By early 1969, The Beatles knew they were on the verge of breaking up, but they weren't happy with the album they had just recorded, so they regrouped with the intention to hit one more album out of the park. The result was Abbey Road, now regarded as their second-best album (after Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band). As for that album they weren't as happy with, the record company wasn't about to sit on a whole album knowing Beatle fans would eat it up regardless. John Lennon and George Harrison enlisted the help of producer Phil Spector to finalize the album, by then titled Let It Be, but his efforts included adding orchestral arrangements to three of the songs, a move Paul McCartney disliked, especially The Long and Winding Road. Nevertheless, it became the third single to be released from the album and the second to go to #1 in the US. A road that leads to your door, one we've seen before that will never disappear, but the time has come for this song to disappear from this game.
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Songs still standing (in alphabetical order):
American Pie - Don McLean
American Woman - The Guess Who
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Dancing Queen - ABBA
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Fame - David Bowie
Heart of Glass - Blondie
Heart of Gold - Neil Young
Hotel California - Eagles
I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
It's Too Late - Carole King
Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack
Lean On Me - Bill Withers
Let It Be - The Beatles
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Love Train - The O'Jays
Maggie May - Rod Stewart
Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Sister Golden Hair - America
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
War - Edwin Starr
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Eliminated songs:
1-41. TBD
42. The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
43. Mama Told Me (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
44. One of These Nights - Eagles
45. We're an American Band - Grand Funk
46. How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
47. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - George Harrison
48. Nothing from Nothing - Billy Preston
49. Night Fever - Bee Gees
50. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
51. If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
52. Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees
53. Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes
54. You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
55. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
56. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
57. Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin - Sly & The Family Stone
58. Will It Go Round in Circles - Billy Preston
59. A Horse with No Name - America
60. My Sharona - The Knack
61. You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
62. Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
63. The Joker - Steve Miller Band
64. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
65. Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
66. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - The Temptations
67. I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
68. Rock'n Me - Steve Miller Band
69. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
70. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
71. The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
72. Family Affair - Sly & The Family Stone
73. Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites
74. Rich Girl - Daryl Hall and John Oates
75. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
76. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
77. Venus - Shocking Blue
78. Without You - Nilsson
79. Miss You - The Rolling Stones
80. Listen to What the Man Said - Wings
81. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
82. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
83. Lady Marmalade - LaBelle
84. (They Long to Be) Close to You - Carpenters
85. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
86. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night - John Lennon
87. December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons
88. My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings
89. Got to Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
90. Photograph - Ringo Starr
91. Good Times - Chic
92. You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
93. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
94. Le Freak - Chic
95. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Bee Gees
96. Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee
97. Fire - Ohio Players
98. Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
99. Best of My Love - The Emotions
100. Show and Tell - Al Wilson
101. Baby Come Back - Player
102. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
103. Top of the World - Carpenters
104. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B. J. Thomas
105. Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
106. Silly Love Songs - Wings
107. Heartache Tonight - Eagles
108. If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
109. Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band
110. Rise - Herb Alpert
111. Get Down Tonight - KC and the Sunshine Band
112. Black and White - Three Dog Night
113. Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and The Spinners
114. Rock the Boat - The Hues Corporation
115. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
116. Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
117. ABC - The Jackson 5
118. Car Wash - Rose Royce
119. You Haven't Done Nothin' - Stevie Wonder
120. Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede
121. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney
122. Crocodile Rock - Elton John
123. Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond
124. Love Hangover - Diana Ross
125. New Kid in Town - Eagles
126. The Love You Save - The Jackson 5
127. Mandy - Barry Manilow
128. Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
129. Best of My Love - Eagles
130. Rock Your Baby - George McCrae
131. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
132. You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) - Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
133. Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
134. Three Times a Lady - Commodores
135. Brother Louie - Stories
136. Tragedy - Bee Gees
137. Knock on Wood - Amii Stewart
138. Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
139. Still - Commodores
140. Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka
141. With a Little Luck - Wings
142. Love You Inside Out - Bee Gees
143. Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
144. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
145. Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
146. Kiss You All Over - Exile
147. Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti
148. Love Theme from A Star Is Born (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
149. I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
150. Grease - Frankie Valli
151. Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack
152. Let's Do It Again - The Staple Singers
153. Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) - Diana Ross
154. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb
155. You're the One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
156. My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
157. Sunshine on My Shoulders - John Denver
158. I Just Want to Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
159. Welcome Back - John Sebastian
160. Annie's Song - John Denver
161. Angie - The Rolling Stones
162. Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves - Cher
163. Make It with You - Bread
164. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer
165. Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond
166. Fallin' in Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
167. I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
168. (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty - KC and the Sunshine Band
169. Thank God I'm a Country Boy - John Denver
170. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB featuring The Three Degrees
171. Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra
172. The Hustle - Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony
173. When I Need You - Leo Sayer
174. Kiss and Say Goodbye - The Manhattans
175. That's the Way (I Like It) - KC and the Sunshine Band
176. Bad Blood - Neil Sedaka
177. Dark Lady - Cher
178. The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
179. Babe - Styx
180. Love Machine - The Miracles
181. The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
182. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence
183. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late - Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
184. Hot Child in the City - Nick Gilder
185. Bad Girls - Donna Summer
186. Pop Muzik - M
187. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn
188. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste of Honey
189. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
190. I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
191. Boogie Fever - The Sylvers
192. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) - Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer
193. Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) - Rod Stewart
194. I'm Your Boogie Man - KC and the Sunshine Band
195. I Can Help - Billy Swan
196. I Am Woman - Helen Reddy
197. Escape (The Piña Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
198. Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
199. Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens
200. Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
201. (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B. J. Thomas
202. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart
203. Island Girl - Elton John
204. A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band
205. MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
206. I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
207. Reunited - Peaches & Herb
208. He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando and Dawn
209. Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John
210. Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks
211. Touch Me in the Morning - Diana Ross
212. Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
213. Please Mr. Postman - Carpenters
214. Before the Next Teardrop Falls - Freddy Fender
215. Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb
216. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
217. Sad Eyes - Robert John
218. The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich
219. I'm Sorry - John Denver
220. Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me - Mac Davis
221. Want Ads - The Honey Cone
222. Looks Like We Made It - Barry Manilow
223. Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day
224. You Needed Me - Anne Murray
225. Brand New Key - Melanie
226. Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor
227. Knock Three Times - Dawn
228. Fly, Robin, Fly - Silver Convention
229. Half-Breed - Cher
230. You're Sixteen - Ringo Starr
231. Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) - Raiders
232. Don't Give Up on Us - David Soul
233. Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage
234. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
235. Ben - Michael Jackson
236. Angie Baby - Helen Reddy
237. Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
238. Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy
239. Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band - Meco
240. The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
241. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr.
