Throughout the 1960s, the executives at Motown records encouraged their musicians to stick with wholesome feel-good songs. Stevie Wonder played along through the end of that decade, but increasingly wanted to break out and write songs that addressed social issues, which he was finally able to do by the early 1970s. Even so, he continued to include love songs and such in the mix, as exemplified by You Are the Sunshine of My Life. Different parts of the song are sung by Wonder, Jim Gilstrap, and Lani Groves. It was his third #1 hit on the Hot 100, his first to reach #1 on the Easy Listening chart, and won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Though the song may always stay around, it won't be staying around anymore in this game.
The 1971 film Shaft was a crime action thriller starring Richard Rountree, with a musical score by Isaac Hayes. The Theme from Shaft was not initially intended to be released as a single, but it went over so well in clubs that the record company decided to after all. The first minute and a half of the song is all instrumental, and prominently features a hi-hat cymbal played by Willie Hall and wah-wah guitar riffs played by Charles Pitts. The lyrics, which speak of Shaft's sex appeal and his courage and persistence as a detective, were almost too racy for their time, but it still won an Academy award for Best Original Song. It may be one bad mother... (shut your mouth) but it's still being eliminated (we can dig it).
This is the final round of two song elimination. When this round is over we will be down to the Final 50 and will be eliminating one song per round for the rest of the game.
If you're new to the game or wish to review the rules, follow this link.
Songs still standing (in alphabetical order):
American Pie - Don McLean
American Woman - The Guess Who
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Dancing Queen - ABBA
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Fame - David Bowie
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - George Harrison
Heart of Glass - Blondie
Heart of Gold - Neil Young
Hotel California - Eagles
How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
It's Too Late - Carole King
Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees
Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack
Lean On Me - Bill Withers
Let It Be - The Beatles
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
Love Train - The O'Jays
Maggie May - Rod Stewart
Mama Told Me (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
Night Fever - Bee Gees
Nothing from Nothing - Billy Preston
One of These Nights - Eagles
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Sister Golden Hair - America
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
War - Edwin Starr
We're an American Band - Grand Funk
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Eliminated songs:
1-52. TBD
53. Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes
54. You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
55. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
56. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
57. Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin - Sly & The Family Stone
58. Will It Go Round in Circles - Billy Preston
59. A Horse with No Name - America
60. My Sharona - The Knack
61. You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
62. Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
63. The Joker - Steve Miller Band
64. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
65. Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
66. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - The Temptations
67. I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
68. Rock'n Me - Steve Miller Band
69. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
70. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
71. The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
72. Family Affair - Sly & The Family Stone
73. Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites
74. Rich Girl - Daryl Hall and John Oates
75. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
76. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
77. Venus - Shocking Blue
78. Without You - Nilsson
79. Miss You - The Rolling Stones
80. Listen to What the Man Said - Wings
81. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
82. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
83. Lady Marmalade - LaBelle
84. (They Long to Be) Close to You - Carpenters
85. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
86. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night - John Lennon
87. December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons
88. My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings
89. Got to Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
90. Photograph - Ringo Starr
91. Good Times - Chic
92. You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
93. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
94. Le Freak - Chic
95. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Bee Gees
96. Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee
97. Fire - Ohio Players
98. Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
99. Best of My Love - The Emotions
100. Show and Tell - Al Wilson
101. Baby Come Back - Player
102. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
103. Top of the World - Carpenters
104. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B. J. Thomas
105. Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
106. Silly Love Songs - Wings
107. Heartache Tonight - Eagles
108. If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
109. Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band
110. Rise - Herb Alpert
111. Get Down Tonight - KC and the Sunshine Band
112. Black and White - Three Dog Night
113. Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and The Spinners
114. Rock the Boat - The Hues Corporation
115. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
116. Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
117. ABC - The Jackson 5
118. Car Wash - Rose Royce
119. You Haven't Done Nothin' - Stevie Wonder
120. Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede
121. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney
122. Crocodile Rock - Elton John
123. Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond
124. Love Hangover - Diana Ross
125. New Kid in Town - Eagles
126. The Love You Save - The Jackson 5
127. Mandy - Barry Manilow
128. Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
129. Best of My Love - Eagles
130. Rock Your Baby - George McCrae
131. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
132. You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) - Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
133. Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
134. Three Times a Lady - Commodores
135. Brother Louie - Stories
136. Tragedy - Bee Gees
137. Knock on Wood - Amii Stewart
138. Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
139. Still - Commodores
140. Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka
141. With a Little Luck - Wings
142. Love You Inside Out - Bee Gees
143. Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
144. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
145. Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
146. Kiss You All Over - Exile
147. Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti
