# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1970 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876 "2015-01-25T18:14:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [January 25, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/1 "2015-01-25T18:14:14Z")
The year is now 1970. For this poll, we go to #43 to fill in our minimum 25 songs on the chart in a year I can only describe as a transitional period between psychedelia and hard rock. What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1956](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744629) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744819) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744978) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745151) [1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745331) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745525) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745733) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745956) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746118) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746342) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746498) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746735) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746932) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747152) Best #1 single polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743899) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743803) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743981) [2010s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744176) [All-time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744358) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/2 "2015-01-25T18:19:44Z")
First, there was a poll then there was no poll then there was. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2015, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/3 "2015-01-25T18:20:26Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > First, there was a poll > then there was no poll > then there was. Now there is, Donovan. ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/4 "2015-01-25T18:36:27Z")
These songs are the soundtrack of my childhood. It’s like picking your favorite kid. I JUST CAN’T!! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/5 "2015-01-25T18:51:14Z")
It’s easy! “Which Way You Goin’, Billy” is easily the worst song on that or most any list. Oh, you want my favorite. “All Right Now” was what I played very loud before going out Friday nights for several years in a row. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/6 "2015-01-25T22:41:10Z")
“Instant Karma” is the highest-rated song in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System** , and it seems the rest of the Teeming Millions agree so far. Other contenders for my vote were “Band of Gold,” “Spill the Wine,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” and “Ride Captain Ride.” “Hitchin’ a Ride” is horrible and finishes dead-ass last. There’s an error in the list: the song is called “…Where My Rosemary Goes,” not “…Where My Baby Goes.” Just a week ago, I was JUST ABOUT to start an “ID this song for me” thread for a song I had just remembered. For some reason I thought it was a Mamas and the Papas song similar to “Go Where You Wanna Go” except slower. Now that I’ve played all the songs I don’t recognize, I discovered that it was Marmalade’s “Reflections of My Life”! ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/7 "2015-01-25T23:44:46Z")
Almost as much variety as 1965-1968, but the quality has suffered. And almost entirely devoid of any sense of direction. Which may explain why disco sounded good to some fools a few years later… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/8 "2015-01-26T00:30:32Z")
Loves me some Brook Benton. Second choice would be _Spirit In The Sky_, with that Telecaster pretending it was a bari saxophone. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/9 "2015-01-26T00:56:43Z")
Came down to War, Free, and Stevie Wonder. Went with Stevie – the last of his “Motowny” hits, just before he became simply a _sui generis_ genius. ---
**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:** [January 26, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/10 "2015-01-26T05:41:59Z")
I went with Spirit in the Sky on this one, mainly on the basis of that awesome fuzz guitar riff. Spill the Wine, Instant Karma, Green-Eyed Lady, Looking Out My Back Door, All Right Now, and Ride Captain Ride all get honorable mentions in my book. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/11 "2015-01-26T14:46:06Z")
I was just at a funeral for a friend (50 years old) who was an avid skier, hiker, biker, camper, etc. The montage of his life pictures was set to _Spirit In the Sky_, so that’s my choice. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/12 "2015-01-26T14:59:52Z")
Instant Karma. Just because. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/13 "2015-01-26T15:06:58Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > It’s easy! “Which Way You Goin’, Billy” is easily the worst song on that or most any list. I dunno. I think “Patches” gives it a run for its money. > [@](#): > > Oh, you want my favorite. “All Right Now” was what I played very loud before going out Friday nights for several years in a row. That is what I voted, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/14 "2015-01-26T17:04:37Z")
I voted for “Green Eyed Lady”. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/15 "2015-01-26T17:33:24Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Almost as much variety as 1965-1968, but the quality has suffered. > And almost entirely devoid of any sense of direction. > > Which may explain why disco sounded good to some fools a few years later… Up until now, the ‘best of the rest’ has been generally better than the #1’s in practically every year, and unlike the #1’s, they’ve had no _bad_ years. This year is the first where the ‘best of the rest’ really just isn’t all that good. And the #1’s kick their ass every which way. ETA: I’m going with Creedence as basically a default choice. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/16 "2015-01-26T17:44:06Z")
I went with Free… Paul Rodgers is one of the best rock singers of al ltime. Much under rated. BTW. .I think the Edison Lighthouse song is **Love Grows (Where My _Rosemary_ Goes)** ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/17 "2015-01-27T15:00:14Z")
Damn, I voted for “All Right Now” and completely missed that “Spirit in the Sky” was an option. If I could change my vote, I would. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/18 "2015-01-27T16:34:04Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Damn, I voted for “All Right Now” and completely missed that “Spirit in the Sky” was an option. If I could change my vote, I would. Don’t worry, I voted for “Spirit in the Sky” before I noticed that “Spill the Wine” was an option. So, if someone who wants to vote for “All Right Now” will vote for “Spill the Wine”, it’ll all work out. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/19 "2015-01-28T01:40:22Z")
Hmm… I’m caught between Spill the Wine and Instant Karma. Decisions, decisions… ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876/20 "2015-01-28T01:47:27Z")
John Lennon FTW. Say what you will about the rest of 1970, “Instant Karma” rules. Well we all shine on like the moon and the stars and the sun [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1970/710876.md?page=2)