Ranking each year of music in the 1970s from worst to best

As a child of the ’60s and ’70s, I can confidently say that 1972 was a year filled with musical magic! From the heart-wrenching ballads like “Alone Again (Naturally)” to the raw power of Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May,” the tunes of that year resonated deeply within me. The soulful groove of the Temptations’ “Just My Imagination” was a dancefloor staple, while Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” still brings a tear to my eye.

To mix things up a bit before we reach our ultimate playlist of hit songs from the 1970s, I thought I’d shake things up a bit. The genre for this final round is Pop, which is easy to identify but hard to pin down as it doesn’t have specific musical or lyrical characteristics that define it. Instead, “Pop” is merely a term used to categorize songs that resonated strongly with the public. Over time, as public preferences changed, so did the definition of what constitutes Pop music.

During the rock & roll period we’re focusing on now, mid-paced love songs, or ballads, tended to be the standard type of pop music. But as the decade progressed and disco gained popularity, the focus of pop music started shifting towards a rhythm suitable for dancing.

As a gamer, I can’t help but draw parallels between the ever-evolving landscape of video games and the genre of pop music. Just like there’s always a new level or character to discover, so too is there always something fresh in pop music on the horizon. That’s why we’ve coined terms for various subgenres – power pop, bubblegum pop, pop rock, Britpop, dance-pop, Europop, and even pop-punk – each offering a unique experience. It’s like leveling up in a game, always moving forward, always discovering something new.

The 1970s was a great decade for music but which year was the best?

If it was popular, it could be called pop.

Once I compile my pop songs list, I won’t blindly follow the Billboard charts, instead, I’ll make independent choices. This means I won’t just pick the most popular songs from the ’70s as the best examples of “pop” music. Instead, I’ll exercise my judgment to choose songs that might not have been as popular but share many qualities with the top hits and, in my opinion, are superior. Essentially, I’ll use the advantage of time and perspective to make informed decisions about what I believe truly represents great pop music from that era.

The top Billboard hit in 1979 was “My Sharona” by the Knack, a song I vividly recall being released. At the time, I listened to it approximately 50,000 times and enjoyed it immensely. However, my affection for it has waned over the years. I don’t despise it as some might today, but I must admit that learning about the song’s creation and Doug Fieger’s obsession with Sharona Alperin, who was 17 at the time, has given me a certain unease.

Let’s save that topic for later discussions. As for now, I’ve developed an admiration for some of Fieger’s subtler investigations into that subject matter. The song “That’s What the Little Girls Do” may make you feel uncomfortable, but it’s undeniably superior in quality.

Enough about the Knack. Except for this…

I aimed to highlight the tunes that, regardless of quality, became incredibly famous during the 1970s. To add some flair, I came up with an idea for a slightly more engaging presentation.

I’m examining the Billboard decade-end top tens for every year, featuring ten songs from each year that encapsulate public popularity. I’ll rate each song on a scale of 1 to 10 and tally the totals for each year. This method aims to illustrate the most and least successful years in pop music during the ’70s, as well as highlighting all the intervening years.

Let me offer this one disclaimer. I am rating 100 songs here. The one-to-ten score will be based on my own opinion of how good the song is. That’s it. I absolutely guarantee that you will disagree with some – maybe a lot – of my scoring. That’s OK. I’m doing this to remind or introduce readers (depending on your age) to a lot of interesting songs. The ratings are just a way to put a marker down that you can discuss and debate.

Let’s kick things off by discussing the decade of the 1970s, particularly its least musically appreciated period, as reflected in the end-of-year top ten hits.

1977 – score – (35 points)

This is the night we’ve been waiting for

1977 wasn’t the peak of disco just yet, but you can catch a glimpse of it with Andy Gibb’s slow ballad “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” setting the stage. Add to that Rod Stewart’s sleepy attempt at seduction in one of the year’s worst top songs, and you have quite the slumber party. The standout track, “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston, is a decent dance number in the mix. However, when surrounded by cheesy romance tunes like “I Like Dreamin'” (with its puzzling apostrophe), “Undercover Angel,” and “Torn Between Two Lovers,” a mid-tier dance track feels like a breath of fresh air.

