What's the "Seventies-est" song?

Cafe Society
81

Afternoon Delight

82

I was gonna say Stoned Soul Picnic, but that was 1968.

Hard to separate late 60s from early 70s when you grew up in that time, ya know?

83

My sentiments. After I listed my 70’s sounds above I realized they were all early in the decade. I have been debating posting my late 70’s sound which as best I can recall was the theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, two versions: soundtrack and a disco thing.

By mid-decade most of what I was into was jazz and groups like Steely Dan. That would put Deacon Blues up near the top of my stack.

Another all-decade song was the Gregg Allman Laid Back album version of Midnight Rider.

84

A Fan of Meco perhaps?:slight_smile:

85

For early 70’s, I’m going to go Jonathon Edwards - Sunshine Go Away Today.

Maybe Three Dog Night - Joy to The World.

86

If Steve Miller (or Band) ever tours again, you need to go see him. His mix of bluesy, somewhat jazzy, and older stuff is an ear treat.

I actually met him and Boz in Houston Galleria’s Macy*s while I was selling computers, small electronics, rugs, and lingerie there (80s). Fun guys. Lichen alot.

87

Might be, but I’m remembering one more like Geoff Love - Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Main Theme)

There were also a bunch of Deodato sounds that I associate with the period. Things like Deodato- Super Strut(1973)

88

I was a kid in the 70s and a lot of the tunes stay with me. Two in particular:

September - EW&F
Rock the Boat (Don’t Rock the Boat Baby) - Hues Corporation?

But the tune that screams 70s to me?

Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy - Michel Pagliaro

Hitch any ride you want to,
Do anything you wanna do
Just keep ridin’ your way…

89

The quitessential song of the 70s will have strings and a guitar solo. It will be a little bit Carole King and a little bit Barry White. It will have a camel.

For your consideration.

90

Baby Come Back is very 70s and had a rebirth recently when used in that “lonely mop” commercial.

91

Please God forgive me:

Delta Dawn

92

All this and no one has mentioned Rock Me Gently by Andy Kim?

I don’t think one can sing that song without wearing polyester.

93

Some of these have been mentioned, but the other thing (besides disco) which I recall strongly in 70s music were the whiny tragic ballads–pretty much all of them done by one-hit wonders:

“Wildfire”
“Run Joey Run”
“Rocky”
“The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia”
“Ode to Billy Joe” *

I’m sure you all can come up with more wonderful examples…

94

Beat these for sick:

Honey – Bobby Goldsboro
Little Green Apples
Watching Scotty Grow

(late 60’s but bled into the early 70’s)

95

Baker Street always sounded early 1980s to me; the saxophones put the feel of the song in the latter decade, I think.

My vote, at least for rock, would go to the entire soundtrack of Dazed and Confused.

Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer
*Slow Ride *- Foghat Listen
School’s Out - Alice Cooper, Alice Cooper
Jim Dandy - Black Oak Arkansas
Tush - ZZ Top
Love Hurts - Nazareth
Stranglehold - Ted Nugent
Cherry Bomb - The Runaways
Fox on the Run - Sweet
Low Rider - War
Tuesday’s Gone - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Highway Star - Deep Purple
Rock and Roll All Nite - Kiss
Paranoid - Black Sabbath

Adult contemporary is also a style that I strongly identify with the 1970s: Carpenters, Bread, Carly Simon and the like

96

Oh! How could I forget CW McCalls Convoy? A song full of CB lingo? You can’t get any more 70’s than that.

97

Is it weird that I listen to and enjoy most of these songs on a regular basis?

98

Yes!
Welcome on board the Crazy Train.*

*Which will be in the next 80s thread

99

In a similar thread about the most 1980s song, I used both the genre and themes of the song. Thus, Opportunities by the Pet Shop Boys, a new wave song about greed and looking good, is my nomination.

What are some common themes found in 1970s songs? Let’s see …

  • Teenage rebellion and alienation (far more so than in other decades, IMHO)
  • California
  • Rockin’ hard
  • Fast cars (a holdover from the 1960s)
  • Drugs (again, more so than in other decades)
  • New York City
  • CB radio
  • Trucking
  • Indians
  • “Stealing away”

Also common in the 1970s, but often forgotten:

  • Ragtime revival
  • Blues adaptations (Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, late Doors, etc.)

The 1970s, and to some extent the 1980s, were a time of segues or paired songs such as We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions by Queen, and Heartbreaker and Living Loving Maid by Led Zeppelin.

100

That was classic early 60’s. I remember thinking as a little kid why would you want to bring a camel to bed??? :eek: