101 # 1 Song of the Day 12-6-12

The artist who created today’s 101 number one song of the day was going through two very rough years of self-induced problems.  Although those two years ended with a chartbuster, it was his career that was about to go bust. 

He was beset by lawsuits and fines for being late at concerts or not showing up at all. In 1970, 26 of his 80 scheduled appearances were cancelled; in 1971 the figures were better but only slightly – 12 out of 40 were cancelled. Illness, management battles and eviction from his Los Angeles mansion added to his woes.  But on December 6, 1971 he owned the number one song in America.  But it was only a brief period of remission because it would be the last time he broke into the top ten.  It’s Sly and the Family Stone with “Family Affair.”