1970's Top Ten Billboard Picks

1970: Cracklin' Rosie by Neil Diamond

Why? Who doesn't love that low, raspy, sexy voice??? Wishing I was Rosie after all these years. Play it now, my baby :)

But Did You Know:

According to Charles Mcintire, a contributor from GENIUS, "Cracklin' Rosie" is a bottle of wine. Diamond got the idea for the song from a folk story of an Indian tribe in Northern Canada who had more men than women. He told David Wild at Rolling Stone: “On Saturday nights when they go out, the guys all get their girl; the guys without girls get a bottle of Cracklin' Rosie, that’s their girl for the weekend.

1971: Maggie May by Rod Stewart

Why? Another raspy voice, but this one is broken and vulnerable...and the mandarin is singing to me, too

But Did You Know:

According to Wikipedia, "Maggie May" (or "Maggie Mae") (Roud 1757) is a traditional Liverpool folk song about a prostitute who robbed a "homeward bounder": a sailor coming home from a round trip.

1972: Oh, Girl by the Chi Lites

Why? pleading his love, the purest kind of love...surrendering it all and fearing that she'll leave.

But Did You Know:

"Oh Girl" was the Chi-Lites' first and only No. 1 single, but became a hit again later when on the flip side, "Have You Seen Her," was added. Information per Wikipedia. (That song was one of my favorites, too.)

1973: Angie by the Rolling Stones

Why? If it's the least bit raspy, I want it! He makes me feel the love and the sadness...even the piano cries

But Did You Know:

Who was the Angie he wrote about? That's not really clear. In fact, there have been articles written about the many theories about just that, like in MUSIC July 24, 2018's

https://groovyhistory.com/story-angie-rolling-stones

1974: Bennie and the Jets by Elton John

Why? He takes you to another place altogether and it's magical and a little bit crazy and I kinda like it that way. What a rhythm maker

But Did You Know:

"Bennie" is a female character who Elton has described as a "sci-fi rock goddess." Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics, told Esquire, "'Bennie And The Jets' was almost Orwellian - it was supposed to be futuristic. They were supposed to be a prototypical female rock 'n' roll band out of science fiction. Automatons." (per Songfacts)

It was Elton's idea to stutter the vocal: "B-B-B-Bennie..." Bernie Taupin thought this worked very well with the futuristic, robotic theme of his lyrics. Said Taupin: "That's a little quirk of the song which I'm sad to say I had nothing to do with. That and that wonderful big chord at the beginning. I think those two things are what probably made that song so popular. Neither of which I had anything to do with." (also per Songfacts)

1975: My Eyes Adored You by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Why? Every woman secretly wants to be adored and remembered...he sings it so sweetly

But Did You Know:

According to a July 2019 article in Stereogum,

" The label (Motown) never released the song; it sat on the shelf for a year and a half. In 1973, the Four Seasons’ Motown contract was up. But Valli, Crewe, and Gaudio knew they had something with “My Eyes Adored You,” so they paid the label $4000 for the rights to the song.

Every big label, clearly and understandably not anticipating the American public’s appetite for drippy ballads sung by early-’60s pop relics, passed on “My Eyes Adored You.” Finally, the former Bell Records exec Larry Utall, who’d just started his own short-lived Private Stock label, agreed to release it. Lo and behold, the song hit huge and revived both Valli’s career and those of the Four Seasons."

1976: Kiss and Say Goodbye by the Manhattans

Why? If there is someone you loved and said goodbye to, this takes you there...remember the kiss

But Did You Know:

After 10 years of lower charting singles, the 1976 hit "Kiss and Say Goodbye" was the group's biggest hit to date and led to a performance at Jimmy Carter's 1977 inaugural. (last.fm Biography)

1977: Dancing Queen by Abba

Why? Every girl wants to be "that" dancer and wants to be young forever in her heart. Every girl should get that chance!

But Did You Know:

According to GENIUS, Originally titled “Boogaloo,” the song was brought by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson to Glen Studios in Stockholm... In this studio was where the then-new composition eventually became what it is now. It was reported that when Andersson first played for bandmate Frida Lyngstad the backing track for this song, she began to cry, and that was before me and Agnetha had even sung on it! I knew it was absolutely the best song ABBA had ever done. Lead vocalist Agnetha Faltskog added, It’s often difficult to know what will be a hit. The exception was “Dancing Queen.” We all knew it was going to be massive.

“Dancing Queen” became ABBA’s only #1 song in the US.

1978: Three Times A Lady by the Commodores

Why? Ultimate respect and validation...even until the end. Ladies, know your worth!

But Did You Know:

GENIUS reports, The song was written by Lionel Richie after being inspired by a comment his father said to his mother. According to an interview Lionel did with Blues & Soul Magazine in 1979:

"I wrote it back in 1978 and it was a very personal meaning to me. I attended the wedding anniversary of my parents and my father made a speech about how much he loved my mother and appreciated the way she had stood beside him for 37 years. It was beautiful and I started to think about my own life and how my wife stands by me, how she does so many things without being asked or thanked. So, I wrote ‘Three Times A Lady’ as a dedication to my wife and my mother. I think my next door neighbor summed it up when she said that if a man wanted to buy her a present, all he need do is buy her that record and he wouldn’t have to say anything else."

1979: Sad Eyes by Robert John

Why? If you've ever been heartbroken, then you know you've had those sad eyes...but in time, the heart mends, though. Love the high male voice.

But Did You Know:

According to last.fm, Robert John, (born Robert John Pedrick, Jr. in 1946 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American singer/songwriter. He is best remembered for the 1979 song "Sad Eyes". This song, which features John's falsetto vocals, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 that summer.

In addition, John had a #3 hit in 1972 with his version of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.