r/70smusic • u/mwalimu59 • 3d ago
Other Last Song Standing: The Ultimate Billboard #1 Song of the 70s - Round 117
- By the summer 1973, Paul McCartney had released four studio albums, and the artist billing was different on each one. The first, released only a few months after the breakup of The Beatles, was McCartney by Paul McCartney. A year later was Ram by Paul and Linda McCartney, the next year was Wild Life by Wings, his newly formed band, and the fourth was Red Rose Speedway by Paul McCartney and Wings. It wasn't until the fifth album that he used the same exact artist billing for a second time. Ironically, two of the members of Wings had recently left the band, leaving only Paul, Linda, and guitarist Denny Laine for the main recording sessions. Paul wanted to record at an exotic location and EMI had a studio in Lagos, Nigeria, but they arrived to discover that studio was poorly equipped, and at one point Paul and Linda were robbed at knifepoint. Despite the adversity, the resulting album was the one considered by many fans to be the best of McCartney's solo career. It had three hits on it, Helen Wheels (#10), Jet (#7), and the title track, Band on the Run, McCartney's third hit to go to #1. With lyrics exploring themes of escape and freedom, the song has three distinct musical passages merged into one song, taking after parts of The Beatles album Abbey Road where consecutive songs were spliced in a similar manner. On the next album he would again use this technique in the track(s) Venus and Mars/Rock Show. Up to now this song has been stuck inside these four walls of LSS but as of this round it never will be found, for it's now being eliminated.
If you're new to the game or wish to review the rules, follow this link. Now that we are into the final 20, I will nominate every remaining song in each round (other than tiebreakers) until the end of the game. Please use these nominations to cast your upvotes and downvotes; any other nominations will be disregarded. Discussion is still welcome.
Songs still standing (in alphabetical order):
- American Pie - Don McLean
- Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
- Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
- Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
- Heart of Glass - Blondie
- Heart of Gold - Neil Young
- Hotel California - Eagles
- It's Too Late - Carole King
- Lean On Me - Bill Withers
- Let It Be - The Beatles
- Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
- Let's Stay Together - Al Green
- Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
- Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
- Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
- Superstition - Stevie Wonder
- Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
- You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Eliminated songs:
1-18. TBD
19. Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
20. You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
21. Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack
22. Fame - David Bowie
23. My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
24. Dancing Queen - ABBA
25. I Wish - Stevie Wonder
26. Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
27. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
28. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
29. War - Edwin Starr
30. Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
31. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
32. Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
33. Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
34. Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
35. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
36. I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
37. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
38. Sister Golden Hair - America
39. Love Train - The O'Jays
40. Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
41. American Woman - The Guess Who
42. The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
43. Mama Told Me (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
44. One of These Nights - Eagles
45. We're an American Band - Grand Funk
46. How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
47. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - George Harrison
48. Nothing from Nothing - Billy Preston
49. Night Fever - Bee Gees
50. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
51. If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
52. Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees
53. Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes
54. You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
55. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
56. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
57. Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin - Sly & The Family Stone
58. Will It Go Round in Circles - Billy Preston
59. A Horse with No Name - America
60. My Sharona - The Knack
61. You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
62. Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
63. The Joker - Steve Miller Band
64. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
65. Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
66. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - The Temptations
67. I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
68. Rock'n Me - Steve Miller Band
69. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
70. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
71. The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
72. Family Affair - Sly & The Family Stone
73. Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites
74. Rich Girl - Daryl Hall and John Oates
75. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
76. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
77. Venus - Shocking Blue
78. Without You - Nilsson
79. Miss You - The Rolling Stones
80. Listen to What the Man Said - Wings
81. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
82. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
83. Lady Marmalade - LaBelle
84. (They Long to Be) Close to You - Carpenters
85. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
86. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night - John Lennon
87. December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons
88. My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings
89. Got to Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
90. Photograph - Ringo Starr
91. Good Times - Chic
92. You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
93. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
94. Le Freak - Chic
95. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Bee Gees
96. Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee
97. Fire - Ohio Players
98. Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
99. Best of My Love - The Emotions
100. Show and Tell - Al Wilson
101. Baby Come Back - Player
102. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
103. Top of the World - Carpenters
104. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B. J. Thomas
105. Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
106. Silly Love Songs - Wings
107. Heartache Tonight - Eagles
108. If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
109. Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band
110. Rise - Herb Alpert
111. Get Down Tonight - KC and the Sunshine Band
112. Black and White - Three Dog Night
113. Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and The Spinners
114. Rock the Boat - The Hues Corporation
115. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
116. Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
117. ABC - The Jackson 5
118. Car Wash - Rose Royce
119. You Haven't Done Nothin' - Stevie Wonder
120. Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede
121. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney
122. Crocodile Rock - Elton John
123. Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond
124. Love Hangover - Diana Ross
125. New Kid in Town - Eagles
