The great seventies countdown week 6

"Last week, "  the host says, " You got a bonus song- and early new year's gift- or late for Christmas, I suppose.  Therefore, only 19 this week. NO EXCEPTIONS!"

229- Do Do Do Do Do (Heartbreaker), the Rolling Stones, 1973, #15. My favorite guitar break on any Stones' tune.

228- Philadelphia Freedom, Elton John, 1975, #1.  One of three for EJ on my countdown.  A lot of his songs were like a lot of Stevie Wonder's- pleasant enough to listen to, but didn't really stick emotionally.

227- Venus, Shocking Blue, 1970, #1.  Mariska Veres was kinda cute, but "Mama Cassed" as the years rolled on.  The second #1 of the decade.

226- Aqualung, Jethro Tull, 1971, unreleased.  Jethro Tull was one of the most unique bands to hit the decade, and this was the ultimate Tull song.

225- I'll Be Around, Spinners,  1972, #3.  Their first release away from Motown, it was at first the b-side of How Could I Let You Get Away.  Not sure who made THAT call.

224- Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot, 1974, #1.  A flip of the coin away from being the first 45 I ever bought new.  Lost out to Who Do You Think You Are by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods.  Choosing the obscure even then.

223- When Will I See You Again, the Three Degrees,  #2, 1974.  "Sheila Ferguson recalled that "the song was played to me by Kenny Gamble at the piano in 1973 and I threw a tantrum. I screamed and yelled and said I would never sing it. I thought it was ridiculously insulting to be given such a simple song and that it took no talent to sing it. We did do it and several million copies later, I realized that he knew more than me."  I guess A&R men aren't the only ones who mess up.

222- Take Me Home Country Roads, John Denver, #2, 1971.  John is one of those who has grown stronger with me as the years go by.  Wistful recollections and nostalgia go hand in hand.

221- #9 Dream, John Lennon,  #9 (ironically enough), 1974.  Not a big Lennon fan, but I like dreamy songs.



220- Do Ya, Electric Light Orchestra,  1977, #24.  A redo of the Move's only US hot 100, this was top ten at Kings Dept. Store that summer.

219- In The Ghetto, Elvis Presley, 1970, #3.  I call his late 60s-70s comeback the "Fat Elvis" years, and "Fat Elvis" was the best for me.

218- My Angel Baby, Toby Beau, 1978, #13.   A song that got heavy airplay here and short shrift on the charts IMHO. Can you hear this and not start swaying?  I can't.



217- Shadow Dancing, Andy Gibb, 1978, #1.  Out of that string of #1s for the Gibb brothers that year- 3 by the Bee Gees and 3 by Andy- probably the best.  A seven week stay at #1.

216- Doctor My Eyes, Jackson Browne, 1972, #8.  "People go just where they will/I never noticed them until I got this feeling/ that it's later that it seems..."

215- Hotel California, Eagles,  1977, #1.  This might be the ultimate 70s song.  Just as powerful now as it was 35 years ago ( God, was it really that long ago?).

214- Moonlight Feels Right, Starbuck, #3, 1976.  I remember hearing this a lot on my first trip to Florida the next spring.  "We'll play the radio on southern stations/ 'Cause southern bells I hear tonight..."

213- Peace Of Mind, Boston,  #38, 1977.    This obviously charted much higher in Fort Wayne, as it had top ten airplay.  What a great album!


212- Early In The Morning, Vanity Fare, #12, 1970.  Always did love the baroque sound.

211- A Little More Love,  Olivia Newton-John, #3, 1978.  Two of my favorite hooks- the guitar over the end of the verses, and the chorus line "Would a little more love bring a happy ending?"

The lights go back up, and the host says, "See, I told you- 19 songs and that's it!  But now, here's a little bit of Rock'n'roll history to go home with..."