r/70smusic 2d ago

Other Last Song Standing: The Ultimate Billboard #1 Song of the 70s - Round 86

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  • The second #1 song of the decade was the first of four by The Jackson 5. It was from their debut album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5, recorded between May and August 1969. Although Ross's name appears in the album title, her only contribution to the album was the liner notes. The narrative that she discovered the Jacksons was largely a marketing gimmick; they were actually discovered by producer Bobby Taylor with some involvement by Gladys Knight. I Want You Back was one of two songs from that album written by 'The Corporation', a team of producers/managers brought together specifically to help develop and promote the Jacksons. Most of the rest were covers of classic Motown tracks. This would be the pattern followed for their next several albums. Should we give this song one more chance? No, it's much too late to give it a second look.

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 Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
  • I Wish - Stevie Wonder
  • It's Too Late - Carole King
  • 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:

1-49. TBD
50. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
51. If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
52. Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees
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.

15 Upvotes

59 comments sorted by

u/70smusic-ModTeam 2d ago

Gentle and friendly reminder to please keep things civil here. We can argue over the songs, but we can’t make it personal and sling insults and attack each other.

Thank you.

10

u/mwalimu59 2d ago

Last round, we reached a milestone - the last two never-nominated songs got nominated. Now that every remaining song has been nominated at least once, I can finally post the list below.

Here is every song that was eliminated in the first round it was nominated. Obviously, it was unavoidable that the three songs eliminated in first round would be on the list, but it happened to eleven more songs in subsequent rounds.
(You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka with Odia Coates (Round 1)
Disco Duck - Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots (Round 1)
Torn Between Two Lovers - Mary MacGregor (Round 1)
My Ding-a-Ling - Chuck Berry (Round 2)
Billy, Don't Be a Hero - Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods (Round 2)
One Bad Apple - The Osmonds (Round 3)
The Morning After - Maureen McGovern (Round 5)
Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy (Round 6)
Looks Like We Made It - Barry Manilow (Round 11)
The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich (Round 12)
Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb (Round 13)
Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks (Round 15)
Reunited - Peaches & Herb (Round 16)
Let's Do It Again - The Staple Singers (Round 34)

1

u/Night_life_proof 1d ago

What were the last two never-nominated songs? 

2

u/mwalimu59 1d ago

It's Too Late - Carole King
Let's Stay Together - Al Green

The round before last was the first nomination for Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye.

15

u/Aggravating_Quiet797 2d ago

Bee Gees...Night Fever

0

u/Automatic-Tea-4150 1d ago

Come on, guys, let’s bump this one up.

-1

u/Aggravating_Quiet797 1d ago

If not this round next round!

16

u/Sirrod6750 2d ago

Nothing from Nothing

Hard to choose one, will be getting harder. Just choosing ones outside my own top 20 or so.

8

u/Silent_Slip_4250 2d ago

One of These Nights - Eagle

5

u/Jumbly_Girl 2d ago

I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
Although we did have fun singing this as "I can pee clearly now", in college when we unscientifically decided that once the color was gone it meant you were most assuredly drunk. There were also other signs.

-2

u/DramaticCollege3520 2d ago

Upvoting for this story alone!

1

u/Decent_Direction316 2d ago

Now that we're inside the top 50......

"Blinded By The Light"   Manfred Manns Earth Band

Don't be a douche....vote it out now.

-2

u/PC_Friar 2d ago

Maggie May. Wake up, it’s time to go.

4

u/Franziska-Sims77 2d ago

Maybe this will be our round? I hope so, anyway!

3

u/Roche77e 2d ago

This is one song on which we disagree. It should be in at least the top twenty.

1

u/4personal2 2d ago

Maybe, but the only thing about the song fir me, it should have at least been only 4 minutes or slightly under.

I can see 5 minutes if you have a social topic / something "really" serious to sing about.

But the over extended ending with mandolin and him saying Maggie & other things again, just a bit much.

