The 70's |
Buy |
Listen |
Artist |
Song Title |
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Ambrosia |
Holdin' On To Yesterday |
They would go on to score a pair of Top 10 hits with "How Much I Feel" and "Biggest Part Of Me", but it was their first single in 1975 that captured their sound best. |
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Addrisi Brothers |
Slow Dancin' |
Brothers Dick and Don songwriters first...writing "Never My Love" for The Association. In the late 70's they had a few minor hits, the biggest being "Slow Dancin'". This fits nicely in a mix that would include Seals & Crofts, America and Player. |
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Chi Coltrane |
Thunder And Lightning |
In the vein of Freda Payne and Smith, Chi Coltrane had pipes and a funky, building horn-laden pop gem that went to #17 back in 1972. This would be right at home in a Quentin Tarrantino movie. |
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City Boy |
5.7.0.5. |
A one-hit wonder from 1978. City Boy was an English band in the tradition of Queen and Sweet. Big powerful riffs and multi-layered harmonies were their signature sound. |
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Bram Tchaikovsky |
Girl Of My Dreams |
This 1979 one-hit wonder from England's Bram Tchaikovsky is always cited as one of the 70's best power pop songs. It peaked at #37 that year and is one of the decades best kept secrets. |
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Bunny Sigler |
Let Me Party With You |
This Philly R&B singer just missed the Top 40 in 1978 with his party anthem that was a Soul Train staple that year. It's vibe was taken directly from Marvin Gaye's huge hit "Got To Give It Up" from the previous year. |
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Gary Wright |
Phantom Writer |
Following up his 2 monster hits from the Dream Weaver LP was no easy task. Phantom Writer peaked at only #43, but deserved a better fate. |
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New England |
Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya |
This New York band had a big sound and a decent regional following. These guys were a smarter version of the hair bands that would come in the 80's and give the genre a black eye. |
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Moon Martin |
Rolene |
Moon Martin was know for writing "Bad Case Of Loving You" by Robert Palmer and for Jude Cole being a band member. Rolene was his only Top 40 hit, reaching #30 in 1979. Martin's pop treasure resides somewhere between the Robert Palmer song and Jude Cole's later output. Great pop song. |
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Sanford Townshend Band |
Smoke From A Distant Fire |
This California duo went Top 10 with this soft rock classic in 1977. Their sound was part West Coast country rock and blue-eye Soul. Hearing this on the radio was a breath of fresh air. |
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Sniff N' The Tears |
Driver's Seat |
The Summer of 79 was the year this pop-rock track hit the airwaves...and it still sounds great! |
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Starz |
Cherry Baby |
New York's Starz was a regional success and was able to land several singles on to Billboard's Hot 100 in the mid-late 70's. Their biggest hit was this pop-rock piece of ear candy called 'Cherry Baby". |
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Q |
Dancin' Man |
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania brought us New York Jet quarterback Joe Namath and this 4 piece band called Q. Two of the members were previously in The Jaggerz ("The Rapper"). in 1977 this swingin' shag tune climbed all the way to #23 on the Top 40. |
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Sutherland Brothers & Quiver |
I Don't Want To Love You (But You Got Me Anyway) |
The closest brothers Iain and Gavin got to a Top 40 hit was this song, peaking at #48 in 1973. It's got a nice chorus and sounds sooooo 1973...in a good way. Nice harmonies and a laid back acoustic guitar-driven tune. |
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Instant Funk |
I've Got My Mind Made Up |
These guys used to back up Bunny Sigler (also from Philadelphia) and became a Soul Train sensation in 1979. This would be their only Top 40 hit. |
