(VANITY) TOURNAMENT OF CHART-TOPPERS ('70S) - ROUND 2

me | 1/21/18 | me

[the OlLine Rebel]

ROUND 2 of the greatest hits of the '70s begins!

Due date: Sunday, Jan 28 @6:00 pm (Eastern)

This Round takes the top 6 songs of each year of the '70s per BILLBOARD, and pairs them in brackets along with the best 4 #7s as voted in Round 1.

[BenLurkin]

Dave’s not here, man.

[So Cal Rocket]

6 1970 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” Diana Ross

3 1970 “American Woman” The Guess Who

5 1970 “War” Edwin Starr

2 1971 “Maggie May” Rod Stewart

1 1971 “Joy to the World” Three Dog Night

3 1971 “It’s Too Late” Carole King

7 1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers

4 1973 “Let’s Get It On” Marvin Gaye

2 1972 “Alone Again (Naturally)” Gilbert O’Sullivan

3 1972 “American Pie” Don McLean

7 1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John

5 1973 “My Love” Paul McCartney & Wings

2 1973 “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” Jim Croce

5 1974 “Dancing Machine” The Jackson 5

6 1974 “The Loco-Motion” Grand Funk Railroad

4 1974 “Come and Get Your Love” Redbone

7 1975 “Fame” David Bowie

5 1975 “My Eyes Adored You” Frankie Valli

6 1975 “Shining Star” Earth, Wind & Fire

4 1976 “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” The Four Seasons

1 1976 “Silly Love Songs” Wings

3 1977 “Best of My Love” The Emotions

5 1976 “Play That Funky Music” Wild Cherry

5 1977 “Angel in Your Arms” Hot

1 1977 “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” Rod Stewart

4 1978 “Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees

7 1978 “Baby Come Back” Player

5 1978 “Kiss You All Over” Exile

2 1978 “Night Fever” Bee Gees

2 1979 “Bad Girls” Donna Summer

1 1979 “My Sharona” The Knack

4 1979 “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Rod Stewart

[PROCON]

My votes: (Hey Rock-Jock Gina, you want to play?)

1 1970 “Bridge over Troubled Water” Simon & Garfunkel

3 1970 “American Woman” The Guess Who

2 1970 “(They Long to Be) Close to You” The Carpenters

2 1971 “Maggie May” Rod Stewart

1 1971 “Joy to the World” Three Dog Night

3 1971 “It’s Too Late” Carole King

1 1972 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” Roberta Flack

4 1973 “Let’s Get It On” Marvin Gaye

2 1972 “Alone Again (Naturally)” Gilbert O’Sullivan

3 1972 “American Pie” Don McLean

7 1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John

3 1973 “Killing Me Softly with His Song” Roberta Flack

2 1973 “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” Jim Croce

2 1974 “Seasons in the Sun” Terry Jacks

6 1974 “The Loco-Motion” Grand Funk Railroad

3 1974 “Love’s Theme” Love Unlimited Orchestra

1 1975 “Love Will Keep Us Together” Captain & Tennille

5 1975 “My Eyes Adored You” Frankie Valli

2 1975 “Rhinestone Cowboy” Glen Campbell (RIP, Glen)

4 1976 “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” The Four Seasons

1 1976 “Silly Love Songs” Wings

3 1977 “Best of My Love” The Emotions

2 1976 “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Elton John & Kiki Dee

2 1977 “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” Andy Gibb

1 1977 “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” Rod Stewart

4 1978 “Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees

7 1978 “Baby Come Back” Player

3 1978 “You Light Up My Life” Debby Boone

6 1978 “How Deep Is Your Love” Bee Gees

2 1979 “Bad Girls” Donna Summer

6 1979 “I Will Survive” Gloria Gaynor

4 1979 “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Rod Stewart

[Blogatron]

