Sucking in the '70s - Volume 5

   I confess to an unnatural (and perhaps unhealthy) fascination with the 1970s.  It could be that as a Gen Xer who's lived through the general rightward turn of the last 30 years, I just can't get my head around all the crazy shit people were up to when I was just an innocent tyke.  I tend to look up on the period with not quite equal parts bewilderment, jealousy, affection, a wee bit of judgmental dismay, and a whole lot of profound wonder at some of the self-serving musings of the day - especially all the pop songs that rationalized egoistic behaviors in the name of finding oneself.  Case in point - The Commodores Easy and lines like "I wanna be free to do the things I know are right" after the protagonist has told his girlfriend he's leaving her.  Still, I really do like the song - something about the vaguely countryish melody just gets to me.  Which is a long-winded way for me to introduce the fifth volume of my Sucking in the 70s compilations (volumes 1-4 are still available for download, btw).

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Color Him Father The Winstons (If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can't I Touch You? Ronnie Dyson Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard Paul Simon Chico And The Man (Main Theme) Jose Feliciano I Can See Clearly Now Johnny Nash Easy The Commodores Daniel Elton John Country Road James Taylor Take It Easy The Eagles (Don't Fear) The Reaper Blue Oyster Cult A Love That's Real The Intruders Love on a Two-Way Street The Moments Midnight Rider The Allman Brothers Band Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues Danny O'Keefe Break Up to Make Up The Stylistics Bell Bottom Blues Derek & The Dominos Help Me Make It Through The Night Sammi Smith Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got) The Four Tops O-o-h Child The Five Stairsteps Because The Night Patti Smith Group

Sucking in the '70s - Volume 9

I've made a point of not repeating any artists in the Sucking in the '70s series, but this latest volume does include Valerie Carter's version of Ooh Child despite my inclusion of The Five Stairsteps much more well-known version of the song in Volume 5.  In my defense, I actually prefer Carter's version.  I know it's fairly heretical, given the popularity of The Five Stairsteps version (and I do like their version, too), but Carter really nails it and, well, it really is the sort of song an adult should be singing. :)  Anyway, I hope folks like it and I've also re-upped all the  previous volumes as well as the Saluting the 70's compilations.

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Just my imagination	The Temptations
She's Gone	Hall and Oates
Do Your Thing	Isaac Hayes
Soul Makossa	Manu Dibango
If You Want Me To Stay	Sly & The Family Stone
It's Hard to Live in This Old World	Rev Harvey Gates
Struggling Man	Jimmy Cliff
Who'll Stop The Rain	Creedence Clearwater Revival
Don't Let It Throw You	Jim Sullivan
Cannock Chase	Labi Siffre
(I'm) Just Being Myself	Dionne Warwick
Oh Happy Day	Edwin Hawkins Singers
Let 'Em In	Paul McCartney And Wings
Here I Am (Come and Take Me)	Marcia Griffiths
Float On	The Floaters
Want Ads	Honey Cone
Groovy Situation	Gene Chandler
You're The Reason Why	The Ebonys
Oh Me Oh My	Lulu
Ooh Child	Valerie Carter

Sucking in the '70s - Volume 6

        This is my 6th Sucking in the '70s compilation (you can still download volumes 1-5, btw).  I think the reason I like this stuff so much is that ineffable 1970's groove, regardless of the particular genre.  I can't quite put it into words, but listen to the last three songs on this comp one right after the another and I think it'll be clear.  Alas, it's my last one in the series (though I always reserve the right to change my mind).


