1973: THE 200 GREATEST TRACKS. This post: #200-1. Concludes today.
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1973
THE GREATEST SONGS
MCMLXXIII
In 1973, Richard Nixon began his second term as US President months prior to the Watergate Scandal implicating him. Skylab was launched. Chicago’s Sears Tower became the world’s tallest building. Sydney’s Opera House opened. Roe v. Wade became a landmark decision in the U.S. Supreme Court. Billie Jean King won at Wimbledon. Audiences at movie theatres made box office hits out of ‘The Way We Were’, ‘Live And Let Die’, ‘American Graffiti’, ‘The Sting’ and ‘Papillon’.
Record-buyers had a vast array of musical genres on offer: Glam Rock was dominating with hit-makers including David Bowie, Suzi Quatro, The Sweet, Slade, T. Rex, Wizzard, Gary Glitter and Alvin Stardust; Pink Floyd, Elton John, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder released classic albums; ABBA issued its debut LP and Mike Oldfield dropped his ‘Tubular Bells’.
Here are 200 songs representing the best music released during that year.
1
LIVING FOR THE CITY
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder’s ‘Innervisions’ album kept the momentum going after the success of ‘Talking Book’ in 1972. The new album saw the singer/ songwriter exploring love, the Nixon Presidency, drugs and inequality. “Living For The City” is its most powerful track. Wonder deals with the discrimination experienced by many because of the colour of their skin. He incorporates the sound of the street: traffic and sirens. Among the guest voices on the track are his brother Calvin Hardaway and attorney Jonathan Vigoda. The track won the Best R&B Song and Best Male Vocal R&B Performance Grammy Awards. On the singles charts, it peaked at #8 in America and #15 in Britain. Sadly, it remains not only a commentary of life in 1973, but reveals how little progress has been made over subsequent decades.
2
DANIEL
Elton John
Bernie Taupin was inspired by an article he read about a wounded Vietnam War veteran’s return home when he wrote the lyrics to “Daniel”. Elton John recorded the moving ballad for his ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player’ album. A fourth verse was culled from the version that exists today. The single topped the Canadian chart and peaked at #2 in the U.S.A. #4 in the UK and made the Top 10 in Australia, many parts of Europe and in New Zealand.
3
AMOUREUSE
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee was signed to Elton John’s Rocket Record Company. He co-produced her 1973 album ‘Loving And Free’ with Clive Franks. “Amoureuse” was initially a French song written and recorded by Véronique Sanson. English lyrics were provided by Gary Osborne (who would co-write many songs with Elton). The haunting single peaked at #13 in the UK and #12 in Australia. Helen Reddy recorded a version with different English lyrics entitled “Emotions” in 1974.
4
GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
Elton John
Many music critics regard ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ as Elton John’s magnum opus. Coming only months after the ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player’ LP, the public enthusiastically greeted John’s new double album. The title track peaked at #2 in America and reached the Top 10 in Britain, Canada, Australia, various European nations and in New Zealand. John’s worldwide final tour was named Farewell Yellow Brick Road. He closed his shows with this song.
5
TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING
Diana Ross
Her solo career had a shaky start, but by 1973, Diana Ross had firmly established re-established herself as Motown’s premier female artist. Immediately after her Oscar nomination for Best Actress in the film ‘Lady Sings the Blues’, ‘Touch Me In The Morning’ was her fourth solo album. Its title track became Ross’ second American #1 single. The song also topped the US Adult Contemporary Chart. It made the Top 10 in Britain, Canada and Australia.
6
BLUES FOR BABY AND ME
Elton John
Elton John was riding high in his golden and highly prolific period. Armed with unforgettable tracks from Bernie Taupin’s pen, the two created some of the best songs in his canon. Elton delivered two classic LPs in 1973. This song was included on the ‘Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player’ album. It was issued in January. Follow-up ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ was unleashed in October.
7
SOMEDAY WE’LL ALL BE FREE
Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway may be one of pop and soul music’s underrated vocalists, but many legendary performers cite him as an influence or celebrate his talent. With this track, he added a moving new anthem to the civil rights songbook. His voice is breathtaking, as he foresees a brighter future.
8
NEITHER ONE OF US
(WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips felt like a low priority for Motown. This frustration led the group to look elsewhere. A switch to Buddah Records finally resulted in a string of memorable hits, including those listed below. This single was the group’s swansong on Motown, and is a thrilling way to bid the label farewell.