1978 (38 points)

Subtle Moves on the Dance Floor

1977 was my year of disco delight! The Bee Gees, led by the Gibb family, dominated the charts with an impressive five out of ten top hits. Three tracks were from their iconic band, contributed to the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever. To add to this, Andy, the youngest brother in the Gibb clan, had two solo hits that year, culminating with “Shadow Dancing” as the number one song. However, four out of those five hits faded from memory within just a few years.

1978 stands out distinctly from 1977 primarily due to the release of “Stayin’ Alive,” an exceptional disco song that marked the peak of the disco era. Compared to it, other hits like Exile’s “I Want to Kiss You All Over” and even Bee Gees’ “Night Fever” are acceptable, but they don’t quite match up to the brilliance of “Stayin’ Alive.” There isn’t much else from 1978 that has made a lasting impact.

1975 (49 points)

Love will keep us united

1975, despite being known for one of the least favorite top hits of the decade, boasted a smaller number of controversial chart-toppers compared to ’77 and ’78. However, it did produce one exceptional track: Earth, Wind & Fire’s groovy hit “Shining Star.” While “Rhinestone Cowboy” might not be Glenn Campbell’s finest work, his average songs are still quite good. Similarly, the overly sweet but endearing Frankie Valli song “My Eyes Adored You” falls into this category. The popular films/dance sensations “Fame,” the rock tracks “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “One of These Nights” (more accurately described as soft rock) are enjoyable, even if they don’t create a spectacular impact.

1979 (50 points)

Sharona, My Girl

The best of the disco years are owed to very good songs from Chic, Gloria Gaynor, and two from Donna Summer. I think Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” was the best of the top ten in ’79, but “Le Freak” and “Bad Girls” are close behind. I’ve already talked about “My Sharona,” and I just don’t want to talk about Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,” Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell,” or Robert John’s “Sad Eyes,” because that require listening to them again, and well, I’m not as strong a Gloria Gaynor. I don’t know if I will survive another chorus of “Sad Eyes.”

1974 (52 points)

Our Past Lives

As a music enthusiast of the ’70s, I must say that no other year could boast having an instrumental in the top 10 year-end charts except for 1974, which managed to squeeze in not one but almost two. “Love’s Theme” is purely an instrumental masterpiece, while “TSOP” features occasional human voices humming “people all over the world.” Both tracks are solid choices, with “TSOP” being a great dance number and “Love’s Theme” offering that Barry White soul without the lyrics.

1974’s chart peak isn’t particularly stellar, with Terry Jacks’ overly familiar “Seasons in the Sun” taking the second spot. However, nestled within the top ten, there are some solid tracks like the Jackson’s dance-funk anthem “Dancing Machine,” Grand Funk’s lively rendition of the classic Carole King tune “Loco-Motion,” and one of Elton John’s stronger hits, “Crocodile Rock” (contrasting with some of Elton’s weaker hits, such as the following year’s “Philadelphia Freedom”).

1976 (54 points)

Foolish Love Ballads

1976 had a less impressive top three songs compared to any other year in the decade, however it was supported by some strong tracks further down the top ten list. Concerning Elton John’s lesser works, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” isn’t his absolute worst single (that title goes to “Island Girl”), but it’s not great either. “Silly Love Songs” and “Disco Lady,” despite their differences, share a similar pattern. They’re upbeat tunes that are enjoyable enough, but I can’t think of anyone who would list any of these songs among their favorites.

Moving through the playlist that includes “December, 1963” by The Four Seasons, “Play That Funk Music” by Wild Cherry, and “Love Machine” by the Miracles, you’ll find tracks with stronger longevity. Amongst the top ten, Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” featuring Steve Gadd’s unforgettable rhythm, stands out as the best. Even Walter Murphy’s “A Fifth of Beethoven” is a more enduring novelty song compared to Ray Stevens’ “The Streak” from ’74.

