# Best #1 single of the year retrospective: 1977 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 2, 2014, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170 "2014-10-02T10:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/41 "2014-10-02T17:54:15Z")
1977 was [the year Punk exploded](http://www.spin.com/articles/1977-year-punk-exploded/) on the music scene. And while I didn’t come to appreciate it until some years later, I’m going to have to celebrate that fact by acting like a brat and give this list of songs [the finger](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DeutwC_pLZ0/SSZOfTqiSkI/AAAAAAAAAUk/pzVGrsaEHl0/s1600-h/vlcsnap-6262059.png). ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/42 "2014-10-02T18:11:04Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Surprisingly, there aren’t nearly as many songs on this list that out-and-out suck as there were in the last several years. > > Individual notes: > > I hate and despise The Eagles (and that goes double for “Hotel California,” the most overrated song of the 20th century — if you like it and dare ask me why I feel this way, prepare for blood!). However, “New Kid in Town” is one of maybe two songs by them that I might grudgingly admit to actually liking. I agree with the above statements to the point where I had to check the user name to make sure I didn’t write it. I haven’t decided yet, but may vote for “New Kid In Town” even though I would chuck every other Eagles song (except that and maybe “Last Resort”) into the nearest trash bin. Oh, and for you: [“Don Henley Must Die”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm-o7_VVAoU) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/43 "2014-10-02T18:53:59Z")
I voted for “Dreams.” Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors” was ahead of its time. I don’t think “Dreams” was the best song on the album - that would be “The Chain,” which is just a masterpeice - but it’s still the best on this list, IMHO. I was very close to picking “How Deep Is Your Love,” though. People rip on disco, and a lot of it was very bad, but the Bee Gees did disco better than anyone; they had a run of several absolutely fantastic, note-perfect dance songs. They’ll get their chance in 1978. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/44 "2014-10-02T18:55:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > 1977 was [the year Punk exploded](http://www.spin.com/articles/1977-year-punk-exploded/) on the music scene. > > And while I didn’t come to appreciate it until some years later, I’m going to have to celebrate that fact by acting like a brat and give this list of songs [the finger](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_DeutwC_pLZ0/SSZOfTqiSkI/AAAAAAAAAUk/pzVGrsaEHl0/s1600-h/vlcsnap-6262059.png). For those who were too young in 1977 or born afterward, one thing to remember is the impact punk rock had on music was not reflected on either the top singles and albums charts. Punk releases sold marginally at best and were largely ignored even by the supposedly “cutting edge” album-oriented-rock FM stations whose music formats were already ossifiying into what would within a decade be called “classic rock”. To be fair, some stations did try to slip some Sex Pistols, Elvis Costello, Ramones, or Talking Head songs onto their playlists but they were mostly met with loud resistance by their target Baby Boomer audience. That’s why the whole “college rock/alternative” sub-class developed around the same time. Getting back to the poll, I voted for “I Wish” just barely ahead of “Sir Duke”. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/45 "2014-10-02T19:02:00Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Still more from the tiresome anal corrections department… > > Manfred Mann was, through 1969, the name of a _group_, of which keyboardist Manfred Mann was the only constant member. That group broke up, and two of its members formed Manfred Mann Chapter Three, which was followed a couple of years later by The Manfred Mann Earth Band. > > Other than Manfred himself, there is no connection between the 60s group Manfred Mann and The Manfred Man Earth Band. > > Their case is similar to that of Alice Cooper. Many don’t realize that this was initially the name of a _group_ whose lead singer assumed the name of Alice Cooper. When that group disbanded, “Alice” was so identified with it that he took on the group name as his own. [Cecil’s Terrestrial Musical Organization](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1120/in-blinded-by-the-light-what-exactly-is-the-lyric-following-the-title-phrase) would like to have a word with you nitpickers. 🙂 (Scroll down to the exchange with one of the Teeming Millions.) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/46 "2014-10-02T19:13:54Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > [Cecil’s Terrestrial Musical Organization](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1120/in-blinded-by-the-light-what-exactly-is-the-lyric-following-the-title-phrase) would like to have a word with you nitpickers. 🙂 (Scroll down to the exchange with one of the Teeming Millions.) Man, I’ve been trying to track down a copy of “Live in Hungary Right After Manfred Mann’s Earth Band Played There” for _years_. