Place ALL 10 songs in order of your preference. NO TIES. NO OMISSIONS (as in, "I hate this song so much I refuse to list it"). Such "ballots" will not be counted. ALL 10 songs must be listed.
Songs will be awarded points from 9 points for the #1 song on your list, to 0 for the last.
Each song will be prioritized by point total - greatest # points is #1, etc. Ties will have a run-off.
I will give a week for this round before we go to brackets, to garner more interest and votes, and test how much time may usually be needed. I plan on a week span for every round but may change as needed.
(NOTE: one does not have to play every single round to participate, although that would be preferred!)
DUE DATE: Sunday Jan 21 @6:00
You just reminded me what a crappy decade the 70s were for mainstream music.
Hello Darlin 70
Mr. Bojangles 71
Rocky Mountain High 73
If we make it through December 73
Rhinestone Cowboy 75
Luckinbach Texas 77
Lucille 77
Best 2 songs...1900’s...
Amarillo By Morning & Crazy
The City of New Orleans, Arlo Guthrie version 72
There are a ton of good songs left off of that list.
1974 “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” MFSB
1975 “Fame” David Bowie
1976 “Love Machine” The Miracles
1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers
1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John
1978 “Baby Come Back” Player
1979 “Hot Stuff” Donna Summer
1977 “Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston
1970 “I’ll Be There” The Jackson 5
1971 “Go Away Little Girl” Donny Osmond
1979 "Hot Stuff" Donna Summer
1978 "Baby Come Back" Player
1977 "Don't Leave Me This Way" Thelma Houston
1971 "Go Away Little Girl" Donny Osmond
1972 "Lean on Me" Bill Withers
1975 "Fame" David Bowie
1976 "Love Machine" The Miracles
1970 "I'll Be There" The Jackson 5
1974 "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" MFSB
Best to worst:
1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers
1974 “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” MFSB
1978 “Baby Come Back” Player
1979 “Hot Stuff” Donna Summer
1975 “Fame” David Bowie
1977 “Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston
1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John
1976 “Love Machine” The Miracles
1970 “I’ll Be There” The Jackson 5
1971 “Go Away Little Girl” Donny Osmond
1. "Fame" David Bowie
2. "Baby Come Back" Player
3. "Crocodile Rock" Elton John
4. "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" MFSB
5. "Lean on Me" Bill Withers
6. "Hot Stuff" Donna Summer
7. "Don't Leave Me This Way" Thelma Houston
8. "I'll Be There" The Jackson 5
9. "Love Machine" The Miracles
10. "Go Away Little Girl" Donny Osmond
Thanks for stressing this. There are a few songs on this list that I wouldn't listen to even at gunpoint. LOL.
1- 1979 “Hot Stuff” Donna Summer
2- 1977 “Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston
3- 1971 “Go Away Little Girl” Donny Osmond
4- 1975 “Fame” David Bowie
5- 1974 “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” MFSB
6- 1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers
7- 1970 “I’ll Be There” The Jackson 5
8- 1976 “Love Machine” The Miracles
9- 1978 “Baby Come Back” Player
10- 1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John
Cool!
Lean on Me
I’ll Be There
Crocodile Rock
Love Machine
Baby Come Back
Don’t Leave Me This Way
Hot Stuff
TSOP
Go Away Little Girl
Cool!
Lean on Me
I’ll Be There
Crocodile Rock
Love Machine
Baby Come Back
Don’t Leave Me This Way
Hot Stuff
TSOP
Go Away Little Girl
1970 “I’ll Be There” The Jackson 5
1974 “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” MFSB
1976 “Love Machine” The Miracles
1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John
1977 “Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston
1979 “Hot Stuff” Donna Summer
1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers
1975 “Fame” David Bowie
1971 “Go Away Little Girl” Donny Osmond
1978 “Baby Come Back” Player
9 = 1977 "Don't Leave Me This Way" Thelma Houston
8 = 1973 "Crocodile Rock" Elton John
7 = 1978 "Baby Come Back" Player
6 = 1975 "Fame" David Bowie
5 = 1974 "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" MFSB
4 = 1972 "Lean on Me" Bill Withers
3 = 1979 "Hot Stuff" Donna Summer
2 = 1976 "Love Machine" The Miracles
1 = 1970 "I'll Be There" The Jackson 5
0 = 1971 "Go Away Little Girl" Donny Osmond
Overall, not a list of songs I'm enthused about.
