We should be enjoying a very dramatic three-way pennant race over the last few weeks of the season. We should have exciting games every night from now until the end of the month. But instead, there's no reason to tune in before October.
The first year I bought an album. Much of the influence on this mix is music I enjoyed listening to in 1976 on the radio.
20. Silly Love Songs by Wings
Always liked this song.
19. I'd Really Love to See You Tonight by England Dan & John Ford Coley
I was always a romantic.
18. Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band
My brother and I both really liked this song.
17. It Doesn't Matter by Firefall
This is off of the first album I ever bought. I still like this album, still listen to it.
16. Welcome Back by John Sebastian
Everyone was watching Welcome Back Kotter.
15. More Than a Feeling by Boston
There was a time when this was probably my number 1 song of all time.
14. Lowdown by Boz Scaggs
A fun song.
13. Rich Girl by Daryl Hall & John Oates
A classic that I still like, my wife likes, our kids like.
12. I Wish by Stevie Wonder
Another classic from Stevie Wonder.
11. You Are the Woman by Firefall
OK this is the song that got me to buy my first album.
10. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine by Lou Rawls
Come on this is such a great song.
9. Telephone Line by ELO
I was a big ELO fan and this song has held up well.
8. Theme From Mahogany by Diana Ross
I'm not sure I knew what a big Diana Ross fan I was until I started this list making process.
7. Somebody to Love by Queen
I think this song as aged very well compared to some other Queen songs.
6. Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word by Elton John
It's amazing to me how Elton John ends up with a song every year here in the 70's it seems.
5. Carry on Wayward Son by Kansas
Such a classic rock song. For me this has aged so much better than say "More Than a Feeling" by Boston.
4. I'll Be Good to You by The Brothers Johnson
This is a group I did not get into until I was in college. Really love this song.
3. Dancing Queen by Abba
My favorite song in 1976 when I was living in 1976 easily.
2. Year of the Cat by Al Stewart
This song took on special meaning for us in the 1977-78 NCAA basketball season.
1. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
There is a part of me that is uncomfortable with the lyrics of this song. That being said the lyrics are excellent, though I do worry about some young teenage boy taking it too much to heart.
I found 1975 to be tricky. There is definitely a change coming in the music, you can hear it, you can see it in the songs that are making the top 100. Disco is on the rise, but so to is pop music that will lead to bands like the Talking Heads, who formed in 1975. We are also getting into music I remember as a kid and also music that I found important in high school, and then also music I didn't discover until later. Anyhow it's a fun year for music, here is the top 20 I came up with for myself.
20. Love is the Drug by Roxy Music
Roxy Music is a band I didn't discover until I was in college, but they were having an impact on the musical world in 1975. It's hard not to listen to this song and think of a band like the Talking Heads.
19. Fame by David Bowie
There are critics I have heard who do not like Bowie. Mostly what they don't like is that he built so much of his music off of ideas that more obscure artists had created. That may be true, but one thing that is true is that he was very good about understanding what obscure music was worth bringing to the fore.
18. One of These Nights by Eagles
I had the Eagles greatest hits, I had the Eagles live album. I was of fan of most of their radio songs. You know this song within one second of hearing it.
17. Feel Like Makin' Love by Roberta Flack
Just a great song.
16. Love to Love You Baby by Donna Summer
If Donna Summer is the queen of disco, then this is her siren song.
15. Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac
I'm not the biggest Fleetwood Mac fan, but I've always liked this song.
14. That's the Way of the World by Earth, Wind, & Fire
Another great song from 1975. Let the hits keep coming.
13. I Love Music by The O'Jays
When I was working at the University of North Carolina, a fellow staff member told me to give The O'Jays a serious listen. I have never regretted it.
12. Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan
Blood on the Tracks is, I believe, Dylan's masterpiece.
11. You're My Best Friend by Queen
Another Queen song that was my favorite song for a while in my life in middle school.
10. Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee
Maybe if I could only pick one song to represent the 70's, I would pick this one.
9. That's the Way by KC and the Sunshine Band
Can you hear this song and not get your foot tapping.
8. Magic Man by Heart
Rock goddess Anne Wilson shines on this song. She is the rock voice that all other women after her are compared.
7. Crazy on You by Heart
Nancy Wilson is her cool sister and this song has always been fun because of the balance between Nancy and Anne. There is so much to like about this song on so many different levels.
6. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Poor Heart with two brilliant songs couldn't even crack the top 5 and neither could Thunder Road.
5. Someone Saved My Life Tonight by Elton John
I have grown to love this song more and more with every passing day. When I was younger I'm not sure it would have been in my top 20, definitely not in the top 5.
4. Watercolors by Janis Ian
This is a great song off of a fantastic album.
3. Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez
I discovered this song maybe 10 years ago and I just find it to be an all timer.
2. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
I still remember the first time I listened to this song on my Walkman. Just amazing moment in time.
1. At Seventeen by Janis Ian
A friend made a tape for me of this album. Me and some friends were going to be staying up all night to get Springsteen tickets the first time I put this on. This song made me cry when it came on. I knew the song, but had never really listened to it. I had just finished a day of working 3 different jobs and was exhausted facing a night of being up all night this song just kicked me in my gut. It's genius.
Last year, I went out in Week Fourteen of Survivor Pool because I picked against the Bengals, and they put up a superhuman effort (on the road, with a backup quarterback) to win. This year, I went out in Week One because I picked the Bengals, and they decided to treat their matchup with New England as their fourth exhibition game.
I recently bought a collection of vintage NFL mini pennants to replace a set that I lost about 40 years ago. (Thank you, E-Bay!) In honor of that collection, I have decided that going forward, I will refer to Houston's professional football team as the Oilers.
The Game of the Week will take place on Sunday at 3:25 PM Central in Kansas City, when the Chiefs take on the Bengals. I have no idea where the Bengals are ranked after their atrocious performance on Sunday, and it doesn't matter. The Bengals play the Chiefs in the same spirit that Tennessee plays Kentucky. At the same time, the Chiefs will know that if they can open the season with back-to-back wins over Baltimore and Cincinnati, they will be in a strong position for the post-season -- and the Chiefs are highly motivated to win their third Super Bowl in a row. Right now, the Chiefs are favored by 3 1/2 points. These are the only two franchises in the AFC to reach the Super Bowl since 2018, and I expect a very high-quality game.
The other Game of the Week is at 7:15 P.M. Central on Thursday, as the number-9 Dolphins host the number-8 Bills. It's a huge test for both teams.
