"From the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of Alaska, you hear the nation's biggest hits every week at this time on American Top 40. My name is Casey Kasem."


American Top 40 with Casey Kasem aired on radio from July 4, 1970 until August 6, 1988. This recording is a rebroadcast from internet radio. 

In this countdown:

A chart first. The oldest recording ever to make the top 40, a recording made 29 years before this countdown, has its debut.

A listener wants to know, "What song was on the chart the most weeks in a row without ever hitting number one?" Casey says it was also the song that was on the chart the most weeks in a row period; a record 39 weeks in 1957.

John Lennon is at number 24 with his remake of a song by Ben E. King, "Stand By Me" and ironically, Ben E. King is back on the chart after a 12 year absence with his hit, "Supernatural Thing" (at number 6).

Paul Anka is on the chart with his 43rd top 40 hit, "I Don't Like To Sleep Alone" (at number 17).

Casey tells the story of the most popular suicide song ever written, the Hungarian Suicide Song, a song whose composer took his own life.

Only one artist was able to keep a record at number 1 for more than a week in 1975 until this countdown, the same artist whose doing it here.

40: Shakey Ground - Temptations
39: Love Won't Let Me Wait - Major Harris
38: Harry Truman - Chicago
37: Shaving Cream - Benny Bell
36: My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
35: Bad Time - Grand Funk
34: Young Americans - David Bowie
33: Beer Barrel Polka - Bobby Vinton
32: You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
31: Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John
30: Amie - Pure Prairie League
29: Autobahn - Kraftwerk
28: Only Yesterday - Carpenters
27: Shoeshine Boy - Eddie Kendricks
26: Thank God I'm A Country Boy - John Denver
25: Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow
24: Stand By Me - John Lennon
23: How Long - Ace
22: Killer Queen - Queen
21: It's A Miracle - Barry Manilow
20: The Bertha Butt Boogie - Jimmy Castor Bunch
19: Express - B.T. Express
18: Once You Get Started - Rufus
17: I Don't Like To Sleep Alone - Paul Anka
16: Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
15: Long Tall Glasses - Leo Sayer
14: Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
13: L-O-V-E (Love) - Al Green
12: Walking In Rhythm - Blackbyrds
11: Lady Marmalade - Labelle
10: Before The Next Teardrop Falls - Freddie Fender
9: Emma - Hot Chocolate
8: What Am I Gonna Do With You - Barry White
7: Chevy Van - Sammy Johns
6: Supernatural Thing - Ben E. King
5: He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando & Dawn
4: No No Song - Ringo Starr
3: Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
2: Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B.J. Thomas
1: Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John