Bradley's Buzz

Top 100 Singles Of The 70's - 85-81

and just like a good shag carpet we just keep bouncing back, today we will look at what I like to call song numbers 85 through 81 of our Top 100 Singles Of The 70's - According to yours truly, so let's hit the discoteque dance floor and boogie on down shall we?


#85 – Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston
(Gamble/Huff/Gelbert)
Motown single #54278 US / Tamla single #1060 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 12/18/1976 #1/ UK 02/05/1977 #13
My pal Brian would kick me in the knitter if I didn’t include this song, Thelma’s little disco beats were often on our stereo repeatedly while waiting to go drinking when Brian and I were roomies and for some reason I bet he still pumps this one out before heading out in the Seattle night for some gin. But Brian isn’t the only one who is transfixed by this little ditty, and actually calling it ‘a little ditty’ may be putting it too lightly for if you ever listened to this song on the headphones with the bass up just right you’ll quickly realize all the little textures in “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” Starting off with ballady strings and Thelma’s cooing for her man not to leave her, the kick ass bassline quickly jumps in and so does Thelma’s ecstatic rendering, “baby, my heart is full of love and desire for you/ so come on now do what you gotta do/ satisfy the need in me…” as the song goes back to hit the formula once more before the bass really takes over and Thelma is breathing sexual desire all over the dance floor.

#84 – So Far Away – Carole King
(Carole King)
Ode single #66019 US / A&M single #867
Chart Debut: US Pop 08/28/1971 #14
A third single from what was at that point the biggest selling album Tapestry, Carole King took all she dished out in the Brill Building in the 60’s and took over the piano and lead vocals to create a whirlwind of singer/songwriter pain and attitude on her 1971 album. “So Far Away” didn’t have the bounce of “I Feel The Earth Move” or “It’s Too Late” but the scratchy yearning voice of King in this single has more punch than any hard hitting lyric. “You’re so far away/ doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore?” she wonders aloud and powerfully, “it would be so good to see your face at my door.” Being someone who has headed out on the highway many a times and is very far away from home, the sentiment perhaps speaks to me more so than others, but anyone with an ear can hear a great pop song when it’s played.

#83 – Changes – David Bowie
(David Bowie)
RCA Victor single #605 US / #2160 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 04/17/1972 #66
What can you really say about a staple in a career of staples? I can try to tell you how the song begins with a simple piano line, a quiet little “oh yeah”, a sax and a pumping drum before it all falls away to a piano and David’s theatrical voice charging in, and the whole thing switches again into Ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strange/ time may change me/ but I can’t waste time… and the sax comes in again. I could tell you that. I could also tell you that "Changes" is the perfect combination of both David’s Ziggy theatrics and his harder glam rock stance, the whole thing was a lead off for the Hunky Dory album and showed the world what would become just one of David Bowie’s many ch-ch-ch-changes.

#82 – Renegade – Styx
(Tommy Shaw)
A&M single #2110 US / #7446 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 03/17/1979 #16
I love a song that starts out with an acapella rendering of what will come only to then break into a hard rocking little jaunt and then complete it with a breakdown and some awesome banging drums, and you throw in a storyline about a convict on the run pleading to his Mama, well, hello this is Prison Break on vinyl. “Oh Mama I’m in fear of my life from the long arm of the law/ oh mama I can hear you a cryin’/ you’re so scared and all alone/ hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don’t have very long..” A giant yelp and music kicks in, “the jig is up/ they're moving in/ they've finally found me” I have always loved this song and that cutie patutie that used to be Tommy Shaw who just never seemed to fit in with the rest of the band yet wrote two of the best songs Styx had ever done (this one and 1980’s “Too Much Time On My Hands”). Truth be told, I wanted to put this song on this list when I came up with the idea but then thought that it may not fit in right, then re-thought it and realized I loved it, and then re-thought it again only for it to pop up on an episode of Supernatural last Thursday and if those hottie Winchester boys like it, well then you know it’s good. I mean the guitar solo, the keyboards and syths chiming and almost belting you before dropping out for a full voice choir for a repeat of the chorus with only a drum pound and a cymbal going. It’s really a lot of fun if nothing else. Really did you expect me to talk so much about Styx?

#86 – Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) – Melanie
(Melanie)
Buddah single #167 US / #2011013 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 04/25/1970 #6
While going through a bunch of old 70’s music a few months ago I discovered a brand new muse, new to me anyway. Melanie who I knew for a few singles including this single had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and has now become my newest fetish. I have found almost every single thing she has ever done and she continue dumbfounds me. A slightly strange voice full of hope and bitterness and 70’s folk, Melanie is probably one of the least likely people to have ever scored a record contract let alone a few hits, but once you hear her you are transfixed. Of course what made her a big star was the fact she played Woodstock in ’69 and the whole experience is what led her to write and record this single. “We were so close there was no room/ we bled inside each others wounds/ we all caught the same disease/ we all sang the songs of peace/ so came to sing/ some came to pray/ some came to keep the dark away..” and then the Edwin Hawkins Choir Singers kick in with a little back up “…so raise your candles high/ cuz if you don't we could stay black against the sky/ and raise them high again/ and if you do we could stay dry against the rain/ lay down/ lay down…” The song is still very uplifting all these years ago almost transferring you back to that time and that particular day of peace and love. A little trivia to note, when Melanie wrote it she had the idea of a choir singing on it and she approached this Mr. Edwin Hawkins who didn’t want his choir anywhere near it, but as they were cool kids they went ahead and recorded it with Melanie anyway, and there is a full 6 and ½ minute version that eventually ended up on a Melanie compilation a few years ago, and if you’re in the mood to head over and find yourself a Melanie compilation when you hear “Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)” and another great gem, “What Have They Done To My Song Ma?” you will know exactly why I have come to love this hippy chick so.

I'm getting so excited listening to all of these songs that I may just be inclined to stop back later and give you the next five, but don't get your bell bottoms wrapped up in your wedgies too quickly, because I do have to work too you know... but until we meet again.... keep those candles held high cuz if you do we can stay dry against the rain... oh wait, I'm in LA, it doesn't rain, right?

posted by swivek @ 12:02 AM