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/47 "2014-10-02T19:21:01Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > For the second time in my life, I have to be the spoilsport who points out that those are not horns…they’re Stevie’s keyboard synthesizer. > > (The first time was not long after the song came out. A girlfriend said how much she loved that opening “trumpet” lick. When I told her the truth, she was crushed. I don’t think she ever forgave me!) **DChord** - I am no Stevie Geek - love him, deep respect, but I don’t have the liner notes memorized, if you will. But I read this and did some superficial checking - Wiki states that a few guys played horns on the song: > **[Sir Duke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Duke)** > > "Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Released as a single in 1977, the track topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles charts, and reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, his joint biggest hit there at the time. Billboard ranked it as the No. 18 song of 1977. > The song was written in tribute to Duke Ellington, the influential jazz legend who had died in 1974. The lyrics also refer to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Lou... Any chance Stevie sampled them for some early sampling synth? (nah, too early). If you can point to a better source that speaks to the synth use, I would appreciate the education. As for Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, I have guitar-geek trivia to share: the “haunting feel” is really helped by Lindsay Buckingham’s guitar fills being Stevie’s voice - he uses his Volume knob on this guitar, rolled quiet and then rolling volume up to swell into the lick he is playing. More common in jazz; used to wonderful effect here. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/48 "2014-10-02T19:33:38Z")
Blinded by the light, ahead of Hotel California. Another year with a few duds but a lot of decent songs as well. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/49 "2014-10-02T19:36:03Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > [Cecil’s Terrestrial Musical Organization](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1120/in-blinded-by-the-light-what-exactly-is-the-lyric-following-the-title-phrase) would like to have a word with you nitpickers. 🙂 (Scroll down to the exchange with one of the Teeming Millions.) I’m already aware of this exchange, and have considered it for years as evidence that The Great One is not infallible. I agree completely with Nick D.'s comment, and find Cecil’s defense of his blatant error to be very weak tea indeed. Saying a differently-named later configuration of a band is “known for” a song that was a commercial hit by an entirely different configuration years before — simply because that later configuration happens to perform that song in concert — is hogwash. The song itself is “known” because the original configuration made it a hit on the charts and on the radio, and the artist credit on the record label gets to wear the “known for” designation…not the later group. Cecil’s original statement — “The Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (‘Quinn the Eskimo’) did a cover version of the tune in 1976” — would be like saying “Paul McCartney and Wings (‘Yesterday’) did a cover version…” etc. My position (and Nick D.'s) rest on factual statements. Cecil’s does not. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/50 "2014-10-02T19:46:28Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > **DChord** - I am no Stevie Geek - love him, deep respect, but I don’t have the liner notes memorized, if you will. But I read this and did some superficial checking - Wiki states that a few guys played horns on the song: > > [Sir Duke - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Duke) > > Any chance Stevie sampled them for some early sampling synth? (nah, too early). If you can point to a better source that speaks to the synth use, I would appreciate the education. Well, I’m afraid I can’t, but can only point to what my ears tell me — that these are the second-most “unhorniest” horns I’ve ever heard on record…they really sound like synths to me. But it’s entirely possible that, rather than being right for the second time, I’ve been fooled for a second time. The lead track on The Byrds’ fifth album, _The Notorious Byrd Brothers_, is “Artificial Energy.” For years I was sure the “trumpets” on this track were synthesized — especially since Roger McGuinn had acquired one of the first Moog Synthesizers just before recording of the album began, and there are synth sounds all over the LP. In fact, the final track, “Space Odyssey,” is nothing but synthesizer, and Roger also recorded an (unreleased-at-the-time) track called “Moog Raga.” It was only years later that I read an interview with McGuinn in which he talked in detail about the trumpet players who performed those horn parts. He went on to say that he processed their playing heavily after the fact to make them sound…well…more “artificial.” And he certainly succeeded. So maybe Stevie did the same thing. Boy, they sure still sound like synths to me, and Stevie certainly was one of the pioneers in using this technology extensively. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/51 "2014-10-02T19:59:44Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > I agree with the above statements to the point where I had to check the user name to make sure I didn’t write it. I haven’t decided yet, but may vote for “New Kid In Town” even though I would chuck every other Eagles song (except that and maybe “Last Resort”) into the nearest trash bin. > > Oh, and for you: [“Don Henley Must Die”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm-o7_VVAoU) I have a confession to make. I’ve been aware of this song title, and of Mojo Nixon, for decades. But somehow, I had never actually got around to listening to the song until just now. What a wonderful surprise to learn that, not only can I fully support its sentiments (as I always have), but it’s a great song too! Thank you! I hate to sound typically _High Fidelity_-snotty, 'cause that’s not me…but I don’t know any other way to say it: if you listen to this and “Hotel California” back-to-back and prefer the latter, then…well, I better stop right there! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/52 "2014-10-02T20:05:02Z")
> [@Abracadebra](#): > > Please don’t judge. My heart belongs to the soul/funk songs on this list, but Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way” is a slow burn that puts “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor to shame, so it gets my vote. I could bust a move right now just thinking about it. Seconded. Lots of good and fun songs on the list, but when she hits that chorus, I get a chill down my spine every time. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/53 "2014-10-02T21:49:03Z")
