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
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)
No comments:
Post a Comment