My Top Ten of 1977 reflects some of the defining artists (from my perspective) of the 70s. This is also the last Top Ten list that I only recently created. (Most future Top Ten lists were created at the end of their actual years.) As such my 1977 list feels like a look back more on my favorite artists of the decade than a reflection of what I was feeling and experiencing that year. However, all of these songs have withstood the test of time (for me) and were pretty influential in what was another transitional year.
Wow, what a year. Amazing songs. I'm also fascinated by your trip to Hollywood. You and I have talked about this a little bit in the past, but I had no idea. It was so expensive. So wonderful that you could hear your mother's laugh on that episode of good times.
It's through reading your journey here that I've really started to listen to Melissa Manchester more than ever before. What an amazing voice.
I wasn’t aware of Love Alive or Manchester’s I Wanna Be Where You Are so really enjoyed listening to them. The Hollywood trip was the PERFECT graduation gift for you. Your mother certainly knew what she was doing. To see your fantasy world come to life must have been incredible!
"My love of Carly Simon’s music continued with her incredible rendition of Marvin Hamlisch’s Nobody Does It Better from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (which I still haven’t seen to this day.)"
Late last year, I started watching all of the 007 movies in order. I have to say this one is pretty good.
What great memories you have from that CA trip! And being able to hear your Mom laugh during the reruns of the Good Times episode must be so special and cool!
I fiddled with this list more than others so far. Mainly because I was trying to remember the songs I really did like that year. So this list is a little all over the place
I go crazy (Paul Davis)
Sir Duke (Stevie Wonders)
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)
* I need to go back and switch Silver Spring in for something off my ‘76 list as it came out in ‘76. Not sure how
I missed that.
Looks Like We Made It (Barry Manilow)
The Things we do for love (10cc)
Heaven on the 7th floor (Paul Nicholas)
Yes, it’s a goofy bubblegum pop song but …
Emotions (Samantha Sang, BeeGees)
Smoke from a Distant Fire (Sanford Thompson Band)
(Weird pick, I know, but I always preferred this one to Lyin’ Eyes, even though the theme is similar)
Good list! Silver Springs will come up for me later as a live remake... I don't quite get the Smoke from a Distant Fire/Lyin' Eyes connection. What am I missing??
The “should’ve seen it in your eyes” and “Saw it in your eyes”.
In Smoke, the singer realizes their partner was cheating on them (I know where you goin' to, I knew when you came home last night, ‘Cause your eyes had a mist from the smoke of a distant fire … Lord, I was stunned shoulda seen it come a long time ago …If things are the same, then explain why your kiss is so cold. And that mist in your eyes feels like rain on the fire in my soul). The eyes give it away.
in Lyin Eyes, both of the partners knows she’s cheating on them. “But he knows where she's goin' as she's leavin'. She is headed for the cheatin' side of town. … I thought by now you'd realize. There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes … On the other side of town a boy is waiting …She swears that soon she'll be comin' back forever
She pulls away and leaves him with a smile”. She’s not fooling either of them … they can see it in her eyes.
As for Silver Spring … I was wondering if live remakes that hit the charts could be used. I can use the version from The Dance!!! (Which actually seemed a bit angrier than the original). We saw them during their Say You Will tour, and I must say Stevie must have been more than a little ticked at Lindsey that evening because she sang that song directly at him.
I was 8 in 1977 and was sitting first class on the Kiss train. By '77 I had begged my mom to send $5 to join the Kiss Army and she agreed. I had become a full-fledged member and Gene and Paul happily counted their dollars!
I had other albums: Aerosmith, Grand Funk, UFO, AC/DC all immediately come to mind, but I was 8 and the sound of hard rock guitars definitely appealed to my untapped energy and imagination. In Elementary school I also found my first a side line art gig by being paid a quarter to draw Kiss, sharks & monsters for friends!
I did have 'Rumours' and fell in love with Stevie. That poster of Farrah was huge, but for me, I was captivated by Stevie's aura.
Yeah, I think it was one of those moments when mom wanted to leave Ray. The company she worked for had an office in California and she talked about moving there. Jeff remembers this better than I do!
"You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"
Leo Sayer
"Hotel California"
Eagles
"Rich Girl"
Hall & Oates
"Fly Like an Eagle"
Steve Miller Band
"Looks Like We Made It"
Barry Manilow
"Da Doo Ron Ron"
Shaun Cassidy
"Don't Stop"
Fleetwood Mac
"Barracuda"
Heart
"Lido Shuffle"
Boz Scaggs
"Give a Little Bit"
Supertramp
I like all of your songs! Barracuda was pretty close to making my Top Ten and, well, everything is great on Fleetwood Mac's Rumours!
