The Yearly GELT's TOP 1970-1974

1974



Artist of the Year : Abba
Abba became famous in the night following the purring and staid Eurovision Song Contest 1974 where their stage performance was a real slap. Used to symphonic arrangements and a well-balanced style going from odd ballads to crooning songs, the audience saw bursting its home screens a trendy pop band, coming from Sweden  but surprisingly singing in English, forerunning the habit to sing in mother tongue. Abba shaked it up in one go and Waterloo was a worldwide smash hit. The ingredients: refrains easy to memorize, a dancing tempo likely to catch audience over generations and above all two sexy close-fitted vocalists, top-model sized, anyway an amazingly glamorous group that would enjoy for years millions overexcited fans.

 #
 Artist
 Title                                                   
 CT
VIDEO 
 1
Gloria Gaynor
Never Can Say Goodbye
(Clifton Davis)
 
 2 
Abba
Waterloo
(Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus/Stig Anderson)

 
 3
The Jackson Five
Dancing Machine
(Don Fletcher/Hal David/Weldon Dean Parks)

 
 4
Janis Ian
At Seventeen
(Janis Ian)
 
 5
Terry Jacks
Seasons In The Sun
(Jacques Brel/Rod McKuen)
 
 6
Three Degrees
When Will I See Again
(Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff)
 
 7
Elton John
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
(Elton John)

 
 8
Harry Chapin
Cat's In The Cradle
(Harry Chapin)
 
 9
Joni Mitchell
Help Me
(Joni Mitchell)
 
 10
Barry White
Can't Get Enough Of Your Love
(Barry White)
 
 11
George McRae
Rock You Baby
(Harry Wayne Casey/Richard Finch)

 
 12
Carl Douglas
Kung Fu Fighting
(Carl Douglas/Biddu Appaiah)
 
 13
Ringo Starr
You're Sixteen
(Robert Sherman/Richard Sherman,1960)
 
 14
The Hues Corporation
Rock The Boat
(Waldo Holmes)
 
 15
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Alabama
(Ed King/Gary Rossington/Ronnie Van Zant)
 
 16
Billy Preston
Nothing From Nothing
(Billy Preston)
 
 17
Gil Heron-Scott & Brian Jackson
The Bottle
(Gil Heron-Scott)
 
 18
Stevie Wonder
Living For The City
(Stevie Wonder)
 
 19
Labelle
Lady Marmelade
(Bob Crewe/Kenny Nolan)
 
 20
Carole King
Jazzman
(Carole King)
 
 21
Paul McCartney & Wings
Band On The Run
(Paul & Linda McCartney)

 
 22
Golden Earring
Radar Love
(George Kooymans/Barry Hay)

 
 23
Billy Swan
I Can Help
(Billy Swan)
 
 24
Sparks
This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Two Of Us
(Ron Mael)

 
 25
B.T. Express
Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)
(Bill Nichols)
 
 26
Eagles
Already Gone
(Jack Tempchin/Robb Strandlund)
 
 27
Helen Reddy
Angie Baby
(Alan O'Day)
 
 28
Pilot
Magic
(WilliamLyall/David Paton)
 
 29
The O'Jays
For The Love Of Money
(Kenneth Gamble/Leon Huff)
 
 30
Dolly Parton
Jolene
(Dolly Parton)
 
 31
America
Tin Man
(Dewey Bunnell)
 
 32
ZZ Top
La Grange
(Billy Gibbons/Dusty Hill/Frank Beard)
 
 33
Steve Miller Band
The Joker
(Eddie Curtis/Ahmet Ertegün/Steve Miller)
 
 34
Kool & The Gang
Jungle Boogie
(Kool & The Gang/Gene Redd)
 
 35
Abba
Honey Honey
(Benny Andersson/Björn Ulvaeus/Stig Anderson)
 
 36
John Lennon
Whatever Gets You Through The Night
(John Lennon)
 
 37
Roberta Flack
Feel Like MLakin' Love
(Eugene McDaniels)
 
 38
Eddie Kendricks
Boogie Down
(Leonard Caston, Jr./Anita Poree/Frank Wilson)
 
 39
The Doobie Brothers
Black Water
(Patrick Simmons)
 
 40
The Rubettes
Sugar Baby Love
(Wayne Bickerton/Tony Waddington)
 


1973 

Artist of the year : Pink Floyd
 Although originally founded in the blues revival mood of the mid 60's and after years during which it turned to psychedelic rock and ambitious space-influenced sound research, the British band  consisting of since iconic bassist-composer-singer Roger Waters, lead guitarist David Gilmour, keyboardist Rick Wright and drummer Nick Mason, had further specialized in epic instrumental performances like reference records Ummaguma, Atom Heart Mother or Meddle intending for targeted audiences its creativity and outstanding music style before they chose in 1973 to release for the first time since their early tracks an album of different kind supported with singles, Dark Side of The Moon. Thanks to key-song Money Pink Floyd will become popular with a wide teenager audience around the world and to be recognized as one of the very major groups of the decade.

