The Top 5 spans the 70s and provides a nice retrospective on the range of offerings that the decade had to offer. From ballad to singer/songwriter love song to rocker to disco/funk to new wave/post-punk. If you didn’t like the genre of the song on the radio in the 70s, well, just wait until the next one…
5. Boogie Nights – Heatwave (1977)
This funky groove was one of the trio of Heatwave hits that also included “Groove Line” and “Always and Forever.” All were written by the band’s English keyboardist, Rod Temperton, who claims my title of “I sure didn’t expect that” among songwriters (guess which guy in the lineup above). Just for fun, do a search for the guy who also wrote Michael Jackson’s “Off The Wall”, “Rock with You” and “Thriller.” And there was also George Benson’s “Give Me the Night”, “Stomp” by The Brothers Johnson, “Baby Come to Me” from Patti Austin/James Ingram and “Yah Mo Be There” from James Ingram/Michael McDonald. Awesome and unexpected.
4. Message in a Bottle – The Police (1979)
This trio was hitting their stride with the release of this cut as the first single from their second album. Strange to think that in four short years and three more albums, it would all be over, arguably right at their peak. The members would go on to individual successful endeavors as well as earning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction as a group. The lasting impact of a band that released five albums in just under a five year span not only amazes but also begs the rock and roll cliché’, “What if?”
3. Without You – Nilsson (1971)
Harry Nilsson took this tune penned by a pair of members of the group Badfinger to the top of the charts in early 1972. Numerous other artists have recorded versions of the cut over the years as it is just one of those tunes that some find bears repeating. Personally, I find the Nilsson recording by far the best and despite some fawning over Mariah Carey’s version, not a fan. Of her or the song, both are too much. Anyway, if there was such a thing as a make The Beatles jealous song, this is it (only make believe though as I realize there is no such thing).
2. Let It Ride – Bachman Turner Overdrive (1974)
Led by a somewhat different looking stout pair of Canadian co-vocalists, BTO flat out rocked. This cut is a prime example with bassist C.F. Turner belting out the lead vocals and the band cranking out a rhythm that just chugs along full speed ahead. It is one of those songs where the pace, tone and vocal perfectly reflect the tune’s title. Or, maybe it is the other way around. Whatever the case, I could listen to this one all day long.
1. I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song – Jim Croce (1974)
When it comes to the singer/songwriter niche, it’s tough to find anyone who did it any better than Jim Croce. Not only love with songs such as this classic but also as a humorous storyteller offering up characters like Leroy Brown and a “five foot six and two fifteen bleach blond mama with a streak of mean.” Impossible to say where Croce was at his best but this Top 10’s Top Tune is among his many candidates.
Tourney time tomorrow night as Lure Lunacy resumes with Sweet 16 matchups. Talk to you later. Troy