9
THE WAY WE WERE
Barbra Streisand
The film teamed Barbra Streisand with Robert Redford in one of the wisest cast couplings in film history. It was only fitting then that the film had a theme song just as memorable. Marvin Hamlisch joined forces with previous Oscar winning husband and wife Alan and Marilyn Bergman to create what went on to not only collect an Academy Award, but became one of the singer’s signature songs.
10
CANDLE IN THE WIND
Elton John
Bernie Taupin’s lyrics recount the tragic tale of legendary screen sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. Elton John’s music and vocal treatment ensured this song would possess a timeless quality. It remains one of the standouts on his ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’. Decades later, it was re-tweaked to convey the grief felt all over the planet at the passing of Princess Diana in 1997.
11 MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA Gladys Knight & The Pips
12 HIGH FLYING BIRD Elton John
13 JESSE Roberta Flack
14 SKYLINE PIGEON Elton John
15 ALL I NEED IS TIME Gladys Knight & The Pips
16 LET’S GET IT ON Marvin Gaye
17 NEVER, NEVER GONNA GIVE YA UP Barry White
18 NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS Ike & Tina Turner
19 PIANO MAN Billy Joel
20 KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG
Roberta Flack
21 HALF-BREED Cher
22 GREY SEAL Elton John
23 RING RING ABBA
24 LIVE AND LET DIE Wings
25 LEAVE ME ALONE (RUBY RED DRESS) Helen Reddy
26 BENNIE AND THE JETS Elton John
27 HIGHER GROUND Stevie Wonder
28 ROCK ‘N ROLL BAND ABBA
29 I’VE GOT TO HAVE YOU Carly Simon
30 THIS SONG HAS NO TITLE Elton John
31 ANGIE The Rolling Stones
32 I JUST CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY MIND
The Four Tops
33 I’LL HAVE TO SAY I LOVE YOU IN A SONG
Jim Croce
34 TEACHER I NEED YOU Elton John
35 YESTERDAY ONCE MORE Carpenters
36 LOVE ISN’T EASY (BUT IT SURE IS HARD ENOUGH)
ABBA
37 ELDERBERRY WINE Elton John
38 ALL OF MY LIFE Diana Ross
39 PHOTOGRAPH Ringo Starr
40 FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND / LOVE LIES BLEEDING
Elton John
41 MY LOVE Wings
42 ALL IN LOVE IS FAIR Stevie Wonder
43 YOU’RE MY HOME Billy Joel
44 SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING
Elton John
45 ALL I KNOW Art Garfunkel
46 IF I CLOSE MY EYES Barbra Streisand
47 MIND GAMES John Lennon
48 LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK Paul Simon
49 I NEVER MEANT TO HURT HIM Etta James
50 LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Donny Hathaway
51 LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ The Doobie Brothers
52 SWEET PAINTED LADY Elton John
53 BALLROOM BLITZ Sweet
54 NEVER, NEVER, NEVER Shirley Bassey
55 TOO HIGH Stevie Wonder
56 JOLENE Dolly Parton
57 THE JOKER Steve Miller Band
58 THE MORNING AFTER Maureen McGovern
59 SORROW David Bowie
60 KODACHROME Paul Simon
61 ALL THE GIRLS LOVE ALICE Elton John
62 MONEY Pink Floyd
63 JEAN GENIE David Bowie
64 JUNGLE BOOGIE Kool & The Gang
65 BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME
Gladys Knight & The Pips
66 GIVE ME LOVE (GIVE ME PEACE ON EARTH)
George Harrison
67 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealer’s Wheel
68 D’YER MAK’ER Led Zeppelin
69 PEACEFUL EASY FEELING Eagles
70 MASTER OF EYES (THE DEEPNESS OF YOUR EYES)
Aretha Franklin
71 BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY Bette Midler
72 BAND ON THE RUN Wings
73 TIME Pink Floyd
74 SOMETHING SO RIGHT Paul Simon
75 IF WE TRY Don McLean
76 PEACEFUL Helen Reddy
77 DESPERADO Eagles
78 ANGEL Aretha Franklin
79 GOLDEN LADY Stevie Wonder
80 FLYING EASY Donny Hathaway
81 DANCING MACHINE Jackson 5
82 TOP OF THE WORLD Carpenters
83 IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY Sly & The Family Stone
