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Great Songs of the '70s!
With Mike Cook
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Happy Days! (1976) 2/25/20
A few years back, I had the honor of playing Howard Cunningham in a stage production of "Happy Days, The Musical." It was fun to watch...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
Rhinestone Cowboy (1975) 2/24/20
During the summer of 1975, a former Beach Boy dominated the charts--but not with anything close to a "surf" or "summer" song. For those...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
The Joker (1974) 2/23/20
A nonce, guitar wolf whistles and a 17-year chart gap highlight this week's "Great Song of the '70s!" The title cut from the Steve Miller...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20202 min read
Day by Day (1973) 2/22/20
Some of my theatre colleagues have asked if I would be featuring any showtunes in my "Great Songs of the '70s" blog. The answer is Yes....
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20202 min read
Vincent (1972) 2/21/20
One morning, in 1970, Don McLean was reading a book about Vincent Van Gogh, and it struck him that Van Gogh was not just "crazy" as so...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
Signs (1971) 2/20/20
Canadian Les Emmerson was driving through California when he noticed that a lot of the beautiful scenery was blocked by billboards. That...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
Mississippi Queen (1970) 2/19/20
"This week, we're highlighting the ORIGINAL "More Cowbell" song! I fell in love with Mountain's "Mississippi Queen" the moment I heard it...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
Longer/Movin' On Up (1979) 2/18/20
Note: Two songs were highlighted this day. Here's the original post: Time for another "Great Song of the '70s" that didn't quite make it...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20202 min read
The Gambler (1978) 2/17/20
When singer/songwriter Don Schlitz wrote today's "Great Song of the '70s," he spent 2 years shopping it around Nashville until Bobby Bare...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
Best of My Love (1977) 2/16/20
The award for "Best Earth, Wind & Fire song NOT recorded by Earth, Wind & Fire" goes to: "Best of My Love" by the Emotions! The song was...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
December, 1963 (1976) 2/15/20
Could a song about the end of Prohibition called "December 5th, 1933" be a hit? Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons thought so when he wrote...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
With You, I'm Born Again (1979) 2/14/20
Happy Valentine's Day! To celebrate, we're going right to the end of the decade for our "Great Song of the '70s. In fact, the song was...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
Time in a Bottle (1974) 2/13/20
ABC Records never intended to release this "Great Song of the '70s" as a single. It's not that they didn't think it was good, they did....
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
Photograph (1973) 2/12/20
The songwriting team of Lennon & McCartney was unquestionably one of the best in the history of rock & roll...but after the Beatles broke...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (1972) 2/11/20
Today's "Great Song of the '70s" is an oddity. (Note the several links at the end of today's blog!) #1: It was of only 9 hit songs in the...
Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20202 min read
Get It On! (1971) 2/10/20
When I first started "Great Songs of the '70s," I said that from time to time, I'd feature a "Great Song" that you may have...
Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20201 min read
Fire and Rain (1970) 2/9/20
The first time I listened closely to this "Great Song of the '70s," I knew there had to be a story behind it. Turns out, there were THREE...
Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20202 min read
My Sharona (1979) 2/8/20
This is my 100th "Great Song of the '70s!" Thanks for following along. Onward to 200! :-) Here's a question that was asked quite often...
Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20201 min read
Just the Way You Are 2/7/20
Today's "Great Song of the '70s" was a little something Billy Joel dreamed up. Literally. According to Billy, the melody and chord...
Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20201 min read
You Light Up My Life 2/6/20
Today, I will take an extremely unpopular stand and declare that "You Light Up My Life" is a "Great Song of the '70s." There's a lot to...
Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20202 min read
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