DAILY DIRT: Ah yes … 45 years ago when Donna was queen o’ the disco and Bun E. Carlos wanted us to want him

And don’t forget, Kenny Rogers also had his foot in the door … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,042 of The Daily Dirt

1. I don’t think any other decade has ever offered quite the eclectic mix of music like the 1970s.

Of course, you had your basic rock (and a little roll), but there was also the “new” and pop-flavored country. And don’t forget disco, which was an important part of the mix, too.

Even near the end of the ’70s, all three genres were still active on the pop charts. Today we’re using the last week of August 1979 as an example — that was 45 years ago for those counting on your fingers right now.

Here was the top 10 that week, which was helping us say good-bye to summer and usher in the fall:

• 1. “My Sharona,” by The Knack: This was the group’s debut single, and it was all downhill after this effort.
• 2. “Bad Girls,” by Donna Summer: The first of two songs in the top 10 for Disco Donna. This was her biggest seller ever at 4 million.
• 3. “Good Times,” by Chic: This went on to be named the No. 1 soul song of 1979.
• 4. “I Want You You to Want Me,” by Cheap Trick: For those who may have forgotten, Cheap Trick’s drummer was named Bun E. Carlos. (His real name was Brad Carlson, by the way.)

• 5. “Main Event/Fight,” by Barbra Streisand: Yawn …
• 6. “Ring My Bell,” by Anita Ward: I actually liked this song for the first 3,277 times I heard it. This HAD to be one of the most overplayed records of the entire decade.
• 7. “Makin’ It,” by David Naughton: Yes, the same David Naughton who starred in the “American Werewolf in London” movie. As a singer, he was a good actor.
• 8. “When You’re In Love with a Beautiful Woman,” by Dr. Hook. The epitome of that era’s “soft rock”.
• 9. “Hot Stuff,” by Donna Summer: Can’t you still hear — and feel — that thump-thump-thump at the beginning of this 5-minute, 14-second disco classic from the late, great Ms. Summer?
• 10. “She Believes in Me,” by Kenny Rogers: Our favorite country crooner was on his way down the chart after a long stay at and near the top. 

2. Did you know (Part 104)

• That the song “Basketball Jones” by Cheech and Chong featured … George Harrison on guitar, Carole King on piano and backup vocals by Michelle Phillips and Ronnie Spector. 
• That in 1963 the opening act for a European tour headlined by Bo Diddley and Little Richard was an unknown band (at the time) named … the Rolling Stones.
• That doing back vocals for Kenny Loggins’ “I’m All Right” was a named … Eddie Money.
• That “One Night in Bangkok” (one of my all-time faves) was written by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA. Wow. Like double wow.
• That the season-opening NASCAR Clash, run for the last three years in California at the L.A. Coliseum, is heading to Bowman Gray Stadium — a.k.a. “The Madhouse” — in 2025. Bowman Gray is located in Winston-Salem, N.C., and is NASCAR’s longest-running weekly race track. The legendary quarter-mile site seats just 17,000 and tickets will definitely be hard to obtain.

3. Move over in the medal stand, there’s a new occupant.

The Great Plate Debate of 2024 welcomes a new member to the dais today.

“STARVED” moves into the silver medal position, knocking “U DRUNK” down to the bronze medal seat … and ousting “HEYYALL” from the podium.

Keep sending in those favorite personal plates you spot in West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri. All emails and texts are appreciated.

The reigning medal winners now look like:

• Gold medal: GEM CITI
• Silver medal:  STARVED
• Bronze medal:  U DRUNK

This week’s best of the rest:

• GAMMY 21
• SALT
• HAVEAGD 1 (have a good one!)
• I L TIM
• IFS QUINCY
• CANDIDE
• BAK N 1

Steve Thought O’ The Day — I have a theory that during the first week or two of school each year the temperature is guaranteed to hit 100 degrees. Would anyone argue this?

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. It should be mandated for the school year to start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day with Christmas break only going from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1.