The 1970s ◦ The Golden Age of Top 40 Music ◦ A Stylistic Compass
In my opinion, the decade of the 1970s was the pinnacle of popular, multi-genre music in the United States because there were so many creative, original songs flooding the airways from every direction. The above album covers represent just the tip of the musical iceberg. When the decade began, the Beatles concluded their iconic career with "Let It Be," moving into a new period of solo work with Paul McCartney becoming a 70s superstar in his own right. This was also the era of Elton John who became a hit machine, releasing one of the best double albums of the decade: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." Stevie Wonder went from being a 1960s Motown sensation to arguably the most powerfully creative and successful artist of that era. Personally, I rank Stevie Wonder as tied with the Beatles for most original and influential music ever created. This was also a decade that belonged to Led Zeppelin who, just like Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, and the Beatles, created their own genre of music that is so remarkable that it sets the standard for everyone else. There was just so much going on in this decade -- from Joni Mitchell to Linda Ronstadt; from Carly Simon to Harry Nilsson; from The Eagles to Earth, Wind, and Fire; from Yes to Boz Scaggs; from Foreigner to Parliament; and, from Pink Floyd to Gino Vannelli. We even experienced the invention of Disco and the phenomenon of the Bee Gees, and the latter were highly successful and musically influential. This was also a time when the music industry's formulaic model of "Rock-n-Roll" and "Pop" was continually trumped by the creativity and originality of individual artists and bands. Queen, for instance, was anti-formulaic, taking Rock music to new places because the musicians were, themselves, gifted artists and innovators -- arguably way ahead of their "label executives." I could go on and on about the diversity of music in this incredible decade and have placed mixes below for your consideration and enjoyment along with several Legacy Spotlights.
When I heard Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets" for the first time in 1973, I gathered up a few dollars and bought the album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." It was like I had acquired sacred, musical treasure. I loved so many songs from that album and still do. Looking back, I see that it was a kind of religious experience, and that's my point for making this website. Music does something that is extraordinarily helpful to our psyches if we will allow it to do its work. What exactly does that mean? I think that there is a fault in human nature whereby we tend to feel a good deal of anxiety that results from some type of conflict or contradiction from within ourselves or with others, which in turn makes us too compartmentalized and inharmonious. Music relaxes our angst and smooths-out the trouble because of its melodic and adventurous structure, even if only for the length of a song or album or nowadays a playlist. I think a person's embrace of music is a conscious (or unconscious) willingness to connect to a song that is external to the individual, which, in turn, can move the listener to another mental-emotional state. In doing so, we can experience something akin to a reciprocal friendship with a beautiful melody or intensifying, musical theme. I think a 70s song that captures perfectly this entire vibe between the listener and the musician is Bread's "The Guitar Man," so please click on its name for the beautiful, melodic story. Two more outstanding examples of a musician's message to us from the 1970s that I especially enjoy are England Dan's "Love Is the Answer" and Gino Vannelli's "Wheels of Life."
I fell in love with all kinds of melodies, hooks, arrangements, and harmonies during the 1970s, having already (and somewhat unconsciously) set the Beatles and Stevie Wonder as the True North on my musical compass of life. If you enjoy the 70s like I do, the below playlists and special features should bring a smile to your face!
Charles Calvin Best
MUSICQUEST 1970s MIX #1
Spotify Combined Playlist • 35 Songs • 2 Hrs 20 Min
Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
Magic - Pilot
Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka
What You Won't Do for Love - Bobby Caldwell
Midnight at the Oasis - Maria Muldaur
How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
The Air That I Breathe - The Hollies
Jackie Blue - The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
The Guitar Man - Bread
Tight Rope - Leon Russell
Moonlight Feels Right (Remastered) - Starbuck
Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head - B.J. Thomas
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
Baker Street - Gary Rafferty
Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
Reminiscing - Little River Band
Hummingbird - Seals and Crofts
Peace Train - Yusuf/Cat Stevens
I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You - The Alan Parsons Project
Long Train Runnin' - The Doobie Brothers
Me and My Arrow - Harry Nilsson
(They Long To Be) Close To You - Carpenters
Let 'Em In - Paul McCartney & Wings
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Love Is the Answer - England Dan, John Ford Coley
Whan Bam Shang-A-Lang - SIlver
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Bee Gees
This Is It - Kenny Loggins
Heart Hotels - Dan Fogelberg
Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) - Billy Joel
Year of the Cat - Al Stewart.