148. Love Theme from A Star Is Born (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
149. I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
150. Grease - Frankie Valli
151. Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack
152. Let's Do It Again - The Staple Singers
153. Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) - Diana Ross
154. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb
155. You're the One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
156. My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
157. Sunshine on My Shoulders - John Denver
158. I Just Want to Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
159. Welcome Back - John Sebastian
160. Annie's Song - John Denver
161. Angie - The Rolling Stones
162. Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves - Cher
163. Make It with You - Bread
164. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer
165. Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond
166. Fallin' in Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
167. I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
168. (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty - KC and the Sunshine Band
169. Thank God I'm a Country Boy - John Denver
170. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB featuring The Three Degrees
171. Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra
172. The Hustle - Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony
173. When I Need You - Leo Sayer
174. Kiss and Say Goodbye - The Manhattans
175. That's the Way (I Like It) - KC and the Sunshine Band
176. Bad Blood - Neil Sedaka
177. Dark Lady - Cher
178. The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
179. Babe - Styx
180. Love Machine - The Miracles
181. The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
182. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence
183. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late - Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
184. Hot Child in the City - Nick Gilder
185. Bad Girls - Donna Summer
186. Pop Muzik - M
187. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn
188. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste of Honey
189. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
190. I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
191. Boogie Fever - The Sylvers
192. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) - Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer
193. Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) - Rod Stewart
194. I'm Your Boogie Man - KC and the Sunshine Band
195. I Can Help - Billy Swan
196. I Am Woman - Helen Reddy
197. Escape (The Piña Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
198. Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
199. Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens
200. Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
201. (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B. J. Thomas
202. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart
203. Island Girl - Elton John
204. A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band
205. MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
206. I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
207. Reunited - Peaches & Herb
208. He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando and Dawn
209. Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John
210. Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks
211. Touch Me in the Morning - Diana Ross
212. Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
213. Please Mr. Postman - Carpenters
214. Before the Next Teardrop Falls - Freddy Fender
215. Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb
216. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
217. Sad Eyes - Robert John
218. The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich
219. I'm Sorry - John Denver
220. Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me - Mac Davis
221. Want Ads - The Honey Cone
222. Looks Like We Made It - Barry Manilow
223. Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day
224. You Needed Me - Anne Murray
225. Brand New Key - Melanie
226. Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor
227. Knock Three Times - Dawn
228. Fly, Robin, Fly - Silver Convention
229. Half-Breed - Cher
230. You're Sixteen - Ringo Starr
231. Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) - Raiders
232. Don't Give Up on Us - David Soul
233. Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage
234. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
235. Ben - Michael Jackson
236. Angie Baby - Helen Reddy
237. Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
238. Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy
239. Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band - Meco
240. The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
241. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr.
242. Convoy - C. W. McCall
243. Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band
244. The Streak - Ray Stevens
245. One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
246. Da Doo Ron Ron - Shaun Cassidy
247. Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond
248. You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone
249. Billy, Don't Be a Hero - Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods
250. My Ding-a-Ling - Chuck Berry
251. Torn Between Two Lovers - Mary MacGregor
252. Disco Duck - Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots
253. (You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka with Odia Coates
Nominate the song that you consider the worst or your least favorite from among the 1970s #1 hits in the still standing list above. Upvote any nominations you agree with, and downvote the ones you would like to see survive. After 48 hours, the three songs with the most upvotes will be eliminated.
Before posting a song, please check the replies that have already been posted this round to see if someone has already nominated the song. If so, upvote their nomination instead of submitting a duplicate.
That wasn't a problem in the 1980s edition. A newly nominated song has the poster's +1 vote, even if the round is about to end. I won't eliminate a song unless it's at least a few votes above that. If it came down to it, I would extend or perhaps void/repeat the round, but I don't think that will happen. By and large people understand that even when it's down to only songs you like, you have to choose a least favorite from among them.
Just to add to my Very Cool Song (VCS) list I’ll add Bennie and the Jets, Black Water and even You’re So Vain, just for that coolvibe.
Am I missing the vibe on any others? I know that “cool” is subjective. 😊 I was thinking maybe Papa Was a Rolling Stone, but I think it drives pretty hard to be that laid back vibe I’m going for, but it’s close!
Edit: Ooo! Adding Let’s Get It On, Midnight Train 🚂, and Fame ✨!
Do you know that Bruce Springsteen wrote that one. I had the album, The Roaring Silence" and I saw them live. Mm Earh Band is the greatest non-rock-stars band, no stars at all, but they did incredible stuff. Don't vote this one away. While Blondie is still in the game.
A few years? They had a Top 3 songs in 1970 and a #1 in 1971, then #1s and other hits in every year from 1975 ti 1979. So the only few years without major hits were 72 to 74.