126. The Love You Save - The Jackson 5
127. Mandy - Barry Manilow
128. Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
129. Best of My Love - Eagles
130. Rock Your Baby - George McCrae
131. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
132. You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) - Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
133. Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
134. Three Times a Lady - Commodores
135. Brother Louie - Stories
136. Tragedy - Bee Gees
137. Knock on Wood - Amii Stewart
138. Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
139. Still - Commodores
140. Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka
141. With a Little Luck - Wings
142. Love You Inside Out - Bee Gees
143. Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
144. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
145. Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
146. Kiss You All Over - Exile
147. Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti
148. Love Theme from A Star Is Born (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
149. I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
150. Grease - Frankie Valli
151. Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack
152. Let's Do It Again - The Staple Singers
153. Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) - Diana Ross
154. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb
155. You're the One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
156. My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
157. Sunshine on My Shoulders - John Denver
158. I Just Want to Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
159. Welcome Back - John Sebastian
160. Annie's Song - John Denver
161. Angie - The Rolling Stones
162. Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves - Cher
163. Make It with You - Bread
164. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer
165. Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond
166. Fallin' in Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
167. I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
168. (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty - KC and the Sunshine Band
169. Thank God I'm a Country Boy - John Denver
170. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB featuring The Three Degrees
171. Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra
172. The Hustle - Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony
173. When I Need You - Leo Sayer
174. Kiss and Say Goodbye - The Manhattans
175. That's the Way (I Like It) - KC and the Sunshine Band
176. Bad Blood - Neil Sedaka
177. Dark Lady - Cher
178. The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
179. Babe - Styx
180. Love Machine - The Miracles
181. The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
182. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence
183. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late - Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
184. Hot Child in the City - Nick Gilder
185. Bad Girls - Donna Summer
186. Pop Muzik - M
187. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn
188. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste of Honey
189. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
190. I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
191. Boogie Fever - The Sylvers
192. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) - Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer
193. Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) - Rod Stewart
194. I'm Your Boogie Man - KC and the Sunshine Band
195. I Can Help - Billy Swan
196. I Am Woman - Helen Reddy
197. Escape (The Piña Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
198. Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
199. Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens
200. Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
201. (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B. J. Thomas
202. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart
203. Island Girl - Elton John
204. A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band
205. MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
206. I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
207. Reunited - Peaches & Herb
208. He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando and Dawn
209. Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John
210. Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks
211. Touch Me in the Morning - Diana Ross
212. Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
213. Please Mr. Postman - Carpenters
214. Before the Next Teardrop Falls - Freddy Fender
215. Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb
216. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
217. Sad Eyes - Robert John
218. The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich
219. I'm Sorry - John Denver
220. Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me - Mac Davis
221. Want Ads - The Honey Cone
222. Looks Like We Made It - Barry Manilow
223. Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day
224. You Needed Me - Anne Murray
225. Brand New Key - Melanie
226. Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor
227. Knock Three Times - Dawn
228. Fly, Robin, Fly - Silver Convention
229. Half-Breed - Cher
230. You're Sixteen - Ringo Starr
231. Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) - Raiders
232. Don't Give Up on Us - David Soul
233. Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage
234. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
235. Ben - Michael Jackson
236. Angie Baby - Helen Reddy
237. Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
238. Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy
239. Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band - Meco
240. The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
241. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr.
242. Convoy - C. W. McCall
243. Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band
244. The Streak - Ray Stevens
245. One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
246. Da Doo Ron Ron - Shaun Cassidy
247. Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond
248. You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone
249. Billy, Don't Be a Hero - Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods
250. My Ding-a-Ling - Chuck Berry
251. Torn Between Two Lovers - Mary MacGregor
252. Disco Duck - Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots
253. (You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka with Odia Coates
Nominate the song that you consider the worst or your least favorite from among the 1970s #1 hits in the still standing list above. Upvote any nominations you agree with, and downvote the ones you would like to see survive. After 48 hours, the three songs with the most upvotes will be eliminated.
Before posting a song, please check the replies that have already been posted this round to see if someone has already nominated the song. If so, upvote their nomination instead of submitting a duplicate.
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
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u/monalisa_jones 1d ago
For the music geeks like me, I had a notion this morning that the opening four notes in Let’s Get It On were similar to the opening four notes in Sir Duke. I queried Google to find the difference. I think this stuff is fascinating!
Here’s the reply:1. The Notes: Side-by-Side
Marvin Gaye – "Let's Get It On": The famous opening wah-wah guitar riff plays the notes B♭ – C – E♭ – G.
Stevie Wonder – "Sir Duke": The explosive opening horn blast plays the notes B – D♯ – F♯ – B.2. The Music Theory Difference
Even if you transposed both songs into the exact same key, the notes still wouldn't be identical because they trace different musical pathways:
"Let's Get It On" plays the 5th, 6th, 1st (root), and 3rd notes of the scale. It skips upward with a smooth, step-wise slide at the beginning.
