70s Music-Songs from 1975

Where were you in 1975?

I turned 13 in late 1975. At thirteen, most teenagers are very interested in the music around them. I was no exception. My radio was always on.

For me, 1975 is when I began to listen less to my Daddy's old country music and more of my own. Admittedly, some of that had to do with a boy down the street that I was beginning to take an interest in. He introduced me to the Bee Gees and "Jive Talkin'". "Jive Talkin'" would become my first 45 rpm vinyld record that I ever bought. I still own it today, over 30 years later.

I wanted to share with you the number one hits for 1975 according to Billboard. I have added bits of trivia that I've either researched online or are fond memories of my own. I hope you enjoy them.

• Angie Baby - Helen Reddy

This is one of my all-time favorite hits by Helen Reddy. My favorite line is "it's so nice to be insane, no one asks you to explain". There is an interesting video for this song that I have included to the right.

• Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John

I've always wondered what the heck this song meant. It appears I was not alone. According to Wikipedia, Lucy O'Donnell was one of Julian Lennon's classmates that he drew a picture of and showed his father John Lennon. John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the song inspired by this drawing.

• Mandy - Barry Manilow

This was the start of a string of hits for him. Not necessarily one of my favorites, but umistakeably Barry Manilow. Have you ever noticed that even the word "Manilow" is so mellow? Pincus was his real last name. I think I like Manilow better too.

• Please Mr. Postman - The Carpenters

Some Karen Carpenter trivia found on Wikipedia: She dated some rather well-known men including Tony Danza, Steve Martin and Alan Osmond. In Playboy magazine's annual opinion poll in 1975, its readers voted Karen Carpenter as the Best Rock Drummer of the year.

• Laughter In The Rain - Neil Sedaka

This is one of those songs that leaves people arguing about whether it's a man or a woman who sings it. It's the beautiful voice of Neil Sedaka. In 1975 Neil Sedaka was the opening act for The Carpenters World Tour. 1975 was also Neil's most successful year.

• Fire - Ohio Players

They were originally known as the Ohio Untouchables. I just love the grunts in this song. Have you noticed it is now being used as the theme to Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" on FOX?

• You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt

Born Maria Linda Ronstadt, she was once known as the "Queen of Rock" and the highest paid woman in rock. She was also voted the Top Female Pop Singer of the 70s. What happened to her? It appears that her autobiography, to be titled Simple Dreams - A Musical Memoir, is scheduled to be released on September 17, 2013.

• Pick Up The Pieces - Average White Band

The Average White Band, a Scottish funk band, amazingly is still together and touring!

• Best Of My Love - Eagles

Here's a bit of Texas trivia for you regarding the Eagles. The American Airlines center in Dallas holds the record for largest ribbon cutting ceremony ever (7/27/01) according to the Guinness Book of Records. The first event at the American Airlines center occurred the next day (7/28/01) with an Eagles concert.

• Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John's sister Rona, also an actress, was once married to Grease co-star Jeff Conaway.

• Black Water - The Doobie Brothers

This song's most memorable refrain is, "I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty mama come and take me by the hand"

• My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli

My favorite line: "you were 5^th grade, I was 6^th, when we came to be"

• Lady Marmalade-LaBelle

I only recently (in the last year or two) learned what it is they are saying in this song! Makes the song even more fun now. "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir" means "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?" in French. The 2001 remake by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink won each of them a Grammy after being a #1 hit for 5 weeks. It was released on the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack.

• Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton

Minnie's squeal in this song is ear-piercing. She developed breast cancer and passed away in 1979 in her husband's arms while listening to a song Stevie Wonder made for her.

• . Philadelphia Freedom - The Elton John Band

The song was written by co-written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin as a favor to Elton's friend, tennis star Billie Jean King. She was part of the Philadelphia Freedoms tennis team.

• (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B. J. Thomas

I've always loved BJ's voice.BJ stands for BIlly Joe and even though he was born in Oklahoma he was raised in Texas. The Muppets performed this song in 1976 on The Muppet Show. See the video to the right.

• He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando and Dawn

Thelma Hopkins of Dawn went on to have a wonderful career in acting on such shows as: Bosom Buddies (with Tom Hanks and Peter Scolera), Gimme a Break, Family Matters, and Half and Half.

• Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire

The inspiration for "Shining Star" came during a nightly walk by a band member during their recording of "That's the Way of the World". He was looking at the starry sky and became inspired. He shared his concepts for the song with the other band members and a hit was born.

• Before The Next Teardrop Falls - Freddy Fender

Another voice I just love! This is one of those songs where the artist sounds like he really means what's he saying. I love that. See a live version of this song to the right.

• Thank God I'm A Country Boy - John Denver

John Denver was born as Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. in Roswell, New Mexico but grew up in Texas.

• Sister Golden Hair - America

The song is about a man having a tough time working up the courage to marry his girlfriend. He is experiencing a lot of self-doubt. He makes a proposal that she "meet him half-way" Some took that to mean that he just wanted to live together as opposed to getting married. This concept was criticized in conservative circles but very popular with the younger generation.

• Love Will Keep Us Together - The Captain & Tennille

This song, by Daryl Dragon and his wife Toni went on to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

• Listen To What The Man Said - Paul McCartney & Wings

Wings is accredited with 12 top-10 singles in the United Kingdom and 14 top-10 singles in the United States. Six of those in the US were #1s.

• The Hustle - Van McCoy/The Soul City Symphony

I never quite learned all of the steps to this song. I was too young to get into discos at this point. The Hustle won the Grammy Award for "Best Pop Instrumental Performance".

• One Of These Nights - The Eagles

The song has been cited by Frey as his all-time favorite Eagles song. It's one of my favorites as well.

• Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees

I've already revealed my connection to this song. Check out The Bee Gees 1975 appearance on the Mike Douglas Show singing it live. Another interesting piece of trivia is that Barry Gibb has shared that the rhythm you hear at the beginning of the song was inspired by the sound of a vehicle crossing a bridge.

• Fallin' In Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

I was always confused about who all these names are. Now, I know. The band was comprised of Dan Hamilton on guitar and lead vocals, Joe Frank Carollo on bass and vocals, and Tommy Reynolds on multiple instruments and vocals. All of them had previously played in The T-Bones, a 1960s band noted for the instrumental hit "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)".

• Get Down Tonight - KC and the Sunshine Band

Perhaps you've read my hub discovering that the philtrum is what I consider the sexiest part of a person's body. You'll then realize why I like Harry Casey (KC) of KC and the Sunshine Band.

• Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell

I remember standing outside a college gymnasium with a group of friends belting out the lyrics to this song while we waited to enter the gym with our projects for the Science Fair. My project was about the affects of different elements on the growth of bean sprouts. Yeah, I didn't win.

• Fame - David Bowie

David Bowie's birth name is David Robert Hayward-Jones. "Fame" was co-written by John Lennon. Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, what's your name, what's your name, what's your name?

• I'm Sorry - John Denver

This was John Denver's final #1 hit. This song was one of only six songs released in 1975 that hit it big on the country and pop charts. The other five were John Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" by Freddy Fender, "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas, "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell, and "Convoy" by C.W. McCall.

• Bad Blood - Neil Sedaka

The backup vocals on this song are none other than Elton John.

• Island Girl - Elton John

I remember my Uncle telling me that that song was about a prostitute. I just fixated on the lyric about her wrapping her legs around you like a well-worn tire. I always thought that was a funny way of putting it. Seems my uncle was correct. According to Wikipedia, the lyrics are indeed about a man who wants to take a prostitute back to Jamaica.

• That's The Way (I Like It) - KC and the Sunshine Band

The song was considered risque because of the obvious implications behind the title as well as its chorus with multiple "uh-huhs". I rather like the Uh huhs. Isn't it funny how that's the part that makes you want to sing along? uh huh, uh huh

• Fly, Robin, Fly - Silver Convention

This is the first song by a German pop group to hit #1 on the American music charts. It also holds the distinction of being "a Billboard chart-topper with one of the fewest numbers of unique words: six." The only words in the song are : fly, robin, up, to the sky. The German group kept it simple because of the difficulty they had with learning English. According to a segment on VH1, it was said that the song's working title was "Run, Rabbit, Run". I found a video from 1975 of them. They are three attractive women who seriously can NOT dance. You love this...take a look.

• Let's Do It Again - The Staple Singers

The family's last name was actually Staples. It's a father and his four children. They were award a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.