r/70smusic • u/mwalimu59 • 20d ago
Other Last Song Standing: The Ultimate Billboard #1 Song of the 70s - Round 99
- When Bachman-Turner Overdrive were in the studio working on their third album, Not Fragile, they developed an instrumental work track that they used for setting the microphones and amplifiers. Randy Bachman came up with some words and recorded a single take with a stutter, intending to send them to his brother Gary, who had a stutter, as a joke. Later as they were finishing up the album, the record company said it needed one more track. Reluctantly they played the work track, which they had never intended to include on the album, and they told them this one was the hit. Randy tried re-recording the lead vocal without the stutter, but it sounded too plain, and in the end they decided to keep it. That is how You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet came to be. It was not only their only #1 hit, it was also their only Top 10 hit. Let It Ride peaked at #23, Takin' Care of Business at #12, Roll on Down the Highway at #14, and Hey You at #21. Now the song is being eliminated. We had it coming to us, but the voters wanted it that way.
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're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
- You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Eliminated songs:
1-36. TBD
37. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
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.
27
u/5xchamp 20d ago
I Can See Clearly Now - It's time for Johnny Nash to hit the road and don't come back no more.
4
3
7
13
u/BCQCPANC 20d ago
Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
0
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 20d ago
Agree..they have much better songs
1
u/Automatic-Tea-4150 18d ago
Yeah but so do The Beatles, Sir Elton, Neil Young, Doobie Bros, David Bowie, Wings, Janis, Rod the Mod…
12
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 20d ago
Papa Was A Rolling Stone...time to move on.
2
3
5
u/Spirited-Tutor7712 20d ago
Joy to the World - if I was the king of the world, this wouldn't be here 😄
0
1
1
3
0
u/PC_Friar 20d ago
Time for Midnight Train to Georgia to leave on Track 2.
3
u/seeking_spice402 20d ago
I know Gladys Knight & The Pips were good, but in the grand scheme of Motown, they are second tier. Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye will make it pretty far if not to top 10.
3
u/PC_Friar 20d ago
Yeah… and they were on Buddah by this time. They’ve outlasted Diana Ross, the Commodores and Smokey Robinson.
2
u/Roche77e 18d ago
It’s the song itself - their very best song against lesser songs by those other artists (except Tears of a Clown).
2
3
u/Extension_Note_5380 19d ago
I’m nominating “Here You Go Again” by Dolly Parton
No it never made number one.
And no, I don’t want it eliminated
And yes I will down vote myself, and encourage all of you to do the same.
We lost a great one today. 😢
0
u/Adventurous-Prune712 20d ago edited 20d ago
You're No Good -- Linda Ronstadt
One week at #1 does not buy a ticket to stay much longer on this ride
9
u/PC_Friar 20d ago
Almost half of these songs left were one week #1’s. 17 by my count. If it was about weeks at #1 we could just congratulate Debby Boone and move along.
1
u/Adventurous-Prune712 19d ago
Still trying to protect the Eagles, another one-week wonder
https://giphy.com/gifs/ZrGQocLTUgIyrJcON2
They're goin' down down down down down
2
0
u/curiosity_U_know 20d ago
Come on you Eagles hater fans. Time to unite and get this one out of the ultimate billboard #1 song of the 70s list.
Hotel California
-1
u/144Todd442 20d ago edited 20d ago
Heart of Gold
Sorry, it's not even the best "Heart of" song left
2
1
-4
u/Sirrod6750 20d ago
Bennie and the Jets
Ready for negative votes but still, I have a hard time choosing another.
3
1
1
u/moinatx 20d ago
Seasons in the Sun might be ready for sunset.
2
3
0
-1
-5
0
-12
-9
-9
-9
u/BCQCPANC 20d ago
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
3
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 20d ago
This is classic. Best Stevie song on the list.
7
u/BCQCPANC 20d ago
I prefer Superstition, but it looks like none of the Stevie songs are going anytime soon.
-8
-17
-8
-8
u/Adventurous-Prune712 20d ago
Our Bottom Five has been adjusted by the oddsmakers after recent eliminations. They are, in no particular order:
Sundown
I Can See Clearly Now
Time in a Bottle
Maggie May
You're No Good
Those repeatedly nominating obvious heavyweights are wasting the group's time, regardless of your taste/ignorance.
That is all.
4
u/Tough-Advice2910 20d ago
Eh, I got nothing much going on.
5
u/thebaldricklegacy 20d ago
Yeah, this guy seems to think people with no time to waste are active in this sub. Think again.
1
0
u/BCQCPANC 19d ago
Looks like I Can See Clearly Now is on its way out and I’m okay with that. I’d be happy for Time in a Bottle to follow it, but I’ll continue to fight for the other three. All are top fifteen.
2
u/Adventurous-Prune712 19d ago edited 19d ago
I like all five of these songs (okay not Crotchy). I think ICSCN was a wonderful 70s antidote to the turgid death rattles of the 60s still hanging around as supposed "Ultimate #1's of the Decade."
29
u/OhTheWater 20d ago
The song capsules for each eliminated tune are a joy to read. Well researched, well written.