an hour and a half sleep. I got home. I told you if you watched the TikTok video yesterday that I put out. I told you I was gonna be crispy this morning. I got home. I told you if you watched the TikTok video yesterday that I put out. I told you I was going to be crispy this morning. I'm surprised, and then we go again. There we go again. I got my phone cradle here on the table and it's suctioned down and twice now it's fallen. Sorry, you know, this is what happens when you're live. There's no cut, start, stop all that stuff, but it'll probably fall down, excuse me, it'll probably fall down again. But who knows, and why it does that? I have no idea.
Speaker 1:But nonetheless, fame from David Bowie, great song, one of his biggest. You know what album is that off of? Somebody's going to say what was off of fame, you knucklehead, I don't know. I'm just saying that. Yeah, I'm just saying it. Um, oh, good one. Number six from earth, wind and fire shining star, great one. Everyone knows that one too. Um, as a matter of fact, let me see. I mean, it's a big song, huge song for earth, wind and fire, and and and honestly, before I, um, before I printed out this list, I didn't realize it was from 75. I had no idea it was that old. I thought it was. I did think it was in the seventies, but I thought it was on the back end of the 70, 77, 78, 79, somewhere around there, but no 75. 77, 78, 79, somewhere around there, but no 75. Um, and I think let me see. Yes, as a matter of fact, I am correct.
Speaker 1:If you guys are into the hard rock and heavy metal and uh, the uh, especially the stuff that came out in the mid to late eighties, a band by the name of Striper they were actually a Christian heavy metal band they still, they're actually still active to this day. They still put out new music and they're out there, you know, killing it on the road to this day. They did a cover of that song, and how does a heavy metal band do a cover of shining star? I don't know Cause I don't think I've heard that one, but I, I, but I have heard a lot of striper. They're good, they're actually phenomenal, phenomenal band, and they still do it all live, all real and they sound great. Uh, let me see live all real and they sound great. Let me see Number five.
Speaker 1:At number five, we have my Eyes Adored you. I'd have to hear that one. That was from Frankie Valli. Here is saying the song title. It sounds familiar, but I'd have to. I'd have to hear that one. I think I do. I think I am familiar with that one though.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, number four, before the Next Teardrop Falls, from Freddie Fender. Freddie Fender, he was a country western artist and I do remember this song, not enough for me to sing it. But one of his other big hits was oh shoot, the name is escaping me now, but I'm trying to. Don't you remember the day that you went away and left me? Here we go. I was so lonely crying for you. Only my love, that was Freddie. That's kind of a poor imitation of Freddie Fender, but that's kind of how it was. Why should I keep loving you when I know that you are not true? Yeah, just like that. Why should I call your name as you're turning this off for making me blue? Yeah, trying to remember that.
Speaker 1:Oh, wasted days and wasted nights. That's it. I pulled that one out of my rear end. That was the one man. But before the next teardrop falls, a great song wasted days and wasted nights. Excellent song, so good, look it up. Look it up and, and, and and. Listen to it, you'll find. You'll find the video. Come on, it's, it's everywhere. You'll find it on whatever streaming service you use. It's there. It's such a cool song. But both those songs are great. All right, we're getting into it now. Three left.
Speaker 1:I talked about this artist a minute ago and another huge song at number three Philadelphia Freedom from Elton John, as we called him in 70. But EJ, ej, ej, that's what we called Elton John. I don't know if that's what everyone else did, but I know in elementary school we were calling him EJ. So Philadelphia Freedom, the song he wrote for Billie Jean King, the women's tennis star. Really, because she was a star. She was an absolute stud in the female sense, on the tennis court. She was great, she was tremendous. Let's see Number two.
Speaker 1:I had this single Great song, and I love this artist as well. Great song and I love this artist as well Rhinestone Cowboy from Glen Campbell Love, love, love. It so good. I had this single. I had the follow-up, which I think was Southern Nights. Yeah, great, great song. Love that song Rhinestone Cowboy. And I love Glenn Campbell. Glenn Campbell was such a great artist Didn't write a lot of his own songs.
Speaker 1:In fact I think it was Jimmy Webb who did a lot of song writing for Glenn Campbell, or at least Glenn performed a lot of songs that Jimmy Webb wrote. I don't. I'm not sure on this one if this is a Jimmy Webb song or not. But, um, but Glenn was uh, tremendous artist and, um, uh, well-respected, very well-respected but underappreciated guitar player. He could wail on the guitar and he was a part of that, uh, that, the, the cutting crew, which was a whole group of studio musicians from the um the sixties and seventies. He was a part of that group. So when you're, when you are a well-known studio musician, you know you got to be good at your craft. Let's see.
