# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: the 1970s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 7, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481 "2015-05-07T14:38:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **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:** [May 7, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/1 "2015-05-07T14:38:06Z")
The time has come for round three of the semifinals. These are the voters’ choice for the best not-quite-number-one of each year for this decade. 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) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747976) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748145) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748360) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748527) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748653) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748866) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749060) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749217) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749398) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749610) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749795) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749949) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750154) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750299) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750488) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750641) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750845) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751015) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751202) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751368) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751517) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751667) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751834) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751992) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752188) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752421) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752566) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752753) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=752944) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753086) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753228) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753557) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753728) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=753884) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754223) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754360) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754524) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754714) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754987) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=755280) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=755568) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=755895) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756023) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756189) 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:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/2 "2015-05-07T16:08:00Z")
The only one I had voted for is Queen, making 1976 the only year of the decade I had voted with consensus majority. Now I decided to step out and vote for something else. My choice in this poll is “Nights in White Satin” by Moody Blues. Plus I suspect “Bohemian Rhapsody” will make it in first place or runner up second place. Dead last for me is Norman Greenbaum and Jimmy Buffet. The others I like too but the Queen and Moody Blues songs are the best ones followed by Marvin Gaye, Steely Da, Gerry Rafferty, and Supertramp and Sweet. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/3 "2015-05-07T16:15:39Z")
My two winners in the best-of-the-year polls were “What’s Going On” and “Stuck in the Middle with You.” Without hesitation, I’m picking “What’s Going On” again for this 1970s poll. “Spirit in the Sky” is dead-ass last. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/4 "2015-05-07T17:55:02Z")
I fail to grasp the appeal of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” I may have said that in the original thread, but to me it symbolizes everything wrong with 70s music: it’s entirely too long, it wanders around on the edges of making any kind of good sense, it takes too long to get to the point, it’s overdone and just plain boring. Not to mention that it’s about five minutes too long. I guess the theme of the message I’m trying to convey is I really hate that song. Now “Baker Street,” on the other hand, that’s a good song. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/5 "2015-05-07T18:45:45Z")
Some truly great songs here. I went with _Baker Street_. One of my favourite songs from any decade and one of the most evocative ever. _Nights in White Satin_ is a great second. _The Logical Song_ is good, too. _Bohemian Rhapsody_? Excellent tune but I’ve heard it way too often. Plus, it’s really, honestly not the one I like best in this list. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/6 "2015-05-07T22:32:47Z")
Unlike others responding to this I’ve personally always LOVED “Spirits in the Sky” but since my religious side isn’t “feelin’ it” these days I won’t vote for it in THIS poll. “What’s Goin’ On” isn’t bad and (unlike his father) I have (had) no beef with Marvin Gaye but that song just isn’t one of my favorites. “Nights in White Satin” is, as far as I know, considered a rock classic and I like it. But not enough to vote for it in this poll. “Stuck in the Middle with You” is a catchy tune (for the LONGEST time I thought it was by one of the Beatles!) but not high enough up on my personal favorites list to vote for it in this poll. I LOVE Steely Dan (those naughty boys!) and “Rikki Don’t Lose My Number” is pretty good. But it’s not my favorite of theirs and so doesn’t get my vote in this poll. I’d never even heard of “Ballroom Blitz” until fairly recently. It’s not bad, in my estimation. Kinda catchy, actually. But not enough for me to vote for it here. I liked Supertramp but “Logical Song” isn’t one my favorites by them so no vote for it here. “Margaritaville” has always struck me as a silly song that I can hardly believe Mr. Buffett has gotten so much mileage out of. It’s pretty easy listenin’ but it’s pretty far down on this list for me. “Bohemian Rhapsody”'s another one that I didn’t know anything about until LONG after it was first released. I was in the navy when it was “revived” thanks to one of those “Wayne’s World” flicks. I came to like it but I tend to agree with that other poster’s assessment - basically that it’s a bit overwrought. No vote for it from me. That leaves “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty. As I recall that song got a LOT of airplay back in the late '70s (I wanna say 1978). I didn’t know this beforehand but my wife informed me that Gerry Rafferty was the front man for Stealer’s Wheel. Seems fitting, then, that since I didn’t vote for “Stuck in the Middle with You” that I am, instead, going to vote for: “Baker Street” in this one! ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/7 "2015-05-07T22:41:50Z")
Again… as soon as I saw Ballroom Blitz, I didn’t look any farther. One of my all-time favorite songs. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/8 "2015-05-07T22:51:45Z")
Baker Street for me, what a hell of a tune. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/9 "2015-05-07T22:54:18Z")
For me, it’s between “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Ballroom Blitz,” and “What’s Going On.” I ended up going with Queen, in the end. Overplayed? Yes. Over-wrought? No, I think it’s just wrought enough. 😉 It’s supposed to be an epic, bombastic song, and it succeeds. Boring? WTF? This song is only boring through being overplayed. It’s a wild musical adventure! I can’t do “Baker Street.” I don’t know what it is about that song, but it drives me crazy. That sax part, as iconic as it is, sounds cheesy as shit to me, just one small step away from smooth jazz. Of course, remember kids, opinions are like assholes. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/10 "2015-05-14T13:36:43Z")
To me, this was a list of also-rans, top to bottom. Of course, I’ve never been all that impressed with “Bohemian Rhapsody” (which I know will win the decade anyway), either before or after _Wayne’s World_ unfortunately resurrected it. The music is showy and ostentatious, and the lyrics…well, it’s a guy whining about how he’s ruined his _own_ life by killing someone else, apparently just for the hell of it. I’ve also never understood the love for “Baker Street.” I liked it the first time I heard it, and I still like it, but it’s never been more than just ‘like.’ It’s a nice but AFAIAC unremarkable song. I went with the Moodies, even though “Nights in White Satin” is hardly my favorite Moody Blues song, because I still like their stuff from that era, and because the competition is weak. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/11 "2015-05-14T14:53:14Z")
Baker Street is a glorious song, with an instrumental break that soars for the skies. One of the songs in the rock pantheon. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-the-1970s/719481/12 "2015-05-14T15:00:23Z")
_What’s Going On_ for me. Nothing else came close - and also, for the 70s, the decade of funk and disco, that list is just full of Mighty White Cod-Rock…only 2 POC on it, and how many people think Freddie is White…