# What's the "Seventies-est" song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 25, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777 "2010-03-25T18:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/141 "2010-04-10T21:26:27Z")
Here’s a blast from the seventies no one needs: “Alone Again … Naturally.” First one to pop into my head after “Afternoon Delight”… ---
**Author:** ![C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@C.Montgomery\_Burns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C.Montgomery_Burns)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/142 "2010-04-10T23:06:07Z")
**I Will Survive** - Gloria Gaynor **Hooked On A Feeling** - Blue Swede **Knock Three Times** - Tony Orlando & Dawn **I Am Woman** - Helen Reddy **Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey** - Paul & Linda McCartney **Everything Is Beautiful** - Ray Stevens **Brand New Key** - Melanie **Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough** - Michael Jackson **Shilo** - Neil Diamond ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/143 "2010-04-10T23:28:17Z")
[Tell\_Me\_Something\_Good](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkJFodl9I1U) ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/144 "2020-07-28T20:37:53Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Stephen Stills “Love the One You’re With” > > Millionaire rock guitar player/singer gives himself permission to cheat on his SO when he’s on the road because he is a millionaire rock guitar player/singer. > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love\_the\_One\_You’re\_With](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_the_One_You%27re_With) That’s always been my interpretation, too. But others have suggested that the narrator’s relationship has just ended, and the song is encouraging getting on with the next rebound relationship. [Which is typically a terrible idea, but a lot more forgiveable.] ETA: Woops - it looks like I have inadvertently revived a 10-year-old thread. Well past the six month statute of limitations. )-: Sorry, it was an accident! I was referred here by _another_ recently revived 10-year-old thread, and didn’t realize this one was still asleep. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/145 "2020-07-28T21:37:54Z")
“Oh, Babe! (What Would You Say?)” — Hurricane Smith “Dance with Me” — Orleans “Back Home Again” — John Denver “Top of the World” — The Carpenters “Only Yesterday” — The Carpenters “Rhinestone Cowboy” — Glen Campbell “The Last Farewell” — Roger Whittaker “Silly Love Songs” — Paul McCartney and Wings “Calypso” — John Denver “I’m Sorry” — John Denver “Fernando” — ABBA “Dancing Queen” — ABBA “Year of the Cat” — Al Stewart “Suspicious Minds” — Elvis Presley “Cold Kentucky Rain” — Elvis Presley “Nobody Does It Better” — Carly Simon ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/146 "2020-07-28T21:58:53Z")
No zombie songs in the 1970s? Seriously though; it seems like the 1970s were insanely all over the map in terms of musical styles and what was defining for each style for the 1970s. I mean, you have stuff like the Bee Gees, which is definitely iconic 70s music, but you also have the Village People, the Allman Brothers Band, Molly Hatchet, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elvis, John Denver, “Outlaw” country like Willie Nelson & co, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Billy Joel, The Eagles, and so on. All of which were very 1970s in their day, very popular, and still iconic for the most part. It seems to me like the 1970s was an era of unprecedented musical fermentation, and trying to pick ONE band/song as “Seventies-est” is not going to get you much. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/147 "2020-07-28T22:24:14Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Loving you…is easy 'cause you’re beautiful…doot n doo doo doo dooooo… They used that one on South Park one time. John Stamos’s brother sang it. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/148 "2020-07-28T22:27:57Z")
“Listen to What the Man Said” by McCartney and Wings. Or “My Life” by Billy Joel. Or “You’ve Got a Friend,” James Taylor version. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/149 "2020-07-28T22:35:09Z")
My pick would be Undercover Angel. Alll Righttt! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/G-xRMw0NyW0/hqdefault.jpg "Alan O'Day -1977- Undercover Angel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-xRMw0NyW0) ---
**Author:** ![GinoC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f4b2a3/32.png) [@GinoC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GinoC)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/150 "2020-07-29T00:37:03Z")
A lot of good replies, but the first thing to pop into my head was “Dancing Queen”. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/151 "2020-07-29T01:08:56Z")
“Brandy” — Looking Glass. “Heart of Glass” — Blondie “Live and Let Die” — Paul McCartney and Wings “Waterloo” — ABBA “Crocodile Rock” — Elton John “Your Song” — Elton John “Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road” — Elton John “Rocket Man” — Elton John (Though I prefer Shatner’s version.) “Save Your Kisses for Me” — Brotherhood of Man “Money, Money, Money” — ABBA “Knowing Me, Knowing You” — ABBA “Don’t Give Up on Us, Baby” — David Soul (Yeccch!) ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/152 "2020-07-29T12:18:37Z")
Life During Wartime was from Aug 1979; hardly representative of the decade which was in the throws of ending. Great song though. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/153 "2020-07-29T14:08:41Z")
Ahem! > **[throes](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/throes)** > > 1. experiencing or doing something that is difficult, unpleasant, or painful… ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/154 "2020-07-29T14:13:04Z")
Thanks for the spelling catch! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/155 "2020-07-29T15:16:01Z")
You’re velcome! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/156 "2020-07-29T19:52:58Z")
In broad strokes, I look back at '70’s music in three genres. Pre-1975, Rock. Epitomized by _Stairway to Heaven_ and _Smoke on the Water_. Heavily influenced by the white Blues of the '60’s. Mid '70’s-late '70’s/early '80’s. Disco. The _Saturday Night Fever_ and _The Hustle_. Influenced by EuroPop Late 70’s - The Disco Rebellion. _Heart of Glass_ a direct jab. Jazz influenced songs like _Baker Street_ and _FM_. Soft rock and folk/country influenced songs like _Operator_ and _Rocky Mountain High_ ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/157 "2020-07-29T22:24:14Z")
Nope. It’s Minnie Riperton, Lovin’ You. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_xIBfrdxQU) You shoulda heard my dad hit those high notes as he zoomed around town in his Karmann Ghia convertable with the top down. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/158 "2020-07-29T23:24:40Z")
S A T U R D A Y [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wAptFMadyqo/maxresdefault.jpg "So I Married An Axe Murderer: Saturday Night...") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAptFMadyqo) ---
**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:** [July 30, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/159 "2020-07-30T01:59:27Z")
First, the most seventies song should be one that was a hit in its time but has never been heard since and no one has covered. Just a shock when you are listening to 70’s compilation that you remember that song you haven’t heard in 40 years. Second, [you have a decision to make](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ailu5CdWgas). ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2020, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777/160 "2020-07-30T03:11:26Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > First, the most seventies song should be one that was a hit in its time but has never been heard since and no one has covered. Just a shock when you are listening to 70’s compilation that you remember that song you haven’t heard in 40 years. > > Second, [you have a decision to make](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ailu5CdWgas). Well, given those criteria, I’d have to nominate “Shannon” by Henry Gross. [https://youtu.be/R5Wpn3dFrEs](https://youtu.be/R5Wpn3dFrEs) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-seventies-est-song/533777.md?page=9)