The great seventies countdown week 10

"I'm glad you could brave the snow to make it here, "  The Host tells the lighter-than-usual audience.  "They tell me that much will be melted off by the time we are done... but they told me less than an inch of accumulation and now they say 3 to 5.  They don't know about weather... but we know about good music."


150- Another Park Another Sunday, the Doobie Brothers, 1974, #32.  One of the saddest songs on the countdown- and originally the A-side to Black Water.  Took a hit apparently because radio stations didn't like the line "...and the radio just seems to bring me down..."  Oversensitive much?

149- The Grand Illusion, Styx, 1977, unreleased.  I always thought that this title track was the best on the album.

148- I Go Crazy, Paul Davis, 1977, #7.  So here are two of the regrets I have about the new Time Machine- these last two get missed.  This song set the then-record for slow climbing, staying on the Billboard charts for an incredible 40 weeks.

147- Summer And Lightning, Electric Light Orchestra, 1977, unreleased.  It was claimed that this lp was "full of singles".  This is one of the un released ones.  Great memories of our high school parties here.




146- 5-7-0-5, City Boy, 1978, #27.  Definitely one of my more obscure favorites.  A top ten in the UK, though.



145- No Matter What, Badfinger, 1971, #8.  Badfinger, the original hard-luck boys, were often aided by doing compositions by former Beatles, as they were the first act signed to their Apple Records.  This was the first single they wrote themselves- and to me, it sounds the most like the Beatles.

144- Let It Ride, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, 1974, #23.  How did this one not make top ten here?  It hit #3 in Canada.

143- Surf's Up, the Beach Boys, 1971, Non-charting.  The Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks composition was started on the unfinished Smile lp, finished up and put on the 1971 lp of the same name, which also featured the original verion of the Captain and Tenille's Disney Girls.  Not your typical Beach Boys song, but one of his best.  He finally finished it his way on his 2004 completion of Smile.

142- Radar Love, Golden Earring, 1973, #13.  Another one of the "cool" songs that everyone liked.  A very definitely underrated band.

141- Why Can't We Be Friends, War, 1975, #6.  My nephew had a little mini-bike when we were kids.  I remember lots of summer days tearing down the side of Lortie Road singing this at the top of our lungs.

140- 18 With A Bullet, Pete Wingfield, 1975, #15.  A great seventies doo-wop tune.



139- The Boys Are Back In Town, Thin Lizzie, 1976, #12.  "The nights are getting warmer and it won't be long... won't be long till summer comes..."

138- Oh, Girl, the Chi-Lites, 1972, #1.  Our first #1 of the day, and it's a classic.  Tell me this song doesn't get to you.

137- Love's Theme, Love Unlimited Orchestra, 1973, #1. This was Barry White's 40-piece backup orchestra.  What can I say, Mom watched a lot of golf. (You old timers will get that reference.)

136- Sing, the Carpenters, 1973, #3.  Just in case you haven't figured it out, you'll see a LOT of the Carpenters on this countdown.

135- I Write The Songs, Barry Manilow, 1976, #1. Just in case you hadn't... oh, I already said that?

134- Can't Get It Out Of My Head, Electric Light Orchestra, 1974, #9.  No, I won't use the same gag three times in a row.  I will tell you that if you've never listened to the lp Eldorado, treat yourself.  This album was meant to be heard in its entirety.  ".. Robin Hood and William Tell, Ivanhoe and Lancelot, they don't envy me.../Sitting till the sun goes down/ In dreams, the world keeps going 'round and 'round..."

133- Don't Cry Daddy, Elvis Presley, 1970, #6.  The ultimate crying song.  I heard this first sitting out in Dad's truck while he made an appearance at a funeral.  I hear it in that same spot every time.

132- Life In The Bloodstream, The Guess Who, 1971, unreleased. More fun with the eight tracks at the lake.


131- Hurts So Bad, Linda Ronstadt, 1979, #8.  That guitar solo always makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.  So emotional, just chills me.

"Shovels will be provided at the door for those who need them,"  The Host informs everyone as the lights go up.  "Here's a little something to warm you up, thoughts of summer days at the lake, as you head on home.  See you all next week!"