I ranked Thelma Houston at the top as her song reminds me of my first serious crush on a girl in high school. We were freshmen and she was in my biology class. Due to our last names being similar, we were made lab partners as the teacher was one of those who seated the class in alphabetical order. So that song has a lot of special meaning for me. Even today, the opening of that song puts butterflies in my stomach. So sorry, but my top choice is a personal one and not an artistic one.
"Crocodile Rock" was simply one of the best pop-rock songs of the era. What's weird about hearing that song today is that back then, the lyrics hearkened to the distant past (the beginning of rock and roll - probably in the 1950s). Now of course, the song itself is a similar reminder of my past.
"Baby Come Back" was often confused at the time with being a Hall & Oates song. Sounds just like them, does it not? Not a bad song and it stands the test of time.
I was a huge David Bowie fan during the 1970s but "Fame" was a bit out there, even for Bowie. Not my favorite Bowie song by any stretch but grew on my over time.
Disco was just starting to get big in 1974 and "TSOP" was one of the first of the big disco hits. Towards the end of the song, you can hear the vocals of The Three Degrees kick in. A lot of people like to rag on disco but you had to be there. I know it sounds dopey today.
I thought of ranking "Lean On Me" higher but I would rather listen to any of the songs above more so here it sits, in the middle of the pack. This is the dividing line between the decent songs and the truly awful songs below.
I generally liked Donna Summer during the 1970s but even though "Hot Stuff" was probably the biggest of her hits, I find it rather annoying, repetitive and one of the weaker tracks on her "Bad Girls" album of that year. BTW, there was some tremendous songs on that Giorgio Moroder produced double album including the title track and "Dim All The Lights."
"Love Machine" is wicked annoying to listen to. Especially all that primitive grunting going on in the background.
I know that "I'll Be There" by Jackson 5 is considered one of the great pop songs. It's just too sugary sweet for me (much like "One Bad Apple" by The Osmonds which was also a big hit around the same time). Ironically, I thought The Partridge Family blew the doors off both Jackson 5 and The Osmonds, even though I know that PF was mostly studio musicians with only the late David Cassidy having a major role.
"Go Away Little Girl"...need I say more. Utter dreck.
Hopefully we have a better batch of songs in the next round!
1. 1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John
2. 1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers
3. 1978 “Baby Come Back” Player
4. 1975 “Fame” David Bowie
5. 1976 “Love Machine” The Miracles
6. 1977 “Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston
7. 1979 “Hot Stuff” Donna Summer
8. 1974 “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” MFSB
9. 1971 “Go Away Little Girl” Donny Osmond
10. 1970 “I’ll Be There” The Jackson 5
There was some great music made in the 70s. There was also a massive pile of ... not-great music, I guess.
Crocodile Rock is still a great song (no matter what one may think of the artist). Lean on Me was great as a remake by Club Nuveau; this version is just good. Baby Come Back was pretty good. Fame was my least-favorite of Bowie’s hits. The rest I hope I never have to hear again.
TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS 1970S PING LIST
(This is a temporary ping list, so don’t worry!)
2 more days till voting stops for Round 1!
A hint about the results so far:
“Lean on Me” is winning, and “Go Away Little Girl” is losing!
The votes for #4 are tight, so there may be a run-off to choose #4, which is the worst rank in this round to make it to the play-off brackets!
1. “Lean on Me” Bill Withers
2. “Crocodile Rock” Elton John
3. “Fame” David Bowie
4. “I’ll Be There” The Jackson 5
5. “Hot Stuff” Donna Summer
6. “Love Machine” The Miracles
7. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” Thelma Houston
8. “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” MFSB
9. “Go Away Little Girl” Donny Osmond
10. “Baby Come Back” Player