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Great Songs of the '70s!
With Mike Cook
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Michael Cook
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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:"...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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