This contest was tighter than a cow’s anus during fly season. “Dancing Queen” just barely rates higher than “Got to Give It Up” in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System**. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” and “Hotel California” were also very good. Tied for dead-ass last: “Don’t Give Up on Us” “Best of My Love” “You Light Up My Life” ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/54 "2014-10-02T21:54:41Z")
_Blinded by the Light._ Was my vote. Although by 1977, I was much more into punk and [emerging electronic music](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraftwerk) than what was happening on [Top of the Pops](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_of_the_Pops) or the general popular music scene. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/55 "2014-10-02T22:04:45Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > For the second time in my life, I have to be the spoilsport who points out that those are not horns…they’re Stevie’s keyboard synthesizer. > > (The first time was not long after the song came out. A girlfriend said how much she loved that opening “trumpet” lick. When I told her the truth, she was crushed. I don’t think she ever forgave me!) Well, as **WordMan** said, the wiki entry credits a three piece horn section, but no synths. Live versions are done with horns. You can hear the fsssst from the saxes at the start of the notes during the opening\*. Plus, those slurs around 2:34 don’t sound anything like an algorithm to me, and the ones in closer are even further from what a synth of the era could do. Synths of the time sounded pretty stiff when you did pitch shifts, anything polyphonic pretty much sounded like you were speeding up or slowing down a tape. Those horns flow. Plus, why would he fake the horns in a song that’s basically a tribute to great horn bands? But if it all turns out that I’m wrong dong dilddly dong wrong, it wouldn’t be the first time that an instrument recorded in the studio sounded like something completely different. My first reaction on reading your post was “Wow, so a synth can fake a horn section convincingly, but not strings? Who knew?” I didn’t have to listen to it too critically until I found out there was a controversy. 🙂 No matter who is right, this rift can only be healed by us getting three-piece Nudie western suits hand crafted from the collective hides of the Eagles. \*JTFC, this record is recorded _great_. [Get your big, klunky headphones out folks.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sIjSNTS7Fs) I praised the horns originally, but that’s probably the best bass part in a #1 single, ever. I’m not saying you’re a bad person if you voted for another song, but you probably voted wrong. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/56 "2014-10-02T22:27:51Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > \*JTFC, this record is recorded _great_. [Get your big, klunky headphones out folks.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sIjSNTS7Fs) I praised the horns originally, but that’s probably the best bass part in a #1 single, ever. I’m not saying you’re a bad person if you voted for another song, but you probably voted wrong. Do I get half a point for voting for “I Wish”? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/57 "2014-10-02T22:39:45Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > Still more from the tiresome anal corrections department… > > Manfred Mann was, through 1969, the name of a _group_, of which keyboardist Manfred Mann was the only constant member. Turn in your Anal Corrections badge. Mike Hugg was not only a constant member of the '60s Manfred Mann, he was partnered with Mann in both the band’s precursor (the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers) and its successor (Manfred Mann Chapter Three). ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/58 "2014-10-02T22:44:15Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Well, as **WordMan** said, the wiki entry credits a three piece horn section, but no synths. And in the grand tradition of know-it-alls, I’m wrong. That’s a **FOUR** piece horn section. I was wondering how saxophones were doing those slurs. > [@scabpicker](#): > > \*JTFC, this record is recorded _great_. [Get your big, klunky headphones out folks.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sIjSNTS7Fs) I praised the horns originally, but that’s probably the best bass part in a #1 single, ever. I’m not saying you’re a bad person if you voted for another song, but you probably voted wrong. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > Do I get half a point for voting for “I Wish”? No, absolutely not. You get a full point, with extra funky. Want a western suit that has, err…a history? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/59 "2014-10-02T23:21:43Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Want a western suit that has, err…a history? 🆒 I just realized that Fleetwood Mac’s [Don’t Stop](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm0nopK1BQM) is very much like the Rolling Stones’ [Midnight Rambler](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN2cWWUHa5g). Same rollicking dotted rhythm, playing the same riff over the same chords (for long stretches, anyway). ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170/60 "2014-10-02T23:37:19Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Turn in your Anal Corrections badge. Mike Hugg was not only a constant member of the '60s Manfred Mann, he was partnered with Mann in both the band’s precursor (the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers) and its successor (Manfred Mann Chapter Three). You’re quite right. I was trying to convey that Manfred was the only constant in all bands bearing his name\*, but somehow it came out this way, which is wrong. Thanks. \*Unless you count The Manfreds, a band that’s been going for the past couple of decades that comprises several ex-members of Manfred Mann…but not Manfred Mann! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1977/700170.md?page=4)