Top 10 Songs of the 1970’s
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1970 were:
1.) “Venus” by The Shocking Blue
2.) “Mama Told Me Not To Come” by Three Dog Night
3.) “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family
4.) “Tears of a Clown” by Smokey Robinson & Miracles
5.) “The Rapper” by the Jaggerz
6.) “I Want You Back” by the Jackson Five
7.) “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum
8.) “Vehicle” by The Ides of March
9.) “War” by Edwin Starr
10.) “Green-Eyed Lady” by Sugarloaf
As I have come to find out, through the years, the song that wins the “Song of the Year” rarely is ever included in the top ten. 1970 was no different. “Bridge Over Trouble Water” by Simon and Garfunkel won the honor this year. But, and this is a very rare occurrence as well, it was considered the number one single of the year. Numbers two through ten follow:
2.) “American Woman” by Guess Who
3.) “Get Ready” by Rare Earth
4.) “Band of Gold” by Freda Payne
5.) “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” by B.J. Thomas
6.) “ABC” by The Jackson 5
7.) “Let It Be” by The Beatles
8.) “Close To You” by Carpenters
9.) “Mama Told Me Not To Come” by Three Dog Night
10.) “War” by Edwin Starr
The soundtrack from the top grossing movie of the year, Love Story, introduced all romantic couples to “Theme from Love Story”.
As the seventies decade was just beginning, two legendary lives tragically ended when Janis Joplin died on October 4, 1970 at the age of 27 and Jimi Hendrix on September 18th, 1970 at the age of 37.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1971 were
1.) “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night
2.) “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart
3.) “One Bad Apple” by The Osmonds
4.) “Family Affair” by Sly And The Family Stone
5.) “Knock Three Times” by Dawn
6.) “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves” by Cher
7.) “Indian Reservation” by Paul Revere and The Raiders
8.) “Treat Her Like A Lady” by Cornelius Brothers And Sister Rose
9.) “Black Magic Woman” by Santana
10.) “Draggin’ the Line” by Tommy James
“You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor won Song of the Year in 1971. It isn’t listed in the Billboard Top Ten or the top singles listed for the year. Those are:
1.) “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night
2.) “It’s Too Late” by Carole King
3.) “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart” by Bee Gees
4.) “Indian Reservation” by The Raiders
5.) “One Bad Apple” by The Osmonds
6.) “Go Away Little Girl” by Donny Osmond
7.) “Just My Imagination” by The Temptations
8.) “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver and Fat City
9.) “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart
10.) “Knock Three Times” by Dawn
1971’s top grossing movie of the year was Billy Jack. It’s soundtrack brought us songs such as “Johnnie” and “Look, Look to the Mountain” by Teresa Kelly, “When Will Billy Love Me” and “A Rainbow Made of Children” by Lynn Baker and “The Ring Song” by Katy Moffatt.
Future 1970’s legends “The Eagles” and “Queen” also got together this year.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1972 were
1.) “Alone Again” by Gilbert O’Sullivan
2.) “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash
3.) “Black And White” by Three Dog Night
4.) “Brandy” by Looking Glass
5.) “My Ding-A-Ling” by Chuck Berry
6.) “A Horse With No Name” by America
7.) “Long Cool Woman” by Hollies
8.) “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” by The Temptations
9.) “Nights In White Satin” by Moody Blues
10.) “Back Stabbers” by The O’Jays
The song “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack, the Song of the Year, did make the countdown for top singles of the Year 1972. The complete list is:
1.) “American Pie (Parts 1 & 2)” by Don McLean
2.) “Alone Again” by Gilbert O’Sullivan
3.) “Without You” by Nilsson
4.)”Brand New Key” by Melanie
5.) “I Gotcha” by Joe Tex
6.) “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast” by Wayne Newton
7.)”Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green
8.) “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack
9.)”Brandy” By Looking Glass
10.) “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
The Godfather, which I think no movie collection should be without, was the top grossing film of the year. Its soundtrack included, among other beautiful background compositions, songs such as “I Have But One Heart” sung by Al Martino and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” sung by the legendry Bing Crosby.
The 1950s musical Grease opened on Broadway in 1972 and on the total opposite side of the spectrum, the band K.I.S.S. also formed this year.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1973 were:
1.) “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John
2.) “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce
3.) “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and the Pips
4.) “Brother Louie” by the Stories
5.) “Frankenstein” by the Edgar Winter Group
6.) “Will It Go Round in Circles” by Billy Preston
7.) “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John
8.) “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
9.) “Ramblin’ Man” by The Allman Brothers
10.) “Love Train” by The O’Jays
The tune that won Song of the Year, “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack was number eight in the top ten singles. The complete list of hits was:
1.) “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree” by Dawn with Tony Orlando
2.) “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce
3.) “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John
4.) “My Love” by Paul McCartney and the Wings
5.) “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
6.) “Touch Me in the Morning” – Diana Ross
7.) “Delta Dawn” by Helen Reddy
8.) “Playground in My Mind” – Clint Holmes
9.) “Killing Me Softly With His Song” by Roberta Flack
10.) “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul
The 1970’s cult classic “The Exorcist” was the top grossing movie this year and along with the suspenseful background music, it also included “Ramblin’ Man” by the Allman Brothers.