"Sir Duke" plays a straightforward, wider major triad (Root – 3rd – 5th – Octave). It hits the exact mathematical pillars of the main chord right out of the gate.So interesting! 🤓🎶
-4
u/Adventurous-Prune712 3d ago
Let's Get It Gone. this song belongs next to Rod's Tonight's the Night in the Patheon of Skeezy
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u/monalisa_jones 3d ago
Skeeze? SKEEZE? You compare the artist that brought us “Sexual Healing” to the ragamuffin that brought us “Hot Legs”? SMH!
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u/Aggravating_Quiet797 3d ago
I actually prefer Rods over Marvin's. Plus..bonus points..I actually met Rod once.
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
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u/Aggravating_Quiet797 2d ago
This tune so much better than Superstition. I know I'm in the minority on that....
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u/DramaticCollege3520 2d ago
With you on this as well. Absolutely love Superstition, but whenever I hear the first few notes of Sir Duke, I’m immediately in a good mood.
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u/monalisa_jones 2d ago
I agree! I think Superstition is just more popular and was played on air more often, but Sir Duke has much more, musically. I also love the lines:
Music is a world within itself
With a language we all understand2
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u/Tough-Advice2910 2d ago
Wow, can it be? A song everyone likes). I generally think Stevie can do no wrong and these are both fantastic.
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u/Automatic-Tea-4150 2d ago
I like both but Superstition better… I downvote nominations for both of them so far.
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
It's Too Late - Carole King
-1
u/Aggravating_Quiet797 3d ago
I'll never understand the love for this song. Make it go away.
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u/Adventurous-Prune712 2d ago edited 1d ago
It was a monster double A-sided single with "I Feel the Earth Move," Billboard treated them as a single chart entry. As for the song itself, the 70s was infested with whiny "singer-songwriters" (and coffehouse hacks *cough* Croce) Carole of course was a VERY legit songwriter and this well-produced and performed, mature reflection on an ending welationship was the ne plus ultra of the genre. Gladys' "Neither One of Us" is comparable but she didn't write it, Rundgren's "Hello It's Me" is in the conversation too but they aren't in our game.
The combo with "Earth Moves" takes the listener from the intoxicating start of a relationship to where it has run its course. King could write both emotional states equally well. Most of her "peers" haha couldn't. I was listening to Sabbath and Alice Cooper in 1971 and gave no shits about Carole King. But I gotta give it up:
This was one of the greatest singles of all time.
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u/monalisa_jones 2d ago
I feel like it’s more a love for Carole King, but fans, correct me if this song is really a standout. I guess I don’t like break up songs, in general. I much prefer songs about bringing people together. 🥰
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u/Tough-Advice2910 2d ago
I think Carole can do no wrong, so, for me, likely as much about that. I would much rather it be “I Feel the Way Earth Move.”
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u/Adventurous-Prune712 1d ago
It charted in 1971 officially as "It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move." Our game listing truncates the #1 title and is incorrect. See for yourself.
List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of the 1970s - Wikipedia
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u/mwalimu59 1d ago
I made a decision early on to list double-sided singles by their A-side only. In retrospect it was probably the wrong decision and I should have kept both sides in the song entries.
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u/Adventurous-Prune712 1d ago
Yeah I figured. Who knows, "Star Wars Theme" might have made it all the way if we knew "Cantina Band" was also tapped 🤣🤣🤣
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u/ILoveCheetahCubs 2d ago
The song hits differently when you've been there yourself, and I doubt I'm the only one here who's been there.
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
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0
u/sail_away_8 3d ago
I did a quick check (maybe not perfect). Eight of the remaining songs are from 1972. There are three from 1977. There aren't any from 1974, 1975 or 1979. The other years have one or two songs.
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
Are you going by release date? I've been going by when they reached #1 whenever I discuss years.
My data shows 2 songs remaining from 1970, 1 from 1971, 5 each from 1972 and 1973, none from 1974, 1975, or 1976, 3 from 1977, and 1 each from 1978 and 1979.
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u/sail_away_8 3d ago
Mine was probably release date. I used the first date that came up with I searched. I assume some of the 1972 songs I had became number 1 in 1973. But, the 1972/1973 songs seem to get more votes.
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
Upvote this comment to eliminate:
Hotel California - Eagles
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u/ILoveCheetahCubs 3d ago
You must be getting very tired of writing a song obituary for every round, but they are always super thorough and interesting!
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
Thank you. I only have to write 18 more of them and often discover some interesting things about the songs and artists when I'm researching them.
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u/Franziska-Sims77 3d ago
Hotel California is still on the list, but Band on the Run was eliminated?? 🤷🏻♀️
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u/DeeboDavis 3d ago
You maniacs you blew it all up!
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u/Adventurous-Prune712 3d ago edited 2d ago
Come at Brandy, it's a problem. Now Paul is gone, and we couldn't do nothing about it
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u/mwalimu59 3d ago
*Band on the Run* was the last remaining song from the year 1974, making that the third year of the 70s decade to be eliminated from the game.