Johnny Fever's Top 25 tracks of the 1970s

voted Silver Springs, a couple here I can't recall but the button has been pushed

johnny take my hand

great pick for your no. 1 -- one of my fav songs ever

'Public Image'

can't recall half of these, should be a good listen!

silver springs

It's got to be "Don't Fear The Reaper", one of the greatest songs ever.

Would've voted for 10cc "I'm Not In Love" over it, though.

Bonnie Tyler? Well, I never.

Trash and Inner City Blues impacted my life the most

Easy vote for BÖC.

Public Image. For the first, and for me ONLY, time. Their finest moment, methinks. And I love Second Edition. But this tune's got more hooks than that entire lp.

Public Image. On the shortlist of the best rock vocals ever.

From those 25, "Trash" (and then BOC or Thelma Houston). We've got a pretty divergent view of the decade. Six songs I don't know.

Oh wow I only know 5 of these! Which is excellent. First impulse is to vote for Dee Dee or Marvin but I think I’ll wait until I listen to the rest.

Forget it I voted Dee Dee! Couldn’t control myself.

Do you have lists from other decades?

Forget it I voted Dee Dee! Couldn’t control myself.

Do you have lists from other decades?

Do you have lists from other decades?

I don't. It took me two months to work through this one last year after the Pitchfork list was posted. I may attempt the 1980s at some point, though.

Here's the other 175, probably half of which would already be different only a year later:

