#5 - "Winding Your Way Down On Baker Street" - Soft Rock

Ah the sweet sounds of 70's soft rock.  While in my later years I definitely leaned way more to the hard rock side of things, there's still nothing like driving around on a warm day with the windows rolled down and listening to some of the soft rock classics of the 70's.  Reminds me of cruising the California coast on a beautiful sunny day.  The great thing about the 70's was there weren't a lot of "specialty stations" on the radio.  You might hear some soft rock from Fleetwood Mac or James Taylor and then it could be followed by Led Zeppelin.  As music has progressed, there are so many sub-genres that there has to be a specific radio station that you have to select to be able to have a chance to hear whatever genre you seek (just take a look at the list of Sirius/XM stations available and you'll see what I'm talking about).  There are way too many bands to touch on in this entry, so I will be touching on some of the biggest players in the genre.  At the end, I will list a few of my soft rock faves as well.  So now let's roll down the windows and cruise back to the wonderful world of 70's soft rock.

Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac was one of the biggest bands of the 70's rock/soft rock scene.  They were formed in 1967 by Peter Green (who had replaced Eric Clapton in John Mayall's  Bluesbreakers Band), Mick Fleetwood, Jeremy Spencer, and Bob Brunning.  The band had tried to recruit bassist John McVie, (even naming the band using a combination of his name along with Mick Fleetwood's) but he was reluctant to join.  Bob Brunning agreed to join the band knowing that if McVie had a change of heart, that he would be replaced by John.  Within a few weeks, McVie decided to join the band and Brunning was replaced.  The band was more of a blues band at this point and spent several years recording and touring and developing a following.  By 1970, Peter Green had become mentally ill (later developing full-on schizophrenia).  The band went through several line-up changes (including hiring John McVie's wife, Christine McVie in 1970 and Bob Welch who had a soft rock hit with "Sentimental Lady" later in the decade).

By 1974 and after multiple line-up changes, Mick Fleetwood began to look for replacements for the departing Bob Welch.  While at the famous Sound City Studios, an engineer played a track from the unreleased album "Buckingham Nicks" for Fleetwood and he immediately went out to recruit the two players, guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks.  They agreed to join the band on New Year's Eve 1974.  In 1975, the new incarnation of Fleetwood Mac released their self-titled album (which was also the name of the first album from the first incarnation of the band).  The album was an immediate success for the band and reached #1 on the US Billboard Album Chart.  It had a string of hits, including: "Rhiannon", "Over My Head", "Say You Love Me" and "Landslide".

As successful as the "Fleetwood Mac" album was, nothing could compare to the mega-success of the follow-up album "Rumours".  Released in 1977, it was recorded amongst extreme turmoil within the band.  The McVie's were going through a divorce, Mick Fleetwood was going through a divorce and Buckingham and Nicks were going through a breakup as well.  They focused the turmoil to the songwriting process and the results were phenomenal.  The album was critically acclaimed and won the Grammy for Album of the Year for 1977.  The album produced multiple Top-10 hits "Go Your Own Way", "You Make Lovin' Fun", "Don't Stop" and the #1 "Dreams".  Other heavy radio played singles from the album included "Second Hand News", "Gold Dust Woman" and "The Chain".  The album has achieved "Diamond" status and is the #8 best selling album of all time.

The band stayed together through the mid-80's and eventually imploded.  They released several more successful albums and singles through their career.  They reunited in 1997 and recorded a successful live reunion album "The Dance".  The reunited band kicked off a successful world tour that year and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.  That same year, Christine McVie left the band to retire from touring.  The foursome of Fleetwood, John McVie, Buckingham and Nicks continued to tour.  In late 2014, Christine McVie came out of retirement and rejoined the band again for a World Tour set to begin in 2015.

