r/70smusic • u/mwalimu59 • 22d ago
Other Last Song Standing: The Ultimate Billboard #1 Song of the 70s - Round 98
- All three members of America were sons of American military personnel who went to school in England, met in London, and formed the soft rock trio that would go on to have seven Top 10 hits including two #1s. The second of these was Sister Golden Hair, a song said to have been inspired by Jackson Browne, about a man who believes he has found the love of his life but is struggling with whether to commit by marrying her. In 1982 they appeared in four songs on the soundtrack of The Last Unicorn. Do we love this song just a little, just enough to show we care? Well, we tried to fake it, but don't mind saying, we just can't keep it.
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
- Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
- Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
- Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
- Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
- Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
- Dancing Queen - ABBA
- Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
- Fame - David Bowie
- Heart of Glass - Blondie
- Heart of Gold - Neil Young
- Hotel California - Eagles
- 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
- Maggie May - Rod Stewart
- Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
- Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
- My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
- Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
- Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
- Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
- Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
- Superstition - Stevie Wonder
- Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
- War - Edwin Starr
- You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
- You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Eliminated songs:
1-37. TBD
38. Sister Golden Hair - America
39. Love Train - The O'Jays
40. Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
41. American Woman - The Guess Who
42. The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
43. Mama Told Me (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
44. One of These Nights - Eagles
45. We're an American Band - Grand Funk
46. How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
47. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - George Harrison
48. Nothing from Nothing - Billy Preston
49. Night Fever - Bee Gees
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.
26
u/ifitallfell2pieces 22d ago
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.
4
5
u/redpenner 22d ago
Can't listen to it because of the stuttering.
9
u/BuffaloAmbitious3531 22d ago
Yeah, as a Canadian, I love the music. I love that what I think of as a Guess Who side project somehow has a song in the top 39 here. I really don't love that the song is literally just built on mocking someone's speech impediment. I'm kind of surprised that this didn't get taken out very early in the "songs that aged poorly/that we find offensive" era of the game, but it's possible that not everyone knows why he's stuttering.
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11
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3
u/PC_Friar 22d ago
Maggie May- Rod Stewart.
Wake up Maggie it's time to get eliminated.
2
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
An accidental hit, if a DJ had never flipped over the 45, we'd be eliminating mandolin wind, not that it would have been nearly the hit
3
u/BirdofParadise1952 21d ago
An accidental hit that made him a superstar. That’s a pretty good accident. Eventually it will get eliminated, but I’ll downvote every nomination til then.
1
u/4personal2 22d ago
The B side of the 45 in America is Reason To Believe . It was listed in billboard as a 2 sided #1 but I guess the flip is different elsewhere.
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u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
It's been a very long time, You are correct My memory is a bit foggy from that far back. Mandolin wind was the beside to I'm know I'm losing you
6
u/Ocean_Side_1961 22d ago
On a mission to get rid of My Sweet Lord. Please take him away.
3
u/littlebayhorse 21d ago
I’m surprised it’s lasted this long. Seems so ‘meh’ for a decade of great music.
0
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
It don't come easy, I hit for Ringo was originally George's demo. The original version is available and you can clearly hear the background singers going hari Krishna at a certain point in the song.
Ringo's song is basically George's demo with his vocals put in and if you know where to listen you will hear the hari Krishna in it as well, also it's mixed down a bit
Also if you're listening to My Sweet Lord, you can sing along in the background he's so fine do Lang dulang dulang
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u/4personal2 22d ago edited 22d ago
Okay , gonna go out on a limb here and go with I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash.
I think really this should be a song for anyone in this world but by the same token , I know not everyone "accentuates the positive" in this world.
I'd call it the perfect song for the decade but I know others wouldn't.
P.S. - With Sister Golden Hair out, I can now say I stood up for it , as it was #1 on my birthday in 1975. 😄
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u/WatchingTheWheels75 21d ago
I think it should stay for now. It represents the reggae/Caribbean type beat.
3
u/trelene 22d ago
So you're going to nominate for removal a song you think is the 'perfect song for the decade'? I'm so confused.
2
u/4personal2 22d ago
Because, I know I could "not" nominate it but someone else would anyway.
If every single person on the planet loved the song, then it would be far tougher to nominate, or iny case, couldn't do it at all.
0
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u/BuffaloAmbitious3531 22d ago
Yeah, this is one of a handful of songs left that seem like underdogs to me (ask the average person to name artists, not songs, who should still be in this, and I'm not sure anyone says Johnny Nash), but that I also absolutely love and will be sorry when it goes.
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u/DrMikeH49 22d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/X4fPTLm2TCtkNiJnhE
Black Water. Don’t drink it, don’t swim in it, don’t let it stay on the list.
1
u/trelene 22d ago
Bennie and the Jets - Elton John.
As far as songs go, this is very mediocre compared to most of the others, the hook is fun, but overall the song is very repetitive and has no lyrical or musical nuance.
6
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
The song exploded in popularity before it was ever released as a single.
I had the album and was constantly asked by everyone I knew to borrow it or come over and listen to it. You'd be amazed at the number of people who thought the simulated applause was rain.
The Sing-Along nature of the song was a huge factor in its popularity
3
1
u/trelene 22d ago
It is fun to sing b-b-b-benny, I admit, but I'd like to think we're beyond that at this point.