200. "Come Back Darling" - Johnny Osbourne & The Sensations / Come Back Darling (Trojan, 1970)
199. "The Devil" - Hoyt Axton / Country Anthem (Capitol, 1971)
198. "Breaking Up Somebody's Home" - Bette Midler / Bette Midler (Atlantic, 1973)
197. "Alright, Alright, Alright" - Mungo Jerry / Alright, Alright, Alright (45) (Pye, 1973)
196. "Everyday" - Slade / Old New Borrowed and Blue (Polydor, 1974)
195. "Puttin' Game Down" - Luther Ingram / If Loving You Is Wrong I Don't Want to Be Right (45) (Koko, 1972)
194. "Street Life" - Roxy Music / Stranded (Island, 1973)
193. "Funky Bump" - Pino Presti / 1st Round (Atlantic, 1976)
192. "Tight Rope" - Leon Russell / Carney (Shelter, 1972)
191. "Listen to My Brain (Kapounding)" - Andy Arthurs / Listen to My Brain (Kapounding) (45) (EMI, 1977)
190. "Coming on Strong" - Caroline Crawford / My Name Is Caroline (Mercury, 1978)
189. "Anyhow, I Love You" - Guy Clark / Texas Cookin' (RCA Victor, 1976)
188. "Ooh You (Put a Crush on Me)" - The Originals / Game Called Love (Soul/Motown, 1974)
187. "May I?" - Kevin Ayers / Shooting at the Moon (Harvest, 1970)
186. "The Kiss" - Judee Sill / Heart Food (Asylum, 1973)
185. "Time Waits For No One" - Christy Essien / Time Waits For No One (Blackspot, 1978)
184. "Ain't Got Nobody to Give It To" - Howard Tate / Ain't Got Nobody to Give It To (45) (Epic, 1974)
183. "Sweet Music" - Lord Shorty / Sweet Music (Charlie's Records, 1976)
182. "Too Late" - Shoes / Present Tense (Elektra, 1979)
181. "Spacer" - Sheila & B. Devotion / Spacer (45) (Carrere, 1979)
180. "Memories Are Made of This" - The Saints / Eternally Yours (Harvest, 1978)
179. "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" - John Lennon / Walls and Bridges (Apple, 1974)
178. "She Does It Right" - Dr. Feelgood / Down By the Jetty (United Artists, 1975)
177. "The Answer" - Maxayn / Mindful (Capricorn, 1973)
176. "Maybe Some Day You'll Call My Name" - The Edgar Winter Group / Shock Treatment (Epic, 1974)
175. "Are 'Friends' Electric?" - Tubeway Army / Replicas (Beggars Banquet, 1979)
174. "Happiness" - Rudy Love & The Company Soul / Happiness (45) (Canyon, 1970)
173. "Country Boy's Dream" - Jerry Reed / Ko-Ko Joe (RCA Victor, 1971)
172. "Joy" - Isaac Hayes / Joy (Stax, 1973)
171. "Goin' Down" - Harry Nilsson / Knnillssonn (RCA Victor, 1977)
170. "I, I, I" - The Osmonds / Steppin' Out (Mercury, 1979)
169. "I'll Be Your Sister" - Motörhead / Overkill (Bronze, 1979)
168. "Willowman" - The Willow Band / Willowman (45) (Epic, 1976)
167. "What's Love" - Lalomie Washburn / My Music Is Hot (Parachute, 1977)
166. "Cadillac Walk" - Mink DeVille / Cabretta (Capitol, 1977)
165. "No Way Out of Here" - Unicorn / Too Many Crooks (Harvest, 1976)
164. "Cocaine Drain" - The Cowsills / Unreleased Album (No Label, 1978)
163. "Suspect Device" - Stiff Little Fingers / Suspect Device (45) (Rough Trade, 1978)
162. "The World We Live In" - The Politicians / The Politicians Featuring McKinley Jackson (Hot Wax, 1972)
161. "Martha" - Tom Waits / Closing Time (Asylum, 1973)
160. "Drift Away" - Dobie Gray / Drift Away (MCA, 1973)
159. "Sugar Me" - Lynsey De Paul / Sugar Me (45) (MAM, 1972)
158. "A Good Feelin' to Know" - Poco / A Good Feelin' to Know (Epic, 1972)
157. "Hallogallo" - Neu! / Neu! (Brain, 1972)
156. "Tree" - Zulema / Ms. Z (Sussex, 1973)
155. "She" - Charles Aznavour / A Tapestry of Dreams (Barclay, 1974)
154. "Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs" - Charlie Rich / The Fabulous Charlie Rich (Epic, 1970)
153. "I Love the Way You Love" - Betty Wright / I Love the Way You Love (Alston, 1972)
152. "Fair But So Uncool" - Earth, Wind & Fire / Open Our Eyes (Columbia, 1974)
151. "No More Trouble" - The Wailers / Catch a Fire (Island, 1973)
150. "Chicago, Damn" - Bobbi Humphrey / Blacks and Blues (Blue Note, 1974)
149. "Sonic Reducer" - Dead Boys / Young Loud and Snotty (Sire, 1977)
148. "Ohio" - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young / Ohio (45) (Atlantic, 1970)
147. "Shambala" - Three Dog Night / Cyan (ABC/Dunhill, 1973)
146. "Popcorn" - Hot Butter / Popcorn (Musicor, 1972)
145. "Pointy Shoes" - Cowboys International / The Original Sin (Virgin, 1979)
144. "Groovin' on Ya" - The Joneses / The Joneses (Epic, 1977)
143. "All the Way In or All the Way Out" - Bettye Swann / All the Way In or All the Way Out (45) (Atlantic, 1975)
142. "If I Could Only Be Sure" - Nolan Porter / Nolan (ABC/Dunhill, 1972)
141. "Give It Up or Let Me Go" - Bonnie Raitt / Give It Up (Warner Brothers, 1972)