1973 was also graced with the debut of a man who would become to be known as “The Boss”, Bruce Springsteen.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1974 were:
1.) “Bennie and The Jets” by Elton John
2.) “The Loco-Motion” by Grand Funk Railroad
3.) “Nothing from Nothing” by Billy Preston
4.) “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone
5.) “I Can Help” by Billy Swan
6.) “Dancing Machine” by the Jackson 5
7.) “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band
8.) “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
9.) “Boogie Down” by Eddie Kendricks
10.) “Rock On” by David Essex
This year, “The Way That We Were” By Barbara Streisand, won Song of the Year and was the number one single. Numbers two through nine follow:
2.) “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone
3.) “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks
4.) “Show And Tell” by Al Wilson
5.) “Love’s Theme” by The Love Unlimited Orchestra
6.) “The Loco-motion” by Grand Funk
7.) “Bennie and The Jets” by Elton John
8.) “You Make Me Feel Brand New” by The Stylistics
9.) “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by John Denver
10.) “T.S.O.P. (The Sound Of Philadelphia)” by MFSB with The Three Degrees
“Blazing Saddles” which was the top grossing film of 1974, of course gave us the theme song “Blazing Saddles” by Frankie Lane but the soundtrack also included a few Mel Brooks numbers such as: “I’m Tired”, “The French Mistake” and “The Ballad of Rock Ridge”.
The biggest music event of the year was the start of the American Music Awards with Dick Clark on February, 1974. This was one of the most memorable moments of the 1970’s decade.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1975 were:
1.) “Sister Golden Hair” by: America
2.) “Island Girl” by Elton John
3.) “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain/Tennille
4.) “When Will I Be Loved” by Linda Ronstadt
5.) “Fallin’ In Love” by Hamilton, Joe Frank And Reynolds
6.) “Bad Blood” by Neil Sedaka
7.) “Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John
8.) “Sky High” by Jigsaw
9.) “Jackie Blue” by Ozark Mountain Daredevils
10.) “Get Down Tonight” by KC and The Sunshine Band
“Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim from the musical “A Little Night Music” won the honor of Song of the Year and the top ten singles were:
1.) “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille
2.) “Rhinestone Cowboy” by Glen Campbell
3.) “Fame” by David Bowie
4.) “”Shining Star” by Earth, Wind and Fire
5.) “My Eyes Adored You” by Frankie Valli
6.) “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” by John Denver
7.) “Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John
8.) “One Of These Nights” by Eagles
9.) “Pick Up The Pieces” by Average White Band
10.) “At Seventeen” by Janis Ian
This is the year that the movie that caused beachgoer panic all over the world was released. The soundtrack for Jaws introduced us to most well known, hair-raising theme song known to man as well as a few ditties that are still sung by men in bars up to this day. Who can forget Robert Shaw’s rendition of “Spanish Ladies” or him and his buddies, Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider bonding over “Show Me the Way to Go Home” while getting drunk during the hunt for killer shark?
Linda Ronstadt, formerly of the Stone Poneys, released her first solo album, “Heart Like a Wheel”, in 1975.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1976 were:
1.) “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee
2.) “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright
3.) “Love Machine (part 1)” by The Miracles
4.) “Let Your Love Flow” by The Bellamy Brothers
5.) “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry
6.) “Saturday Night” by Bay City Rollers
7.) “Fooled Around and Fell In Love” by Elvin Bishop
8.) “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” by England Dan, John Ford Coley
9.) “All By Myself” by Eric Carmen
10.) “The theme from S. W. A. T.” by Rhythm Heritage
The mellow “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow won Song of the Year. It is not listed in the top ten singles which contained the following hits:
1.) “Disco Lady” by Johnnie Taylor
2.) “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee
3.) “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry
4.) “Tonight’s the Night” by Rod Stewart
5.) “Kiss and Say Goodbye” by The Manhattans
6.) “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney and Wings
7.) “A Fifth of Beethoven” by Walter Murphy
8.) “Love Machine (Part 1)” by The Miracles
9.) “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” by Paul Simon
10.) “Oh, What A Night” by The 4 Seasons
The testosterone laden classic “Rocky” was the top grossing movie this year and the theme music is still what pumps men up the world over. In addition this movie gave us such hits such as “Eye of the Tiger” and “Burning Heart” by Survivor, “No Easy Way Out” by Robert Tepper and “Hearts on Fire” by John Cafferty. What American didn’t love the inclusion of “Living in America” preformed by James Brown himself? And I think that I can speak for all women everywhere when I express gratitude to Vince Di Cola for contributing, among other compositions in the film, “Training Montage”. I can personally listen to and watch the sequence during which this is playing over and over again. Bravo!