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Viva Tirado	Fania All Stars
Love or Let Me Be Lonely	The Friends of Distinction
I Want to Take You Higher	Ike & Tina Turner
Slow Ride	Foghat
Running On Empty	Jackson Browne
Too Late to Turn Back Now	Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
5-10-15-20 (25-30 Years of Love)	The Presidents
Run To Me	Bee Gees
Heart of Gold	Neil Young
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain	Willie Nelson
I'm Easy	Keith Carradine
Sundown	Gordon Lightfoot
The Scenery Has Slowly Changed	Bobby Whitlock
Superstition	Stevie Wonder
Shining Star	Earth, Wind & Fire
Love Hangover	Diana Ross
Fool For Love	Sandy Rogers
For The Good Times	Kris Kristofferson
Come Get to This	Marvin Gaye
And It Stoned Me	Van Morrison

Sucking in the '70s - Volume 3

As I've mentioned when I posted my previous 70s comps (you can find Vol 1 here and Vol 2 here), I don't really believe in the notion of guilty pleasures. Still, I do feel compelled to defend my inclusion of Afternoon Delight in Volume 3. See, I still can't quite believe that a song about afternoon sex ever became a big hit. I know it was that particular moment in the 70s and it's got that weird wholesome quality, but still its ineffable weirdness always makes me oddly happy..... The other thing that fascinates me about the Starland Vocal Band is the fact that they actually got their own television variety show in 1977 - granted, it was a summer replacement series and variety shows were big at the time (Captain and Tenille got a variety show, but hey they had two hits :), but I'd really love to know the reasoning of the network exec that approved the show (and did they have to sing Afternoon Delight on every episode?). Adding to my fascination with the SVB show is that a young David Letterman was one of the writers.

Oh well, I guess that's enough rationalizing. Here's the songlist.

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You Took The Word Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) Meat Loaf

I Wanna Get Next To You Rose Royce

Love Will Find A Way Pablo Cruise

Funk #49 Joe Walsh

Garden Party Rick Nelson And The Stone Canyon Band

Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) Aretha Franklin

You and Me Alice Cooper

Horse With No Name America

Fire On The Mountain Marshall Tucker Band

Dream Weaver Gary Wright

Could It Be I'm Falling In Love The Spinners

Afternoon Delight Starland Vocal Band

Drift Away Dobie Gray

Angel In Your Arms Hot

What Is Life George Harrison

Pure Love Ronnie Milsap

Sweet Emotion Aerosmith

Midnight Train to Georgia Gladys Knight & The Pips

The Most Beautiful Girl Charlie Rich

Heroes David Bowie

Sucking in the 70s

I don't really believe in the concept of guilty pleasures - life's too short for those kind of worries. On the other hand......well, I'll just use the defense that the music you listened to as a10-15 year old is the stuff you'll like the rest of your life. In that spirit, I give you my 70s mixtape. Indulge!!!

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Mama Told Me (Not To Come) Three Dog Night

Kung Fu Fighting Carl Douglas

Stuck In The Middle With You Stealers Wheel

Before The Next Teardrop Falls Freddy Fender

Fooled Around And Fell In Love Elvin Bishop

Come And Get Your Love Redbone

Jackie Blue The Ozark Mountain Daredevils

Lonely Boy Andrew Gold

At Seventeen Janis Ian

Haitian Divorce Steely Dan

Driver's Seat Sniff 'n' Tears

Here Comes The Sun Richie Havens

Angie The Rolling Stones

I Can Help Billy Swan

Alone Again (Naturally) Gilbert O'Sullivan

Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again The Fortunes

Magnet And Steel Walter Egan

You Sexy Thing Hot Chocolate

Seasons In The Sun Terry Jacks

I'm Not In Love 10cc

Sucking in the 70's: Volume 11

     Sorry about the delay between posts - I was on vacation and was rushing around trying to get stuff done before I left.  As for this week's post, I know it may seem like overkill to keep putting out 70's compilation.... and maybe it is.  But before you judge, please listen to the newest volume.  In particular, listen to the Pointer Sisters' take on Steely Dan's Dirty Work.  Don't get me wrong, the original is pretty good, but the Pointer Sisters version is just sublime.  Maybe it's because I first heard it while watching Gaslit, the series about the Watergate break-in (I know the Pointer Sisters' version was released several years after Nixon resigned, but, it works so well), but it's really affecting in a way that the Steely Dan version never was.  Also, all the previous volumes are available as are all the Saluting the 70's compilations.