ROUND 2 PAIRS/BRACKETS:
1 1970 “Bridge over Troubled Water” Simon & Garfunkel
4 1970 “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” B.J. Thomas
2 1970 “(They Long to Be) Close to You” The Carpenters
5 1971 “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” Bee Gees
1 1971 “Joy to the World” Three Dog Night
3 1971 “It’s Too Late” Carole King
7 1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers
4 1973 “Let’s Get It On” Marvin Gaye
2 1972 “Alone Again (Naturally)” Gilbert O’Sullivan
3 1972 “American Pie” Don McLean
7 1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John
3 1973 “Killing Me Softly with His Song” Roberta Flack
2 1973 “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” Jim Croce
5 1974 “Dancing Machine” The Jackson 5
6 1974 “The Loco-Motion” Grand Funk Railroad
4 1974 “Come and Get Your Love” Redbone
1 1975 “Love Will Keep Us Together” Captain & Tennille
5 1975 “My Eyes Adored You” Frankie Valli
2 1975 “Rhinestone Cowboy” Glen Campbell
4 1976 “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” The Four Seasons
6 1976 “Kiss and Say Goodbye” The Manhattans
3 1977 “Best of My Love” The Emotions
5 1976 “Play That Funky Music” Wild Cherry
2 1977 “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” Andy Gibb
6 1977 “I Like Dreamin’” Kenny Nolan
4 1978 “Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees
7 1978 “Baby Come Back” Player
5 1978 “Kiss You All Over” Exile
2 1978 “Night Fever” Bee Gees
5 1979 “Reunited” Peaches & Herb
6 1979 “I Will Survive” Gloria Gaynor
3 1979 “Le Freak” Chic

[the OlLine Rebel]

bagster, can you please re-verify your votes?

You combined 3 songs starting at:

3 1972 “American Pie” Don McLean 5 1972 “The Candy Man” Sammy Davis Jr. 1 1973 “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” Tony Orlando and Dawn

And from then on there are 2 per line.

Please verify what your picks per pair were; I’m afraid you may change vote if you realize the songs are not paired the way you had them after American Pie.

If it’s still all good as far as the BOLD titles are concerned and you’d really pick them above their proper opponents, fine and no need to re-copy.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Hi Fiji,

Did you want to pass on these 2 successive pairs, or did you make a mistake and cut them out?

2 1977 “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” Andy Gibb
5 1977 “Angel in Your Arms” Hot

1 1977 “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” Rod Stewart
6 1977 “I Like Dreamin’” Kenny Nolan

[WXRGina]

Hey Rock-Jock Gina, you want to play?

Procon, I've been playing since the first round last week. Keith pinged me to Mr. Rebel's first post, and Mr. Rebel put me on the ping list. :-)

[PROCON]

Oops, my bad!

Don't vote for ALL the disco songs now. :-)

[Fiji Hill]

I wanted to pass because I have never heard the songs. The only "Tonight's the Night" that I know of is this one.

[The Citizen Soldier]

6 1970 “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” Diana Ross

3 1970 “American Woman” The Guess Who

5 1970 “War” Edwin Starr

5 1971 “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” Bee Gees

1 1971 “Joy to the World” Three Dog Night

4 1971 “One Bad Apple” The Osmonds

7 1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers

4 1972 “Without You” Harry Nilsson

2 1972 “Alone Again (Naturally)” Gilbert O’Sullivan

3 1972 “American Pie” Don McLean

7 1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John

5 1973 “My Love” Paul McCartney & Wings

2 1973 “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” Jim Croce

2 1974 “Seasons in the Sun” Terry Jacks

6 1974 “The Loco-Motion” Grand Funk Railroad

4 1974 “Come and Get Your Love” Redbone

1 1975 “Love Will Keep Us Together” Captain & Tennille

5 1975 “My Eyes Adored You” Frankie Valli

6 1975 “Shining Star” Earth, Wind & Fire

4 1975 “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” Freddy Fender

6 1976 “Kiss and Say Goodbye” The Manhattans

3 1977 “Best of My Love” The Emotions

5 1976 “Play That Funky Music” Wild Cherry

2 1977 “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” Andy Gibb

6 1977 “I Like Dreamin’” Kenny Nolan

4 1978 “Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees

7 1978 “Baby Come Back” Player

5 1978 “Kiss You All Over” Exile

6 1978 “How Deep Is Your Love” Bee Gees

5 1979 “Reunited” Peaches & Herb

1 1979 “My Sharona” The Knack

4 1979 “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” Rod Stewart

[1217Chic]

One of my favs too.....

[WXRGina]

HAHAHAHA!!!

I have to tell you, though, this is a difficult thing. There are SO MANY bad songs in the 70s, and to have to choose is tough—especially on this second bracket! :-)

I have my disc jockey “bible,” a few editions of Joel Whitburn’s “Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits,” so I know how much good and bad songs made the charts going back to mid-last-century and beyond.

[PROCON]

Hrrmph, you have to refer to a DJ bible?

I had the pleasure, (or displeasure), of listening to all those old '70's songs when they first came out, and you're right, there were a lot of bad ones that got overplayed.