Additional Fleetwood Mac songs you should check out:

Tusk
Sara
Hold Me
Gypsy
Big Love
Little Lies

Fleetwood Mac - The Chain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akZI1m4Hp74

Elton John - Although Sir Elton John began releasing singles in 1969, his debut album was released in 1970.  Elton joined up with Bernie Taupin in 1967 and the two began a songwriting partnership that still continues to this day.  Before recording his debut album, Elton was a session piano player for other musicians and included playing piano for The Hollies hit "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".  His self-titled debut album produced the Top-10 hit "Your Song".  His next album "Madman Across The Water", produced songs that didn't chart high, but would later become mainstream songs for Elton, "Levon" (#24) and "Tiny Dancer" (#41).  His next album, "Honky Chateau" produced more radio friendly hits with "Rocket Man" and "Honky Cat".

His first #1 hit was achieved from the 4th studio album "Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player".  "Crocodile Rock" found itself at the #1 position for 4 weeks and was followed by the #2 hit "Daniel".  He consistently hit the Top 10 throughout the 70's with songs like "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me", and "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"  He also reached #1 again with "Bennie and the Jets", a cover of The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds", "Philadelphia Freedom", "Island Girl",  and the duet "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee.

Elton continued success into the 80's and beyond.  He continues to write and record with Bernie Taupin and continues to tour.  He has won several awards, including several Oscar's, Grammy's and Tony Awards and was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.


Elton John & Kiki Dee - Don't Go Breaking My Heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQmRgFzg0jI

 

Paul McCartney and Wings - Following the nasty breakup of the greatest band of all-time The Beatles, the members went their separate ways and all began successful solo careers.  While three of The Beatles (John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr) would collaborate and record on each other's records, Paul McCartney went on to form Wings and removed himself from The Beatles.  He formed the band with his wife Linda, session drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist Denny Laine (formerly of the band Moody Blues).  There were other band members that came and went in the time-frame of Wings career, but Paul, Linda and Denny Laine were the mainstays throughout the entire band's career.  Before officially starting Wings, Paul had released two solo albums, "McCartney" and "Ram" (which he recorded with wife Linda - and that album produced the #1 single, "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey").  Paul insisted that Linda be in his bands, so they could tour together.

Wings debut album, "Wild Life" was released in 1971.  The album reached #10 in the US Billboard Album charts but failed to produce any hit singles.  Their second album, "Red Rose Speedway", released in 1973, produced their first #1 hit with "My Love".  Shortly after, they recorded "Live and Let Die" for the James Bond film of the same name.  The single, reached #2 on the US Billboard Singles Charts.  Later that same year, the band re-entered the studio and by the end of the year they released their most successful album "Band on the Run".  The album reached #1 on the Billboard Album Chart and was the #3 album of that year.  It also won two Grammy's and was nominated for Album of the Year.  The album produced three Top-10 hits with "Helen Wheels", "Jet" and the #1 hit "Band on the Run".

Through the remainder of the 70's, the band produced multiple Top-10 hits with "Junior's Farm", "Let 'Em In", "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Goodnight Tonight".  They also had three more #1 hits with "Listen To What The Man Said", Silly Love Songs" and "With A Little Luck"  By 1981, the band had split up and Paul McCartney went on to develop a solo career.  His wife Linda passed away in 1998.

Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBX2dySWGew

 

America - America was formed in 1970 by Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Buckley.  They are known for their acoustic sounds and three-part harmonies.  The band was formed shortly after the three graduated high school together and they quickly received a record deal with Warner Brothers.  Their 1971 debut album "America" went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 and produced two successful Top 10 singles, "I Need You" and the #1 "A Horse With No Name".  They quickly entered the studio and released a successful second album the following year.  "Homecoming" reached #9 on the Billboard Album list and produced the Top 10 hit "Ventura Highway".  Their third album, "Hat Trick" was considered a commercial flop.  The band had self-produced their second and third albums and after the stumble of "Hat Trick", they decided to enlist George Martin (of Beatles fame) to produce their 4th album.

Martin took the band in a new direction with the 4th album "Holiday".  The album reached #3 on the Billboard Chart and produced two more hits in "Tin Man" and "Lonely People".  Their fifth album, once again produced by Martin, produced the bands first #1 single with "Sister Golden Hair".  By the end of the 70's, the bands popularity began to drift, but they once again found success in the early 80's with the single "You Can Do Magic" which found them back in the Top-10 one more time (the single reached #8).

