Earth, Wind & Fire "Shining Star"

July 5, 1989 is the date that changed television history: Seinfeld premiered -- although it was actually called The Seinfeld Chronicles. NBC believed so little in the pilot that they aired it the day after Independence Day without any desire to pick up the pilot. Despite this, the show actually finished a respectable second-place in its time slot behind CBS-TV's Jake & The Fat Man. Aftering unsuccessfully shopping the show to FOX, it appeared The Seinfeld Chronicles was dead. However, an NBC executive believed so much in the show, he cut money from other projects and used those savings to order four more episodes to complete the show's first "season" -- he actually took money out of a budget for a Bob Hope special to make Seinfeld. About a year later, in May 1990, episode two of Seinfeld aired complete with a rebroadcast of the pilot. Five simple episodes comprised Season 1 of Seinfeld, and critics were intrigued enough to help buoy the show. NBC ordered a second season of the show -- albeit a short order of only 12 episodes. Creators Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David never believed NBC would pick up the show, but -- once again -- NBC bought in. By Season 3, NBC knew it had a hit on its hands and the show's audience continued to grow where it became part of their vaunted Thursday night "Must-See-TV" lineup. 

Peter Frampton "Baby, I Love Your Way"

Add Peter Frampton to the list of classic rockers calling it quits this year. Frampton recently announced his farewell tour which includes a stop in Chicago this summer. Blame Frampton's health for this as he also announced he's suffering from IBM (Inclusion-Body Myositis) -- a progressive muscle disorder.  He discovered he had the condition three years ago after suffering from an on-stage fall. While there's no cure for the disease, Frampton is taking part in a drug trial at Johns Hopkins University. Having played the guitar for 60 years, he's a realist and wants to go out on top. He told CBS This Morning this is his farewell tour -- if his drug treatment works, the next tour would be the miracle tour. One dollar from every ticket sold on his farewell tour will help fund research into his debilitating disease. 

Heart "Dreamboat Annie"

When's the last time someone used the word "dreamboat" to describe an attractive person? Maybe 1975? "Have you seen, Joey? He's a real dreamboat!"

Earth, Wind & Fire "That's the Way of the World"

What does actor John Ritter and the band Earth, Wind & Fire have in common? Ritter starred in the sitcom Hearts Afire from 1992 until 1995 that used Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's the Way of the World" in the show's closing credits. Night Court alum Markie Post co-starred with Ritter in the CBS show which also featured a cameo from Night Court's Harry Anderson in a 1994 episode.

Jefferson Starship "Miracles"

If you want to get a song on the radio, record companies create a "radio edit" of the original song. In the case of "Miracles" from Jefferson Starship, the original version of the song clocked in at just under seven minutes and contained a verse about going down on a woman. After receiving a haircut, the radio edit of "Miracles" dropped the sexual lyric and the length of the song fell to 3:25.

Fleetwood Mac "Landslide"

STORY BEHIND THE LYRICS

A struggling Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham had just been dropped by their record company and the couple's personal relationship had also deteriorated in the early-1970s. Nicks contemplated her future and considered giving up on music and going back to school. She left like life was crashing down around her and while staying in Apsen, Colorado, she penned the lyrics to "Landslide".  

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds - "Fallin' in Love"

What do Drake, LaBouche, and Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds have in common?  Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds scored a #1 hit in 1975 with "Fallin' in Love".  Eurohouse group LaBouche later covered the song in 1995, and then in 2009 Canadian rapper Drake sampled the tune in "Best I Ever Had".

Natalie Cole - "This Will Be"

2016 can go away now.  Aside from delivering us Donald Trump, the year saw numerous A-List talent taken from the music world.  In fact, the year started with the news that Natalie Cole passed away (12/31/15).  Despite being notorious for remaking her dad's songs, Natalie's resume will always include "This Will Be".  Even though it was a hit in 1975, the tune resurfaced during the 2000s in numerous television commercials for the online dating service eHarmony.  In fact, when eHarmony brought back the creepy old white guy (Neil Clark Warren) to do their commercials in 2012, they also dusted off "This Will Be" for the campaign.

Dorothy Moore - "Misty Blue"

I dated a girl named Missy while I was in college, but my Grandma always called her Misty.

Eric Carmen - "All By Myself"

Eric Carmen took the haunting tear-jerker "All By Myself" all the way to #6 on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1976, but it was Celine Dion who buoyed the song to the #1 spot during the winter of 1997.  After the loss of her husband Rene Angelil in 2016, Celine returned to the stage in Las Vegas and performed "All By Myself".  There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

Ambrosia - "Holding On To Yesterday"

One listen to Ambrosia's sound and you could understand why the band toured with Fleetwood Mac, Heart, and The Doobie Brothers back in the 1970s.  

America - "Lonely People"

"Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup."

Elton John - "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"

Some radio stations refused to play Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" but not because the song clocks in just under seven minutes in length.  Nope, it was because the second verse contains the phrase "damn it".  

Minnie Ripperton - "Lovin' You"

There is a hit song that featured the sounds of chirping birds throughout, the heady lyrics "La la la la la la, dood'n dood'n doo doo", and a sound from a woman that can only be described as "just about to climax".  Put all that garbage together and you get Minnie Ripperton's "Lovin' You"--a #1 song from 1975.  What were the folks smoking in 1975???

Melissa Manchester - "Midnight Blue"

In 1975, Melissa Manchester traveled the States to play "Midnight Blue" at college campuses all across the country.  Can you imagine if she were to show up at a college campus today and perform this song?

Melissa Manchester - "Midnight Blue"

Chicago is getting a new oldies station--87.7 Me-TV-FM.  Their format will focus on music from the 60s and 70s that don't get the love from traditional oldies stations.  One such song could be "Midnight Blue", an easy-listening hit from Melissa Manchester that climbed to the #1 spot in 1975.