The ABC's of the 70's

Here, I would like to share one song from the 70's for each letter of the alphabet.

There was more than one time in which designating one song for a letter was difficult.

Doing this has been a great way for me to rediscover some favorites as well as discover "new to me" songs.

American Pie (1971) — Don McLean

I love this song because it tells a story. It’s a rather long song compared to how long the average song is (between 3 to 4 minutes approximately). How it tells you not just the life of someone and their life experience but references to American pop culture makes it especially enjoyable. Before you know it, it doesn’t feel like you’ve been listening to “American Pie” for just over 8 minutes.

Quite amusingly, when I was in college and went on school day trips with fellow classmates, it was a must that way listen and sing along to this song, particularly, the main chorus! This was in the early 2010’s too. With a song that is just over 8 minutes long, it is perfect for long car rides. Just goes to show the love and appreciation for the classics never dies from one generation to the next!

Bad Company (1974) — Bad Company

This is one of those songs where the song title is the same as the name of the band.

The song starts out a mellow soft rock feel then gradually picks up by the 1:03 mark into a slightly heavier, more upbeat but still ultimately mellow rock tune.

I feel that Bad Company is one of the more underrated classic rock bands and this is maybe one of their more under rated songs. I like this song because it has both mellow and energetic beats throughout the song.

Cat’s in the Cradle (1974) — Harry Chapin

This song tells the emotional story between a dad and his son. It’s emotional because in the midst of their bond, it shows the hectic life the dad has and how it effects spending needed quality time with his son.

Interestingly, by the last few verses of the song, the circumstances have flipped as the young boy becomes a young man navigating life and now becoming too busy. Only at the end of the song does their bond become even stronger.

It reached number 1 on the US charts.

Draggin’ the Line (1971) — Tommy James

This song starts out with a smooth easygoing tempo only to pick up the pace into a faster paced tempo.

If you pay attention, the tone of the song reflects the title as the tempo of the song draws out similar to that of a long working day dragging out.

Quite interestingly and maybe surprisingly, “Draggin’ the Line” wasn’t considered a hit when it first released.

“Draggin’ the Line” is about the various challenges and the monotony we face with working every day.

Everything I Own (1972) — Bread

Here is a slow yet steady easy listening love song from a popular band from the 70’s era, Bread. This song starts out slow, a somewhat reminiscence of a slow dance song but picks up into a more steady pace that brings feelings of content and happiness.

Fame (1975) — David Bowie

A few of us dream of what it’s like to reach fame. This David Bowie classic centers on the hard realities of fame and what it’s like to be famous.

The song starts out with that recognizable riff that spans out into a steady rhythm that talks about the realities of fame.

It was actually Bowie’s first huge hit in the US and reached number one on the US charts.

This dance tune is one of those song that helped inspire the next decade of dance music — The 80’s!

Good Times (1979) — Chic

Let’s throw in some disco and boogie! 🪩🕺

This song with both disco and R&B elements starts out with a catchy and very recognizable bassline that exists throughout the song. Recognizable because the bassline has been influences by a variety of other songs like Queen’s hit “Another One Bites the Dust”.

I’d say it’s a great classic dance tune to add to the playlist for your next event!

Happy Days (1976) — Pratt & McClain

The theme song to the hit show, Happy Days! Do you remember this show?

Happy Days was one of the most iconic TV shows from the 70’s. If you watched Happy Days, this song would likely bring up memories of watching characters like The Fonz!

With an extremely upbeat, joyful and danceable tune, listening to this theme song never fails to make me smile!

I’m Your Boogie Man (1976) — KC & The Sunshine Band

Here’s a 70’s dance tune by another popular artist from the disco era! The dance tune is energetic and keeps your attention from beginning to end.

Just Remember I Love You (1977) — Firefall

Let’s turn the tone down and switch it up with a love song.

The lyrics are a reassuring and hopeful reminder to someone going through hard times and that things will be okay.

Kodachrome (1973) — Paul Simon

This song taught me what a Kodachrome is. For the longest time, I had no idea what the song was talking about.

What did Paul Simon not want taken away?

Once I found out the name of the song, it started to make sense. But I still had one question. What was a Kodachrome?

This song has a mellow yet upbeat tune to it. As the song goes on, while it remains mellow, the tempo becomes more fast paced. By the very last two minutes, it picks up to a quick energetic pace.

A Kodachrome is a color reversal film by the camera and film company, Kodak. It was discontinued in 2002.

Just goes to show that different aspects of pop culture are hidden throughout many songs!

Ladies Night (1979) Kool & the Gang

Kool & the Gang was a fun R&B and funk band to listen to from the 70’s. The song starts out with a slow and steady bass line before soon breaking out into an upbeat and steady dance tune.

This dance tune centers around the Ladies Night promotions that bars and clubs have tailored for women.

Midnight Rider (1970) — The Allman Brothers Band

This classic rock song is one of The Allman Brothers Band’s most well known tunes.