No cheating now by looking at my picks. 😀😀😀

[the OlLine Rebel]

You can use YouTube.

And I’d bet you find you know some.

I’ll let you pass - but if you change your mind, just ping.

[WXRGina]

I heard the 70s songs first-hand, too, but later as a disc jockey, I played them and the hits from the 50s and 60s on the radio. I learned about the songs that came before me when I was still a jock.

Jocks have long used Joel Whitburn's books--back before the Internet age--to add interesting trivia to their shows. Joel has lots of information about artists, bands and songs in his books. We used to keep his books in our studios for reference, and I ended up buying my own copies as he would come out with updated editions. Here's one edition.

[Gil4]

1 1970 “Bridge over Troubled Water” Simon & Garfunkel

3 1970 “American Woman” The Guess Who

2 1970 “(They Long to Be) Close to You” The Carpenters

2 1971 “Maggie May” Rod Stewart

1 1971 “Joy to the World” Three Dog Night

3 1971 “It’s Too Late” Carole King

7 1972 “Lean on Me” Bill Withers

“Without You”/“Let’s Get It On” - Pass/No vote

2 1972 “Alone Again (Naturally)” Gilbert O’Sullivan

3 1972 “American Pie” Don McLean

7 1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John

3 1973 “Killing Me Softly with His Song” Roberta Flack

2 1973 “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” Jim Croce

2 1974 “Seasons in the Sun” Terry Jacks

1 1974 “The Way We Were” Barbra Streisand

3 1974 “Love’s Theme” Love Unlimited Orchestra

1 1975 “Love Will Keep Us Together” Captain & Tennille

3 1975 “Philadelphia Freedom” Elton John
5 1975 “My Eyes Adored You” Frankie Valli

2 1975 “Rhinestone Cowboy” Glen Campbell

4 1976 “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” The Four Seasons

1 1976 “Silly Love Songs” Wings

3 1977 “Best of My Love” The Emotions

5 1976 “Play That Funky Music” Wild Cherry

5 1977 “Angel in Your Arms” Hot

1 1977 “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” Rod Stewart

4 1978 “Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees

7 1978 “Baby Come Back” Player

5 1978 “Kiss You All Over” Exile

2 1978 “Night Fever” Bee Gees

5 1979 “Reunited” Peaches & Herb

1 1979 “My Sharona” The Knack

3 1979 “Le Freak” Chic

[dangus]

Man, there are some TERRIBLE songs in that list. I couldn’t always pick one.

1 1970 “Bridge over Troubled Water” Simon & Garfunkel
3 1970 “American Woman” The Guess Who
2 1970 “(They Long to Be) Close to You” The Carpenters
1 1971 “Joy to the World” Three Dog Night
4 1971 “One Bad Apple” The Osmonds
1 1972 “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” Roberta Flack
3 1972 “American Pie” Don McLean
7 1973 “Crocodile Rock” Elton John
3 1973 “Killing Me Softly with His Song” Roberta Flack
6 1974 “The Loco-Motion” Grand Funk Railroad
1 1975 “Love Will Keep Us Together” Captain & Tennille
3 1975 “Philadelphia Freedom” Elton John
2 1975 “Rhinestone Cowboy” Glen Campbell
4 1975 “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” Freddy Fender
1 1976 “Silly Love Songs” Wings
2 1976 “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Elton John & Kiki Dee
4 1978 “Stayin’ Alive” Bee Gees
3 1978 “You Light Up My Life” Debby Boone
5 1979 “Reunited” Peaches & Herb
6 1979 “I Will Survive” Gloria Gaynor
3 1979 “Le Freak” Chic

[dangus]

I think the toughest choice is American Woman vs Raindrops.

One is an anti-American rant that is also a GREAT rock song; the other is the perfect example of the sort of 1970s retreat from such angst that generated so much insipid crap. It’s a kindergarten song with nothing but sentimentality and an arrangement designed to encourage 80-year-olds to finish their unflavored oatmeal.

[bagster]

Haha. There were a lot of bad vs bad choices. I hated to vote for many of them.

I just perused the list again thanks to your post. I was looking for good against good. I didn't see any. It was either good vs bad, or bad vs bad.

In my expert opinion.

(I was the fifth Beatle)

p.s. I know I screwed up my list. I got tired from all the html and mistakes I made. I shoulda just listed my picks. Derp.

[dangus]

I’m glad you understood I was attacking the pop music we had to choose from, and not you.