Speaker 1:And number one we all know this one, and I talked about the writer of this song just a few minutes ago, just a few minutes ago From Captain and Tennille, the Captain and Tennille love will keep us together. And I had this single. I did, I was grooving, I was bouncing up and down and bopping to this single when I was 10. Song was written by Neil Sedaka Check my math, all right, and we just talked about Neil with Bad Blood and Laughter in the Rain. So, but huge, huge song for Captain Antonio. I won't say it was their biggest, it could have been but I know they had some really big hits afterwards, through the late 70s and even into the early 80s with Muskrat Love, crazy song, what else. Oh, yeah, do that to me one more time. Okay, listen if.
Speaker 1:If there's any children watching or listening, please cover your ears. That song is naughty. Wow, that's a dirty song. Just listen to it. Listen to that song, listen to put, put it on, look it up, whatever. If you have the 45, if you have the album whatever put it on, drop the needle and listen to it. If you have the CD, put it in your player. Listen to it. If you have nothing, stream it, or even go on YouTube and watch the video. I'm sure there's a video for it somewhere. But man, what a naughty song. But man, what a naughty song. Put that one on with your loved one. It's happening. You know, larry, if you're still watching.
Speaker 1:We talked about once on your podcast. We talked about what's the song. I think it's the anniversary song and you were saying that put that song on and you're going to get lucky. Well, same thing. Do that to me one more time. Yeah, same thing, it's going to happen. It's going to happen, no question. So that was the top 30 of the most popular songs in 1975. And, like I said, I'm not sure how they rank according to the Billboard Hot 100, but I would say it's probably. You know, there might be a couple of differences, but there you go for that. But speaking of music, I got a text message from a buddy of mine this week and so I thought I would throw this out there because it's music related and I dig it. It's a great question, it's even a great topic. Ah, larry's texting me.
Speaker 1:Al Jolson, yes, al Jolson, with the anniversary song, and it is. That's a great song too. Larry and I we talked about it on his podcast and it's a great song and you can just, you can just feel the passion that that Al delivers. That so good, it's really, really good. So tell you what, if, if, if you're out there celebrating couples you know, married couples or whatever you're out there celebrating tonight, or even if you're not, you put both of those songs on back to back and forget about it. It's going to be all night long. Wait, lionel Richie sang about that right All night long. Huh, okay, yeah, great stuff. So, al Jolson, the anniversary song, and then Captain and Tennille do that to me one more time. It's all over. But the shock. I'm telling you Whoops, I just messed that one up. Oops, I just messed that one up. Sorry about that. Sorry, I don't know what I'm doing. So, yeah, okay, so you can bring the kids back in the room now.
Speaker 1:So the text I got was from my good buddy, raul. He sends me a text the other day and he asked me the question. I don't know where he saw it, but he says what album is truly a masterpiece from start to finish? I think the reason why he sent this to me is because he watched last week's episode on albums turning 50 from 75. And he was like whoa, 75, great year. And then he sent me this text so what, what album is truly a masterpiece from start to finish? And I stopped for a second.
Speaker 1:And you know, if you're, if you're the, you know you're, you're a great fan of whatever band or bands that you are. You know you pretty much are going to think, oh yeah, no, all their stuff is great, all their stuff. Okay, that's fine. And, and I'm kind of the same way, I, most of the bands I like that or that, I, you know, I really really, uh, you know, um, that I enjoy, I like all their stuff, I like all their albums, and so on and so on.
Speaker 1:But you have to break it down which albums are truly from start to finish, song number one to song number 10. There's not a bad song in the group, nothing. It's a masterpiece from start to finish. And not every band, band, not every artist can say that. You or we, even as as as fans and listeners can't say that about every band or artist, that all their albums are truly masterpiece pieces.
Speaker 1:So, uh, so I thought about it for a second and I thought, okay, a lot of good stuff out there. And I thought, okay, a lot of good stuff out there, and I'm sure there's a lot of masterpieces out there. So I just came up with four. Uh, see, one, two, yeah, I just came up with four real quick and I sent it back to Raul and he was like Whoa, yeah, he says I am fired up, so, um, so the first one I came up with was the 1978 debut from Van Halen. Okay, and that is, I mean front to back. It's a masterpiece. It's a masterpiece and I don't know, maybe I'm not sure if I can say that's my favorite Van Halen album, but if it's not, it's probably number two. If it's not my favorite, but that doesn't matter, it's still a masterpiece from front to back, from the time you drop the needle on the album, forget it, it's over, it is so good. Yeah, no denying it.