« …. Deepening their music while sharpening their songwriting, Pink Floyd created a complex, luxurious album with infinite space and depth. Partially helped by the single "Money," it was an immediate success, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard charts and peaking at number 2 in the U.K., but what was striking was its longevity. Dark Side Of The Moon found space on the Billboard charts and then it just stayed there, week after week for years -- a total of 741 weeks in all (once it finally dropped off the charts, Billboard began the Catalog charts, where Dark Side was a fixture as well). Dark Side Of The Moon was a staple on classic rock radio but it also was a rite of passage, an album passed down to teenagers when they were turning to serious music, and it was an album that stayed with listeners as they aged…. » Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Allmusic.com

 #
 Artist
 Title                                                   
 CT
VIDEO 
 1
Pink Floyd

Money
(Roger Waters)

 
Deep Purple
Smoke On The Water
(Ritchie Blackmore/Ian Gillan/John Lord/roger Glover/Ian Paice)

 
 3
The Doobie Brothers
Long Train Running
(Tom Johnston)

 
 4
Suzi Quatro
Can The Can
(Mike Chapman/Nicki Chinn)

 
 5
Roberta Flack
Killing Me Softly
(Charles Fox/Norman Gimbel)

 
 6
Jim Croce
Time In A Bottle
(Jim Croce)

 
 7
The Carpenters
Sing
(Joe Raposo)

 
 8
Paul McCartney & Wings
My Love
(Paul McCartney)

 
 9
Elton John
Bennie & The Jets
(Elton John)

 
 10
The Rolling Stones
Angie
(Mick Jagger/Keith Richards)

 
 11
The Carpenters
Yesterday Once More
(Richard Carpenter/John Bettis)

 
 12
Billy Paul
Me And Mrs Jones
(Hippy/Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff)

 
 13
Barry White
Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up
(Barry White)

 
 14
Stevie Wonder
Superstition
(Stevie Wonder)

 
 15
Wings
Live And Let Die
(Paul & Linda McCartney)

 
 16
David Cassidy
Daydreamer
(Terry Dempsey)

 
 17
Status Quo
Caroline
(Francis Rossi/Rob Young)

 
 18
Tony Orlando & Dawn
Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around The Ole Oak Tree
(Irwin Levine/L. Russell Brown)

 
 19
David Bowie
Sorrow
(David Bowie)

 
 20
Gilbert O'Sullivan
Clair
(Gilbert O'Sullivan)

 
 21
Elton John
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
(Elton John)

 
 22
Stevie Wonder
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
(Stevie Wonder)

 
 23
Donna Hightower
This World Today Is A Mess
(Danny Daniel/Donna Hightower)

 
 24
Jim Croce
Bad Bad Leroy Brown
(Jim Croce)

 
 25
David Essex
Rock On
(David Essex)

 
 26
Vicki Lawrence
The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
(Bobby Russell)

 
 27
Bob Dylan
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
(Bob Dylan)

 
 28
Donny Osmond
When I Fall In Love
(Edward Heyman/Victor Young, 1952)

 
 29
Lou Reed
Walk On The Wild Side
(Lou Reed)

 
 30
Adriano Celentano
Prisencolinensinainciusol
(Adriano Celentano)

 
 31
David Bowie
The Laughing Gnome
(David Bowie)

 
 32
Dobie Gray
Drift Away
(Mentor Williams)

 
 33
Alvin Stardust
My Coo-Ca-Choo
(Peter Shelley)

 
 34
The Sweet
Blockbuster
(Mike Chapman/Nicki Chinn)

 
 35
Hurricane Smith
Oh Babe What Would You Say
(Hurricane Smith)

 
 36
Sylvia Robinson
Pillow Talk
(Michael Burton/Sylvia Robinson)

 
 37
Nicoletta
Fio Maravilla
(Jorge Ben Jor/Boris Bergman)

 
 38
Stealers Wheel
Stuck In The Middle With You
(Gerry Rafferty/Joe Egan)

 
 39
Billy Joel
Piano Man
(Billy Joel)

 
 40
Charlie Rich
The Most Beautiful Girl
(Bill Sherrill/Norris Wilson/Rory Michael Bourke)

 