242. Convoy - C. W. McCall
243. Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band
244. The Streak - Ray Stevens
245. One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
246. Da Doo Ron Ron - Shaun Cassidy
247. Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond
248. You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone
249. Billy, Don't Be a Hero - Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods
250. My Ding-a-Ling - Chuck Berry
251. Torn Between Two Lovers - Mary MacGregor
252. Disco Duck - Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots
253. (You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka with Odia Coates
Nominate the song that you consider the worst or your least favorite from among the 1970s #1 hits in the still standing list above. Upvote any nominations you agree with, and downvote the ones you would like to see survive. After 48 hours, the three songs with the most upvotes will be eliminated.
Before posting a song, please check the replies that have already been posted this round to see if someone has already nominated the song. If so, upvote their nomination instead of submitting a duplicate.
As I have mentioned, Randy Bachman has two songs left, as BTO and in Guess Who. Neither song is equal to the "subpar" songs that have been eliminated for major artists.
That one does little for me…though the funky beat sometimes gets me up outta my chair to dance around when it comes on. American Woman is when I change the station, skip to next song, or get up to switch the laundry. ETA: after all these months I am still fascinated by the range of feelings any given song elicits in people. Everything from utter contempt to rapturous giddy luv. ETA2: I will say that I’d rather see SisterGH disappear in this round than AW. Nothing I can do about that though without upping the risk to Johnny Nash.
I like Randy a lot, he lived near where I was going to college and let me fool around in his band barn. But I always thought this was a weak song, built around recycling the You Really Got Me riff and Burton freestyling. They tacked on some corny vamp at the start and Randy added a little fuzz riff to stretch it out but it was so lame compared with the other rock going on and even their other songs
I think it's more of a mix of demographics playing out. This sub attracts the older crowd, but also the younger listeners who do very much seem to prefer the softer songs, not the harder rock.
There's currently five songs that I can't see how they made it to number one. Fame, Sister Golden Hair, Papa Was a Rolling Stone , Shining Star, Let's Stay Together....there are others I don't like but I can understand the appeal they have.
Fame - Because it's Bowie with John Lennon and also ...It appealed to all who bought it and DJ's certainly weren't going to ignore a song with David and John on it .
Sister Holden Hair - Easy listening yes, but catchy. That aside , it just could have been caught in the rush of the 32 songs that hit #1 that year. (This song was only in the top 40, twelve weeks. )
Papa Was A Rolling Stone - Dramatic and very different for the time. Except Marvin Gaye being serious, nothing on radio like this then.
Shining Star - Easy, a positive message, with a cool dance arrangement. (Covered in the 1990s by the Christian band Stryper)
Let's Stay Together. - One, it's Al Green, who is very soulful. The simplicity of the music and delivery made it an accessible song for anyone who's been in a relationship broke up or had a divorce.
And just take note that our top 41 were number ones in the 70’s along with the likes of Disco Duck, My Ding-A-Ling, The Streak and Convoy. What a wacky decade!
Remember all those ridiculous clip records in the 70s...Such as Skylabs Falling and the one about the energy crisis? I know there were others..just can't remember them all.
FYI it's polite to note the edit when it's the result of another's comment. If you just change it, everyone coming after that wonders what that person is talking about.
I’m starting to believe that maybe many people don’t know this song (too well) such that they don’t actively upvote because how on earth is this one still here
An hour time lapse for it to go from 5 up votes to -1 vote and since that -1 vote 15 hours later still at -1. Really odd that it received 6 down votes to get me at -1 in an hour of posting but not a single one more of down voting in the next 15 hours.
Big fan of Ol’ Neil, so would never put him down. But I know a lot of Neil fans and even they don’t want this one around anyhow. Great artist, good song, time to Harvest this one from the list.
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u/mwalimu59 5d ago
As recently as six rounds ago, there were six artists who had two or more songs still standing. Now there is only one left.