This mellow rock song gives off low key easy going vibes and is very calm yet motivational to listen to.

Nothing From Nothing (1974) — Billy Preston

This is such a fun song right from the start. The insanely fun intro grasps your attention and holds it for the remainder of the song. With a fast paced and energetic piano tune throughout, this song is perfect to sing along to!

One of These Nights (1975)— The Eagles

Here’s a smooth and steady moving song by the Eagles. It’s relaxing enough to chill out to yet has an upbeat rock tempo to it at the same time. I like how the song has a few highs and lows throughout.

Piano Man (1973)— Billy Joel

For a song about a piano man, there’s sure a lot of harmonica playing! Okay. This has to be one, if not, the one song he is most known for. This is one of those songs that tells a story about one’s life from one song verse to the next. As the song progresses, the tempo grows more intense by the final verse. I can’t help but to find myself singing along to this song!

Queen of Clubs (1974) — KC & The Sunshine Band

Here is another disco dance tune from KC & the Sunshine Band. Compared to their other hit songs like the previous song I mentioned for the letter I: “I’m Your Boogie Man” (1976) as well as “That’s the Way I Like It”(1975), this is one of their more lesser known songs.

Quite honestly, this is the first time I’ve heard this song as it kind of went under my radar as their more popular songs overshadowed it.

I like it! It has a blend of funk and disco rhythm.

While this song reached number 66 on the U.S. charts, it reached an impressive number 7 on the U.K. charts.

Rock On (1973)— David Essex

This song is vastly unique compared to other songs of the 70’s decade. It just has an extremely unique feel to it thanks to it’s slow yet attractive bass track. The song starts off first thing with the bass and remains very much existent throughout the song until the end. What a great song to rock out on!

Sundown (1974) — Gordon Lightfoot

While this song is easy going and upbeat at first glance, the lyrics are filled with worry, paranoia, and second guesses throughout the song. Specifically the kind of worries that might surface in a relationship.

According to Song Facts, Gordon Lightfoot was inspired to write this song about his rocky relationship with a past love, Cathy Smith.

The Things We Do For Love (1976) — 10cc

The intro starts out steady but wastes no time as it picks up the pace into an upbeat and joyful sounding tempo.

This joyful sounding carefree love song proves to be a different kind of love song. It mentions not just the happiness one feels with love but reaching compromise and the things one might do for love. This is one of those joyful yet still realistic down to earth kind of love songs.

Use Me (1972) — Bill Withers

This song has a rhythm and blues sound with some elements of soul mixed into it. It’s another easygoing song with a little bit of a hard edge around it.

Vehicle (1970) Ides of March

One of my favorite things about doing these playlists is that sometimes I rediscover a song I’ve heard before but had no idea what the song title was or even the music artist or band.

That is the case with this song. I’ve heard this song before places, liked it, but couldn’t tell you what it was called!

If you like Motown, R&B, or artists like The Temptations or similar music artists, you might enjoy this song.

Introduced by a catchy horn section, it has a smooth upbeat tune right from the start.

It reached number 2 on the U.S. charts and number 31 on the U.K. charts.

Wild World (1970) — Cat Stevens

This love song is filled with sentimental and emotions. To me, it feels like a farewell song of sorts. In the song, the person is wishing the very best for someone, a love, as they move on in life and even offers life advice.

The song is steady and has a lighthearted yet emotional feel throughout. It’s one of those songs where the lyrics especially just pull you in.

Xanadu (1977) — Rush

As always, X has to be the most elusive letter when it come to song titles and well, just about anything in general.

Not to be confused with the song “Xanadu” by Olivia Newton — John from the musical of the same name.

The average song lasts about three to four minutes. With that in mind, this song has a running time of just over eleven minutes. If the length of the song wasn’t enough, the intro to the song has an insanely long instrumental intro — one of the longest ever recorded. Half of the song is just instrumental.

This song has a soothing tone to it with some classic hard rock elements. I seriously don’t mind listening to the five minutes of instrumentals. When the lyrics do finally come on, they also reflect 70’s classic hard rock elements.

You Should Be Dancing (1976) — The Bee Gees

Let’s help wrap the final few songs of the list with more disco. 🕺🪩

Featured in the movie, Saturday Night Fever, this song starts out steady before blasting out into a fun and energetic dance, disco tune. This disco tune is hard to get out of your head once you hear it. A real earworm. At least for me.

Well to refer to the song title, it’s really hard not to dance to this song!

It hit number 1 on the U.S. charts and reached number 5 on the U.K. charts.

Zagaron (1978) — John Miles

This song is extremely mellow in the beginning but as it goes on, it has slightly heavier rock elements and by the 1:30 mark, it really takes off in pace!

At about five and a half minutes long, this song is fairly long compared to the average song. But not nearly quite as long as the previous song, Xanadu!

I’ve never heard this song until now, and … I like it!

And that concludes my playlist of 70's music for each letter of the alphabet. Hopefully, I sparked some good memories with these songs!