1972

Artist of the year : Michael Jackson
Enough has been said how Joseph W. Jackson was an authoritarian and sometimes abusive father but if willing to form with his boys a R&B group would certainly be an unlikely bet, who could afterward blame him for having succeeded. Left from Gary, in Chicago neighborhood and after unremittingly occurring in Midwest nightclubs, the Jackson Five contracted in 1969 with the prestigious Motown what provided them the opportunity to move to Los Angeles. It was already around Michael that was achieving awareness of the group mainly because of his dance steps inspired by James Brown and a voice already amazingly mature for his age. At the dawn of the 70s, the Jacksons found themselves through the media competing with another family pop band, the Osmonds, from Utah. Aware of the tremendous charism of young Michael, the Motown allowed him to start a solo career from 1971, soon followed by the release of two albums, Got To be There and Ben, whose signature song created for the movie Ben ensured his fame at lightning speed. Ben even reached #1 in 1972 awarded by a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Everyone knows the rest.


 #
 Artist
 Title                                                   
 CT
VIDEO 
 1
Michael Jackson
Got To Be There
(Elliot Willensky)

 
America
A Horse With No Name
(Dewey Bunnell)

 
 3
Harry Nilsson
Without You
(Pete Ham/Tom Evans)

 
 4
Gilbert O'Sullivan
Alone Again
(Gilbert O'Sullivan)

 
 5
Elton John 
Crocodile Rock
(Elton John)

 
 6
Paul Simon
Mother And Child Reunion
(Paul Simon)

 
 7
Seals & Crofts
Summer Breeze
(Jim Seals/Dash Crofts)

 
 8
Bobby Womack
Across 110th Street
(Bobby Womack)

 
 9
Carly Simon
You're So Vain
(Carly Simon)

 
 10
David Cassidy
How Can I Be Sure
(Felix Cavaliere/Felix Brigati)

 
 11
Aretha Franklin
Day Dreaming
(Aretha Franklin)

 
 12
Led Zeppelin
Stairway To Heaven
(Jimmy Page/Robert Plant)

 
 13
Neil Young
Heart Of Gold
(Neil Young)

 
 14
10cc
Donna
(Kevin Godley/Lol Creme)

 
 15
T. Rex
Bang A Gong (Get It On)
(Marc Bolan)

 
 16
The Dramatics
In The Rain
(Tony Hester)

 
 17
The Temptations
Papa Was A Rolling Stone
(Rod White/Chris White)
 
 18
Elvis Presley
Burning Love
(Dennis Linde)

 
 19
Al Green
Let's Stay Together
(Al Green/Wayne Jackson/Willie Mitchell)

 
 20
The Carpenters
Hurting Each Other
(Gary Geld/Peter Udell, 1965)

 
 21
Michael Jackson
Ben
(Don Black/Walter Scharf)

 
 22
David Bowie
Starman
(David Bowie)

 
 23
The Chi-Lites
Oh Girl
(Eugene Record)

 
 24
America
Ventura Highway
(Dewey Bunnell)

 
 25
Johnny Nash
I Can See Clearly Now
(Johnny Nash)

 
 26
The Hollies
Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress
(Allan Clark/Roger Cooke/Roger Greenaway)

 
 27
Cher
The Way Of Love
(Jacques Dieval/Al Stillman)

 
 28
The Stylistics
Betcha By Golly Wow
(Thom Bell/Linda Creed)

 
 29
Alice Cooper
School's Out
(Alice Cooper/Michael Bruce/Glen Buxton/Dennis Dunaway/Neal Smith)

 
 30
Jim Croce
You Don't Mess Around With Jim
(Jim Croce)

 
 31
David Cassidy
Cherish
(Terry Kirkman, 1966)

 
 32
Jonathan Edwards
Sunshine
(Jonathan Edwards)

 
 33
The Who
Join Together
(Pete Townsend)

 
 34
Hawkwind
Silver Machine
(Robert Calvert/Dave Brock)

 
 35
Arlo Guthrie
City Of New Orleans
(Steve Goodman)

 
 36
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
Where Is The Love
(Ralph MacDonald/William Salter)

 
 37
The Doobie Brothers
Listen To The Music 
(Tom Johnston)

 
 38
Peter Skellern
You're A Lady
(Peter Skellern)

 
 39
The Carpenters
Goodbye To Love
(Richard Lynn Carpenter/John Bettis)

 
 40
Argent
Hold Your Head Up
(Rod White/Chris White)

 

