The possibilities of the LP format, which were explored in the 1960s, fully developed in the 1970s. Rock, R&B and countless new styles reached experimental heights. But the art of the catchy tune continued to be over the singles charts. With AM gold ballad singers and emerging disco divas that brought the hot 100 to cook every summer. Here are the biggest pop hits of the decade from the beginning of summer to autumn day and night. Without some ballads and more soft -rinsed pieces by artists such as Gilbert O’Sullivan or Donny Osmond.
20. Jimmy Buffett – “Margaritaville”
Jimmy Buffett’s career drove along like a yacht without a compass. His only top 40 hit was years ago when he released his seventh album in the winter of 1977. In summer, “Margaritaville” rose with the temperatures. And laid the foundation stone for an empire of restaurants and merchandise for troubadour.
19. Al Green – “Tied of Being Alone”
A slowly growing breakthrough. “Tied of Being Alone” was one of the biggest chart hits in 1971, although he never cracked the top 10. He was soon outshone by “Let’s Stay Together” and other crossover successes. But “Tyred” remains the sweet-longing soul of Reverend Al Greens Secular Hits.
18. Frankie Valli – “Grease”
When “Grease” became a cinema in the summer of 1978, he catapulted Sha Na Na and John Travolta into the charts. But the first chart topper of the soundtrack was part of Frankie Vallis Solo-comeback to the Four Seasons-a disco track by Barry Gibb, which broke through the film’s fifties style.
17. Three Dog Night – “Mama Told Me (not to come)”
Before Randy Newman started his solo career, he was a successful songwriter. “Mama Told Me (not to come)” was first recorded by Eric Burdon in 1966. In 1970 it became Three Dog Night’s biggest hit-and to this day the only Newman song that listed the Hot 100.
16. Freda Payne – “Band of Gold”
Because the lyrics were shortened for the three-minute single version, the story of a failing young marriage remained emotional, but vague. Years later, author Ron Dunbar was surprised that this ambiguity “Band of Gold” made it popular in the gay community, developed their own theories, why the groom could not love his bride.
15. Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band – “A fifth of Beethoven”
If 1809 summer hits had been an issue, the 5th Symphony in C minor had been Beethoven’s largest banger. 167 years later she was converted into one of the biggest Novelty hits of the disco era-and later reinterpreted for Robin Thickes “When I Get You Alone”.
14. Anita Ward – “Ring My Bell”
Context is everything: originally designed for an 11-year-old girl, “Ring My Bell” should be an innocent song about an call. When he was finally recorded as ana Ward disco track, the title received an ambiguity.
13. A Taste of Honey – “Boogie Oogie Oogie”
“Boogie Oogie Oogie” contains one of the hottest guitar solos of the Disco era-Hazel Payne from A Taste of Honey clearly inspired by Ernie Isley’s “That Lady”. The band then won a Grammy as the best new artist, but the quick drop in career later became evidence of the famous curse of this award.
12. The Raiders – “Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)”
From environmental spots to Marlon Brando’s Oscar waiver in favor of activist Littlefeather: The early seventies showed increasing sympathy for native Americans. The most important pop artifact of this movement was “Indian Reservation”-a forgotten song from 1959 that made the Raiders a iconic hit in 1971.
11. Diana Ross – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
In 1967 the song was a two and a half -minute jewel that brought Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell into the top 20 – and brought Ashford & Simpson to Motown. Three years later he became a six -minute epic with spoken word and dramatic breaks – and started Diana Ross’ solo career after the Supremes.
10. Hot – “Angel in your arms”
Hot, a trio from Gwen Owens (white, Detroit), Cathy Carson (Schwarz, Kansas City) and Juanita Curiel (Mexican), was an unusual sight in 1977. The Country & Western-based song “Angel in Your Arms” was even more unusual, recorded with the muscle Shoals studio musicians Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford-a R&B radiohit.
9. Edwin Starr – “War”
Originally written for the tempation, the producer was too controversial – instead they published the more ambivalent “Ball of Confusion”. In the same summer, Edwin Starrs led the charts powerful. Bruce Springsteen showed in 1986 with his new edition that the message was timeless.
8. Wild Cherry – “Play that funky music”
“Play that funky music” was autobiographical: Wild Cherry actually played hard rock, but began to write disco-compatible material because the audience asked for it. In 1990 the song by Vanilla ICE was used-without a songwriter credit, similar to Queen and Bowie.
7. Jim Croce – “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”
Croce’s greatest hit was inspired by an energetic line judge he met in the military. Unfortunately, the success fell together with his death – Croce died on September 20, 1973 at a plane crash in Louisiana, shortly after the summer, in which his song led the charts.
6. Elton John & Kiki Dee – “Don’t go Breaking My Heart”
A lively Motown cut: Elton John’s Hit duett with Kiki Dee was one of his few seventies hits without a credit for the duo John/Taupin. However, that was a trick – the two released the song among the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche.
5. The Carpenters – “(they long to be) Close to you”
Bacharach & Davids Song missed the top 40 several times in the 1960s – among other things in versions by Richard Chamberlain, Dionne Warwick and Bacharach itself. In 1970 the sibling duo Carpenters made the song immortal.
4. Carole King – “I Feel the Earth Move”
Kings solo debut Tapestry dominated the summer of 1971-the album stayed in first place from June to October. Five weeks of this was the double A single “It’s Too Late” / “I Feel the Earth Move” at the top-the latter became the summer anthem of the plate.
3. Donna Summer – “Bad Girls”
As her name suggests, Donna Summer was the summer queen in 1979 – “Bad Girls” led the charts for five weeks in July and August. She dominated all year round: “Hot Stuff” was a spring hit, “No more Tears (Enough is Enough)” with Barbra Streisand crowned autumn.
2. The emotions – “Best of My Love”
Founded in the late 1960s, the emotions released three albums at Stax/Volt under Isaac Hayes and David Porter before they started at Columbia. Maurice White from Earth, Wind & Fire Co-produced and co-wrote the exuberant hit “Best of My Love”.
1. The Knack – “My Sharona”
The Knacks Frontmann Doug Feiger was inspired by his muse and girlfriend Sharona Alperin-she also adorned the cover of the fastest sold Capitol singles since “I want to hold your hand”. In the disco and am-gold era it was a sensation that guitar pop ended up first-and a rare New Wave success in the coming years.