Any Major Hits from 1970
1970 is — gulp — 50 years ago. The 1960s hadn’t quite ended; and the 1970s were already getting underway: Creedence Clearwater Revival and T. Rex both were relevant.
The scary thing is, 1970 today is as 1920 was to 1970 then. Arguably, the world, and music, had changed much more between 1920 and 1970 than it has changed in the past 50 years. Look, there’s even still a crook in the White House (whereas, the history buff will counter in his killjoy ways, in 1920 a crook was about to be elected unto the White House).
Last year I did a mix of hits from 1944 to mark the 75th anniversary of that year. In many ways, 1970 looks more like today than it did look like 1944, only 26 years earlier.
For many people who’ll hear this mix, I hope the songs will evoke a bit of nostalgia, with any luck of happy memories. I was just a little too young to build many memories of that year, other than two holidays, one in the snow and the other on the beach. I do recall a few of the songs specifically from that time, especially the final one, since I loved music even as a four-year-old. But to me, this mix of big smashes and rather forgotten hits sounds like 1970, which is the effect I tried to go for. Those with more mature memories will be the judges of whether I’ve succeeded in my task.
Some of these songs are, of course, from 1969, but they were hits in the UK, US and/or West-Germany in 1970.
As ever, the mix is timed to be in CD-R (or double LP) length. home-grooved covers. PW in comments.
1. Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime
2. Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
3. Christie – San Bernadino
4. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Up Around The Bend
5. The Chairmen Of The Board – Give Me Just A Little More Time
6. Freda Payne – Band Of Gold
7. The Tremeloes – Me And My Life
8. Badfinger – Come And Get It
9. McGuinness Flint – When I’m Dead And Gone
10. Kenny Rogers and The First Edition – Something’s Burning
11. Chicago – 25 Or 6 To 4
12. The Ides Of March – Vehicle
13. Blues Image – Ride Captain Ride
14. T. Rex – Ride A White Swan
15. Mr. Bloe – Groovin’ With Mr. Bloe
16. Tyrone Davis – Turn Back The Hands Of Time
17. Jimmy Ruffin – It’s Wonderful (To Be Loved By You)
18. Arrival – Friends
19. White Plains – My Baby Loves Lovin’
20. Stevie Wonder – Never Had A Dream Come True
21. B.J. Thomas – Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
22. Joe Dassin – Les Champs-Elysées
23. Elvis Presley – Kentucky Rain
24. The Beach Boys – Cotton Fields
25. Pickettywitch – That Same Old Feeling
26. Rotation – Ra-Ta-Ta
Bonus: Sugarloaf – Green-Eyed Lady
PW = amdwhah
Thanks Dude ! Any major Hits from my year of birth. I like it !
I recently read that Marc Bolan and his producer Tony Visconti considered In The Summertime a rip off of their sound. I find that a stretch seeing as Ride A White Swan, the song it most resembles, came out months later. What do you think?
In The Summertime is essentially a skiffle song, like all the other Mungo Jerry songs. The ad-libs sound a bit Bolanesque, but who’s to say Bolan didn’t rip of Ray Dorset? And,. as you say, timeline!
Major Dude! Where have you been all my life? Or rather why did it take me so long to find you?
I’m about to start up a music server at home and you will be featured prominently.
Had tickets to see Steely Dan/Steve Winwood last month; you know how that came out, sigh.
Cheers! I hope you have had time to explore the archives. Lots of links are still working.
Where do I report dead links.
Zippy has no file.
Back up again!