America - Sister Golden Hair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzUQZw3wfro

Barry Manilow - Barry Manilow got his start writing television commercial jingles for several big-named companies and in the early 70's began to perform accompaniment piano for auditions and performances.  He was noticed by Bette Midler and she recruited him to assist with the production of her first two albums.  He worked with her until 1975.  His self-titled debut solo album was released in 1973 and produced an early version of his later hit "Could It Be Magic". His second album "Barry Manilow II" reached #9 on the Billboard Album hits and produced the #1 single "Mandy".  In 1975, Arista Records re-issued his debut album with a re-recorded version of "Could It Be Magic" and the re-issued single reached #6.  By 1978, all five of his albums were all on the Billboard Top Albums chart simultaneously.  He continued a string of hits in the 70's, including "Weekend In New England", "Can't Smile Without You", "Copacabana" and the two number one hits, "I Write The Songs" and "Looks Like We Made It".  In addition, he wrote and recorded the 70's version of the Theme song of American Bandstand.

Manilow has received multiple awards throughout his career, including a couple of Emmy's, a Tony and a Grammy.

Barry Manilow - Mandy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9SSyMN75wY

Seals and Crofts/England Dan and John Ford Coley

I grouped these two bands together on this list because their styles were similar and also because Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts and England Dan (Seals) are brothers. 

Seals and Crofts was formed in Texas where the two were born and raised.  They joined a band with Glen Campbell for a short time in the late 60's before disbanding and forming their own band.  Their debut self-titled album was released in 1969 and failed to chart.  Their second album only reached #122 in 1970 and their third album failed to chart as well.  Their success finally hit in 1972 with the album "Summer Breeze".  It reached #7 on the Billboard Charts and the single "Summer Breeze" reached #6 US Top 200 singles list.  Their next album, "Diamond Girl" reached #4 on the Billboard Album chart and was their highest charting album.  The single "Diamond Girl" from the same album also reached #6 on the Billboard US Singles Chart.  Their third #6 single "Get Closer" was released in 1976 and was their last Top 10 hit.

They broke up in 1980 and reunited in 1991 for a short time.  In 2004 they reunited once again and recorded a new album.

Seals and Crofts - "Summer Breeze"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsW8rXPcnM0

England Dan and John Ford Coley were also both from Texas and were friends and classmates in Dallas, TX.  Dan Seals received the nickname "England Dan" because he was such a fan of The Beatles.   The duo signed to A&M Records in 1971 but was dropped after their first three albums failed to chart.  They re-signed with Big Tree Records and released their first album on the new label in 1976.  "Nights Are Forever" produced two Top 10 singles, "Nights Are Forever" and the #2 hit "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight".  The band produced two more Top 10 singles between 1978 and 1979 with "We'll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again" and "Love Is The Answer".  The duo split up in the early 80's.  Dan Seals went onto become a successful country artist in the early 80's and John Ford Coley went on to do television and film appearances.   Dan Seals passed away in 2009 following treatment for mantle cell lymphoma

England Dan and John Ford Coley - "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxdsk-cFX-k

Bread - Bread is another band that was actually formed in the late 60's but didn't receive commercial success until the 70's.  They had 13 songs hit the Billboard Hot 100 Chart between 1970 and 1977.  The hit making band was made up of David Gates (vocals/keyboards/strings), Jimmy Griffin (guitars, vocals, keyboards), Mike Botts (drums) and Larry Knechtel (bass/keyboards/harmonica) (Knechtel replaced original bass player Robb Royer in 1971).  They released 6 studio albums between 1969 and 1977, with 1972's "Baby I'm-A Want You" being the highest charting at #3.  Although they had 13 songs that hit the Hot 100 Charts, their only #1 came with "Make It With You" from the 1970 album "On The Waters".  They also had 5 other Top-10 hits with "It Don't Matter To Me", "If", "Baby I'm-A Want You", "Everything I Own" and "Lost Without Your Love".

The band split up at the end of the year of 1977.  David Gates went onto a short but successful solo career and had a hit with the single "Goodbye Girl" from the film of the same name.  The band reunited in 1996 for a 25th Anniversary Tour that extended into 1997 and that would be the last year the band toured together.