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) created a new platinum award this year, due to the increased sales in music. This prestige goes to singles that sell more then 2 million copies and to albums that sell 1 million or more. The first single to receive the honor is Johnnie Taylor’s “Disco Lady” and the first album to go platinum was The Eagles “Greatest Hits 1971-1975”.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1977 were:
1.) “Boogie Nights” by Heatwave
2.) “Undercover Angel” by Alan O’Day
3.) “Rich Girl” by Hall And Oates
4.) “I’m In You” by Peter Frampton
5.) “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston
6.) “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” by Leo Sayer
7.) “I’m Your Boogie Man” by KC & The Sunshine Band
8.) “Got to Give It Up (part 1)” by Marvin Gaye
9.) “Couldn’t Get It Right” by Climax Blues Band
10.) “Car Wash” by Rose Royce
Two songs shared the honor of Song of the year in 1977. They were “Love Theme from a Star Is Born” by Barbra Streisand and “You Light Up My Life,” by Debby Boone, which was also the number one hit in the years Top Ten Singles. The rest of this list was:
2.) “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” by Andy Gibb
3.) “Evergreen” by Barbra Streisand
4.) “Undercover Angel” by Alan O’Day
5.) “I Like Dreamin'” by Kenny Nolan
6.) “Dancing Queen” by Abba
7.) “Torn Between Two Lovers” by Mary MacGregor
8.) “Higher and Higher” by Rita Coolidge
9.) Best of My Love” by The Emotions
10.) “Southern Nights” by Glenn Campbell
Who can forget the soundtrack from the top grossing movie of the year, Star Wars, and the new age background music that came with it? It didn’t just create fans it created a whole new society of people with there own brand of dress, language and music.
This year in the history of music, considered the saddest one of the 1970’s and many decades to come, Elvis Presley “The King of Rock N’ Roll” died on August 16, 1977.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1978 were:
1.) “We Are the Champions” by Queen
2.) “Hot Child in the City” by Nick Gilder
3.) “It’s a Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler
4.) “Take a Chance on Me” by Abba
5.) “Baby Come Back” by Player
6.) “Reminiscing” by Little River Band
7.) “Lay Down Sally” by Eric Clapton
8.) “If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman
9.) “Kiss You All Over” by Exile
10.) “I Go Crazy” by Paul Davis
Song of the Year in 1978 was “Just the Way You Are” by Billy Joel. The Top Ten Singles were:
1.) “Night Fever” by the Bee Gees
2.) “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb
3.) “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees
4.) “Kiss You All Over” by Exile
5.) “Three Times A Lady” by the Commodores
6.) “Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey
7.) “Baby Come Back” by Player
8.) “Emotion” by Samantha Sang
9.) “You’re The One That I Want” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
10.) “Grease” by Frankie Valli
I am not ashamed to admit that I own a copy of the top grossing movie of 1978, “Grease” as well as the soundtrack to it. My children and I rock out to every song including John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s duets of “Summer Nights” and “You’re the one That I Want”. My son loves John Travolta singing “Greased Lightning” Olivia Newton-John’s “Hopelessly Devoted to You” is a favorite of mine to sing to my husband at Karaoke.
A movie soundtrack actually sold over ten million copies during the short time between when it was released in December of 1977 and the month of April in 1978, making it the top grossing album ever in music history. It was from the movie “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta. The hits on this album included hits from the Bee Gees such as “You Should Be Dancing”, “Jive Talkin'”, “More Than a Woman”, “Night Fever”, “How Deep Is Your Love” and the famous “Stayin’ Alive”.
The Billboard Top 10 songs of the year 1979 were:
1.) “Heart of Glass by Blondie
2.) “My Sharona” by The Knack
3.) “Just When I Needed You Most” by Randy Van Warmer
4.) “Escape” by Rupert Holmes
5.) “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
6.) “Y. M. C. A.” by Village People
7.) “Sad Eyes” by Robert John
8.) “Fire” by Pointer Sisters
9.) “Ring My Bell: by Anita Ward
10.) “Devil Went Down To Georgia” by Charlie Daniels
“What a Fool Believes” by the Doobie Brothers won Song of the Year and the top ten singles of 1979 were:
1.) “My Sharona” by The Knack
2.) “Le Freak” by Chic
3.) “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” by Rod Stewart
4.) “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer
5.) “Y.M.C.A.” by Village People
6.) “Reunited” by Peaches & Herb
7.) “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward
8.) “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
9.) “Too Much Heaven” by Bee Gees
10.) “Hot stuff” by Donna Summer
The top grossing movie of the year “Kramer VS Kramer” was, in my opinion one of the saddest “Based on a True Story” movies ever made. The soundtrack from the movie is no less of a tear-jerker with its haunting instrumentals.
“Evita”, the musical based on the life of Juan Peron’s, (the Argentine Dictator) wife opened on Broadway in 1979.
Well my friend, this brings us to the end of a whirl-wind decade, the 1970’s. Stay tuned as we leave the Bell-Bottoms behind, say goodbye to the Far-Out decade and greet a time where Aqua-Net is Queen and everyone is too cool for school. Known as the 1980’s, where we will once again list the Top Ten Songs of the decade. Until next time Man, “Keep on Truckin'” with all those groovy chicks.
