MARCH OF 1978 - BILLBOARD TOP 40

I initially started this page built around Yvonne Elliman and Samantha Sang, who were in the Top 40 in March of 1978 with “I Can’t Have You” (Elliman) and “Emotion” (Samantha) The latter was written by the Bee Gees. 

For years, I’ve been singing “My life’s a mess” when I sing along to “If I Can’t Have You”.  That’s what I thought she was saying ever since I was 13.  Shrug.  The lyrics are actually “My life would end”.  I prefer my version.  It’s a perfect song!  Here’s a great performance by Yvonne. 

I got a kick out of seeing Niecey Nash busting out in song with a nun while driving through a burning desert, singing along to Yvonne’s “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” playing on the radio in “Grotesquerie”. THAT was totally unexpected, but fun.

TED NEELEY - Speaking of "I Don't Know How to Love Him", I met Yvonne's co-star and titular character Ted Neeley on March 7th, 2025, at The Hollywood Show in Burbank. With a Sly smile and easy affability he spent much time with each fan and had a great sense of humor. He absolutely loved the photo I had of him; he was marveling over the color and clarity (thank you Michael Augustine-Reed). Ted introduced me to his wife, who is very good looking and serene. She showed me a picture of the two of them when they met on the set of "Jesus Christ Superstar". I encouraged them to make a copy of the picture and to put it on the table whenever they did a convention because it was so beautiful and sentimental and rare; especially for a "Jesus Christ Superstar: fan.  He loved the inscriptions that I had asked him to do especially on the one already pre-signed by Yvonne Elliman. Ted was really a wonderfully engaging man who understood that the main movie that he has known for is a blessing for him. I sent his wife an email with a copy of the "Jesus" photo, and reminder that they should put the photo of the two of them together and expressing my pleasure at meeting everybody at their table.  I can still see his warm eyes and remember his easy and inviting manner. No wonder he made such a great Jesus Christ!

P.S. It was Yvonne's version of “Love Pains” that REALLY got me … 

Samantha Singing Emotion – basically it’s the Bee Gee’s “featuring” her – no disrespect.  The video is so 70’s ... I'm surprised they even made one pre-MTV.

The Top 40 during the week of March 1978 included not only Samantha Sang and Yvonne Elliman but also these other folks in my collection. 

BOB WELCH - "Ebony Eyes" - #14

CHUCK MANGIONE - "Feels So Good" - pretty rare to reach #40 with an instrumental.

ROBERTA FLACK - "The Closer I Get to You" with Donny Hathaway ultimately reached #2

LOU RAWLS - "Lady Love" - #24