1971

Artist of the year : Carole King


Her name was to there remained attached to her husband Gerry Goffin, both composers and lyricists of a stack of 60s hits when she decided in the early 70s to perform her own songs accompanied on her piano. From there was born Tapestry, an album since remained part of the legend. Who can still today have forgotten the cover of this record with the cat in the foreground standing there like the artist's jealous guard. A firefighter’s daughter, young Carol had learned her first piano lessons at age 4 and performed first TV show when she was 8. She had known Paul Simon in Brooklyn college and released a promotional single in 1958 but it was her meeting with Gerry Goffin, while chemistry student, which would be crucial to her artistic career. They wrote together some major hits like The Loco-Motion, Will You Love Me To Morrow or Go Away Little Girl. Carole King and Gerry Goffin divorced in 1968 and left to Los Angeles, she met James Taylor, who became her friend and with whom she worked for a time before embarking into a solo career. Released in 1971, Tapestry was an instant success with 25 million copies sold worldwide and a hit song It's Too Late, ranked # 1 of the year. While being a great melodist, her sleek poetry dedicated to the timelessness certainly bears the marks of the time when it was written but always brings a feeling of smooth nostalgia. 


 #
 Artist
 Title
 CT
 VIDEO
 1
 Carole King
It's Too Late
(Carole King/Toni Stern)

 2
 The Carpenters
Superstar 
(Bonnie Bramlett/Leon Russell))

 3
 Bill Withers
Ain't No Sunshine
(Bill Withers)
 4
 David Bowie
 Life On Mars?
(David Bowie)

 5
 Isaac Hayes
Theme Song from "Shaft"
(Isaac Hayes)

 6
Bread
Baby I'm A Want You 
(David Gates)

 7
The Doors 
Riders On The Storm
(Jim Morrison/John Densmore/Ray Manzarek/Robby Krieger)

 8
Rod Stewart & The Faces
Maggie May
(Rod Stewart/Martin Quitenton)

 9
The Undisputed Truth
Smiling Faces Sometimes
(Norman Whitfiled/Barrett Strong)

 10
The Carpenters 
For All We Know
(Rob Royer/Jimmy Griffin)

 11
 Janis Joplin
Me And Bobby McGee
(Kris Kristofferson/Fred Foster)

 12
Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
Treat Her Like A Lady
(Eddie Cornelius)

 13
Slade
Coz I Luv' You
(Noddy Holder/Jim Lee))

 14
 James Taylor
You've Got A Friend
(Carole King)
 15
 Ringo Starr
It Don't Come Easy
(Ringo Starr)

 16
 The Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar
(Mick Jagger/Keith Richards)

 17
 Cat Stevens
Wild World
(Cat Stevens)

 18
 The Who
Behind Blue Eyes
(Pete Townshend)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9-3RZkzpwM
 19
Marvin Gaye 
What's Going On
(Al Cleveland/Marvin Gaye/Renaldo Benson)

 20
 Gordon Lightfoot
If You Could Read My Mind
(Gordon Lightfoot)

 21
Shirley Bassey
Diamonds Are For Ever
(John Barry/Don Black)

 22
 George Harrison
My Sweet Lord
(George Harrison)

 23
Sly & The Family Stone 
Family Affair
(Sly Stone)

 24
 T. Rex
Hot Love
(Marc Bolan)

 25
Led Zeppelin 
Immigrant Song
(Jimmy Page/Robert Plant)

 26
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Have You Ever Seen The Rain
(John Fogerty)

 27
Jerry Reed 
Amos Moses
(Jerry Reed)

 28
John Lennon
Imagine
(John Lennon)

 29
Grass Roots 
Temptation Eyes
(Dan Walsh/Michael Price)

 30
 The Jackson 5
Never Can Say Goodbye
(Clifton Davis)

 31
 Tommy James & The Shondells
Draggin' The Line
(Tommy James/Bob King)

 32
 The Bee Gees
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
(Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)

 33
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Indian Reservation
(John D. Loudermilk)

 34
 Donny Osmond
Go Away Little Girl
(Gerry Goffin/Carole King))

 35
 Three Dog Night
Sunlight
(Jesse Colin Young)
 36
 Carole King
So Far Away
(Carole King)

 37
 Redbone
Witch Queen Of New Orleans
(Pat Vegas/Lolly Vegas/Tony Bellamy/Pete DePoe)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIKCIwy6WUk
 38
 Alice Cooper
I'm Eighteen
(Alice Cooper/Michael Bruce/Glen Buxton/Dennis Dunaway/Neal Smith)