What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
Boogie Fever - The Sylvers
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - E Dan & J.F. Coley
Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale
MUSICQUEST 1970s MIX #2
Spotify Combined Playlist • 35 Songs • 2 Hrs 25 Min
Frankenstein - The Edgar Winter Group
Diamond Girl - Seals and Crofts
Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
Let It Ride - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Have You Ever Seen the Rain - Credence Clearwater Rev
From the Beginning - Emerson, Lake, & Palmer
Midnight Rider - The Allman Brothers Band
I'm the Greatest - Ringo Star
Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Ariel - Dean Friedman
Killer Queen - Queen
Remember (Christmas) - Harry Nilsson
Don't Answer Me - The Alan Parsons Project
Life Is a Minestrone - 10cc
Lake Shore Drive - Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah
Roll Over Beethoven - Electric Light Orchestra
#9 Dream (Remastered) - John Lennon
Do You Know What I Mean - Lee Michaels
Help Me - Joni Mitchell
Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image
Kodachrome - Paul Simon
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
Surrender - Cheap Trick
Your Momma Don't Dance - Loggins & Messina
Heart of Gold (2009 Remaster) - Neil Young
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney
Old Time Rock 'n' Roll - Bob Seger
Hotel California (2013 Remaster) - Eagles
Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
Hair of the Dog - Nazareth
Still the One - Orleans
Kid Charlemagne - Steely Dan
Who Are You - The Who
Take the Money and Run - Steve Miller Band
MUSICQUEST 1970s MIX #3
Spotify Combined Playlist • 35 Songs • 2 Hrs 21 Min
Reelin' in the Years - Steely Dan
Life in the Fast Lane - Eagles
Same Old Song and Dance - Aerosmith
The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934) - Elton John
Shower the People (2019 Remaster) - James Taylor
In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
Don't Call Us (We'll Call You) - Sugarloaf
Use Me - Bill Withers
Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano
Wild World - Cat Stevens
King of Nothing - Seals and Crofts
How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings
Anticipation - Carly Simon
New Kid in Town - Eagles
It's Too Late - Carole King
Ventura Highway - America
Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
Stuck in the Middle with You - Steelers Wheel
Amie - Pure Prairie League
Make It with You - Bread
Wah-Wah (2014 Mix) - George Harrison
Give Peace a Chance - The Plastic Ono Band
Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
Born on the Bayou - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Too Many People - Paul McCartney
Wolfman Jack - Todd Rundgren
Juke Box Hero (2008 Remaster) - Foreigner
Right Place Wrong Time - Dr. John
American Pie - Don McLean
Dream Weaver - Gary Wright
Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band
Love Her Madly - The Doors
China Groove - The Doobie Brothers
MUSICQUEST 1970s MIX #4
Spotify Combined Playlist • 35 Songs • 2 Hrs 24 Min
Saturday in the Park (2002 Remaster) - Chicago
Hello It's Me - Todd Rundgren
Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel
Sara - Fleetwood Mac
The Joker - Steve Miller Band
Us and Them - Pink Floyd
Any Colour You Like - Pink Floyd
I'm Not in Love - 10cc
Jealous Guy - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band
Mama Told (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
Spill the Wine - Eric Burdon & War
Honky Cat - Elton John
Let Me Roll It (Remastered 2010) - P. McCartney & Wings
Village Ghetto Land - Stevie Wonder
Superfly - Curtis Mayfield
Rockin' Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu - J. Rivers
My Old School - Steely Dan
I Hear You Knocking - Dave Edmunds
Love Her Madly (New Stereo Mix) - Doors
A Horse with No Name (Remastered) - America
Doctor My Eyes (1997 Remaster) - Jackson Brown
Will It Go Round in Circles - Billy Preston
The Moon beam Song - Harry Nilsson
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace) - George Harrison
Give a Little Bit - Supertramp
Go All the Way - Raspberries
Takin' It to the Streets - Doobie Brothers
Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) - The Hollies
We're An American Band - Grand Funk Railroad
You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful and Your Mine) - R. Starr
The Cisco Kid - War
Golden Years - David Bowie
Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop
Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang - Silver
Mind Games - John Lennon
MUSICQUEST 1970s MIX #5
Spotify Combined Playlist • 35 Songs • 2 Hrs 32 Min
If You Don't Know Me by Now - Harold Melvin/Blue Notes
Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione
Float On - The Floaters
Love's Theme - The Love Unlimited Orchestra
Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get - The Dramatics
In the Mood - Tyrone Davis
Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
Imaginary Lover - Atlanta Rhythm Section
We Are Family - Sister Sledge
Disco Inferno - The Trammps
December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - Frankie Valli & 4Tops
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer
Disco Lady - Johnny Taylor
Come and Get Your Love - Redbone
Got to Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
Good Times (2018 Remaster) - CHIC
Rock Your Baby - George McCrae
Best of My Love - The Emotions
Brick House - Commodores
Rock the Boat - Hues Corporation
Let's Groove - Earth, Wind, & Fire
Keep on Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks
You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
Drift Away - Dobie Gray
(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love - L.T.D.