Bread - "Make It With You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4R93xnKink

As I said in the start of this entry, there are way too many bands to list in this category.  Here are some other bands/songs that you should add to your easy listening list:

Gerry Rafferty
"Baker Street"
"Right Down The Line"

Gary Wright
"Dream Weaver"
"Love Is Alive"

Eagles (See #7 Blog Entry)

Rod Stewart
"Maggie May"
"You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"
"Tonight's The Night"
"Hot Legs"
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"

Bee Gees (See #9 Blog entry)

The Carpenters
"(They Long To Be) Close To You"
"Superstar"
"Rainy Days and Mondays"
"We've Only Just Begun"

Exile
"Kiss You All Over"

Linda Ronstadt
"Hurt So Bad"
"Ooh Baby Baby"
"When Will I Be Loved"
"You're No Good"

Neil Diamond
"I Am...I Said"
"Song Sung Blue"
"You Don't Bring Me Flowers"
"Forever In Blue Jeans"

Barbra Streisand
"The Way We Were"
"Evergreen (The Theme From 'A Star Is Born')"
"The Main Event/Fight"
"Woman In Love"
"Guilty" (with Barry Gibb)
"What Kind of Fool" (with Barry Gibb)

#6 - "Hey You Punks, Get Off of My Lawn!!!" - The birth of Punk and New Wave

Punk Rock was a rebellious call to all the soft rock and disco of the late 70's.  It gave the outsiders a soundtrack and became a huge scene, especially in the New York music scene.  It also gave birth to the early stages of New Wave that would become the next big thing and the turn of the 80's and would dominate the early years of The MTV Generation.  While I was never much of a punk fan myself, I was definitely a fan of the later incarnations of New Wave that followed. 

Punk was considered to be a "garage band" type of music and garnered popularity in the New York club CBGB's in Lower Manhattan.  Many of the bands of the Punk and New Wave scene developed their followings at CBGB.  Bands such as The Talking Heads, The Ramones, Patti Smith Group, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and Blondie who all gained popularity in the club would go on to national stardom. 

So Hey Ho, Let's Go take a look at the bands that defined these genres in the 70's....

The Ramones - The Ramones were formed in the early 70's and are considered the band that started and defined Punk Rock. Although no one in the band was related, they all adopted the last name "Ramone" as part of their "brand".  Although none of their albums or singles were chart successes, they developed a huge cult following and influenced many musicians and bands, including Green Day.  There was even a movie released in 1979 that starred The Ramones called Rock 'n' Roll High School.

By 2014, all four original members, Joey Ramone (lead singer), Johnny Ramone (guitars), Dee Dee Ramone (bass) and Tommy Ramone (drums) had all passed away.  The band was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 (along with replacement drummer, Marky Ramone).

Want to be sedated by The Ramones?  Check out some of these tunes:

Blitzkrieg Bop
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
Rockaway Beach
Rock 'n' Roll High School
Do You Remember Rock n' Roll Radio
I Wanna Be Sedated

The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eajk2uDWaP0

The Sex Pistols - The Sex Pistols were an English punk band that only lasted two and a half years.  However, in that short time, they were also leading the charge in the punk movement.  The band was known just as much for their punk attitudes as they were their music.  While there were several members in the band throughout their short career, the defining lineup was: Johnny Rotten (vocals), Steve Jones (guitar), Sid Vicious (bass), Paul Cook (drums).  It didn't take long for the band to implode, after a brief tour of the US in 1978, the band split up with Johnny "Rotten" Lydon being the first to leave.

Later that same year, Sid Vicious was arrested on suspicion of murder against his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, who was found dead of stab wounds in their New York hotel room.  Sid Vicious claims he had no recollection of the event.  While on bail in early 1979, he overdoses on heroin and dies at age 21.

Need a shot of The Sex Pistols?  Check out these punk classics:

Anarchy in the UK
God Save The Queen
Pretty Vacant
Holidays in the Sun

The Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TZ_9-rbslo

The Clash- Although The Clash did not find popularity in the US until the early 80's, the band's signature album "London Calling" was actually recorded and released in the UK in 1979.  It was released in the US in January of 1980.  The band consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar), Paul Simonon (bass guitar) and Nicky "Topper" Headon (drums).  Rolling Stone magazine declared "London Calling" the greatest album of the 1980's and ranked the band #28 of the greatest bands of all time.

