Recent posts and various comments have led me to this poorly thought-through idea. The 1970s often get slagged as a miserable, empty decade. In many respects, that may be true. I was there, I have some memories. However, there's plenty to keep dear about that odd period that gave us roller disco, President Ford, and the Chevy Vega.
With that in mind, I have assembled a list of relatively popular songs of the time that strike me as not only time pieces, but as timeless. I could listen to them endlessly. I have divided them by year, and provide as my only comment, a snippet of lyrics (sometimes from memory, so accuracy: be damned). We'll do through 1975 tonight. We'll finish the decade later.
1970
Spirit in the Sky--Norman Greenbaum
When I die and they lay me to rest, I want to go to the place that's the best....
American Woman--The Guess Who
I don't need your war machines, I don't need your ghetto scenes....
War--Edwin Starr
What is it good for?
Big Yellow Taxi--Joni Mitchell
Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you got til it's gone....
1971
Behind Blue Eyes--The Who
And if I smile, tell me some bad news, before I laugh and act like a fool.
Immigrant Song--Led Zeppelin
Hammer of the gods....
Maggie May--Rod Stewart
I laughed at all of your jokes. My love you didn't need to coax.
Black Magic Woman--Santana
Don't turn your back on me, baby....
1972
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone--The Temptations
Wherever he laid his hat was his home....
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)--Looking Glass
Brandy used to watch his eyes when he told his sailor's stories....
Out on the Weekend--Neil Young
The woman I'm thinking of, she loved me all up....
Doctor My Eyes--Jackson Browne
Just say if it's too late for me.
1973
Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road--Elton John
I should have listened to my old man.
No More Mr. Nice Guy--Alice Cooper
My dog bit me on the leg today....
Rambling Man--Allman Brothers
I was born in the back of a Greyhound bus rolling down Highway Forty-one...
Stir It Up--Bob Marley and the Wailers
Little darlin'....
1974 (Okay, 1974 was pretty lame...I could only come up with two good ones)
Rebel Rebel--David Bowie
You've torn your dress, your face is a mess, you can't get enough, but enough ain't the test....
Radar Love--Golden Earring
Radio plays some forgotten song. Brenda Lee's coming on strong....
1975
Mexico--James Taylor
I've never really been, but I'd sure like to go....
Wish You Were Here--Pink Floyd
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl....
Sister Golden Hair--America
I been one poor correspondent....
Born To Run--Bruce Springsteen
I wanna die with you Wendy on the streets tonight in an everlasting kiss.
4 comments:
1972: Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" come to mind and make me very happy.
Also, Genesis' "Musical Box" and Supper's Ready" in 1972 and "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" in 1974! Awesome. I love Genesis.
Yay, memory lane!
Anon AMVB
You love Genesis...but, I still love you!
I kid....
Um, Genesis was cool in the 70's.
Oh, and you're old.
You inspired me to listen to Supper's Ready and the rest of Seconds Out for the first time in too long. This also gave me the rare opportunity to introduce P to music he didn't know - usually it's him schooling me. We had it blasting at 7:30 this morning - surely to our neighbors' delight.
I bet Pink Floyd's "The Wall" appears on the next post re: the second half of of the 1970s.
This and all the reconnecting on Facebook are taking me back to the way back. And possibly causing me to regress?
Next, bring on the 1980s!!! Swatches and Duran Duran, aw yeah.
Anon AMVB
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