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Great Songs of the '70s!
With Mike Cook
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Michael Cook
Jan 24, 20212 min read
And I Love You So - Perry Como (1973) 1/24/21
Every so often during the '60s and '70s, a legendary “crooner” from the pre-rock era would suddenly reappear on the charts with a “Great...
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Michael Cook
Jan 23, 20211 min read
Won't get Fooled Again - The Who (1971) 1/23/21
Pete Townshend wrote today's “Great Song of the '70s” for The Who's OTHER rock opera...“Lifehouse,” the follow-up to “Tommy.” The opera...
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Michael Cook
Jan 21, 20212 min read
Band of Gold - Freda Payne (1970) 1/22/21
In 1970, the legendary songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland (Brian-Lamont-Eddie) had left Motown for Invictus Records, and were in...
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Michael Cook
Jan 20, 20212 min read
Heart of Glass - Blondie (1979) 1/21/21
In 1974, Debbie Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie wrote today's “Great Song of the '70s.” It was slow and funky with lyrics that –in...
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Michael Cook
Jan 20, 20211 min read
Baby Come Back - Player (1978) 1/20/21
The group responsible for today's “Great Song of the '70s” changed names and personnel so often, you need a spreadsheet to keep it...
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Michael Cook
Jan 19, 20211 min read
Lonely Boy - Andrew Gold (1977) 1/19/21
Today's “Great Song of the '70s” is autobiographical--right down to specific years in the life of the artist, Andrew Gold. “Lonely Boy”...
20
Michael Cook
Jan 17, 20212 min read
Rhiannon - Fleetwood Mac (1976) 1/18/20
I feel like today's “Great Song of the '70s” requires a short course in Mythology 101. I will try to keep it brief, knowing full well...
10
Michael Cook
Jan 17, 20211 min read
Bungle in the Jungle - Jethro Tull (1975) 1/17/20
Today's “Great Song of the '70s.” was originally written for the soundtrack of a movie that never got made! According to Jethro Tull's...
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Michael Cook
Jan 15, 20212 min read
Everlasting Love - Carl Carlton (1974) 1/16/21
If you were impressed by the history of yesterday's “Great Song,” hold my beer! :-) (Lots of links below!) To quickly refresh your...
20
Michael Cook
Jan 14, 20211 min read
Do You Want to Dance? - Bette Midler (1973) 1/15/21
When FOUR different versions of the same tune become hits by FOUR different artists over THREE straight decades, you have to believe it's...
10
Michael Cook
Jan 13, 20212 min read
Burning Love - Elvis Presley (1972) 1/14/21
Fact: Elvis Presley rarely wrote, recorded or performed original material. (Note: Yes, the King received writing credit on some of his...
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Michael Cook
Jan 13, 20212 min read
Timothy (1971) - The Buoys 1/13/21
Most music fans know Rupert Holmes as the man who wrote and recorded “The Pina Colada Song (Escape)” in 1979. We're NOT highlighting that...
20
Michael Cook
Jan 11, 20211 min read
Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) - Melanie Safka (1970) 1/12/21
In the early '70s, if you looked up the term “hippie chick” in the (non-existent) counter-culture dictionary, you'd find a picture of...
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Michael Cook
Jan 10, 20211 min read
Dance the Night Away - Van Halen (1979) 1/11/21
Billboard Magazine called today's “Great Song of the '70s” a “melodically driving rocker spiked by blaring guitar riffs, keyboards, bass...
10
Michael Cook
Jan 9, 20212 min read
Miss You - Rolling Stones (1978) 1/10/21
The first time I heard today's “Great Song of 1978,” I thought to myself, “The Rolling Stones recorded a disco song? Why??” Well,...
10
Michael Cook
Jan 8, 20211 min read
Eastbound & Down - Jerry Reed (1977) 1/9/21
In 1977, “Star Wars” was, by far, the #1 film at the box office, grossing over $221 MILLION. Of course, the theme song is one of the most...
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Michael Cook
Jan 7, 20211 min read
Sing a Song - Earth, Wind & Fire (1976) 1/8/21
Earth, Wind & Fire had a LOT of “Great Songs” during the '70s! We've already highlighted THREE of them: “Shining Star” back on 11/19/19...
30
Michael Cook
Jan 7, 20212 min read
I'm Sorry/Calypso - John Denver (1975) 1/7/21
Over the years, there have been countless “Great Songs” that started out as the “B” side of a single that didn't quite make it. Sometimes...
10
Michael Cook
Jan 5, 20211 min read
You're the Best Thing That's Ever Happened to Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips (1974) 1/8/21
Back on 12/22/19, I highlighted “Midnight Plane to Houston,” a song written by Jim Weatherly after a conversation he had with...
10
Michael Cook
Jan 4, 20211 min read
Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest (1973) 1/5/21
In 1969, Songwriter Sherman Kelly was visiting tropical St. Croix in the Virgin Islands, when he was attacked and viciously beaten by a...
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