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Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 min read
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...
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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...
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Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20202 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...
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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....
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Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 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...
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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...
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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...
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Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20202 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...
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Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20201 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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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Michael Cook
Feb 10, 20202 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...
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Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20201 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...
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Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20202 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...
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Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20201 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...
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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...
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Michael Cook
Feb 9, 20202 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...
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