A trip through the 1970s, one hit song at a time!

Mar 13, 20232 min read

Summertime Blues - The Who (Etc.) 1970 (3/14/23)

Today's "Great Song" is a flat out classic, with hit versions recorded in the '50s, '60s, '70s, and '90s (As well as countless cover...

Michael Cook

Mar 12, 20231 min read

Workin' My Way back to You - Spinners (1979) 3/13/23

One of the MANY "Great Songs of the '60s" by The Four Seasons was 1966's "Working My Way Back to You." It's the story of a man who...

Michael Cook

Mar 11, 20232 min read

Mr. Blue Sky - ELO (1978) 3/12/23

In 1977, Jeff Lynne, the mastermind behind the Electric Light Orchestra, was suffering from a severe case of writer's block. In an effort...

Michael Cook

Mar 10, 20231 min read

Daybreak - Barry Manilow (1977) 3/11/23

Almost everyone who has ever seen Barry Manilow in concert agrees that he's a dynamic performer--known for having fun with the audience...

Michael Cook

Mar 9, 20231 min read

Paloma Blanca - George Baker Selection (1975-76) 3/10/23

Several "Great Songs of the '70s" were worldwide hits, but today's song, "Paloma Blanca" by The George Baker Selection really defines the...

Michael Cook

Mar 8, 20232 min read

The Way I Want to Touch You - Captain & Tennille (1975) 3/9/23

Once upon a time (the early '70s), Toni Tennille and Daryl Dragon (aka The Captain) were members of the Beach Boys' backup band. They...

Michael Cook

Mar 7, 20231 min read

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd 1974 (Rossington Tribute) 3/723

2023's unfortunate parade of deaths in the music world marches on. Gary Rossington, the last surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd...

Michael Cook

Mar 6, 20232 min read

Half Breed - Cher (1973) 3/7/23

It wasn't really Cher's fault, nor was it the fault of songwriters Al Capps and Mary Dean, but "Half Breed," today's "Great Song of...

Michael Cook

Mar 6, 20231 min read

Motorcycle Mama - Sailcat (1972) 3/6/23

Here's a true one-hit wonder for you: A group that recorded one album, didn't like their own work, but still scored a record deal. They...

Michael Cook

Mar 4, 20231 min read

Sweet and Innocent - Donny Osmond (1972) 3/5/23

So I bet you've been trying to remember the name of Donny Osmond's first solo hit... No? Well, I'm going to tell you anyway. In 1971,...

Michael Cook

Mar 3, 20231 min read

Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum (1970) 3/4/23

One day, back in the late 1960s, Jewish singer/songwriter Norman Greenbaum happened to hear country star Porter Wagoner sing a Gospel...

Michael Cook

Mar 2, 20232 min read

What You Won''t Do for Love - Bobby Caldwell (1978) 3/3/23

In researching today's "Great Song of 1979," I came across this gem of a synopsis from the British music magazine 'Smash Hits:' "Mellow...

Michael Cook

Mar 1, 20232 min read

I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones (1978) 3/2/23

When The Ramones came on the scene in the 1970s, they quickly head-banged their way to the forefront of the punk rock movement. Offering...

Michael Cook

Feb 28, 20231 min read

Float On - The Floaters (1977) 3/1/23

In 1995, Match.com became the very first online dating app, but long before that, in1977, a group called The Floaters created the very...

Michael Cook

Feb 28, 20231 min read

Get Up and Boogie - Silver Convention (1976) 2/28/23

Back on 8/22/22, I highlighted the #1 song "Fly, Robin, Fly" by the West German group Silver Convention. At the time, I mentioned that...

Michael Cook

Feb 26, 20231 min read

Lady Blue - Leon Russell (1975) 2/27/23

At the risk of appearing lazy, I'm repeating part of my post from 11/12/22--highlighting Leon Russell's "Great Song of 1973:"...

Michael Cook

Feb 25, 20231 min read

Just Don't Want to Be Lonely - Main Ingredient

There are literally hundreds of cover songs that became hits after just missing" for the original artist. Today, we're highlighting one...

Michael Cook

Feb 24, 20231 min read

Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks (1973) 2/25/23

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, "Keep on Truckin'" was coined as a slang phrase of encouragement that meant, "Stay focused on...

Michael Cook

Feb 23, 20232 min read

Layla - Derek & the Dominos (1972) 2/24/23

It was probably one of the worst-kept secrets in rock and roll history: Eric Clapton was hopelessly in love with Pattie Boyd--the wife of...

Michael Cook

Feb 22, 20231 min read

Let Your Love Go - Bread 1972 (2/23/23

If you've been following my "Great Songs of the '70s" blog for a while, you probably recall me mentioning that the very first concert I...

Great Songs of the '70s!

With Mike Cook

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