# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1973 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460 "2015-01-31T21:35:36Z")\ **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 31, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/1 "2015-01-31T21:35:36Z")
You may recall from the #1 poll series that 1973 was a big year for #1s, and indeed it was - after I eliminated them from the year-end top 40 list, I was left with only 18 songs. (“Monster Mash”, which was a #1 in 1962, also somehow made its way back to the top 40 this year.) I ended up going to #48 to fill in our list (because #41, “Give Me Love”, was _also_ a #1), and almost all of these songs made #2 or #3 on the weekly charts. 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) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747345) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747517) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747737) 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:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/2 "2015-01-31T22:44:30Z")
Awfully slim pickings. I went with _Daniel_ for being a little less meh than the rest. It’s the 70s, after all. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/3 "2015-01-31T23:01:45Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Awfully slim pickings. I must disagree. there’s a lot of great stuff this year. I feel sorry for people that can’t appreciate John Denver. “Rocky Mountain High” is a great song and got my vote. Others I hope get votes: Dobie Gray - “Drift Away” The Sweet - “Little Willy” Three Dog Night - “Shambala” King Harvest - “Dancing In the Moonlight” Seals and Crofts - “Diamond Girl” The Doobie Brothers - “Long Train Runnin’” Elton John - “Daniel” A good year ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/4 "2015-01-31T23:09:27Z")
Easy. _If You Want Me to Stay_ is my favorite song. If not favorite, then certainly top 5 with a bullet! ---
**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 31, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/5 "2015-01-31T23:36:08Z")
Steelers Wheel, no question. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/6 "2015-02-01T00:15:58Z")
And here we have the year in which my right arm developed great speed in going from steering wheel to radio station selection button. I count a total of 5 that I would NOT immediately punch off. By 1975, I had installed an 8-Track. Just 10 years after the British Invasion, and top 40 is dregging up crap the likes of which had not been heard since about 1957. _How Much is the Doggie in the Window_ would have been preferable… ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/7 "2015-02-01T00:28:52Z")
Gave my vote to The Spinners, second choice would have been Dr. John. Happy to see someone gave it a vote already. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/8 "2015-02-01T00:56:55Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Awfully slim pickings. > > I went with _Daniel_ for being a little less meh than the rest. It’s the 70s, after all. > > Regards, > Shodan I went with _Daniel_ because it was a beautiful song. One of Elton’s finest. Regards, mascaroni ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/9 "2015-02-01T01:34:34Z")
I went with “Dancin’ in the Moonlight;” something about the intro always makes me feel really happy. Stealer’s Wheel (I used to think that song was by Wings! :p) and Dr. John had my runners-up. I was surprised to realize that I didn’t recognize many of the other ones…maybe their titles are just unfamiliar. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/10 "2015-02-01T01:38:05Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > I went with _Daniel_ because it was a beautiful song. One of Elton’s finest. > > Regards, > > mascaroni I went with Daniel as well, because it reminds my mother of her late brother. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/11 "2015-02-01T01:52:18Z")
Little Willy, Willy won’t … GO HOME! But you can’t push Willy round, Willy won’t go! Try tellin’ everybody but, oh no! Little Willy, Willy won’t … GO HOME! I paid list price for that album because it was only available at one record shop in DeKalb, IL. Intensely loud and intensely stoopid. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/12 "2015-02-01T02:10:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I went with Daniel as well, because it reminds my mother of her late brother. It reminds me of a good friend from my childhood who died in a motorcycle accident when he was 21. **Shodan** , apologies for being a bit snarky. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/13 "2015-02-01T02:33:22Z")
Every song in the poll makes me want to projectile vomit. Then came Disco. I hated the 70’s, absolutely hated it. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2015, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/14 "2015-02-01T02:42:28Z")
It probably won’t get that many votes but I went with [The Isley Brothers’ "That Lady](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_8DTyTWALw)". Ernie Isley’s guitar work on that song is what put it over the top for me. My runners up were “Shambala” and “Daniel”. Paul Simon had two Top 5 records in 1973. Of those, only “Loves Me Like a Rock” made the cut for the year’s Top 40. The other one was “Kodachrome” which would’ve likely been my pick had it been on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/15 "2015-02-01T02:51:23Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > It probably won’t get that many votes but I went with [The Isley Brothers’ "That Lady](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_8DTyTWALw)". Ernie Isley’s guitar work on that song is what put it over the top for me. Right there with you. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/16 "2015-02-01T17:17:54Z")
I went with “Stuck in the Middle with You” and am glad to see it winning the poll so far. “Little Willy” is dead-ass last. “Drift Away” sucks and is boring as hell; I never understood how people seem to like it so much. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/17 "2015-02-01T17:52:35Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > It reminds me of a good friend from my childhood who died in a motorcycle accident when he was 21. > > **Shodan** , apologies for being a bit snarky. No problem, of course. I am too clueless to have noticed. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/18 "2015-02-01T18:13:38Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Easy. _If You Want Me to Stay_ is my favorite song. > > If not favorite, then certainly top 5 with a bullet! I am the second vote ;o) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/19 "2015-02-01T18:47:46Z")
It saddens me that so many of you don’t appreciate 70’s funk/soul… it’s some truly great stuff man, can you dig it? Three songs are in contention: The Isley Brothers - “That Lady”. Great guitar work, a great groove and just a cool song. As I made my way down this list, this was the song the others had to compare to. Barry White - “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby”. C’mon, it’s Barry FREAKIN’ White, the master of “Songs to Get Laid By” and “Man, I was so stoned when I laid this track but I still sounded like the coolest cat ever.” The world misses you, Barry. Sly & the Family Stone - “If You Want Me To Stay”. A great song, it just missed out by a bit to the Isley’s for not being frenetic enough. … and I’m going to vote for Barry White. He’s just so representative of his time and place that it would be a shame if he got 0 votes here. That “Little Willy” song is just sad. I’d rather listen to Anne Murray’s greatest hits, vol. 1 and 2, then listen to that song once. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460/20 "2015-02-01T19:22:17Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Sly & the Family Stone - “If You Want Me To Stay”. A great song, it just missed out by a bit to the Isley’s for not being frenetic enough. It does kick ass. Unfortunately I couldn’t vote for it because I’d never heard it before. I just don’t know how well I’d like it after hearing it repeatedly my whole life like so many of these other songs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1973/711460.md?page=2)