140. "You Take the Dark Out of the Night" - Emitt Rhodes / Emitt Rhodes (ABC/Dunhill, 1970)
139. "It Ain't No Use" - The Meters / Rejuvenation (Reprise, 1974)
138. "I Want to Boogie With You" - Lou Reed / The Bells (Arista, 1979)
137. "Believe in Humanity" - Margie Joseph / Margie (Atlantic, 1975)
136. "Will It Go Round in Circles" - Billy Preston / Music Is My Life (A&M, 1972)
135. "Rhinestone Cowboy" - Glen Campbell / Rhinestone Cowboy (Capitol, 1975)
134. "Message in a Bottle" - The Police / Reggatta De Blanc (A&M, 1979)
133. "Complete Control" - The Clash / Complete Control (45) (CBS, 1977)
132. "Born All Over" - O.V. Wright / A Nickel & A Nail & The Ace Of Spades (Back Beat, 1971)
131. "Magic Mountain" - Eric Burdon & War / Spill the Wine (45) (MGM, 1970)
130. "Strawberry Letter 23" - Shuggie Otis / Freedom Flight (Epic, 1971)
129. "Long Train Runnin'" - The Doobie Brothers / The Captain and Me (Warner Brothers, 1973)
128. "Miss Wonderful" - Wally Tax / Wally Tax (Ariola, 1974)
127. "Come On, Come On" - Cheap Trick / In Color... (Epic, 1977)
126. "Express Yourself" - Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band / Express Yourself (Warner Brothers, 1970)
125. "Daisy Glaze" - Big Star / Radio City (Ardent, 1974)
124. "Boogie Nights" - Heatwave / Too Hot to Handle (Epic, 1976)
123. "Had I Known You Better Then" - Daryl Hall & John Oates / Abandoned Luncheonette (Atlantic, 1973)
122. "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" - Ramones / Ramones (Sire, 1976)
121. "Always There" - Ronnie Laws / Pressure Sensitive (Blue Note, 1975)
120. "You and I" - Black Ivory / Don't Turn Around (Warner Brothers, 1972)
119. "The Grand Tour" - George Jones / The Grand Tour (Epic, 1974)
118. "Saturday Night Special" - Lynyrd Skynyrd / Nuthin' Fancy (MCA, 1975)
117. "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" - Robert Palmer / Secrets (Island, 1979)
116. "Every 1's a Winner" - Hot Chocolate / Every 1's a Winner (Infinity, 1978)
115. "Barracuda" - Heart / Little Queen (Portrait, 1977)
114. "I'll Be Home" - Cass Elliot / Cass Elliot (RCA Victor, 1972)
113. "Fly" - Nick Drake / Bryter Layter (Island, 1970)
112. "Guava Jelly" - Johnny Nash / I Can See Clearly Now (Epic, 1972)
111. "Brass Buttons" - Gram Parsons / Grievous Angel (Reprise, 1974)
110. "I Love Baby" - Ike & Tina Turner / 'Nuff Said (United Artists, 1971)
109. "O How She Dances" - James Luther Dickinson / Dixie Fried (Atlantic, 1972)
108. "Hair of the Dog" - Nazareth / Hair of the Dog (A&M, 1975)
107. "What's Your World" - Leon Ware / Leon Ware (United Artists, 1972)
106. "Back in the Saddle" - Aerosmith / Rocks (Columbia, 1976)
105. "Tired of Waking Up Tired" - The Diodes / Tired of Waking Up Tired (45) (Epic, 1978)
104. "Apple Cider Re-Constitution" - Al Stewart / Modern Times (Janus, 1975)
103. "Come on Feet, Do Your Thing" - Melvin Van Peebles / Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (A&M, 1971)
102. "Something's Comin' Up" - Barry Manilow / Barry Manilow II (Bell, 1974)
101. "Teenage Head" - Flamin' Groovies / Teenage Head (Kama Sutra, 1971)
100. "Solitaire" - Carpenters / Horizon (A&M, 1975)
99. "Main Thing" - Candi Staton / Music Speaks Louder Than Words (Warner Brothers, 1977)
98. "How I Got to Memphis" - Bobby Bare / This Is Bare Country (Mercury, 1970)
97. "Turtles Have Short Legs" - Can / Turtles Have Short Legs (45) (Liberty, 1971)
96. "What Is Hip?" - Tower of Power / Tower of Power (Warner Brothers, 1973)
95. "Listen Love" - Jon Lucien / Mind's Eye (RCA, 1974)
94. "Sloppy (I Saw My Baby Gettin')" - Devo / Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo (Warner Brothers, 1978)
93. "Tennessee's Not the State I'm In" - Joe Ely / Joe Ely (MCA, 1977)
92. "Here Comes My Girl" - Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers / Damn the Torpedoes (MCA, 1979)
91. "Is It Because I'm Black" - Syl Johnson / Is It Because I'm Black (Twinlight, 1970)
90. "(My Baby Does) Good Sculptures" - The Rezillos / (My Baby Does) Good Sculptures (45) (Sire, 1977)
89. "Summer Madness" - Kool & The Gang / Light of Worlds (De-Lite, 1974)
88. "Free" - Deniece Williams / This Is Niecy (Columbia, 1976)
87. "Into the Valley" - Skids / Scared to Dance (Virgin, 1979)
86. "Jailbreak" - AC/DC / Jailbreak (45) (Albert Productions, 1976)
85. "Tears" - Giorgio Moroder / Son of My Father (ABC/Dunhill, 1972)
84. "He's Gonna Step on You Again" - John Kongos / Kongos (RPM, 1971)
83. "Jane" - Jefferson Starship / Freedom at Point Zero (RCA/Grunt, 1979)
