Yesterday we told you about the new book "Ranking The '70's" by Dann Isbell and Bill Carroll. (Scroll back to read our review ... and find the ordering information)
We'll spend the rest of this week counting down (in reverse order, of course, just like Casey used to do!) The Top 70 Hits of the '70's.
And it all kicks off today ... exclusively in Forgotten Hits!
70. Baby Come Back - Player (1978)
A great pop-and-soul track in the vein of Hall and Oates, this song has held up EXTREMELY well ... and you still hear it played all the time on oldies radio.
69. Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day (1977)
A #1 Hit from our FH Buddy Alan O'Day, who we lost a few years back. Do a search of the Forgotten Hits website and you'll find ALL kinds of exclusive features and tracks. This one was his biggest.
68. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell (1975)
Glen's going through the most difficult stages of Alzheimer's right now ... but boy he sure left us with an incredible legacy of great music.
67. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye (1973)
Just one of the many "sexy-feeling" songs by this Motown great.
66. Grease - Frankie Valli (1978)
Sounding nothing at all like a '50's song (how could it? it was written at the height of the disco era by The Bee Gees for God's sake!) it some how still played well within the context of one of the decade's most popular films.
65. Convoy - C.W. McCall (1976)
Cashing in on the whole CB craze this one became a #1 novelty hit as the calendar flipped to 1976. 10-4 good buddy!
64. Jive Talkin' - The Bee Gees (1975)
Barry Gibb took his brothers to new heights with this one ... and I don't just mean his soaring falsetto. After a stretch of barely making the charts, The Brothers Gibb came back in a VERY big way with a string of dance hits that cashed in on the burgeoning disco movement.
63. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey (1978)
My guess is we're likely to see quite a few disco hits on this special countdown. This just happens to be one of those simple, feel-good songs that probably would have worked within the context of ANY musical era ... but plays especially well here.
62. Brandy - Looking Glass (1972)
We just covered a recent concert appearance by Looking Glass lead singer Elliot Lurie ... who still sounds great by the way! This song has NEVER been off the radio ... and it still sounds great today.
61. One Less Bell To Answer - The Fifth Dimension (1970)
My all-time favorite Fifth Dimension song ... and a Hal David - Burt Bacharach classic. Just as powerful today as it was when we first heard it, Marilyn McCoo waxes one of the most perfect vocals ever recorded.
60. Close To You - The Carpenters (1970)
Here's one I would have expected to come in higher in the countdown. This record was HUGE ... and launched the careers of the decade's most dynamic duo. Another great voice taken from us far too soon.
59. Emotion - Samantha Sang (1978)
More Bee Gees music (I wonder how many more of these we're going to find on our way to #1?!?!) I always loved this song ... but it's kinda funny ... when I hear it on the radio today, I barely notice Samantha Sang's involvement ... this track now sounds like Barry Gibb all the way! It's almost as if they've remixed it to bring HIS voice to the forefront!
58. You're So Vain - Carly Simon (1973)
Another one of those HUGE hanging-around-the-coffee-machine-discussion-group-topics songs ... just watch out for those clouds in your coffee!
57. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward (1979)
Here's one I wouldn't have expected to rank so highly. This one always struck me as more of a flash-in-the-pan novelty hit. Not much substance here ... yet #57 for the decade.
56. Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson (1971)
Ditto. Lynn left us a few months ago ... and this was a big cross-over hit on both the pop and country charts ... but I wouldn't have expected it to rank higher than some of the far more substantial hits we've covered thus far.
55. Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul (1972)
Another one you still hear all the time ... and it still gives me goosebumps nearly every single time I hear it ... which is especially surprising since I didn't really care for this track when it was first released in 1972. After visiting Philadelphia International Records a few years ago, I came away with a much greater appreciation for this great song.
54. I Just Want To Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb (1977)
The first hit for the Baby Bee Gee ... little brother Andy soared to the top of the charts and then became another tragic victim of the whole "too much / too soon" syndrome of stardom. And, for those of you keeping score, the FOURTH song written by Barry Gibb in our countdown thus far.)
53. Without You - Nilsson (1972)
Still an incredibly powerful track, exceptionally produced by Richard Perry. This song started as a Badfinger LP track ... but Harry Nilsson reworked it into a power-building masterpiece.
52. Reunited - Peaches and Herb (1979)
Peaches and Herb had a few medium-sized hits in the '60's ... but their own reuniting in 1979 (albeit with a different "Peaches") was the first ... and only ... time they went all the way to #1. Still used in any variety of ad campaigns today.
51. Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves - Cher (1971)
Not one of my favorites by her ... and another track I wouldn't have expected to rank so high ... but the charts don't lie ... so Cher lands just outside The Top 50.
The countdown continues tomorrow in Forgotten Hits!
