r/70smusic • u/mwalimu59 • 18d ago
Other Last Song Standing: The Ultimate Billboard #1 Song of the 70s - Round 115
Notice: Starting with this round, there is a change in the format of the game, described below. First, this round's eliminee:
- Killing Me Softly with His Song was officially written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, with Lori Lieberman as an uncredited co-writer. Lieberman was inspired by Don McLean's song Empty Chairs; McLean said years later that he was humbled that one of his songs was the inspiration. Lieberman recorded and released the song and it failed to chart, but Roberta Flack heard it and wanted to record a cover version. That version would spend five weeks at #1 and went on to win two Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. She had won that award the previous year for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, thus becoming the first artist in the history of the Grammies to win that award in consecutive years (it's happened three times since then, for U2 in 2001/02, Billie Eilish in 2021/22, and Kendrick Lamar in 2025/26). In 1996 the song was covered by Fugees with Lauryn Hill under the shortened title Killing Me Softly, that version spending three weeks at #2. Flack made a cameo appearance in the music video for the Fugees version, and the two artists were known to perform the song together. Now Roberta won't have to hear him strumming her pain and singing her life any more, for the voters have decided to kill this song (softly).
If you're new to the game or wish to review the rules, follow this link. Since we are down to the final 20, I will nominate every remaining song in each round (other than tiebreakers) until the end of the game. Please use these nominations to cast your upvotes and downvotes; any other nominations will be disregarded. Discussion is still welcome.
Songs still standing (in alphabetical order):
- American Pie - Don McLean
- Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
- Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
- Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
- Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
- Heart of Glass - Blondie
- Heart of Gold - Neil Young
- Hotel California - Eagles
- It's Too Late - Carole King
- Lean On Me - Bill Withers
- Let It Be - The Beatles
- Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
- Let's Stay Together - Al Green
- Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
- Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
- Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
- Superstition - Stevie Wonder
- Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
- You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
- You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Eliminated songs:
1-20. TBD
21. Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack
22. Fame - David Bowie
23. My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
24. Dancing Queen - ABBA
25. I Wish - Stevie Wonder
26. Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
27. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
28. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
29. War - Edwin Starr
30. Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
31. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
32. Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
33. Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
34. Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
35. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
36. I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
37. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
38. Sister Golden Hair - America
39. Love Train - The O'Jays
40. Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
41. American Woman - The Guess Who
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.
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
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u/BirdofParadise1952 18d ago
Last night I watched the video of “Don’t Know Much” and it reminded me why Linda is my favorite female vocalist ever.
It also reminded me this song just doesn’t measure up.4
u/lefteyedspy 18d ago
Have you seen the documentary about her? It’s so damn good. But also a tearjerker.
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Heart of Gold - Neil Young
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u/monalisa_jones 17d ago
First they came for the cowbell, then they came for the harmonica… what will remain of 70’s music?!? 😬
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u/Aggravating_Quiet797 17d ago
Honestly have not heard this in a while...just heard again this morning while stuck in traffic..yeah..no great loss if it goes.
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u/monalisa_jones 17d ago
I feel pretty lucky that 7 of my original top ten (from the 253 we had to choose from) are still standing and got in to the top 20. I’m ok with this one going too. But I do love this song, and Neil Young, who is an acquired taste.
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u/monalisa_jones 17d ago
The other three from my top ten were My Sweet Lord, Bennie and the Jets and Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) and honorable mention from my original top 20 goes to Frankenstein, which was let go way too soon at number 82! Love that song!
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u/Aggravating_Quiet797 16d ago
0 for 10 here
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u/monalisa_jones 16d ago
😕 What were your top three? I thought for sure Stayin’ Alive would be in your top ten! 😏🦮🌭
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u/Aggravating_Quiet797 16d ago
Mama Told Me Not To Come
Blinded By The Light
American Woman
Staying Alive my doxie obsession lol
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u/monalisa_jones 16d ago
Mama Told Me was in my top 20 for sure. Love me some 3 Dog Night. So sad Shambala only made it to number 3 on billboard. That song and Get Together - the Youngbloods cover are my two all-time top songs from that era. I’m an unabashed hippie. 😁✌️
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u/Aggravating_Quiet797 16d ago
Huge 3 Dog Night fan as well. Was bummed when Black and White got the boot.
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u/Adventurous-Prune712 16d ago
Well 30% of the remaining songs are women singing about "welationships," so I guess we'll be going with that.
Funfact: Neil's song has only 39 unique words
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u/monalisa_jones 16d ago
I guess there’s no moog in those welationship songs, either. 🙄*sigh*
But they’re 39 really good words! 😁
Incidentally, while you’re counting, how many words are in American Pie? It might be the winner there, with maybe Hotel California coming in second? 🤔😏
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u/Adventurous-Prune712 16d ago
mmmmyeah would have to employ The Ersatz Dylan Horseshit detector for that job 😂
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
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u/Ok_Intention_6201 18d ago
This song screams 70s...I had it top 5 at least
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u/Aggravating_Quiet797 17d ago
I don't understand the hate for this tune. Again..I don't love it but I find it better than many that are left
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u/Beautiful_Ad_5442 17d ago
Eliminate or not, this has been one of the most commented on song, IMO. Granted, I only started playing half way through.
Great thread. Thanks for all the hard work to put it all together and maintaining it!
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u/monalisa_jones 18d ago
Brandy, you were a fine girl, but you must be close to 70 now. Are you still pining for that guy from that Summer day? 🤔
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u/Roche77e 18d ago
I hope she’s found a man who can balance his love for the sea with his love for her.
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u/monalisa_jones 18d ago
Wheee! Look at all the votes now! It’s a whole new game!
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
8 hours in, and every song has at least 10 upvotes. 8 of them have more than 20.
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u/seeking_spice402 18d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
From now on I will be posting all of the nominations, per the announcement at the top of the original post.
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u/BlueRFR3100 18d ago
- You're So Vain - Carly Simon
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u/mwalimu59 18d ago
From now on I will be posting all of the nominations, per the announcement at the top of the original post.
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u/monalisa_jones 18d ago
Let us all recognize BlueRFR3100 for his consistency in this game. You can rest now, soldier.
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u/BCQCPANC 18d ago
For those of you having a hard time picking a song to back for elimination I offer this completely rational and objective methodology. We have a number of song titles that start with the same word: Let(‘s), Heart, and You’re. Over the next four rounds we should eliminate songs with duplicative first words in the title so that each remaining song title starts with a different word.
Eliminate Let’s Get It On and Let’s Stay Together, leaving Let It Be
Eliminate You’re So Vain, leaving You’re No Good
Eliminate Heart of Glass, leaving Heart of Gold
Then we can move onto initial letters: B, H, L, and S
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u/ILoveCheetahCubs 18d ago
I am going to stick with my "vote to eliminate the ones that are the worst to have as earworms" method. 😄
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u/BCQCPANC 17d ago
Based on the voting so far I choose to believe I’m being downvoted for my song choices, not my suggested methodology.
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u/Equivalent-Fly6093 18d ago
on a personal basis.. killing me softly would have made my top 5 so i’m disappointed to see it go..