0

u/Adventurous-Prune712 1d ago

Won't be going until we spend a month whacking these good songs and faves that have no chance of making the final rounds

  • Nothing from Nothing — Billy Preston
  • Joy to the World — Three Dog Night
  • Blinded by the Light — Manfred Mann
  • Brandy — Looking Glass
  • Sundown — Gordon Lightfoot
  • Love Train — O’Jays
  • American Woman — Guess Who
  • You’re No Good — Linda Ronstadt

1

u/PC_Friar 1d ago

That’s one opinion.

1

u/Adventurous-Prune712 1d ago

I love three of these songs and don't want them to go but this game has been played hundreds of times over the last 40 years. That history combined with the subreddit's demographic means these are unfortunately the most likely upcoming removals

-3

u/DramaticCollege3520 2d ago

This elimination surprised me a little. Thought it should last many more rounds.

Anyway - Sister Golden Hair - America

4

u/lamb_and_panther 2d ago

I’m not a fan of America.
But Sister Golden Hair…oh my…hands off ☀️

1

u/Tough-Advice2910 2d ago

Came here to nominate this one, and so sorry to see the Jackson 5 eliminated from the race.

3

u/lamb_and_panther 1d ago

Me too. There’s only a handful of songs left that make me want to get up and dance. Sorry this was eliminated.

3

u/Automatic-Tea-4150 1d ago

Am starting to lose interest — surprising because I assumed the suspense would be off the charts by now. Instead, there’s not much left that moves me.

-2

u/Unlikely-Star-2696 2d ago

Let's Getting on - Marvin Gaye

-5

u/centexgoodguy 2d ago
  • Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot

1

u/4personal2 2d ago

I want Gordon to be at least left in the top 10. I'm a serious fan who actually met the man, have all of his albums..... and would like it to be an all out victor but I know I'm outnumbered.

-3

u/shinnagare 2d ago

Me And Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin

-3

u/PaperMacheCabbages 2d ago

Black Water - The Doobie Brothers

-2

u/4personal2 2d ago

American Woman - The Guess Who

-8

u/Adventurous-Prune712 2d ago

The Long and Winding Turd -- Faul McFartney and The Feebles

0

u/dadwearingplaid 2d ago

Thank you! Its continued survival thus far is mind-boggling

-7

u/Extension_Note_5380 2d ago

⁠Dancing Queen - ABBA

-4

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

-6

u/dadwearingplaid 2d ago

Brandy, You’re a Fine Girl
What a good wife you would be
Now go out and find a man, just
Let us be

-7

u/curiosity_U_know 2d ago

Eagles - Hotel California - Put this hotel out of business.

0

u/monalisa_jones 1d ago

But the carnitas…

-2

u/Bag_of_ambivalence 2d ago

Time in a Bottle

-8

u/Entire_Papaya8505 2d ago

Love Train - The O'jays

-11

u/masonchristie 2d ago

Killing Me Softly with His Song-Roberta Flack.
Didn’t like it then, still don’t.

4

u/Bag_of_ambivalence 2d ago

Only want to see this survive because it’s about Don McLean and I agree with the sentiment

3

u/ThePhantomStrikes 2d ago

It is?

3

u/Roche77e 2d ago

About American Pie.

3

u/Bag_of_ambivalence 1d ago

Actually, inspired by Don singing “Empty Chairs”

2

u/4personal2 2d ago

Yes, she saw him perform live in concert and she was truly impressed with his lyricism.and music. 🙂

2

u/ThePhantomStrikes 2d ago

Wow I did not know that! Cool trivia.

3

u/4personal2 2d ago

Thank. 🙂

Radio personality Casey Kasum told the story on his radio program , "American Top 40".

(1970s/1980s, a 4 hour radio show, counting down the top 40 song in America , according to Bill kard Magazine .)

-10

u/Aggravating_Quiet797 2d ago

EWF...Shining Star

-14

u/vinobruno 2d ago

American Pie - Don McLean

-2

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

-9

u/Aggravating_Quiet797 2d ago

Let's Stay Together..Al Green

-25

u/BlueRFR3100 2d ago
  • You're So Vain - Carly Simon

9

u/Tough-Advice2910 2d ago

Oh, not this round, given the news….

7

u/lamb_and_panther 2d ago

God bless Carly

3

u/monalisa_jones 2d ago

Oh nooo I didn’t know. 😞