Speaker 1:But if you look at the Van Halen catalog as well, I would say probably their first. Let's see four albums. I would say probably their first. Let's see four albums. I mean just, I don't want to say spotless, just tremendous One to four, from the debut to Van Halen 2, then what was the next one? Women and Children first, and then Fair Warning. Yeah, just, I mean, there's not a lot of bands or artists that can say like that you know, had a better four consecutive album run, especially to start your career. So, all right. So the first one I said was Van Halen, the debut. The next one was Led Zeppelin four. Um, now some people would, would pick out a different Zeppelin album in the catalog. Um, and last. Last week, you know, this year 19,. Uh, in 2025, physical graffiti is celebrating 50 years. We talked about it last week and a lot of people say that that's the best album in their catalog, and it probably is.
Speaker 1:But when you talk about Led Zeppelin IV and you're talking about all the absolute great songs that are on that, the first track, the, the, the, the, the, the first track on it, the opening track, black Dog. Then it runs into rock and roll, those those songs back to back. I mean, forget about it. And I'm I'm going off the top of my head because I don't own it. I used to. Many, many years ago, when I was a kid, I had Led Zeppelin 4. I don't own it anymore. I had Led Zeppelin 4. I don't own it anymore, so I'm trying to remember it now.
Speaker 1:Then you've got the Battle of Evermore and then you guys can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Stairway to Heaven is the one that closes out Side 1. Then Side 2 opens with Misty Mountain Hop and I mean, just right there, just those, those songs that I named. Right there, every all five of those tracks were constants on um rock radio, on what we call it now classic rock, rock radio. But on rock radio those songs were constant. And the one out of those five there that probably got the least amount of airplay would have been the Battle of Evermore, but even at that that got a lot of airplay.
Speaker 1:I don't remember what came after Misty Mountain Hop. I think the album had like eight songs on it, maybe nine. So I'm going to stop there, I'm going to quit while I'm behind. So, led Zeppelin 4, masterpiece. Okay, like I said, you've got your own, leave it in the comments. Uh, then the next one I said was the foreigner debut album, and I, you know, I truly believe that's a, that's a masterpiece album. Start to finish. Um, what's the? What's the? The lead track on it, um, feels like the first time. Great song. Then cold as ice and star rider, right there, those three songs, just great. Uh, and I love star rider. Star rider is so good.
Speaker 1:With the, the trade-off between, um, what happened? I don't know what's going on here. Something, something happened right here. Oops, boom, there we go, boom, hitting that, whatever, anyway. So, um, yeah, the C star writer, what can? Uh, I think, head knockers after that. Um, full for you, anyway, I think.
Speaker 1:Closes outside one. Then side two opens up with um long, long way from home. Ah, what do we get into? Um, the damage, the damage is done. Is that the one that's next? Just but, but. Great stuff. Uh, I'm at war with the world. Just phenomenal stuff, truly.
Speaker 1:And the album closes with my second favorite song, my number two song on my Foreigner Top 20 songs that I did a while back, and that's I Need you. It's just the album front to back. It's flawless, it's truly flawless. So yeah, to me that qualifies as a masterpiece. Something's going on here, but whatever. Then the, the, that was three of them. Oh, then the fourth album that I gave to, that I gave to Raul, was Journey, escape. Not my number one album in their catalog, in fact, it's like number four, I think. But it is a masterpiece, an absolute masterpiece of an album.
Speaker 1:And that was a band that was. I don't want to say they were in transition, not really transition, but you had a founding member in in now the name just leaves me Greg Raleigh. You had founding member Greg Raleigh leave the band. You had founding member Greg Raleigh leave the band. One. He talked about retiring from the business, wanted to start a family, that kind of stuff, and then he also was kind of sick and tired of Steve Perry. But whatever, that's their thing, not mine. But so you had that happen after the tour for the Departure album. And then in comes this young guy, jonathan Cain, to take over keyboards and rhythm guitar and a lot of songwriting as well, co-writer, and the band goes from here to here immediately.
