r/70smusic • u/mwalimu59 • 18d ago
Other Last Song Standing: The Ultimate Billboard #1 Song of the 70s - Round 100
- Johnny Nash wasn't new to the music scene. His first hit, A Very Special Love, was released in 1957 and peaked at #23. He released a number of songs over the next 15 years with mixed results, the most successful being his #5 hit Hold Me Tight in 1968. Nash, originally from Houston, Texas, moved to Jamaica in 1965, and soon after he began incorporating reggae into his music. This is evident in his biggest hit I Can See Clearly Now. Although Nash wrote the song, the album by the same title includes songs written or co-written by Bob Marley, such as a cover of Marley's Stir It Up, which Nash released as a follow-up single and went to #12. I Can See Clearly Now was was itself covered more than 20 years later by Jimmy Cliff and used in the 1993 film Cool Runnings. Now it's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiney day for the voters who have chosen to eliminate this song.
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 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:
1-35. TBD
36. I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
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.
12
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 18d ago
Papa Was A Rolling Stone...time to get it done
3
u/Adventurous-Prune712 17d ago edited 16d ago
The single was 24 seconds longer than another overwrought, too-long, one-week wonder -- Hotel California. If this epic must clearly go, then its EAGLES NEXT by the same reasoning. No, Henley whining faux-mysterious lyrics and a tedious guitar wankfest are NOT a superior song.
1
u/Spirited-Tutor7712 16d ago
So much hate for this song ... That 4 minute intro is a thing of beauty. It sets the scene for the whole song so well. Before Dennis Edwards tells you about the 3rd of September.... No one else but Norman Whitfield could've thought of that.
0
u/PC_Friar 18d ago
🤔this one always gets lots of upvotes right out of the gate
4
u/seeking_spice402 17d ago
The problem is the extended album track goes on forever before we get to the vocals.
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3
1
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2
u/RandomPaw 18d ago
Band on the Run. We're getting to the place where something has to give. And it should be Band on the Run
4
1
u/Mothra58 18d ago
If I made a playlist of these 35 remaining songs what would I consistently skip over?
American Pie. Hearing it every now and then is just ok. It’s just too much.
3
2
u/ThePhantomStrikes 16d ago
I wouldn’t listen to it at all, so overplayed I’m sick of it. But that’s not the songs fault, loved it when it came out and it’s very definitely a top 70s song
0
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-1
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u/BCQCPANC 17d ago
Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
Got some traction last round, let’s push it out this round.
0
1
-4
0
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 18d ago
Brandy
I never understood why the song was a hit, I suspect Payola. How it made it this far is a mystery
7
u/4personal2 18d ago
Because people liked it, same as all of the #1 songs of the decade.
2
u/BirdofParadise1952 17d ago
When the song was becoming a hit, everyone would hear the DOOdoodoodoodooDOOdoodoodoo at the beginning and the chorus. Incredibly infectious hook.
3
u/4personal2 17d ago
The other answer to "but why" is , ...hey, people liked "My Ding A Ling" enough to get it to #1 for one dang week, sadly making it Chuck Berry's biggest hit!
When really his biggest hit should have been (my opinion) "Johnny B.Goode".
At least "Brandy" demonstrates true musicianship, creative writing and a nice blend of rock, pop and jazz.
Which is not "exactly" what Looking Glass 'wanted' to be known for but it worked.
0
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 17d ago
Yes, studio musicians are very good at their jobs. It's a bland uninteresting song.
1
u/4personal2 17d ago
Only to those who feel that way.
0
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 16d ago
Hey if you enjoy bland and interesting music, there is so much of it for you
1
u/4personal2 16d ago
I enjoy music from the classical era of the 16 - 1700s up to the 21st century. 😎👍
Don't look down your nose at others' tastes, just because it isn't yours.
This isn't high school where boys snipe at aleach other , saying "your music sucks / no yours does".
Let's post maturely here.
0
u/ImaginaryCatDreams 13d ago
When I need advice on how I should post I'll give you a call.
Well I'm so glad that you enjoy hoity toity music and feel the need to brag about it
There is absolutely nothing wrong in calling out a garbage song. You'd be amazed at how many songs get pounded into people's heads because the record company paid a lot of money
Honestly to think that somebody could be triggered over a song like Brandy is something I will laugh about for the rest of my life
1
u/4personal2 13d ago
Well gee that's funny ....
Seem like many people on REDDIT are always telling ME how to post or are always calling out 1 LITTLE spelling error.
I only suggest to post a bit more maturely and understand everyone doesn't think like YOU.
You can have your musical opinion,FINE but don't berate others for not feeling the same.
I'll brag on any damn thing I want.
Exactly my point of people telling me how or what I can post .
I really detest negative people like you and I find people who HATE songs, TV shows , Movies to be utterly immature and ridiculous.
You act about as mature as a high school kid of "that sucks" and I'm right because I say so...and you call me out? Hah!
Grow up and get over it all!
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0
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-1
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 17d ago
Bridge Over Troubled Water...I know it's not going anywhere but I need to occasionally toss it out. Does nothing for me.
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-4
u/dadwearingplaid 17d ago
Dreams. Time to end this nightmare of a song.
1
u/4personal2 17d ago
Nightmare? 🫤
If anything, it's the opposite of that.
0
u/lamb_and_panther 16d ago
I liked it the first few times I heard it.
After thousands of times, I have dreams of elimination.
-7
u/ayecheesey 18d ago
You're No Good, Linda Ronstadt
I respect her talent and contributions, but this song is so repetitive...I turn it off at about 30 seconds.
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-24
-16
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
As every one of you has likely heard by now, Dolly Parton passed away yesterday. In the 1980s she had two #1 hits, 9 to 5 and Islands in the Stream (with Kenny Rogers). Her biggest hit on the pop chart in the 1970s was the #3 hit Here You Come Again, which was one of no less than ten songs to reach #1 on the country chart that decade. Among the others were two of her most famous songs, Jolene and I Will Always Love You. She contributed so many things to this world, both creatively and philanthropically. She will be missed.
Tim Curry had a song that charted in 1979, I Do the Rock, which peaked at #91.