Sweet City Woman (1971) 10/30/20

Today, we continue our first anniversary celebration of “Great Songs of the '70s,” with the third of the first 4 songs we highlighted last year!

The Stampeders were a group from Calgary, Alberta that had at least one hit in every year of the decade—in Canada.

In 1971, however, they hit the jackpot in both Canada AND the US, with a catchy little banjo-driven ear worm that people still love today!

“Sweet City Woman” went to #1 on all 3 major Canadian Charts: Top 40, Adult Contemporary, and Country...while reaching #5 in the US on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart and #8 on the Hot 100.

It also won a bunch of Juno Awards (Canadian Grammys), including Best Single, Record Producer of the Year for Mel Shaw, and Songwriter of the Year for group guitarist Rich Dodson. The Stampeders themselves were named Canada's Top Group.

That's an impressive list of kudos for any band...and thanks to their “Great Song of 1971,” they earned every single one!

The Stampeders (with more cowbell!):