They were inducted into The Rock Hall in 2003 (which also included original drummer Terry Chimes).  They became widely known as "The Only Band That Matters".  Perhaps the most popular track from London Calling in the US was "Train in Vain" and it managed to reach #30 on the Billboard Hits Charts.  Their highest charting single was 1982's "Rock the Casbah" from the album "Combat Rock".  It charted at #6 on the Billboard list and became an MTV staple.  Another popular single from that album was "Should I Stay or Should I Go" which charted at #13

The Clash - Train In Vain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3Yl4ehzX-o

Blondie - Blondie is a band started by lead singer Debbie Harry and guitarist Christ Stein.  They started out with more of a punk flavor, but eventually developed into more of the "New Wave" sound.  They were one of the first bands to adopt the "New Wave" and had several hits with the sound.  The band name was derived from truck drivers who would yell out "Hey Blondie" when they would see Debbie Harry.  The 1978 album "Parallel Lines" was their breakthrough hit in the US.  It produced three hit singles, "Dreaming", "One Way or Another" and their first #1 hit, "Heart of Glass".  They went on into the early 80's with three more #1 singles, "Call Me", "The Tide Is High" and "Rapture".  "Rapture" is known as the first U.S. #1 single ever to feature a new style called "Rap". 

Blondie has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Blondie - Heart of Glass
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGU_4-5RaxU

 

The Police - Another band that helped define the "New Wave" movement was the English trio The Police.  Formed in London in 1977, the band consisted of lead singer/bassist Sting, guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland.  Their new wave sound was a combination of punk, reggae and jazz.  While the height of their success was achieved in the early 80's with the first slew of MTV bands, they had already established themselves in the US in the late 70's.  Their first US charting single "Roxanne" reached #32.  While they had multiple #1 singles in the UK, their first US #1 single "Every Breath You Take" wasn't released until 1983.

The band has earned six Grammy's and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

Don't be arrested listening to these 70's classics from The Police:

Can't Stand Losing You
Message In A Bottle
Walking on the Moon

The Police - Roxanne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1c7GkzRQQ

The Cars - The Cars also found huge success with the early 80's MTV Generation...and solidified their pop culture status with the song "Moving In Stereo" during a memorable scene in the 80's cult-classic movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High".  But before they hit it huge in the 80's, they had a string of hits in the late 70's.  Formed in Boston, they signed their first record deal in 1977.  Their second album, "Candy-O" was released in 1979 and reached #3 on the US Album Charts. 

These are some 70's hits that you should rock out to while cruising around with the windows down:

Just What I Needed
My Best Friend's Girl
Good Times Roll
Let's Go
It's All I Can Do

The Cars - Just What I Needed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hwE0slNd3Y

Other notable punk/new wave bands that got their start in the 70's:

The Talking Heads
The Knack
Pat Benatar
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Elvis Costello

#7 - "I've Got The Blues": Blues, Country Rock and Southern Rock

There was a new brand of rock that really developed in the 70's called "Southern Rock".  It took elements of blues and country and added some heavier guitars and dual-guitar solos.  Southern rock had its beginnings toward the end of the 60's with bands like The Allman Brothers, but the sound was defined and became popular in the 70's.  Several of the decades most famous bands and solo acts had aspects of blues, country and southern rock.  In this entry, we will take a look at a few that defined the genres...

Eric Clapton - Eric Clapton had achieved success in the 60's as a member of The Yardbirds and later with the first "Supergroup", Cream.  He also played lead guitar on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on The Beatles White Album.  His style was heavily influenced by the blues, but Clapton had the ability to take the blues and create his own unique sound.  At the start of the 70's, he formed "Derek and The Dominos" and had hits with "Layla" and "Bell-Bottom Blues", both of which were written for the then-wife of Clapton's friend and collaborator, George Harrison.  Shortly after the album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" was released by the band, Eric left the band and began his very successful solo career.

Over the course of the 70's, he released several charting singles, including "Let It Rain", "Lay Down Sally", "Wonderful Tonight" and the cover of the Bob Marley song "I Shot The Sheriff" which went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100...Eric Clapton is the only three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee (solo, The Yardbirds and Cream).

