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The Flying Lizards : Money (That's What I Want)

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In July of 1979, The Flying Lizards released the U.K. novelty hit, "Money (That's What I Want)", a cover of  Barrett Strong's 1959 hit. It would quickly climb to U.K.#5, forever associating itself with the Summer of 1979. The Flying Lizards was actually one guy, David Cunningham, who played all the instruments. The detached vocal performance is by Deborah Evans-Stickland.

The song also managed to get radio airplay in the United States, peaking at U.S. #50 in January of 1980. By this point, I had started a band with a friend. He played guitar. I wrote lyrics and played percussion on whatever I could find, coffee cans or chair legs. There was something about the minimalist, avant-garde approach appealed to me. Of course I bought the album the following year!

40 Year Itch : One Week's Worth of '73 Soul Singles

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For proof that 1973 was a great year for soul, look no further than this list of singles that all entered the Billboard soul charts on August 25, 1973. 

Entering the charts the highest is "Get It Together", the title track from the Jackson 5's new album which closes with the future  #2 hit "Dancing Machine".

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Entering the soul chart at #64 is "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy" from James Brown's soundtrack to Slaughter's Big Rip Off. The single peaked at #6 on the soul chart and #50 on the pop chart.

The future #1 single ( originally written as "Midnight Plane to Houston" by Jim Weatherly) debuted in the soul charts at #75. Rolling Stone ranked it #432 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Tina Turner says Marc Bolan of T.Rex plays guitar on this rocking, semi-autobiographical single that became Ike and Tina Turner's last big hit. Debuting on the soul charts at #79, the song peaked at #11 and #22 on the Hot 100 pop chart.

Originally released by Lee Dorsey in 1970, "Yes We Can Can" debuted at #83 on the soul charts for the Pointer Sisters on its way to #11 on the pop charts and #12 on the soul charts. Written by Allen Toussaint.

Other new singles:

#81 Tribe - KDKE, pt 1

#86 Freda Payne - Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

#90 John and Ernest - Soul President Number One

#97 Barrett Strong - Stand Up and Cheer for the Preacher

#98 Manhattans - Do You Ever

#99 Eddie Floyd - Check Me Out

#100 Creative Source - You Can't Hide Love