 39
The Carpenters
Rainy Days And Mondays
(Paul Williams/Roger Nichols)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPmbT5XC-q0
 40
Bread
If
(David Gates)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGfVOdTiUEc


1970

Artist of the year : The Carpenters
Is it only nostalgia? When suddenly sounds the voice of Karen Carpenter, arise pictures of a former happiness making you forget the hassles of everyday life. Originally from uptight New Haven, CT, the Carpenter family had moved to the sunny shores of California where both children Richard and Karen soon had the opportunity to showcase their talents as musicians. It even started for them as in a dream with a victory at the Battle of the Bands hosted by the Hollywood Bowl in 1966. This was actually a bit early and the duo still needed to mature. In 1969, the Carpenters form a trio with bassist Bill Sissoyev. They begin to gain renown especially through the voice of Karen and her drums  playing, what allows them to contract and release a debut  album. Despite a brilliant cover of the Beatles’ hit Ticket to Ride, the record does not sell. Strongly attracted by the extraordinary voice of Karen, popular composer Burt Bacharach writes for the group (They Long To Be) Close To You, released in June 1970. This time is right. The record will sell 3 million copies worldwide. We've Only Just Begun coming out shortly after has just to convert the try. A true legend is born.

 #
 Artist
 Title
 CT
 VIDEO
 1
The Carpenters
We've Only Just Begun
(Roger Nichols/Paul Williams)

 2
Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water
(Paul Simon)

 3
Santana
Black Magic Woman
(Peter Green)
 4
Elton John
Your Song
(Elton John/Bernie Taupin)

 5
The Carpenters
(They Long To Be) Close To You
(Burt Bacharach, Hal David, 1963)

 6
The Beatles
Let It Be
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

 7
Bread
Make It With You
(David Gates)

 8
The Ides Of March
Vehicle
(Jim Peterik)

 9
James Taylor
Fire And Rain
(James Taylor)

 10
John Lennon
Instant Karma
(John Lennon)

 11
Brook Benton
Rainy Night In Georgia
(Tony Joe White, 1962)

 12
The Beatles
The Long And Winding Road
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

 13
The Kinks
Lola
(Ray Davies)

 14
5th Dimension
One Less Bell To Answer
(Burt Bacharach/Hal David)
 15
The Jackson 5
I'll Be There
(Berry Gordy, Jr/Bob West/Hal Davis/Willie Hutch)

 16
Derek & The Dominos
Layla
(Eric Clapton/Jim Gordon)

 17
David Cassidy & The Partridge Family
I Think I Love You
(Tony Romeo)

 18
Rare Earth
Get Ready
(Smokey Robinson)

 19
Freda Payne
Band Of Gold
(Edythe Wayne/Ron Dunbar)

 20
Free
All Right Now
(Andy Fraser/Paul Rodgers)

 21
Chicago
25 Or 6 To 4
(Robert Lamm)

 22
James Brown
Get Up (I Fell Being Like A) Sex Machine
(James Brown/Bobby Byrd/Ron Lenhoff)

 23
Black Sabbath
Paranoïd
(Tommi Iomi/Geezer Butler/Bill Ward/Ozzie Osbourne)

 24
Norman Greenbaum
Spirit In The Sky
(Norman Greenbaum)

 25
The Carpenters
Ticket To Ride
(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

 26
Clarence Carter
Patches
(Norman E. Johnson/Ron Dunbar)

 27
B.J. Thomas
Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head
(Burt Bacharach/Hal David)

 28
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Who'll Stop The Rain
(John Fogerty)

 29
The Guess Who
No Time
(Randy Bachman/Burton Cummings)

 30
B.B. King
The Thrill Is Gone
(Rick Darnell/Rpy Hawkins, 1951)

 31
Mungo Jerry
In The Summertime
(Ray Dorset)

 32
Elvis Presley
Kentucky Rain
(Eddie Rabbitt/Dick Heard)

 33
Neil Diamond
Cracklin' Rosie
(Neil Diamond)

 34
The Temptations
Psychedelic Shack
(Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong)

 35
Deep Purple
Black Night
(Ritchie Blackmore/Ian Gillan/John Lord/Roger Glover/Ian Paice)
 36
Pacific Gas & Electric
Are You Ready
(Charlie Allen/John Hill)

 37
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Our House
(Graham Nash)

 38
The Moody Blues
Melancholy Man
(Michael Pinder)

 39
The Moments
Love On A Two-Way Street
(Sylvia Robinson/Burt Keyes)
 40
Dawn & Tony Orlando
Knock Three Times
(Irwin Levine/L. Russell Brown)




No comments:

Post a Comment