Pop Culture Podcast
Popspotting #163: Songs of 1974 (Nov. 16, 2011)
Turnabout is fair play. After celebrating Jen’s tenth 29th birthday in August with a countdown of her favorite songs of 1972, this week we both share five picks each for great songs of 1974.
Jen’s picks:
- “Midnight Train to Georgia†by Gladys Knight & The Pips
- “Killer Queen†by Queen. Album Sheer Heart Attack
- “Rock Your Baby†by George McRae
- “Return of the Grievous Angel†by Gram Parsons
- “Show and Tell†by Al Wilson
Ryan’s list:
- “The Air that I Breathe†by The Hollies
- “Rock the Boat” by Hues Corporation
- “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Steely Dan
- “Feel Like Makin’ Love†by Roberta Flack
- “Tubular Bells†by Mike Oldfield
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Your 70s music podcasts are always my favorites. Love most of your choices of music. Most of them got heavy airplay on AM Top 40 radio nationwide and here in Hawaii. “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “Rock the Boat,” “Rock Your Baby”, “Tubular Bells”, “Show and Tell” and “Feel Like Making Love” are some of the most memorable songs of the year. “Midnight Train to Georgia” is generally regarded as a 1973 hit for me since it charted and made #1 in the fall of that year. But I can understand the 1974 connection. It’s the best song ever by Gladys Knight & the Pips. I think it was also their 2nd single on the Buddah label after leaving Motown. And yes, The Hollies’ “The Air That I Breathe” is a classic, classic rock track…. excellently produced… written by Albert Hammond who had a big hit in late 1972 early 1973 with “It Never Rains in Southern California”. The Hollies version is the definitive one of that song for me too.
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If I had to pick my top 5 they would be:
1. Band on the Run – Paul McCartney & Wings (charted in 1974; went to #1 – off the album of the same name; probably the best McCartney song ever since The Beatles).
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2. Bennie & the Jets / Harmony – Elton John (2 sides of this 45 are great both songs from his album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” which came out in late 1973.
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3. The Air That I Breathe – The Hollies (see above)
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4. Gotta Get Away – Cecilio & Kapono (this was actually issued on a 45 by Columbia and was the lead off single of the then new “Cecilio & Kapono” album; Runner up “Sunflower”.
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5. The Joker – Steve Miller Band – went to #1 early that year.
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My runner ups besides the ones you both mentioned would also include “When Will I See You Again” by the Three Degrees; “T.S.O.P.” by MFSB (with the Three Degrees singing the end vocals; but mostly an instrumental track); “I’ve Got the Music In Me” by the Kiki Dee Band; “The Night Chicago Died” by Paper Lace; and “Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman Turner Overdrive.
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I am a little older than you (not by too much), and these were songs I used to hear on my clock radio, which I left on all night. The one with the “digital” display that had flip-top numbers. I am more nostalgic for the songs of my teens and college years (the 80s), but I do remember most of these songs. Â Thanks for another trip down memory lane!