82. "The Gambler" - Kenny Rogers / The Gambler (United Artists, 1978)
81. "Time Waits For No One" - The Rolling Stones / It's Only Rock 'N Roll (Atlantic, 1974)
80. "I'm Doin' Fine Now" - New York City / I'm Doin' Fine Now (RCA Victor, 1973)
79. "I'm Not the Loving Kind" - John Cale / Slow Dazzle (Island, 1975)
78. "All La Glory" - The Band / Stage Fright (Capitol, 1970)
77. "What It Comes Down To" - The Isley Brothers / 3+3 (T-Neck, 1973)
76. "Identity" - X-Ray Spex / Germ Free Adolescents (EMI, 1978)
75. "There's a Train Leavin'" - Quincy Jones / I Heard That!! (A&M, 1976)
74. "Green Shirt" - Elvis Costello & The Attractions / Armed Forces (Columbia, 1979)
73. "Rise" - Herb Alpert / Rise (A&M, 1979)
72. "If You Leave Me Now" - Chicago / Chicago X (Columbia, 1976)
71. "The Number One Song in Heaven" - Sparks / No. 1 in Heaven (Elektra, 1979)
70. "Happy Feelin's" - Maze ft. Frankie Beverly / Maze ft. Frankie Beverly (Capitol, 1977)
69. "You're No Good" - Linda Ronstadt / Heart Like a Wheel (Capitol, 1974)
68. "Trouble" - Cat Stevens / Mona Bone Jakon (A&M, 1970)
67. "Mr. D.J. Don't Stop the Music" - Bobby Womack / Roads of Life (Arista, 1979)
66. "Prisencolinensinainciusol" - Adriano Celentano / Nostalrock (Clan Celentano, 1973)
65. "La Grange" - ZZ Top / Tres Hombres (London, 1973)
64. "Deja Vu" - Paulinho Da Costa / Happy People (Pablo Today, 1979)
63. "I Am the Fly" - Wire / Chairs Missing (Harvest, 1978)
62. "Don't Burn Your Bridges" - Susan Cadogan / Hurt So Good (Trojan, 1975)
61. "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding" - Brinsley Schwarz / The New Favorites of Brinsley Schwarz (United Artists, 1974)
60. "I Never Had It So Good" - Paul Williams / Just an Old Fashioned Love Song (A&M, 1971)
59. "The End of the Rainbow" - Richard & Linda Thompson / I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (Island, 1974)
58. "What You Don't Want Me to Be" - Lee Moses / Time and Place (Maple, 1971)
57. "Heaven" - Talking Heads / Fear of Music (Sire, 1979)
56. "Magic Dance" - Su Kramer / Die Zwei Gesichter (Telefunken, 1978)
55. "The Rubberband Man" - The Spinners / Happiness Is Being With the Spinners (Atlantic, 1976)
54. "Cuss the Wind" - Freddie North / Cuss the Wind (Mankind, 1975)
53. "Rock With You" - Michael Jackson / Off the Wall (Epic, 1979)
52. "Yes We Can Can" - The Pointer Sisters / The Pointer Sisters (Blue Thumb, 1973)
51. "War" - Edwin Starr / War & Peace (Motown, 1970)
50. "Love to Love You Baby" - Donna Summer / Love to Love You Baby (Casablanca, 1975)
49. "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" - Van Halen / Van Halen (Warner Brothers, 1978)
48. "Here Comes the Flood" - Robert Fripp & Peter Gabriel / Exposure (EG/Polydor, 1979)
47. "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh" - Bill Withers / +'Justments (Sussex, 1974)
46. "Up the Junction" - Squeeze / Cool For Cats (A&M, 1979)
45. "No Plans For the Future" - Natalie Cole / Natalie (Capitol, 1976)
44. "How Long" - Ace / Five-a-Side (Anchor, 1974)
43. "Long As I Can See the Light" - Creedence Clearwater Revival / Cosmo's Factory (Fantasy, 1970)
42. "Night People" - Allen Toussaint / Motion (Warner Brothers, 1978)
41. "This Is My Quest" - Marva Whitney / This Is My Quest (45) (T-Neck, 1970)
40. "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" - Elton John / Captain Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy (MCA, 1975)
39. "Love and Happiness" - Al Green / I'm Still In Love With You (Hi, 1972)
38. "Song to the Siren" - Tim Buckley / Starsailor (Straight, 1970)
37. "(Oh No! Not) The Beast Day" - Marsha Hunt's 22 / (Oh No! Not) The Beast Day (45) (Vertigo, 1973)
36. "Hanging on the Telephone" - Blondie / Parallel Lines (Chrysalis, 1978)
35. "In the Evening" - Led Zeppelin / In Through the Out Door (Atlantic/Swan Song, 1979)
34. "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" - The Temptations / All Directions (Gordy, 1972)
33. "I Can't Stand the Rain" - Ann Peebles / I Can't Stand the Rain (Hi, 1974)
32. "Wild in the Streets" - Garland Jeffreys / Wild in the Streets (45) (Atlantic, 1973)
31. "They Don't Know" - Kirsty MacColl / They Don't Know (45) (Stiff, 1979)
30. "Hummingbird" - B.B. King / Indianola Mississippi Seeds (ABC, 1970)
29. "I Am...I Said" - Neil Diamond / Stones (UNI, 1971)
28. "Fearless" - Pink Floyd / Meddle (Harvest, 1971)
27. "Baker Street" - Gerry Rafferty / City to City (United Artists, 1978)
26. "Loving Spirit" - The Maytals / From the Roots (Trojan, 1970)

