# Worst songs of the 70s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 7, 2021, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924 "2021-11-07T04:58:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/241 "2021-11-14T19:23:45Z")
The only song of theirs I remember is from '81: “Don’t Let Him Know”. I saw them warm up for Quarterflash. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/242 "2021-11-17T17:37:33Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > “Undercover Angel,” by Alan O’Day > > Trust me, you don’t want to go there. +1. Vile tune, that. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/243 "2021-11-17T18:45:28Z")
The song is awful, but seeing Sally Carr is never a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![IvyOfPoison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivyofpoison/32/20489_2.png) [@IvyOfPoison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvyOfPoison)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/244 "2021-11-18T18:40:22Z")
There are two songs that qualify for me as being some of the worst songs of the 70s. One is “Ariel” by Dean Friedman. It was just corny to me. The other is Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now,” which probably isn’t mentioned on most people’s Worst Songs lists but to me was an overwrought, overly depressing monstrosity that had me thinking morbid thoughts and turning it off the second I heard the first note. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/245 "2021-11-18T18:45:26Z")
^ Who the hell put this on? It’s on random. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/246 "2021-11-18T19:20:43Z")
> [@IvyOfPoison](#): > > Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now,” It always makes me think of @Sampiro’s mom. Sampiro was a former (?) poster who wrote tons of entertaining stories for us about his family. When his mom died, that song was mentioned in the very moving piece that he posted. Ever since, I really pay attention to the words when I hear it (or if possible, change the station). ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/247 "2021-11-18T22:37:16Z")
Here we are at post #247 and we seem to have collectively blotted out the memory the #1 song of the 1970s. The song that spent 10 consecutive weeks as the top song on Billboard and 13 weeks atop Record World. A song so execrable that not only does it make your ears bleed, but also your gums and eyes. even posting a link would cause our membership to flee and the very Board software to crash. I mean, of course, Debby Boone’s **You Light Up My Life.** ---
**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:** [November 18, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/248 "2021-11-18T23:25:09Z")
Post 146… > [@Worst songs of the 70s](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/146): > > You Light Up My Life is absolutely horrid. Pat Boone is a fraud and a phony and his daughter sings the song. Just ugly all around. Physical by Olivia Newton-John is horribly bad as well. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/249 "2021-11-18T23:35:18Z")
“Physical” wasn’t until the 80s though. That’s a separate thread. Another thing “You Light Up My Life” has against is the guy who wrote it turned out to be a disgusting creep. The song also has the distinction of being one of those big hits that seemed to disappear from pop culture once they fell off the charts. I heard it rarely played on the radio after its chart run in 1977-78 and even now, oldies stations avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/250 "2021-11-18T23:36:18Z")
This thread has turned me into a Prism fan. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2021, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/251 "2021-11-18T23:45:59Z")
I had not known that. Yeesht. > **[Joseph Brooks, ‘You Light Up My Life’ Songwriter, Commits Suicide Awaiting Trial](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/joseph-brooks-you-light-up-191031/)** > > The Grammy and Oscar winner was awaiting trial on charges of raping 11 women, while his son Nicholas is charged in the December death of his former girlfriend at New York’s Soho House. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/252 "2021-11-19T00:05:10Z")
> [@IvyOfPoison](#): > > One is “Ariel” by Dean Friedman. To show how tastes differ, about a year ago there was a live radio station oldies show, and this was the song I requested, because I’ve always liked it. > [@NDP](#): > > Another thing “You Light Up My Life” has against is the guy who wrote it turned out to be a disgusting creep. The song also has the distinction of being one of those big hits that seemed to disappear from pop culture once they fell off the charts. I heard it rarely played on the radio after its chart run in 1977-78 and even now, oldies stations avoid it. On the same oldies program, while I was waiting for my request to be played, a women requested this. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and decided she wanted it to be played as a warning to later generations who might not have heard it. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/253 "2021-11-19T00:12:13Z")
I was too young for “You Light Up My Life”’s run on the charts, and I’m very familiar with it, so _somebody_ must be playing it. I feel like it was a staple of adult contemporary stations or something. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/254 "2021-11-19T00:14:38Z")
Wasn’t “YLUML” retconned into being about a relationship with Jesus? ---
**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:** [November 19, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/255 "2021-11-19T00:16:01Z")
Right after NDP’s post I fired up Spotify for a re-listen of YLUML and was going to write a tepid defense, but then I saw NWH’s cite and now the only thing I want to say is that I fervently hope that Ms Boone was not victimized by that monster. ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/256 "2021-11-19T00:20:13Z")
On the other hand, Patti Smith did her version of YLUML: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Agl4IvNnQPo/hqdefault.jpg "Patti Smith "You Light Up My Life" on "Kids Are People Too"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agl4IvNnQPo) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/257 "2021-11-19T01:30:36Z")
Not so much a retcon as a contemporaneous alternate interpretation by Debbie Boone herself That didn’t really hold up on close listening to the next to the last line of the song, “It can’t be wrong, when it feels so right.” > [@NDP](#): > > Another thing “You Light Up My Life” has against is the guy who wrote it turned out to be a disgusting creep. The song has a terrible background in general. It was written as as the title song for a tepid romantic film starring Didi Conn (Frenchy from _Grease_.) Conn wasn’t a singer, so the song was dubbed by commercial singer Kasey Cisyk. Cisyk’s husband later claimed that Joe Brooks both made sexual advances to Cisyk and tried to stiff her out of payment. Brooks then gave the song to Boone, but didn’t want to pay for re-recording it, so he ordered Boone to cover Cisyk’s version exactly and simply dubbed Boone’s voice over Cisyk’s. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/258 "2021-11-19T01:58:44Z")
Originally, Cindy Williams was supposed to star in You Light Up My Life. From [Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Brooks_(songwriter)): > [@](#): > > In 1975, Brooks had a relationship with actress [Cindy Williams](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_Williams), who was, at the time, starring in the movie, _The First Nudie Musical_ , written and co-directed by her friend Bruce Kimmel. Brooks became an investor in the film. Brooks originally planned for her to star in _You Light Up My Life_ ,[[30]](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Brooks_(songwriter)#cite_note-30) but he and Williams were already having relationship issues and he asked Kimmel to direct _You Light Up My Life_ , stating he couldn’t control Williams. He broke up with Williams before the film was made, and the role went to Didi Conn. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/259 "2021-11-19T14:54:29Z")
Yeah, I’ll go with you about Chicago, but “Ariel” is a pretty interesting musically. I really enjoy playing the bass line. And it’s meant to be corny/punny/over the top. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924/260 "2021-11-19T14:56:56Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > > [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > > > “Undercover Angel,” by Alan O’Day > > > > Trust me, you don’t want to go there. > > +1. Vile tune, that. Ooo-wee. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-songs-of-the-70s/953924.md?page=14)