Eric Clapton - Layla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C74sjfGUQXo

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Lynyrd Skynyrd was originally formed in the mid-60's as the band The Pretty Ones, but changed their name to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1968.  Named after a strict p.e. teacher "Leonard Skinner" who was always enforcing the "No Long Hair" rules in his school.  The band developed their "Southern Rock" sound and began gaining popularity in the early 70's.  Before long, their popularity took off and they became the band that became the epitome of the "Southern Rock" sound. They released several singles: "Gimme Three Steps", "Saturday Night Special", "What's Your Name?", and "That Smell".  Their highest charting single, "Sweet Home Alabama" reached #8 on the Billboard charts and their 14 minute epic "Free Bird" is considered to be their signature song.  In fact, there is a long-standing joke at concerts where somebody will yell out a request for any band to "PLAY FREE BIRD".

Sadly, three days after their album "Street Survivors" was released, a tragic plane crash in 1977 took the lives of three of the band members: Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines all died when the plane they were flying in ran out of fuel.  The original cover for the album showed the band standing in flames and was quickly pulled from shelves and re-issued with the flames removed.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Free Bird"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpmsv7-OKQo

ZZ Top - While ZZ Top is mainly known for their long beards and early 80's MTV video hits "Legs", "Sharp-Dressed Man" and "TV Dinners", they had mainstream success in the pre-MTV days.  Billy Gibbons formed the band in Houston, TX with two different players, but eventually recruited Dusty Hill and Frank Beard to join the band.  Their first album, aptly named "ZZ Top's First Album" was released in 1971.  During the 70's, ZZ Top defined their sound and their first hit "La Grange" about a brothel in the Texas town of La Grange reached number 41 on the Billboard Charts.  Their next hit "Tush" made it up to #20 on the Billboard Chart.  They had a couple of other hits in the 70's with the cover of Sam & Dave's "I Thank You" and their own song "Cheap Sunglasses".  Once the 80's rolled around, the band re-defined its sound and its image and would be one of the first pioneers of the early "video age".

ZZ Top - "Tush"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jB_QM73Slk

Eagles - While (The) Eagles are perhaps more known for defining the "California Rock" sound, they started out more of a "Country Rock" type band.  They were formed by Don Henley and Glenn Frey and were actually started as the backing band for new artist Linda Ronstadt.  Their self-titled debut album released in 1972 produced three Top 40 singles: "Take It Easy", "Witchy Woman" and "Peaceful, Easy Feeling".  Their next album, "Desperado" did not produce any Top 40 hits, but contained two of the bands most popular tracks, "Desperado" and "Tequila Sunrise".  In 1974, Don Felder joined the group, followed by Joe Walsh in 1975.  They still had a "country" sound to their music at this period, but they would gradually get away from this sound.  Before adopting the more "California Rock" style, they continued to release hit singles such as "Already Gone", "One of These Nights", "Lyin' Eyes" and "Take It To The Limit".  They hit their commercial peak in 1976 with the mega-hit album "Hotel California" and their sound had developed into the defined "California Rock".

Eagles - "Witchy Woman"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcLwneGLCEU

There were several other bands during the era that only had minor success, but were able to produce hit singles based on the same blues/country/southern rock sound.  These included:

The Marshall Tucker Band - "Heard It In A Love Song"
Pure Prairie League - "Amie"
Molly Hatchet - "Flirtin' With Disaster"
Black Oak Arkansas - "Jim Dandy"
Ram Jam - "Black Betty"
Blackfoot - "Highway Song"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy" (Note: This was my first favorite song that I can remember)

#8 - "It's All About The Gimmick" - Gimmick Bands and Novelty Songs

The 70's was not the first decade to have a gimmick band or a novelty song, but it saw an explosion in gimmick bands and they had major success. Those of you that know me, know my love for KISS and there is probably no "gimmick" band that has had more success than KISS...But there were a few before them and there were a few after them. #8 is dedicated to the bands and songs that were about more than just the music:


Bands:

Alice Cooper - While The Alice Cooper band actually started in the late 60's, it wasn't until 1971 that they recorded their first hit - "I'm Eighteen".  Alice was known for several on-stage gimmicks, including walking out with a python, being electrocuted by electric chair on stage and being beheaded by guillotine.  Alice also wore eye makeup and was an early influence for KISS.  Alice Cooper had a string of hits in the 70's, which also included "School's Out", "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and "Billion Dollar Babies".  Lead singer Vincent Funier eventually went onto adopt the name Alice Cooper as his own and became a solo act by the mid-seventies.  Alice Cooper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 and still continues to tour as of 2015.