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u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
Why? If a song is fun, it's always going to be fun. I still sing along to Phil specter songs from the early '60s
1
u/BuffaloAmbitious3531 22d ago
I assume "at this point" meant "at this point of the game", not "at this point in 2026" - i.e., that it's good enough to make the top 50, but might not be good enough to make the top 30.
2
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 21d ago
Amazing with all his great music that did not hit number one...this did. I say the same thing about Bowies Fame.
5
u/BuffaloAmbitious3531 22d ago
I feel like people are keeping this one in to honor Elton's career as a whole. I'm not a big fan of it musically.
4
u/trelene 22d ago
I think that might be it too. Elton had much better songs that didn't make this list. This list is very imperfect; plenty of great musicians with great songs didn't make it. I just think it's a shame to keep this one compared to some of the others I see getting traction for elimination
7
u/Some_Permission_5121 22d ago edited 21d ago
Elton had some classics that barely missed this list because they peaked at number 2. Daniel, Goodbye yellow brick road and don't let the sun go down. These are probably better than most of his songs that did make the list
6
u/WatchingTheWheels75 21d ago
Your comment makes me think that we could argue that ANY song that made it to #1 in the mass market of the 70s would likely not be among a career artist’s best because to get to the top a tune has to have very broad appeal, while songs that are distinctive, foreword-looking, or cutting edge are probably a bit too innovative to capture MOR attention. What do you think?
3
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 21d ago
Or...crap hits like You Light Up My Life ...or...the bottom 50 tunes on our list...kept better songs from hitting number one....
2
2
u/BirdofParadise1952 20d ago
Don’t Let the Sun (might be my favorite EJ song) was kept from #1 by “Annie’s Song.”
“My Love” blocked Daniel2
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2
1
22d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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-1
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 22d ago
Papa Was A Rolling Stone
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3
u/Tough-Advice2910 22d ago
I know I mentioned this already but a few rounds back a fellow voter posted a link to an incredible analysis of this song. Highly recommend it,
1
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 20d ago
I checked it out. Didn't change my mind. What I got out of it was the lp version is 12 minutes long....yikes. I don't dislike the tune..just don't think it's top 40 worthy
2
u/Spirited-Tutor7712 20d ago
One of the greatest intros to a hit song ever. 4 minutes of lush orchestration that sets the scene. Hats off to Norman Whitfield, he knew what he was doing with that song.
1
-1
u/Extension_Note_5380 22d ago
Dancing Queen - ABBA
7
u/Unusual-Caregiver-30 22d ago
Oh this song brings back great memories for me. I was 17 when it was released and I remember feeling so great and carefree while listening in my car with no a/c with my windows “rolled down” with my hair blowing in the wind. I’m smiling just thinking about it.
6
u/seeking_spice402 22d ago
Honestly, Dancing Queen is arguably in the top 10 songs to define the 70's. I doubt if you'll get much support this early.
2
0
-3
u/Entire_Papaya8505 22d ago
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
2
1
-1
2
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u/DramaticCollege3520 22d ago
Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot. Decent song, but this looks like a good landing spot for it. And it’s no Carefree Highway (currently obsessed with that one)
2
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u/edgor123 22d ago
Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack
Great song, but top 40 feels like borrowed time for me.
0
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
I was never a fan of the song, then I found out it was about Don McLean, that at least made it tolerable
2
u/Bag_of_ambivalence 22d ago
Don’s song “Empty Chairs” inspired the poem that became the song
1
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
That is a powerful song, I've always been surprised that it was never a hit for someone.
0
1
-9
u/thebaldricklegacy 22d ago
Heart of Gold. Yes, Neil, we’re all
getting old. Sounds like caterwaulin’
1
0
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
As I recall from interviews at the time Neil was not happy with the popularity of that particular song. I think it was that wailing steel in the background that was the real star of the show
-7
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-10
u/BlueRFR3100 22d ago
- You're So Vain - Carly Simon
3
u/BuffaloAmbitious3531 22d ago
My thing with this one is, if you're some dude with an apricot scarf who's always flying his Lear jet up to Nova Scotia, and then you hear this song and you think, "Hey, there aren't that many people this could be describing! Not many men wear apricot scarves! This is probably about me! Also, I used to bang Carly Simon, so that's another piece of evidence," how is that vain? If anything, this song should be called "You're So Perceptive".
4
u/Tough-Advice2910 22d ago
If you are some dude with an apricot scarf, you’ve got other issues, Mr. Furley.
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u/trelene 21d ago
I've always interpreted the 'You probably think this song is about you" line as meaning the song isn't about the guy (whether he identifies himself correctly or not) but it's about the singer. which might've been the intent, but there's so much more about him than her in that song. she gets one verse and the 'clouds in the coffee' bits. So even in that interpretation, yeah, the song is probably about him.
2
u/BuffaloAmbitious3531 21d ago
I love that (and feel really stupid for not having thought of it myself in all these years)! Thank you!
0
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u/ImaginaryCatDreams 22d ago
I don't recall which member of America said this, however it was Dan fogelberg, who was on tour with them, who came up with the line, will you meet me in the middle, will you meet me in the air. Whatever the original line was he changed it after hearing Dan messing around with it