I had no idea that Steve Barri (P.F. Sloan, Grass Roots) had produced the Four Tops' "Keeper of the Castle" and "Ain't No Woman." Or that the latter had originally been recorded by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds. (!)
I must say this turned out to be a very entertaining and educational 3 hours. Loved that Casey told the Cher-turning-down-"Night The Lights Went Out in Ga." story, and how 'bout that Rick Hall?
Yes, interesting to hear facts about these producers, including some of their other hits not played during this show.
Original Air Date: October 5, 1974
Top Ten Producers of the ’70s (well, 1970-74)
#10 - Thom Bell:
“ROCK N’ ROLL BABY” – The Stylistics
“I’LL BE AROUND” – The Spinners
“I’M DOING FINE NOW” – New York City
“BETCHA BY GOLLY WOW” – The Stylistics
#9 - James Guercio:
“SATURDAY IN THE PARK” – Chicago
“SPINNING WHEEL” – Blood, Sweat & Tears
“JUST YOU AND ME” – Chicago
“25 OR 6 TO 4” – Chicago
“KIND OF A DRAG” – The Buckinghams
#8 - Gus Dudgeon:
“YOUR SONG” – Elton John
“CROCODILE ROCK” – Elton John
“SPACE ODDITY” – David Bowie
#7 - Steve Barri:
“KEEPER OF THE CASTLE” – The Four Tops
“TEMPTATION EYES” – The Grass Roots
“AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT)” – The Four Tops
“SOONER OF LATER” – The Grass Roots
“BILLY, DON’T BE A HERO” – Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
#6 - Snuff Garrett:
“GYPSIES, TRAMPS & THIEVES” – Cher
“ALL I EVER NEED IS YOU” – Sonny & Cher
“NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA” – Vicki Lawrence
“HALF BREED” – Cher
#5 - Richard Perry:
“STONEY END” – Barbra Streisand
“WITHOUT YOU” – Nilsson
“YOU’RE SO VAIN” – Carly Simon
“YOU’RE SIXTEEN” – Ringo Starr
#4 - Tom Catalano:
“SONG SUNG BLUE” – Neil Diamond
“DELTA DAWN” – Helen Reddy
“I AM, I SAID” – Neil Diamond
“LEAVE ME ALONE (RUBY RED DRESS)” – Helen Reddy
# 3 - Norman Whitfield:
“JUST MY IMAGINATION (RUNNING AWAY FROM ME)” – The Temptations
“WAR” – Edwin Starr
“SMILING FACES SOMETIME” – The Undisputed Truth
“I HEARD IT THRU THE GRAPEVINE” – Marvin Gaye
“PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE” – The Temptations
# 2 - Richard Podolor:
“NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN” – Three Dog Night
“MAMA TOLD ME (NOT TO COME)” – Three Dog Night
“RIDE, CAPTAIN, RIDE” – Blues Image
“JOY TO THE WORLD” – Three Dog Night
# 1 - Rick Hall (of Muscle Shoals Studios):
“PATCHES” – Clarence Carter
“ONE BAD APPLE” – The Osmonds
“BABY, DON’T GET HOOKED ON ME” – Mac Davis
“GO AWAY, LITTLE GIRL” – Donny Osmond
“(YOU’RE) HAVING MY BABY” – Paul Anka