I mean, for starters I don't even have any Sly Stone on there, which is fucking ridic.

this is awesome!

did you... by any chance... do a spotify playlist?

Tight list! Do you have it on spotify to listen to it this morning?

Oh no the beast day!

I love that you have this one in here. First time seeing it in one of these lists.

Here's the spotify list, as complete as I could get it in October of last year: https://open.spotify.com/user/mondosalvo/playlist/3yW1utIafUjtkjwAEvOmC3

Outside of the top 25, I really just narrowed songs down to which sections they should be in (26-50, 51-75, etc.) and then randomized the order in each section. That was the only way I was ever going to be comfortable with what landed at what number.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

i actually know most of these songs. i agree that there is no denying Chrissie Hynde and will get my vote. but i think "Brass In Pocket" is in another universe and one of the best songs ever made.

"knowing me, knowing you"

oh there's a Gamble Huff song? That was easy.

Since it has been the theme this month on this here board. "Dance This Mess Around."

"Brass In Pocket" is in another universe and one of the best songs ever made.

Perhaps it is, but not in the one I live.

To be clear, I do not not like Brass In Pocket, but it's my least favorite among the first 3-4 years' worth of Pretenders singles.

On the Sunday morning sidewalks
wishing Lord that I was stoned
'cause there's something in a Sunday
that makes a body feel alone
and there's nothin' short of dyin'
half as lonesome as the sound
on the sleepin' city sidewalks
Sunday mornin' comin' down

#1!

Threw a vote in for Rock Steady, love that song

make me wanna holler, no question

1. BOC 2. Stevie Wonder

my controversial opinion is that I think "Jolene" as a song is just okay and it annoys me how much people elevate it other country music. I feel this way about Johnny Cash too. Obv nothing against Dolly Parton & her excellent chops.

*over other country music

I voted for "I Wish" even though Stevie has a bunch of 70s tracks I'd rate higher.

Don't Leave Me This Way

sorry but the answer is Young Americans

my controversial opinion is that I think "Jolene" as a song is just okay and it annoys me how much people elevate it other country music. I feel this way about Johnny Cash too. Obv nothing against Dolly Parton & her excellent chops.

You might be on to something, but I've loved that song since I was a wee boy.

I voted for "I Wish" even though Stevie has a bunch of 70s tracks I'd rate higher.

Since I did a one-per-artist thing for the list, narrowing it down to a single Stevie song was difficult. But I never don't want to listen to I Wish all the way through, and it's been like that for years.

Easy. Boulder to Birmingham.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

The right 1-2 punch as far as I'm concerned!

All the songs that received zero votes are still amazing btw.