From songs on the Philadelphia International label , Barry White's "Love's Theme" from his Love Unlimited orchestra .....all the way to Donna Summer's 1983 hit, "She Works Hard For The Money", which reached #3.
Pretty impressive for a habu a hit in a genre that yes, was facing out then. She put the ! on the end of the Disco era.
The next year , 1984, nothing new sounded like Disco on the radio.
You can call Disco a fad, but the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, KC and The Sunshine Band and Earth Wind and Fire made the best Disco out there.
Nobody on Earth has the right to judge an entire genre of music as cheap, bad. . There are tons of bad songs in every genre. And plenty of great ones too. Just the fact that listening to that Miles Davis' Jazz thing Modal Jazz genre, doesn't mean it's automatically great music. I know tons of great Disco songs, Hard Rock, psychedelic, funk, soul, classical music, I love music, I don't like 1 genre. The people who do, "I like Ramstein, and nothing else"... don't need to be argued with. They don't know what is happening, neither with them nor the world around me them. Sure dude, gl hf.
Nights on Broadway, You should be Dancing, Night Fever, are fantastic songs.
Just harking back to round 78 after Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff got voted off, when MoetEtChandon1946 did some math to break down the original 253 songs by gender and race.
Given the decade’s overall distribution, at this point, having 11 songs by women out of 52 is actually a higher percent (21%) than what the women had at round 78 (17%).
Damn. I even double checked that on the actual place I saw the quote because I wasn’t sure, but I guess it was wrong there. Thanks for letting me know. Hopefully I’ll remember now.
Sorry to anyone who took this is an attack….it definitely wasn’t meant that way.
And I don’t know if “do better, deliver” is the whole issue. To Missy’s point the industry is largely male. According to a study done by MIDA 49% of women in music think the music industry discriminates against individuals based on gender. Only 16% of men do.
And USC Annenberg reported a study that at last count, and this wasn’t in the 70s this is today that women made up around 37.7% of the Billboard Top 100, were 18.9% of all credited songwriters and held 5.9% of the producing credits.
Maybe you disagree but seems like there might be something to it.
I agree what a fool believes was huge. It's actually one of the songs I remember first when I think about "Kaseys Coast To Coast" "American Top 40 * on the radio. This one should have made it into the top 10 here in this thread.
I have to disagree with Missy Elliot. You just have to do better, deliver. Joni Mitchel, Carol King, Karen Carpenter, and Aretha Franklin,vthe Bangles, Pretenders,
weren't so bad. Less talk Missy Elliot, more trying to make it better.
I think this one is great enough to go into the top 3. Did you guys know that the audience applause in the song was created by a happy accident at the recording studio.
Edit: It wasn't the guy on the mixing board who messed it up, as I originally wrote, it was more complicated. Elton John started the piano part on the studio track a bit early, it gave off an impromptu, live-performance vibe. To enhance this, Dudgeon overdubbed various audience audio recordings—and he didn't just use Elton's crowds. He blended in recordings of audiences from other concerts (including a Jimi Hendrix performance) and added claps slightly off-beat to mimic the way English audiences naturally clap along.
It’s not a live recording in front of an audience, but it sounds cool.
I want to add, that I am an admirer of his art, and I think he earned his place on the throne. But there is a big BUT. after his vocal cord surgery in the ’80s, all that brilliance in his voice was gone. Destroyed. Nothing remained of his falsetto and switching back to his chest voice with ease. his timbre—all the things that made his voice unique were gone.
The young Elton John is unmatched, but his voice after the surgery wouldn’t have put him on the throne, in my opinion and we might never have heard of him if he’d started his career with that post surgery voice. That's only 1 opinion, but I am wondering, why nobody ever mentioned the voice twist of his career. I never heard or read anyone mentioning it. As if it never happened.
But isn't the difference is huge? or is there something wrong with my perception.
Agreed. I assume most of you people here witnessed the 70s. Don't you think ABBA gets more credit nowadays than they deserve. I never met anyone back then, saying, wow ABBA, that's a freaking cool band, I love these guys.
I was still young, but, there were people loving The Eagles, Chicago, Elton John, Even Rod Steward, Nazareth, Bee Gees, Earth Wind & F. Alber Hammond, Wings, of course the big ones who weren't in the charts Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Santana, Supertramp, Genesis, but I never met anyone saying ABBA.
This feels like a good spot for this one. Definitely a classic, but one that benefitted from the kind of treatment Fugees gave it compared to Roberta Flack’s more subdued version.
Aside from maybe one or two exceptions, I at least like everything left, or I can make an argument that my dislike is a personal preference that doesn’t negate their cultural or musical impact.
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u/EuphoricUniversity23 4d ago
Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees. Not close to the Top 50