Alice Cooper - I Love The Dead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j19AthwJ9bU

KISS - Perhaps no band defined 70's gimmick like KISS.  Formed in 1973, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley took what Alice Cooper had started and turned it to eleven.  With their kabuki style makeup, platform shoes, outrageous costumes, smoking guitars, levitating drum kits and fire and blood, they were every parents nightmare.  Their first three studio albums were poor selling and the band was headed toward financial ruin.  All of that changed, in what seemed like overnight, with the release of KISS Alive!  Released in September of 1975, this double-album exploded the band into superstars.  The album has sold over 500,000 copies in the US and is one of the top-selling live albums of all time.  In a time before cell phones and the internet, the band famously hid their true identities for 10 years until "unmasking" in 1983.  The band has gone through several personnel changes in its 40+ years, but no lineup has captured the magic the way the original lineup did.  The bands two founders, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, are the only two members that have been with the band from the beginning.  The original band reunited in 1995 as part of the MTV Unplugged series, and eventually put the makeup back on and had a successful reunion tour that began in 1996.  Eventually Ace Frehley and Peter Criss left the band again, but KISS still continues to tour in full makeup and costumes.  KISS was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.


KISS - 100,000 Years


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_UAu5WbRp4

Village People - The Village People (see #10 - the birth and death of disco) is an American Disco band that had major hits in the mid to late 70's.  They were comprised of six men depicting several different "macho" stereotypes.  Victor Willis (The Cop), Felipe Rose (Native American), Alex Briley (The Soldier), David Hodo (Construction Worker), Randy Jones (Cowboy) and Glenn Hughes (Biker/Leatherman) had a string of hits in the 70's, including "In The Navy", "Macho Man" and "YMCA".  A version of The Village People still tours as of 2015.


Village People - Macho Man


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO43p2Wqc08


Other gimmick bands of the 70's include:


The New York Dolls
David Bowie
T. Rex
Devo


Novelty Songs

Steve Martin - King Tut - Steve Martin had gained star status with his appearances on Saturday Night Live and his "Wild and Crazy" stand-up act.  In 1978, he released the single "King Tut" after the craze of the King Tut traveling exhibit that traveled the US from 1976 to 1979.  He debuted the single on Saturday Night Live during the April 22, 1978 showing.  The single went on to sell over a million copies and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.


Steve Martin - King Tut


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgTPH5y1-ZI

Rick Dees - Disco Duck - Rick Dees, a radio disc jockey (DJ) wrote and performed this song.  As a testament to just how crazy the 70's were for music, the track actually reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week, the week of October 16th, 1976.  Rick Dees went on to become a famous DJ and went on to host "Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown"


Rick Dees - Disco Duck


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgPgavmY99U

Hot Butter - Popcorn - Popcorn is an instrumental that was originally released in 1969 by Gershon Kingsley, but was later re-recorded and released in 1972 by Hot Butter.  The "synth-pop" instrumental reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 hits and reached #4 on the US Billboard Easy Listening chart.


Hot Butter - Popcorn


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBYjZTdrJlA

Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting - Released in 1974, Kung Fu Fighting was a song about martial arts by Carl Douglas.  The song reached number one on the US Hot 100 and the US Hot Soul lists and reached #3 on the Hot Disco singles.  It also won the Grammy in 1974 for Best Selling Single.  That song sold faster than kicks of lightning.


Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhUkGIsKvn0


Other 70's Novelty songs to check out:


Ray Stevens - The Streak
Jerry Reed - When You're Hot, You're Hot
Harry Nilsson - Coconut


Stay tuned for #7 on our countdown....