The 1970's. Lists, Charts and Cover Songs (1970-74)
| Tapestry from my collection |
If you read my post on The 60's I described it as the decade with the greatest change and the most impactful era of Popular music, and I stand by that assessment. However if you take any stretch of 10 years of music you will see if not a new genre, then several sub and sub sub genre. The 1970's produced some of the greatest music of any era. Staying true to my mandate I have to point out that cover songs play an important part. They sometimes appear on the charts years after the original, as a result when tracking cover song statistics there are a number of data points that alter a songs place in history.
If I have learned anything about looking at music charts from any given week or year is that the #1 songs are not always the most enduring tunes. Today, looking at the 1970's in particular there are several all-time top ranked songs that did not chart top 5 on any given week and sometimes not even appearing in the top 100 at all. Many great songs appeared only on albums, particularly in the 1970's. These albums may have charted on the top Albums list but most of the songs were never released as a single so therefore did not chart. However, over time, perspective and perhaps with a cover version or two, it somehow elevates a song to a placing on the All-time lists and certainly into our long-lasting memories.
There are many subjective lists and opinions on the greatest songs from any span of time, often based on taste. Some great songs and artists don't make these lists and many of our favorites are overlooked. In truth empirical data while not always reliable should perhaps play more of a role. I'd have to say the Billboard and Cash Box rankings lean toward the numbers rather than the subjective, but not always. For example what was known as the Easy Listening chart in the 1970's (now Adult Contemporary) was an arbitrary separation or subtraction of perceived Rock and Roll songs and what was left over made up the Easy Listening chart list. This is another reason to reference other lists that are both reputable and well researched.
To focus on what was popular for each year of the 70's I will adjust accordingly but also get to the issue of chart positions. If applicable I will cross reference it in a wider context. For example as mentioned, I will look at the Rolling Stone Magazine ranked list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2021 edition (referenced as 500 Greatest) and from The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the unranked list is The 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll (referenced as 500 Shaped) . Also included in my research were Year and Decade end charts, and aggregate listings such as Acclaimed Music.
1970
We can't really draw a line in the sand of music just because the clock strikes in a new decade, so here is a bit of recap of what happened in the 1969/70 overlap. Coming off of the Woodstock (1969) hangover no one was game for another mega concert on that scale but many of the performers enjoyed the success of the Woodstock album released in May of 1970. The first week of the R&B chart had the 1969 carry over #1 from the last song by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "Someday We'll Be Together". They held their farewell concert on January 14, 1970.
While unofficially The Beatles were done in 1969 and they had all nearly completed their solo projects, it had never been announced because they still had two unreleased albums. Unfortunately the news (sort of) came by way of Paul McCartney's statement in April that was included in his release to Radio Stations in the UK with advance copies of his solo album McCartney. He was angry over the release date decision by Apple/United Records in putting out Let it Be and therefore delaying his album. It was this announcement of his solo effort that was interpreted as a Beatles breakup notice. This was all really due to a complicated contractual issue, but Paul took it personally, the shite hit the fan in the Press and the fallout led to many lawsuits and a very messy end to The Fab Four.
The American draft had started in December of 1969 and 1970 would see an escalation in the Vietnam war. We would also see increased protests against it. There was the May 4th tragedy at Kent State University were four unarmed students were shot and killed and nine injured by The National Guard, and the subsequent song written by Neil Young "Ohio".
The top charting song for the year end from the Billboard Hot 100 was Simon and Garfunkels "Bridge Over Troubled Water". It also tops the list at 592 cover versions for songs to have originated from 1969 as it was recorded in August but not released until January 20,1970. The 500 Greatest list puts it at #47. Also on the year end chart was a cover of "(They Long to Be) Close to You" by the Carpenters as the #2 song. At #3 was The Guess Who with "American Woman", it was paired with "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature" and the two/three songs spent three weeks at #1 in May. "No Time" hit #5 and was the third million selling single from the same album. They were the first Canadian Rock Band to reach number #1 on Billboard, preceded only by Paul Anka (1957), Percy Faith (1960) and Lorne Green (1964). While I am being a Canadian homer here, Anne Murray would hit #1 two months later in July of 1970 in both the US and Canada on the Adult Contemporary Chart with "Snowbird".
The phenomenon known as Jacksonmania saw the Jackson Five dominate the R&B charts. In 1970 Billboard labeled the R&B chart as the Best Selling Soul Singles. The 'Five' had four #1's in 1970 starting with "I Want You Back" in January for four weeks, "ABC" in April for four weeks, "The Love You Save" for six weeks in June/July and "I'll Be There" also for six weeks in October/November. Aretha Franklin have two #'1's and Diana Ross had her first solo #1 with a cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" the The Supremes (now with Jean Terrell on lead vocals) would hit #1 with "Stoned Love".