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Are You Ready?	Pacific Gas & Electric
Funky Business	Cherokee
The Time for Peace is Now	Fantastic Shadows
Smiling Faces Sometimes	The Undisputed Truth
Chairman Of The Board	Chairmen of the Board
Free Ride	Edgar Winter Group
Westbound #9	The Flaming Ember
If I Can't Have You	Yvonne Elliman
Pick Up The Pieces	Average White Band
(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again	L.T.D.
Nightbird	Labelle
Dirty Work	The Pointer Sisters
Why Can't We Live Together	Timmy Thomas
Turn Back The Hands Of Time	Tyrone Davis
Goin' Down	Allen Toussaint
Baby Let Me Kiss You	King Floyd
Love Land	Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
Love And Happiness	Al Green
Bound	The Ponderosa Twins Plus One
Maybe	The Three Degrees

Sucking in the '70s - Volume 7

     I typically post at the end of the month, but I completed my newest compilation a few days ago and since a lot of us are stuck in our respective homes now, I figured I'd share it a little early.   I'm pretty sure I said 5-6 years ago that I wouldn't do another 70's music compilation, but I just kept hearing songs that really deserved another volume so there you go.   I've also re-upped all the previous volumes as well as the Saluting the 70's compilations.  Stay safe and be well everybody.

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Stand by Your Man	Tammy Wynette
And It Didn't Even Bring Me Down	Doug Sahm
Ain't Understanding Mellow	Jerry Butler
Love Jones	Brighter Side Of Darkness
Best Of My Love	The Emotions
You're So Vain	Carly Simon
Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation	The Dells
Baby I'm a Want You	Bread
Have You Seen Her?	The Chi-Lites
I Think It's Going To Rain Today	Cass Elliot
Give Me Another Chance	Big Star
Baby Blue	Badfinger
Dancing In The Moonlight	King Harvest
The Star Of My Show	Dusty Springfield
Drowning in the Sea of Love	Joe Simon
I Love You For All Seasons	The Fuzz
Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma	Melanie
The City Of New Orleans	Arlo Guthrie
A Natural Man	Lou Rawls
Me And Mrs. Jones	Billy Paul

Sucking in the '70s - Volume 8

It's time for another "Sucking in the '70s" compilation.  Apart from noting that this one is a little more all over the place than the previous one, I don't have much to say about this new compilation.  I've also re-upped all the previous volumes as well as the Saluting the 70's compilations.

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Salinas	Jackie DeShannon
Easy To Be Hard	Cheryl Barnes
Everybody Plays The Fool	The Main Ingredient
Delta Dawn	Tanya Tucker
Night They Drove Old Dixie Down	Joan Baez
Badlands	Bruce Springsteen
Young Hearts Run Free	Candi Staton
Don't Leave Me This Way	Thelma Houston
SOS	ABBA
Nothing From Nothing	Billy Preston
Inspiration Information	Shuggie Otis
Clean Up Woman	Betty Wright
Ain't Nobody Home	B.B. King
Rip Off	Laura Lee
Kiss An Angel Good Mornin'	Charley Pride
Operator	Jim Croce
If I Were A Carpenter	Johnny Cash
A New Day	The Notations
Finally Got Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man)	The Impressions
Starting All Over Again	Mel & Tim

Saluting 70's Singer Songwriters Volume 4

   Fall is upon us, even though you wouldn't know it from the weather here in New York.  Nonetheless, I've always thought 70s singer-songwriter comps are the perfect companion for Fall late mornings and afternoons.   So tonight, I give you Volume 4 in the Saluting Singer Songwriters series.  I've also re-upped the previous volumes  as well as the Sucking in the 70s compilations.  Have at 'em!

