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!
Speaking of.....I just pray that the Osmonds' "Crazy Horses" doesn't end up on any of these lists.