This is a pivotal year as Rock & Roll had given way to Rock. While the success of some of the late 1960's groups was the catalyst, many new Rock bands were forming in 1970 such as Kansas and The Doobie Brothers. I will expand on this in Pt. 3.
The most covered song to originate in this year is The Theme from Love Story, which was a movie starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neil. While the instrumental version written by Francis Lai and performed with his Orchestra has the most covers, combined with about 100 or so of the vocal track, there are 333 versions of the song. "(Where do I Begin) Love Story" lyrics were written by Carl Sigman who had penned many hit songs up to this point. The first recording was by Andy Williams in December 1970 but was first released as a single in January of 1971 where it hit #1 on The Easy Listening Chart and #9 on the Hot 100.
The next most covered tune is "Your Song" from Elton John and Bernie Taupin recorded in January of 1970. There are 319 versions of this song that was actually first released on the album It Ain't Easy by Three Dog Night in March of 1970. John's was released in April and it hit #7 in the UK and #8 on Billboard in the US. While it has dropped down the Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest, Elton's song is ranked at #202 it is also in The Grammy Hall of Fame and on the 500 Shaped list. This is one of many examples of what I was talking about earlier, "Your Song" passed 100's songs with higher chart positions in the 1970's alone to gain these rankings.
The third most covered song from 1970 is Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas" with 265 versions. The song got off to a bit of a slow start but has become a perennial favorite that's hit the Holiday Song charts from 2014 to 2021. Considered by many to be the premier Holiday song to be written by African Americans as Donny's co-writer was Nadine McKinnor.
There are a total of twenty songs on the 500 Greatest list from this year:
"Sunday Morning Coming", Down Kris Kristofferson, "Move On Up" Curtis Mayfield, "Into the Mystic" Van Morrison, "Father and Son" Cat Stevens, "Lola" The Kinks, "Box of Rain" and "Ripple" Grateful Dead, "Paranoid" Black Sabbath, "After the Gold Rush" Neil Young, "Sweet Jane" Velvet Underground, "Pressure Drop" Toots & the Maytals, Coal Miner’s Daughter Loretta Lynn, Layla Derek and the Dominoes, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours" Stevie Wonder, "Your Song" Elton John, "Sex Machine" James Brown, "Fire and Rain" James Taylor, "Let It Be" The Beatles and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Simon and Garfunkel.On the 500 Shaped list we have many of the same tunes (in italic print) as the above list as well as some interesting contrasts. There is; Black Sabbath with “Iron Man” and “Paranoid”, James Brown "Sex Machine", Eric Clapton's cover of JJ Cale's "After Midnight", Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young "Ohio", Derek and the Dominos “Layla”, Free "All Right Now", The Grateful Dead “Uncle John's Band”, Jackson 5 "ABC", Elton John, "Your Song", The Kingsmen “Louie Louie", The Kinks “Lola”, John Lennon “Instant Karma (We All Shine On)”, Paul McCartney “Maybe I'm Amazed”, Van Morrison "Moondance", Santana “Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen”, Simon and Garfunkel "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Edwin Starr "War", James Taylor “Fire and Rain”, Toots & the Maytals “Pressure Drop”.
1971
Year end R&B charts list "Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight, "Family Affair" by Sly and the Family Stone", and King Floyd's only #1 hit song "Groove Me". Honey Cone was signed to the new label Hot Wax formed by Holland Dozier and Holland after they left Motown in 1968, they had the crossover hit "Want Ads" which went #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 for one week and the R&B Soul Singles chart for three weeks.
Then there was Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" written by Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye and Renaldo Benson, it was recorded in 1970 and ends up being the fourth most covered song from that year with 227 versions. It peaked at #2 on The Billboard Hot 100 in 1971, but did not make the year end top 100. It spent 5 weeks at #1 on the Soul Singles chart and ranked #2 for the year end. The song is ranked #4 on the 500 Greatest list. It also appears on several R&B all time lists such as Acclaimed Music at #1, Dave's Music at #6 and the 500 Shaped list. Here we see a song that was not even ranked for the year end on the Billboard Hot 100 but has been recognized as one of the best songs ever recorded in Popular music. The Album of the same name also charted #1.
Pitchfork ranks Sly and the Family Stone at #1 for 1971 and the fourth best album of the 1970's for There’s a Riot Goin’ On and Rolling Stone Magazine places it #39 of the 100 Greatest Albums.
Some of the R&B songs on the 500 Shaped list include; The Chi-Lites “Have You Seen Her”, Al Green "Let's Stay Together", Isaac Hayes “Theme from Shaft”, The Staple Singers "Respect Yourself" and War “Slippin’ into Darkness”.
Billboard's Hot 100 Year end singles list had "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night at #1 followed by "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart (which was originally the "B" side release), "It's Too Late"/"I Feel the Earth Move" was a double "A" side hit for Carole King and rounding out the top five was "One Bad Apple" by The Osmonds and 'How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" by the Bee Gees.
