Soundtracks
Saturday Night Fever: As seen in #10 (The birth and death of disco) - Saturday Night Fever became the soundtrack of the decade. The movie and the soundtrack launched both The Bee Gees and John Travolta into super stardom. The Bee Gees scored 4 Top-10 hits from the album with "How Deep Is Your Love", "Night Fever", "If I Can't Have You" and "Stayin' Alive". John Travolta became so popular that anything he appeared on was an instant success - at least until the 80's rolled around.
The Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JoZS6LgqYI
Grease: Hot off the heels of the success of Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta teamed up with Olivia Newton-John in this classic 70's musical set to the 50's. Olivia Newton-John had success as a singer in the early 70's, but with this big screen debut she jumped into super-celebrity status alongside John Travolta. To date this album has sold more than 30 million copies and produced 4 Top-10 hits in the US with the title track "Grease", "You're The One That I Want", "Summer Nights" and "Hopelessly Devoted To You". I can still remember playing "Grease" on the playground at my grade school. But somehow I was never cool enough to be Danny Zuko...that bites the big one, with relish
John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John - "Summer Nights"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0DfsCzfq4
American Graffiti - Okay, I know you're saying to yourself "Why is American Graffiti listed in a 70's category?". Yes, American Graffiti is full of songs from the 50's and early 60's, BUT this movie and soundtrack did not come out until 1973. This was the first hit for future Star Wars director George Lucas, and the soundtrack was a best seller as well. This album has been certified triple platinum. The film starred Richard Dreyfuss and featured Harrison Ford, both of whom went on to achieve major success as film stars. It also featured Ron Howard, Cindy Williams, Mackenzie Phillips and Suzanne Somers who all four went on to star in very successful 70's tv shows. One of these shows, Happy Days, was created based on American Graffiti
Theme Songs
Star Wars Theme (Disco version) - When Star Wars, later titled Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, came out in 1977, nobody had high expectations for the success of the movie. However, this movie would change the entire way movies were made. While "Jaws" had been the first summer blockbuster, Star Wars took the crown away and held onto it for several years. The impact Star Wars had on popular culture still continues to this day. Meco came up with a disco version of the popular Star Wars Main Theme and it reached #1 on the US Billboard Charts.
Meco - Star Wars Theme
Theme From Shaft - This song was written and recorded by Isaac Hayes for the motion picture Shaft. The song went to #1 in the Billboard Hot 100 and later won an Academy Award for Best Original Song....that's one bad mutha
Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft
Welcome Back - This song was written and recorded by John Sebastian written specifically for the ABC television sitcom, "Welcome Back, Kotter". The tv show was the launch pad of future mega star John Travolta. The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100
John Sebastian - Welcome Back
The Rockford Files Theme - The Rockford Files Theme was written by Mike Post and was the intro to the television show "The Rockford Files" starring Oklahoma native James Garner. Mr. Garner starred as Detective Jim Rockford. The Rockford Files Theme went on to reach #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Mike Post - Rockford Files Theme
There are many other "Theme" songs from the 70's that were hits and other soundtracks that were popular during the decade. In fact, the first music album I ever received was a soundtrack and I still have a copy of it to this day...Mahna Mahna
The Muppet Show - Mahna Mahna
No comments:
Post a Comment