Le Freak (2018 Remaster) - Chic
Dancing Machine - The Jackson 5
Kiss and Say Goodbye - The Manhattans
A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy
Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
Easy - Commodores
Stars Wars Theme/Cantina Band - Meco
Cut the Cake - Average White Band
MUSICQUEST 1970s MIX #6
Spotify Combined Playlist • 35 Songs • 2 Hrs 17 Min
More Than I Can Say Remastered) - Leo Sayer
Minute by Minute - The Doobie Brothers
Hard to Say - Dan Fogelberg
Thank You for Being a Friend - Andrew Gold
Love Is Like Oxygen - Sweet
So Into You - Atlanta Rhythm Section
Just When I Needed You Most - Randy VanWarner
Lonely Boy - Andres Gold
Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon
Alone Gain (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
January - Pilot
Poetry Man - Phoebe Snow
Sail On, Sailor (Remastered 20o0) - The Beach Boys
I Need You - America
Mockingbird - Carly Simon & James Taylor
Bad Blood - Neil Sedaka
I'm Alright (Theme from "Caddyshack") - Kenny Loggins
Cold as Ice - Foreigner
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - E. Dan & J.F. Coley
On and On - Stephen Bishop
How Long - Ace
The Things We Do for Love - 10cc
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
Baby Come Back - Player
Goodbye Stranger - Supertramp
I'll Play for You - Seals and Crofts
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
You May Be Right - Billy Joel
The Rapper - The Jaggerz
Her Town Too (with J.D. Souther) - James Taylor
Haven't Got Time for the Pain - Carly Simon
Clair - Gilbert O'Sullivan
Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney & Wings
Fly Robbin Fly - Silver Convention
Whatcha Gonna Do - Pablo Cruise
ELTON JOHN
As mentioned above, Elton John had a powerful
influence on me and millions of others, generating some of the most memorable music of the 1970s. He has now, of course, reached legacy status, having established a huge, important discography. If you have not investigated Elton John's music beyond the 70s, you should do yourself a musical favor and explore the below playlist, which includes his creative collaboration with the Australian band Pnau.
MusicQuest Elton John Playlist
Elton John vs. Pnau - "Sad" - Live Performance
Elton John vs. Pnau - "Good Morning
to the Light" - Live Performance
.
STEELY DAN
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are nowadays rightly understood as musical masterminds since they created some of the most original and enduring music of all time during the 1970s. Their songs are as relevant today as when they were originally released. Like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Stevie Wonder, their "sound" was new in this world and truly unique -- so much so that the music of Steely Dan is its own serious and intelligent genre, loved and appreciated by millions of grateful fans.
GINO VANNELLI
Many people will remember Gino Vannelli because of his 70s era albums that produced hits such as "Powerful People," "Brother to Brother," and "I Just Wanna Stop," and also because of the 1981 hit "Living Inside Myself." Those songs are, of course, fantastic, but Gino Vannelli is also a legacy composer and singer to this day. I highly recommend that you get your headphones out and listen to the below playlist. This man's music will truly take you on an emotional and soulful tour of life that you will love. I cannot say enough laudatory things about this musical hero of mine. Gino Vannelli has created a goldmine of beautiful, endearing music!
Official Website
THE EAGLES
Arguably one of the best and most popular bands of the 1970s, these gentlemen also established their own solo careers in the 1980s, reaching levels of success as big as or bigger than what they experienced in their original configuration. Even the ex-Beatles found it difficult to compete against their former band, but that was no so much the case with these musicians. In addition to songs from the Eagles discography, I have included a good amount of solo work. Once you start listening to The Eagles, it's just about impossible to stop.
PAUL McCARTNEY
Of the four ex-Beatles, Paul McCartney was by far the most commercially successful in general but especially so during the 1970s. When I think back to those radio days, this man's beautiful, instantly recognizable music was always moving through the airways. I think that initially the so-called critics were much too harsh of Paul McCartney's body of work. The album "Ram," which is my favorite, received lots of criticism. Nowadays, "Ram" is valued as the masterpiece it always was. I love Paul McCartney's work, from "My Love" to "Get on the Right Thing." Please enjoy the below playlist.
THE BEE GEES
These gentlemen hit the commercial big time with their 1977 Saturday Night Fever soundtrack -- a level of success that would probably have seemed unimaginable to them the previous year. Their popularity for a time was as high as the Harry Potter book and movie franchises. Even they, themselves, remarked how glad they were when things returned to a more "normal" level of fame. So many of us love the music of the Bee Gees because it's smooth, beautiful, from the heart, and embedded into our musical sensibilities.