Wow, what a year. Amazing songs. I'm also fascinated by your trip to Hollywood. You and I have talked about this a little bit in the past, but I had no idea. It was so expensive. So wonderful that you could hear your mother's laugh on that episode of good times.
It's through reading your journey here that I've really started to listen to Melissa Manchester more than ever before. What an amazing voice.
An dammmmmm .... is that Carly Simon hot hot hot
Ha! Yes and Carly has written some really incredible songs too!
I wasn’t aware of Love Alive or Manchester’s I Wanna Be Where You Are so really enjoyed listening to them. The Hollywood trip was the PERFECT graduation gift for you. Your mother certainly knew what she was doing. To see your fantasy world come to life must have been incredible!
"My love of Carly Simon’s music continued with her incredible rendition of Marvin Hamlisch’s Nobody Does It Better from the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (which I still haven’t seen to this day.)"
Late last year, I started watching all of the 007 movies in order. I have to say this one is pretty good.
It may be time to for me check it out (although admittedly, I've not seen most of the Bond films!)
What great memories you have from that CA trip! And being able to hear your Mom laugh during the reruns of the Good Times episode must be so special and cool!
I fiddled with this list more than others so far. Mainly because I was trying to remember the songs I really did like that year. So this list is a little all over the place
I go crazy (Paul Davis)
Sir Duke (Stevie Wonders)
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)
* I need to go back and switch Silver Spring in for something off my ‘76 list as it came out in ‘76. Not sure how
I missed that.
Looks Like We Made It (Barry Manilow)
The Things we do for love (10cc)
Heaven on the 7th floor (Paul Nicholas)
Yes, it’s a goofy bubblegum pop song but …
Emotions (Samantha Sang, BeeGees)
Smoke from a Distant Fire (Sanford Thompson Band)
(Weird pick, I know, but I always preferred this one to Lyin’ Eyes, even though the theme is similar)
Somebody to Love (Queen)
My Heart Belongs to Me (Streisand)
Good list! Silver Springs will come up for me later as a live remake... I don't quite get the Smoke from a Distant Fire/Lyin' Eyes connection. What am I missing??
The “should’ve seen it in your eyes” and “Saw it in your eyes”.
In Smoke, the singer realizes their partner was cheating on them (I know where you goin' to, I knew when you came home last night, ‘Cause your eyes had a mist from the smoke of a distant fire … Lord, I was stunned shoulda seen it come a long time ago …If things are the same, then explain why your kiss is so cold. And that mist in your eyes feels like rain on the fire in my soul). The eyes give it away.
in Lyin Eyes, both of the partners knows she’s cheating on them. “But he knows where she's goin' as she's leavin'. She is headed for the cheatin' side of town. … I thought by now you'd realize. There ain't no way to hide your lyin' eyes … On the other side of town a boy is waiting …She swears that soon she'll be comin' back forever
She pulls away and leaves him with a smile”. She’s not fooling either of them … they can see it in her eyes.
As for Silver Spring … I was wondering if live remakes that hit the charts could be used. I can use the version from The Dance!!! (Which actually seemed a bit angrier than the original). We saw them during their Say You Will tour, and I must say Stevie must have been more than a little ticked at Lindsey that evening because she sang that song directly at him.
Oh, ok I get the eyes reference now! Yes, the version of Silver Springs from The Dance is in one of my 90s Top Tens.
I was 8 in 1977 and was sitting first class on the Kiss train. By '77 I had begged my mom to send $5 to join the Kiss Army and she agreed. I had become a full-fledged member and Gene and Paul happily counted their dollars!
I had other albums: Aerosmith, Grand Funk, UFO, AC/DC all immediately come to mind, but I was 8 and the sound of hard rock guitars definitely appealed to my untapped energy and imagination. In Elementary school I also found my first a side line art gig by being paid a quarter to draw Kiss, sharks & monsters for friends!
I did have 'Rumours' and fell in love with Stevie. That poster of Farrah was huge, but for me, I was captivated by Stevie's aura.
Yes and Stevie's captivating presence holds to this day!
I don't remember moving to California coming up. Funny that I ended up on the west coast.
Yeah, I think it was one of those moments when mom wanted to leave Ray. The company she worked for had an office in California and she talked about moving there. Jeff remembers this better than I do!