The Gibb Brothers were many things over the course of their forty years as a musical unit-Beatle clones, disco savants, disco pariahs, resurgent veterans. One thing that remained consistent, regardless of their public perception, was their ability to write a hell of a song. Proof of that talent lies in the mile-long list of Gibb… Read More “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” by The Bee Gees (1971)/Al Green (1972)
“It’s important to meeeeeeeeee…that you know you are freeeeeeeeeeee…” “Hello, It’s Me” is dedicated to someone who wants to be a free spirit. I can appreciate the lyrical sentiment; wanting to love and enjoy someone for the time you share as opposed to thinking of them as belonging to you. It was the first song… Read More “Hello It’s Me” by Todd Rundgren (1972)/The Isley Brothers (1974)
My quandary: I just rated “Dirty Work” four stars, but I like that particular song about as much as I like “Do It Again”. Do I down-rate “Do It Again”? Or do I call a do-over on “Dirty Work” and give both songs five stars? Well, it’s obvious which decision I went with. “Do It… Read More “Do It Again” by Steely Dan (1972)/”Dirty Work” by Steely Dan (1972)
Thom Bell was instrumental in The Spinners becoming a legendary vocal group. When the two entities connected, Bell was already in the process of becoming a known quantity as a songwriter/producer/arranger. The Spinners were a C-level Motown group, most famous for the Stevie Wonder-penned “It’s A Shame”. Feeling like they weren’t a priority with Berry… Read More “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” by The Spinners (1972)
Yacht rock before the invention of yacht rock, “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” was a song I heard often while growing up. Particularly during my teenage years, my grandmother had a tendency to blast music throughout the house we grew up in. If it wasn’t the Christian radio station, it was Lite FM, New York’s… Read More “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” by The Looking Glass (1972)
Might as well contain some of the elements if the opportunity arises. I wouldn’t be surprised if Diane Warren was inspired to write the former song after hearing Stevie Wonder’s 1972 classic. Forget the “who’s singing” Milli Vanilli scandal. Not to say that Frank Farian and Clive Davis’s business practices* deserve applause or anything, but how… Read More “Blame It On The Rain” by Milli Vanilli (1989)/”Blame It On The Sun” by Stevie Wonder (1972)
I can confirm that people did, in fact, use the word “golly” back in the ‘70s. And it wasn’t just people on Happy Days or Sesame Street, either! I’m pretty sure I heard my Mom use that word on several occasions. Retroactive silliness of the song title notwithstanding, “Betcha By…” remains a highlight of the catalog of The… Read More “Betcha By Golly, Wow!” by The Stylistics (1972)
Really, Mike? “Ben”? Sure, I love “Ben”. That song meant a lot to me as I was growing up. And that’s great. You loved a lot of crap growing up. But would you really consider it a perfect song? Actually, yes. Dude, it’s so cheesy! It’s a love song to a fucking rat! What is wrong with… Read More “Ben” by Michael Jackson (1972)
The O’Jays’ classic “Back Stabbers” was the first Gamble & Huff production to become a major national hit, and kicked off a musical template that served as the sound of Black music for the first half of the Seventies. It’s a fucking mind-blower; a dark* masterpiece. The piano intro builds tension and leads into that… Read More “Back Stabbers” by The O’Jays (1972)
Another great song that has two definitive versions, IMO. Also, here are the first two entities that have two songs each on this list. “Real Thing” has been bastardized a bit by being overused in commercials. It’s a testament to Nick, Val, Marvin and Tammi that the overexposure hasn’t lessened its classic status. To me,… Read More “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1968), The Jackson Five (1972)
Five Star Jamz 