1973 (57 points)

I’ll Tie a Symbol of Hope, Yellow Ribbon Around My Tree

1973 boasts the greatest variety of any year in the ’70s. Among the songs I rated moderately (4, 5, or 6), two stood out – one was the top-ranked song and the other was the lowest-ranked on my list. The rest were all strong pop tunes, with Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” being his biggest hit and a standout, while Marvin Gaye, Jim Croce, Roberta Flack, Billy Preston, and Carly Simon also contributed excellent work.

The quality of this work is heavily dragged down by subpar contributions from two exceptional songwriters of their time. Paul McCartney’s “My Love” falls short, while Kris Kristofferson’s “Why Me” is an unremarkable ode that doesn’t shine due to Kristofferson’s average performance.

1971 (58 points)

Rejoice, the world is a delight!

1971 was quite intriguing, with two versions of the Osmonds’ music standing out. Donny Osmond released his solo rendition of “Go Away Little Girl,” which might not be exceptional but surpasses Steve Lawrence’s version from a decade prior. On the other hand, The Osmonds as a band delivered what could be their finest bubblegum pop song, “One Bad Apple.” Additionally, the Bee Gees, before they dominated disco, produced the rather melancholic “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.

But you also have actual rock & roll songs in the top ten. The Raiders’ “Indian Reservation” is the hardest rocker, but Rod Stewart’s Maggie May (a double-sided single with “Reason to Believe on the B side) and Carole King’s “It’s Too Late” (like with Stewart, a double-sided hit with the even better “I Feel the Earth Move” on the flip side) are also rock & roll songs. You also get the sublime Motown soul of the Temptations’ “Just My Imagination.” A pretty good year.

1972 (63 points)

I’ve Never Seen Your Face Before

1972 boasted the highest number of exceptional songs (scoring 8 or more) on my list compared to any other year. However, these exceptional tracks were overshadowed by a few less impressive ones. The absolute worst song was Wayne Newton’s overly sentimental piano ballad “Daddy Don’t Walk So Fast,” which surprisingly landed in the tenth position. In a strange twist of fate, it edged out Al Green’s stunning “Let’s Stay Together” by just one spot, placing it at number eleven for that year.

1972 would have shared first place in the survey instead of finishing second, if the positions were swapped. The top two songs of the year are pleasant, emotional tunes that contrast greatly but sound similar to me. Following these, there’s an abundance of great music ranging from Don McLean’s narrative masterpiece to Harry Nilsson’s orchestral epic, and ultimately Bill Withers’ powerful vocals. Additionally, you’ll find the best James Brown performance not by James Brown himself in Joe Tex’s “I Gotcha” and Melanie’s early form of emo pop anthem “Brand New Key.

1970 (70 points)

Bridge Spanning Troubled Streams

The most successful year for major hits during the entire decade was the first one, and it’s no wonder looking back on it. Back then, Rock & Roll was still a new sensation, evident through one of the few pure rock songs included here, “American Woman.” Another rock tune, “Get Ready” by Rare Earth, was a bit unconventional – its lengthy 20-minute free jam was cut down to a more radio-friendly 2 minutes and 52 seconds, with added crowd noise for a better fit. It might have seemed odd, but it worked fairly well.

1970 was an exceptional year for pop music, boasting performances from legendary acts like the Beatles, Diana Ross, and the Jackson 5, all delivering top-notch efforts. The best song to place tenth that year, Freda Payne’s “Band of Gold,” remains as captivating today as it was in 1970. Even some of the lesser hits, such as soft rock tracks by B.J. Thomas and the Carpenters, manage to impress without veering into excessive sentimentality or melancholy. The whole collection is held together beautifully by Simon & Garfunkel’s chart-topping masterpiece, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” In summary, 1970 was a fantastic year for pop music.

2024-10-15 13:01