![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penpusherJoy – Apollo 100 Featuring Tom Parker: Let’s hear it for Bach! This classic (and classical) instrumental work based on “Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring,” gave radio listeners a bit of culture in between the usual pop fare. This proves that good music can survive even the deepest cultural abyss.
One Less Bell To Answer – The 5th Dimension: The most beautiful codependent song you will ever hear, the singer tries to make sense of a lover’s departure and of the mess left behind (“though I try to forget/it just can’t be done/each time the doorbell rings/I still run”). It’s Vikki Carr, only a bit more grounded.
Everything Is Beautiful – Ray Stevens: Ray plays it straight here, backed by a children’s chorus, a gospel choir and some genuine feelings and meanings (“there is none so blind/as he who will not see/we must not close our minds/we must let our thoughts be free”). It’s almost impossible to recognize this singer as the one who performed “Misty.”
If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot: It’s the scenic-route tour to a split. The singer takes us through movies and books, but it only delays the ultimate message (“the feeling’s gone/and I just can’t get it back”). Even Gene McDaniels pretended to break up with more authority than this.
One Bad Apple – The Osmonds: The third in the Teen Idol Triumvirate is Donny Osmond. His vocal here is almost a throwback to the simplicity of the early Beatles (“one bad apple/don’t spoil the whole bunch, girl”). Don’t give up. Keep trying for your love!
Corner Of The Sky – John Rubinstein: From Broadway’s “Pippin,” this song is about finding a belonging place (“I’ve got to be/where my spirit can run free”). At once, both urgent and touching, it’s a great anthem for young people reaching their formative teen years…like the Space-Agers.
Sideshow – Blue Magic: Talk about freaks! This is the biggest collection of losers since the 1962 Mets (“see the girl/who has lost/the only love/she ever had”). Should we pity or ridicule this bunch of sad sacks? Or, perhaps we should wallow in our own despair, just like them?
Cracklin’ Rosie – Neil Diamond: This is a happy-go-lucky song, until you realize Rosie isn’t a girl. “Cracklin’ Rosie” is actually Crackling Rosé, a very cheap wine (“you’re a store-bought woman/but you make me sing/like a guitar hummin’”). The singer is an alcoholic, riding the rails and possibly homeless. Have fun!
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – The Hollies: One of only a handful of pop songs about helping out your fellow man, the message is methodical. But, the meaning is lost in accidental self-parody (“no burden is he to bear/we’ll get there/for I know/he would not encumber me”).
Could It Be I’m Falling In Love – The Spinners: Another instruction manual for how to become infatuated (“I’ve begun to feel so strange/every time I speak your name”). There is a mutual attraction (a rare and positive sign) and all of the usual expected stuff you find with a love song. In this case, though, at least we have a great beat to go with it.
Feelings – Morris Albert: The ultimate joke song of the 70’s. Even Carol Burnett aped the over-the-top emotionalism offered here when her “Family Spot” character Eunice sang it on “The Gong Show.” Morris was a native of Brasil, so his lyric is unique: (“I wish I’ve never met you girl/you’ll never come again”). In the end, when you look at all of the songs of this era that encouraged stalking and obsession, maybe this wasn’t the worst.
Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass: We aren’t told exactly when and where this story takes place, but the hint is Barbary Coast, circa late 1800’s. A serving wench, working a bar for hundreds of men a night, saves her heart for the one guy who can’t tear himself away from his job (“my life my love and my lady/is the sea”). Unrequited love isn’t as bad as obsession, but it’s still not healthy.
The Long And Winding Road – The Beatles: One last hurrah for the Lads from Liverpool and one thing’s for sure: it’s emotional (“many times I’ve been alone/and many times I’ve cried/anyway you’ll never know/the many ways I’ve tried”). The heavily produced piece, with its choir soaring to the sky, hits you like a blunt object to the back of your head. Was this Paul’s final statement to John?
One Less Bell To Answer – The 5th Dimension: The most beautiful codependent song you will ever hear, the singer tries to make sense of a lover’s departure and of the mess left behind (“though I try to forget/it just can’t be done/each time the doorbell rings/I still run”). It’s Vikki Carr, only a bit more grounded.
Everything Is Beautiful – Ray Stevens: Ray plays it straight here, backed by a children’s chorus, a gospel choir and some genuine feelings and meanings (“there is none so blind/as he who will not see/we must not close our minds/we must let our thoughts be free”). It’s almost impossible to recognize this singer as the one who performed “Misty.”
If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot: It’s the scenic-route tour to a split. The singer takes us through movies and books, but it only delays the ultimate message (“the feeling’s gone/and I just can’t get it back”). Even Gene McDaniels pretended to break up with more authority than this.
One Bad Apple – The Osmonds: The third in the Teen Idol Triumvirate is Donny Osmond. His vocal here is almost a throwback to the simplicity of the early Beatles (“one bad apple/don’t spoil the whole bunch, girl”). Don’t give up. Keep trying for your love!
Corner Of The Sky – John Rubinstein: From Broadway’s “Pippin,” this song is about finding a belonging place (“I’ve got to be/where my spirit can run free”). At once, both urgent and touching, it’s a great anthem for young people reaching their formative teen years…like the Space-Agers.
Sideshow – Blue Magic: Talk about freaks! This is the biggest collection of losers since the 1962 Mets (“see the girl/who has lost/the only love/she ever had”). Should we pity or ridicule this bunch of sad sacks? Or, perhaps we should wallow in our own despair, just like them?
Cracklin’ Rosie – Neil Diamond: This is a happy-go-lucky song, until you realize Rosie isn’t a girl. “Cracklin’ Rosie” is actually Crackling Rosé, a very cheap wine (“you’re a store-bought woman/but you make me sing/like a guitar hummin’”). The singer is an alcoholic, riding the rails and possibly homeless. Have fun!
He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – The Hollies: One of only a handful of pop songs about helping out your fellow man, the message is methodical. But, the meaning is lost in accidental self-parody (“no burden is he to bear/we’ll get there/for I know/he would not encumber me”).
Could It Be I’m Falling In Love – The Spinners: Another instruction manual for how to become infatuated (“I’ve begun to feel so strange/every time I speak your name”). There is a mutual attraction (a rare and positive sign) and all of the usual expected stuff you find with a love song. In this case, though, at least we have a great beat to go with it.
Feelings – Morris Albert: The ultimate joke song of the 70’s. Even Carol Burnett aped the over-the-top emotionalism offered here when her “Family Spot” character Eunice sang it on “The Gong Show.” Morris was a native of Brasil, so his lyric is unique: (“I wish I’ve never met you girl/you’ll never come again”). In the end, when you look at all of the songs of this era that encouraged stalking and obsession, maybe this wasn’t the worst.
Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass: We aren’t told exactly when and where this story takes place, but the hint is Barbary Coast, circa late 1800’s. A serving wench, working a bar for hundreds of men a night, saves her heart for the one guy who can’t tear himself away from his job (“my life my love and my lady/is the sea”). Unrequited love isn’t as bad as obsession, but it’s still not healthy.
The Long And Winding Road – The Beatles: One last hurrah for the Lads from Liverpool and one thing’s for sure: it’s emotional (“many times I’ve been alone/and many times I’ve cried/anyway you’ll never know/the many ways I’ve tried”). The heavily produced piece, with its choir soaring to the sky, hits you like a blunt object to the back of your head. Was this Paul’s final statement to John?