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I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You	Tom Waits
Shiver Me Timbers	Tom Waits
Ride Me Down Easy	Billy Joe Shaver
I Been To Georgia On A Fast Train	Billy Joe Shaver
If You're Ever In Oklahoma	J.J. Cale
Call Me The Breeze	J.J. Cale
Please Don't Bury Me	John Prine
Sabu Visits The Twin Cities Alone	John Prine
Farewell To Paradise	Emitt Rhodes
She's Such A Beauty	Emitt Rhodes
Sol e Chuva	Alceu Valenca
Cabelos Longos	Alceu Valenca
Starman	David Bowie
Kooks	David Bowie
Have A Heart	Charlie Rich
Peace On You	Charlie Rich
Call Me	Aretha Franklin
Day Dreaming	Aretha Franklin

Sucking in the 70's: Volume 12

 I don’t think I’ve completely exhausted the entire corpus of 70s music, but this will likely be my last volume for a while.  There’s a lot of well-known cuts, but folks also enjoy some of the lesser known songs.  Also, all the previous volumes are available as are all the Saluting the 70's compilations.

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Daylight	Bobby Womack
Lowdown	Boz Scaggs
Hang on in There Baby	Johnny Bristol
Safecracker	Hoodoo Rhythm Devils
Slow Motion (Part 1)	Johnny Williams
Express	B.T. Express
Long Train Runnin'	The Doobie Brothers
When the Game Is Played on You	Bettye Swann
You're My Best Friend	Queen
Sing with the Children	Claudia Lennear
(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right	Luther Ingram
Freddie's Dead	Curtis Mayfield
Ecstasy	Ohio Players
Picture Us	Bunny Sigler
Les Fleur	Minnie Riperton
Needle and Thread	Jennifer Warnes
Right on the Tip of My Tongue	Brenda and the Tabulations
Heaven Says	The New Birth
I'm For You, You For Me	The Temprees
Stranger In A Strange Land	Leon Russell

 

 

Sucking in the 70's - Volume 4

   Yes, it's time again for another volume of 70's music.  This one's heavier on the popular soul music of the 70's.  There's still a few of them durn guilty pleasures, but I defy you to say anything bad about The Jackson 5's take on Clifton Davis' (who, of course, was on the short lived 70s sitcom That's My Mama) Never Can Say Goodbye.  (The first three volumes are still available, btw.)

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Livin' Thing ELO Strawberry Letter 23 The Brothers Johnson Everlasting Love Carl Carlton #9 Dream John Lennon You're Only Lonely J.D. Souther If You Don't Know Me By Now Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes Never Can Say Goodbye The Jackson 5 You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go Bob Dylan Dueling Banjos Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell American Girl Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Jeepster T.Rex I Can't Stand the Rain Ann Peebles Band of Gold Freda Payne Suavecito Malo Without You Nilsson Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong B.J. Thomas Show and Tell Al Wilson Grandma's Hands Bill Withers The Air That I Breathe The Hollies Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) The Delfonics

Sucking in the 70's: Volume 10

       Every time I listen to "Let's Do It Again", I'm always a little surprised that the Staples Singers decided to record it.  Maybe because it is just such a great song.  And it's still probably a little less weird than the father-daughter country duo The Kendalls recording "Heaven's Just a Sin Away", a song pretty much praising cheating.  Anyway, I hope others out there share my continued fondness for 70s music.  Also, all other previous volumes are available as are the Saluting the 70's compilations.

Download Trouble	Cat Stevens
The Bells	The Originals
Like a Ship	T.L. Barrett & Youth For Christ Choir
Breathe	Pink Floyd
Sunshine After Every Rain	Mighty Revelaires
Precious, Precious	Jackie Moore
Tell Me Something Good	Rufus
She's Not Just Another Woman	The 8th Day
7 K-Jee	MFSB
Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get	The Dramatics
Love Ain't For Keeping	The Who
To Make You Happy	Tommy McGee
I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby	Barry White
Cool Aid	Paul Humphrey & The Cool Aid Chemists
Hearsay	The Soul Children
Let's Do It Again	The Staple Singers
Merry-Go-Round	David Lasley
Sideshow	Blue Magic
Tell Me Why	Leo Nocentelli
Let's Stay Together	Margie Joseph