The most covered song from this year is "Imagine" by John Lennon, the Album hit #1 on charts around the world and the only thing preventing it from topping the singles charts is that it was not released until four years later. The song holds its #3 rank on the 500 Greatest list and is included on the 500 Shaped list.
The next at 397 versions is the Carole King penned song "You've Got a Friend" which was not released as a single by her, but James Taylor's cover hit #1 on major US charts and many top tens around the world. However it is Kings original on the 500 Shaped list.
The next most covered with 348 versions is Bill Withers "Ain't No Sunshine" which peaked at #6 on the Soul Singles chart and top five on the other US charts. It finished the year at #23 on the Hot 100. It was ranked #21 on the year end Soul Singles. It shows at #108 for R&B Songs of the 1970's and #512 All-time.
Here is a song that was hit several times and it's the fourth most covered song from 1971, "Always on My Mind". Written by Wayne Carson who also wrote "The Letter" by The Box Tops, Mark James (Suspicious Minds, Moody Blue and Hooked on a Feeling) and Johnny Christopher. First recorded in late 1971 by Brenda Lee, but her release (June 1972) was delayed and followed the first by Gwen McCrae from March 1972. Lee charted #45 on the US Country chart. Next done by Elvis Presley and it hit on the Country Charts, #16 on Billboard, #4 in Canada and #9 in the UK. John Wesley Ryles would hit the Country chart at #20 in 1979. Then it was Willie Nelson who had the next biggest hit as his 1982 version went #1 on the Country Charts, #2 on Adult Contemporary and #5 on The Hot 100. It went Platinum in the US meaning it sold over one million copies. Certainly the most recognizable version of the song in North America. However across the pond The Pet Shop Boys version in 1987 would chart #1 on the UK Singles Chart and #1 in nine other European Countries, including many top 10's around the world. It peaked at #4 on Billboard Hot 100 in the US.
As mentioned John Lennon's Album Imagine hit #1 for one week, at the beginning of the year we had George Harrison's All Things Must Pass at #1 for seven weeks. Carole King's Tapestry was #1 for 15 consecutive weeks (#10 all time Billboard albums) yet oddly ranked #2 for the year end behind Jesus Christ Superstar that was #1 for only 3 weeks. Other top albums were Pearl, Janis Joplin, Sticky Fingers, The Rolling Stones, and Santana III.
Hard Rock was going strong and on the 500 Shaped List from 1971 we have; Jethro Tull “Aqualung” and Led Zeppelin's “Stairway to Heaven” is one of five of their songs to make the list. The Rolling Stones "Wild Horses", T. Rex “Bang a Gong (Get It On)”, The Who “Baba O'Riley”, Alice Cooper “I'm Eighteen” all making the same list.
The Country Album charts were dominated by Lynn Anderson with Rose Garden for fourteen weeks at #1 followed by You're My Man for seven weeks at #1. Her single "Rose Garden" was a cover of the singer/songwriter Joe Souths 1968 release. Anderson hit #1 on the Country Singles Chart, Cash Box Top 100 and nine more #1's around the world. It would reach #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sell over one million copies. Ray Price, Freddie Hart, Charlie Pride and Johnny Cash would all hit with #1 albums.
There are a total of twenty songs on the 500 Greatest list from this year and 16 on the 500 Shaped list. Here is a comparison of the two lists for 1971 only. I have to say this was a lot of work but I found it instructive as we see some overlap of songs and a vast variety of chart placements. This also demonstrates what has been said about any kind of music list-no two are the same.
DNC=Did not Chart (A)=Album release only
Chart Peak=Major US/UK/CAN
| Artist | Song | 500 Greatest | 500 Shaped | Chart Peak | Cover Song |
| Marvin Gaye | What’s Goin’ On | 6 | Yes | #1 |
|
| John Lennon | Imagine (A) | 19 | Yes | #1 |
|
| Joni Mitchell | A Case of You (B-side) | 26 | No | DNC |
|
| Sly and the Family Stone | Family Affair | 57 | No | #1 |
|
| Al Green | Let’s Stay Together | 84 | Yes | #1 |
|
| David Bowie | Life on Mars | 105 | No | #3 |
|
| Rod Stewart | Maggie May | 141 | Yes | #1 |
|
| The Who | Baba O’Riley | 159 | Yes | #55 |
|
| The Rolling Stones | Wild Horses | 193 | Yes | #11 |
|
| David Bowie | Changes | 200 | No | #10 |
|
| Joni Mitchell | River (A) | 247 | No | DNC |
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| Gil-Scott Heron | The Revolution Will Not Be Televised | 258 | No | DNC |
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| Dolly Parton | Coat of Many Colors | 263 | No | #4 |
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| The Who | Won’t Get Fooled Again | 295 | No | #7 |