Speaker 1:I mean the trajectory with the release of Escape and it is a masterpiece. It's got four Billboard Top 40 songs on it with. The first single was who's Crying Now? Great song, great guitar solo to end the song, tremendous guitar solo to end the song. Then the next single was Don't Stop Believing, the biggest, the biggest Journey song, one of the most, if not still the most, downloaded song or streamed song whatever, in the history of streaming, which gained so much more traction that song did due to its um, due to it being on the uh, the series finale of the sopranos. That song was always. But if you don't know, if you're not aware, I'll let you know right now who's crying now? Actually, I'm sorry, open Arms, which was the third single released off the album. Open Arms was a bigger single off of Escape than Don't Stop Believin'. Then Don't Stop Believin', open Arms reached number two on the Hot 100, okay, don't Stop Believin' reached number four. So it was always a big Journey song, but it's so strange. And then the fourth single was Still they Ride, so let me just throw that one out there. So now I got the four singles out, but it's amazing that the album released in 1981, you fast forward to 19, or, I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:2007, I think, is what it was the year that the Sopranos ended and the song was always big. It was always big, but in 07, it just catapulted and it became something other than it was. Tremendous stuff, but, yeah, just great song. Great song, even though, even though it's been so overplayed over the years, especially since 07, it's been overplayed and overplayed and overplayed and then overplayed some more. Um, that I I think I mentioned this when I did my journey top 20 songs when Spaz was here that if I and it is, it's truly, truly a great song, but if I never hear it again, I'm probably going to be okay Like the burn factor on that song for me is eight, nine, okay, all right. So, so we got, we got.
Speaker 1:You get the four singles on there Don't Stop Believin'. Who's Cryin' Now Open Arms. You got Still, they Ride Great songs. But then you have these other album tracks that are just absolutely killer Stone In Love, dynamite song. Stone In Love. You've got Keep On Runnin' Great song.
Speaker 1:And a fast song. Fast paced song great song. And and a fat song, fast-paced song, also another one that's kind of for journey. It's kind of like their thrash song. It's a dead or alive good song, um, just like I said, just great stuff, and it just's all.
Speaker 1:It's all due to sequencing as well. When you sequence an album, it's very important At least it used to be and, um, then you got mother, father, holy cow, great, great stuff. And what else am I leaving off? Um, just off the top of my head now, cause I've jumbled all the songs in my head now I'm way out of sequence. So, trying to remember what I said and what I've, I don't know. I think I covered them. It's 10 songs.
Speaker 1:It's 10 songs on the album, and it is, that's a masterpiece, it really is. And if you've got a masterpiece, then leave it in the comments. It really is. And if you've got a masterpiece, then leave it in the comments. All right, let me know what your masterpiece is, or throw more than one of them out there, if you'd like. Um, so listen, why don't we just call it there?
Speaker 1:Okay, because, though you have had your breakfast, I haven't had mine yet. Nope, I got home at 4.40 this morning, jumped in the shower and then went to bed, and I was up before seven so that I could get things ready to come down here and you guys can have breakfast with me. Now it's my turn to have breakfast, okay, but before we close it out, I want to remind you again to mark your calendars for Saturday, october the 4th. Okay, sheriff Chad Bianco, 2026 Republican gubernatorial candidate, will be live in this studio. We are going to live stream it. We're going to be fielding some questions and comments, if you leave them, and we're going to get to know our Republican candidate for governor. We're going to get to know him, we're going to have some fun and it's going to be good stuff. I'm so looking forward to it. His assistant has been like tremendous to this point. She's been so nice, so, so nice. I hope she comes that morning too, because I really want to meet her, because she's been really really nice and the whole camp so far. Everything's great. So I'm looking forward to that. Yes, I'm telling you a month in advance, but I want you to mark your calendar, so get it done Again.
Speaker 1:Saturday, october the 4th 9 am Pacific time. Okay, that's 12 o'clock, that's noon on the East Coast, okay, but if you're in Hawaii, it's 6 am. So, as the rooster crows, is that right? Is that right? Something like that? Then, yeah, you'll be right here. Okay, all right. So with that.
Speaker 1:As you know, this program is available wherever you stream your podcasts. Just search the Ben Maynard program Boom, it's right there and subscribe to it. All right, you'll always get notifications when a new episode drops. You can also leave a five-star review too. Okay, please, I'll take a five-star rating anytime. Okay, you can do that Next.
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Speaker 1:All one word, ok, so we're done, we're out of here. You guys enjoy your weekend. What's left of it? Mine's just getting started and we'll check you back here next week. You guys behave yourselves all right. Thanks a lot. This is the Ben Maynard Program. Tell a friend.