The Great Seventies Countdown week 12

"Today, I've lined up something very special for the end of the show, "  The Host says as applause dies down.  "It's getting harder now to find the more obscure pieces of music to show you... but you'll find our last one qualifies.  Now, on with the show."

110- Danny's Song, Anne Murray, 1972, #7.  Just as good is Kenny Loggins' original.  Both are on the BIG list I did earlier.

109- Love Machine, the Miracles, 1975, #1.  Billy Griffin took over when Smokey left in the 70's, and this was their big- and only- top 40 hit.

108-Keep It Coming, Love, KC And The Sunshine Band, 1977, #2.  Heard it the first time one night on the Midnight Special.  Never really cared for the band before that point. Funny how watching some songs live can change things.

107-Tequila Sunrise, The Eagles, 1973, #64.  "Take another shot of courage... wonder why the right words never come, you just get numb..."

106- Fox On The Run, Sweet, 1975, #5.  One of those songs that I had a "love-hate" relationship back then.  Love won.

105- The Love You Save, Jackson Five, 1970, #1.  Admit it.  If you were a kid back then, you watched the cartoon.  Probably the Osmonds cartoon, too.  And the Archie show...

104- Holding On To Yesterday, Ambrosia, 1975, #17.  Probably the most depressing song not on an Eric Carmen album ever for me...

103- One Less Bell To Answer, the Fifth Dimension, 1970, #2.  Marilyn at her very best.

102- We're All Alone, Boz Scaggs, 1976, flip side of Lido Shuffle.  I think this is our first double-dipper on the countdown.  Boz wrote it, he does it best.  See....




101- Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty, 1978, #2.  One of those songs you kinda liked, liked a little more, and the next thing you knew, it was at the top.

100- Nadia's Theme, Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin JR, 1976, #8.  At the beginning, we were all "The Young And The Restless" heads.  Snapper, Katherine, and of course, Victor Newman, okay?

99- Daybreak (the live version), Barry Manilow, 1977, #23.  As depressing as Ambrosia was on their song, this one is the opposite end of the spectrum.  Brings me up from even my lowest.

98- Band On The Run, Wings, 1974, #1.  "If I ever get out of here/gonna give it all away/to a registered charity/ all I need is a pint a day..."

97- Pretty Maids All In A Row, The Eagles, 1977, flip side of Hotel California.  My favorite Eagles or Joe Walsh song.



96- Saturday In The Park, Chicago, 1973, #3.  I don't know how this wasn't a #1.  It sure was around here. But, "A bronze man still can tell stories his own way.  Listen, children! All is not lost! All is not lost!"

95- Get Down, Gilbert O'Sullivan, 1973, #7.  I still remember arguing with my niece that it wasn't Gilbert AND Sullivan.  Another one of those "love-hate" songs that turned out good.

94- Snowbird, Anne Murray, 1970, #8.  I suppose I'm as surprised as anybody to see Anne Murray twice in one week,  but this one will usually find me teary-eyed by the end.

93- Sylvia's Mother, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, 1972, #5.  The most heartbreaking vocal ever.  The operator was gouging him, man.



92- Aubrey, Bread, 1972, #15.  Boy, Breakfast At Tiffanys sure spawned a lot of songs.  I've always empathised with songs about loves you never meet.  Other examples being Genesis' Turn It On Again and Counting Crows' Mrs. Potter's Lullabye.

91- Racing In The Streets, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, 1978, unreleased.  Okay, I'm cheating a bit here.  The live version that I love the best (off Springsteen Live) was recorded in 1981, but the studio version was a 1978 release.  The long ending is one of those pieces of music I wish could go on forever.

"And so we reach the end of another show,"  The Host says, "And I promised you something special.  At least to me, it is.  For a year or so, CBS "jazzed up" the intros to there soap operas by putting words to the themes.  Here is that version of Nadia's theme.  (I actually almost put up David Hasselhoff's version that was a hit in Japan, but frankly, it sucked.)  Enjoy. Until next week..."