Bradley's Buzz

Top 100 Singles Of The 70's - 70-66

#70 - 66

#70 – Hotel California – The Eagles
(Don Henley)
Asylum single #45386 US / #13079 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 02/26/1977 #1 / UK 04/16/1977 #8
The sweet summer sweat of California and the sweet southern California rock of the Eagles, that’s what “Hotel California” is all about. Oh sure it’s about drug abuse and fame and the life of a rock and roller and a ton of other little things under the guise of some pseudo-psychedelic lyrics but in truth it’s the perfect example of all that was the Eagles. The band had hit after hit through out the 70’s using the countrified rock they along with the likes of Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac helped make the 70’s all that more special. “Hotel California” with the moody lyrics, Glenn Frey’s ultimate guitar solo and the whole California sleaze theme makes it the best and probably best known Eagles song. One of the highlights of my life (as I am easily impressed) was seeing in person the giant pink Beverly Hills Hotel from the cover. Like I said, easily impressed.

#69 – Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ – Journey
(Steve Perry)
Columbia single #11036 US / CBS single #7890 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 07/21/1979 #16
I found myself going back to the 70’s of Journey over and over again while coming up with this list. I had somehow forgotten just how good some of the Journey catalog is. “Lights” has that great longing for home theme that I love so much, “Wheels In The Sky” has a great guitar lick and they both have that great Steve Perry over the top vocal that I love so much. But neither of those songs are in the league of “Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’” which has now become my favorite Journey song ever. It’s a rock ballad but it’s not the nice and smooth easy I love you, you love me song, and it’s not the typical I used to love you but you left me song instead it’s actually a bit of a bitch fest. The first verse has our hero pretty much having it out with his girlfriend cause she is lovin’ touchin’ squeezin’ another which has our boy crying but by the second verse the harlot is getting a dose of her own medicine as her man is out lovin’ touchin’ and squeezin’ someone else; “it’s tearing you apart/ every every day/ he’s tearing you apart/ oh girl what can you say/ he’s lovin’ touchin’ squeezin’ another/ not it’s your turn girl to cry…” and then we go into a bunch of “na na na”’s to fade out the song but if you listen you can tell it’s not just a clever way to end the song, I mean the na na na’s couldn’t be replaced by doo doo doo’s because the na na na’s are actually a taunt of sorts, you know like “na na na boo boo you slutty bitch you cheated on me and now he’s cheating on you, how does it feel c***;”: but in a nicer way.

#68 – Love Hurts – Nazareth
(Boudleaux Bryant)
A&M single #1671 US / Mooncrest single #37 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 11/22/1975 #8
Aerosmith’s “Dream On” has been credited as being a blueprint for “Love Hurts”, one of the first few power ballads that started a whole hair band thing in the 80’s. But unlike the original “Dream On”, the Nazareth ditty is actually a cover of an old Everly Brothers song, which kind of makes it a lyrical throw back to those great late 50’s songs that always talked about love in such a sweet innocent and tangible lyric. Of course there’s nothing sweet about “Love Hurts” other than the fact that the lyrics work so well and the added bonus of real live rock guitars, drums and that smoky rock and roll verse push it into 70’s greatness. The song was originally recorded as a B-side but some genius at the record company not only added it to the band’s Hair Of The Dog album, they launched it as a single and it’s been a staple ever since. Every time I play it, I sing along with every single word with some of my favorites, “I know a thing or two/ I learned from you/ I really learned a lot/ I really learned a lot/ love is just a flame/ that burns you when it’s hot” and I get more and more excited as we reach the bridge, “Some fools think of happiness, blissfulness, togetherness/ some fools fool themselves I guess/ they’re not fooling me/ I know it isn’t true/ I know it isn’t true/ love is just a lie/ made to make you blue/ love hurts/ oh, love hurts…” And you know truer words have never been spoken. Should you be inclined for more, Cher does a pretty good version of it and Joan Jett does a kick ass version on her covers album The Hit List.

#67 – More Than A Feeling – Boston
(Tom Scholz)
Epic/CBS single #50266 US / #4658 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 09/18/1976 #5 / UK 01/29/1977 #22
Boston’s first album is one of those albums that seem to thread across all different lines, it seems every decade seems to have still embraced the album. Even now the albums been re-released in a new remastered form and still seems to sell quite well. I think a lot has to do with this single, a 70’s staple if ever there was one “More Than A Feeling” tells the twisted tale of a hero who can’t get that damn woman off his mind, but because of Brad Deph’s impossible to reproduce voice and the push it to the limit music that accompanies it, this is more than just a power rock song. It’s always been very interesting to me that when the demo for the song was made there was only Tom Scholz, in fact he is pretty much still Boston. He recorded the song, he put in all the different musical elements, he mastered it, he did it all, layers upon layers of vocals, guitars, and even drums creating what would later be known as “arena rock”. When “More Than A Feeling” hit in 1976 it was truly one of a kind amidst the throes of disco so it’s no wonder it succeeded then. And because of the great polish, the hooks and that voice, it’s no wonder it’s still played on the radio today.

#66 – Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
(Mercury/Queen)
Elektra single #45226 US / EMI single #2375 UK
Chart Debut: US Pop 02/08/1975 #12 / UK 11/08/1975 #1
I’m not sure what to add to the million and one things that have been said about “Bohemian Rhapsody”. The 70’s were nothing if not full of surprises and Queen certainly provided us with a number of those surprises. Freddie Mercury in his glammed out glory was always something new and each new Queen album would hold new surprises. 1976’s A Night At The Opera is what launched this 7-minute opus into the world. A rampage of guitars, drums, strings, opera impersonations and a whole storyline worthy of a 16th century opera, there isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t try to sing all the words despite not knowing a single one, and the bombastic ending of the song made it a big hit again after being featured in the overly silly Wayne’s World.

and there we have the next batch of 70's singles, stay tuned for our next round where we may see a little less rock balladry and perhaps a little more electronic dance, a child's chorus of rebellion and perhaps even a little band I like to call the best band in the world... until then

posted by swivek @ 1:41 PM