84 GET DOWN Gilbert O’Sullivan
85 SUMMER (THE FIRST TIME) Bobby Goldsboro
86 YOU’RE LOSING ME Ann Sexton
87 I’M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)
The Moody Blues
88 DISILLUSION ABBA
89 ERES TU Mocedades
90 WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES Billy Preston
91 WITCHY WOMAN Eagles
92 AMERICAN TUNE Paul Simon
93 HE DID WITH ME Vicki Lawrence
94 DRIFT AWAY Dobie Gray
95 MY COO CA CHOO Alvin Stardust
96 US AND THEM Pink Floyd
97 LAW OF THE LAND The Temptations
98 GET UP, STAND UP Bob Marley & The Wailers
99 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE, BABY
Barry White
100 TUBULAR BELLS Mike Oldfield
101 BAD BAD LEROY BROWN Jim Croce
102 MUSIC AND ME Michael Jackson
103 I’VE GOT TO USE MY IMAGINATION
Gladys Knight & The Pips
104 CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE Slade
105 HEARTBEAT IT’S A LOVEBEAT
The DeFranco Family & Tony DeFranco
106 ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH John Denver
107 SEE MY BABY JIVE Wizzard
108 DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING Stevie Wonder
109 DREAM ON Aerosmith
110 MASTERPIECE The Temptations
111 KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR Bob Dylan
112 SKYWRITER Jackson 5
113 CRAZY HORSES Osmonds
114 KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ Eddie Kendricks
115 LA GRANGE ZZ Top
116 48 CRASH Suzi Quatro
117 JET Wings
118 NINA, PRETTY BALLERINA ABBA
119 CASSANDRA Sherbet
120 BOOGIE DOWN Eddie Kendricks
121 WHERE PEACEFUL WATERS FLOW
Gladys Knight & The Pips
122 THAT LADY The Isley Brothers
123 TEQUILA SUNRISE Eagles
124 DELTA DAWN Helen Reddy
125 HALLELUJAH DAY Jackson 5
126 CAN THE CAN Suzi Quatro
127 RUBBER BULLETS 10cc
128 CAPTAIN JACK Billy Joel
129 LET ME BE THERE Olivia Newton-John
130 HAPPY Michael Jackson
131 EVERYTHING IS OUT OF SEASON John Farnham
132 YES WE CAN CAN Pointer Sisters
133 HERE I AM (COME AND TAKE ME) Al Green
134 BLOCKBUSTER Sweet
135 THE LORD’S PRAYER Sister Janet Mead
136 DANCIN’ ON A SATURDAY NIGHT Barry Blue
137 CHI SARÀ CON TE Massimo Ranieri
138 DYNA-MITE Mud
139 I AM PEGASUS Ross Ryan
140 ONE OF A KIND (LOVE AFFAIR) The Spinners
141 DISTANT LOVER Marvin Gaye
142 I’M THE LEADER OF THE GANG (I AM) Gary Glitter
143 ROCK AND ROLL (I GAVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE)
Kevin Johnson
144 SMOKE ON THE WATER Deep Purple
145 THE BOOGIE MAN Jackson 5
146 NATURAL HIGH Bloodstone
147 SING Carpenters
148 FRANKENSTEIN The Edgar Winter Group
149 TU TE RECONNAÎTRAS Anne-Marie David
150 BROTHER’S GONNA WORK IT OUT Willie Hutch
151 HELEN WHEELS Wings
152 20th CENTURY BOY T. Rex
153 I CAN’T QUIT YOUR LOVE Jackson 5
154 MAGDALENA Donny Hathaway
155 AIN’T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I’VE GOT)
The Four Tops
156 ANOTHER TOWN, ANOTHER TRAIN ABBA
157 LIKE SISTER & BROTHER The Drifters
158 DIRTY WORK Steely Dan
159 PAPER ROSES Marie Osmond
160 I SHALL SING Art Garfunkel
161 BE Neil Diamond
162 PEOPLE NEED LOVE ABBA
163 YOU’LL NEVER GET TO HEAVEN
(IF YOU BREAK MY HEART) The Stylistics
164 I DON’T WANNA PLAY HOUSE Barbara Ray
165 SEPARATE WAYS Elvis Presley
166 THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA
Vicki Lawrence
167 TAKE ME TO THE MARDI GRAS Paul Simon
168 ANTICIPATION Carly Simon
169 DADDY’S HOME Jermaine Jackson
170 DON’T YOU KNOW IT’S MAGIC John Farnham
171 I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE Gary Glitter
172 RAMBLIN’ MAN The Allman Brothers Band
173 LET ME ROLL IT Wings
174 ANGEL EYES Wizzard
175 GET IT TOGETHER Jackson 5
176 GUDBUY T’JANE Slade
177 YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME
The New Seekers
178 HE IS YOUR BROTHER ABBA
179 HE’S MISSTRA KNOW- IT- ALL Stevie Wonder
180 I’M DOIN’ FINE NOW New York City
181 DAISY A DAY Jud Strunk
182 SKWEEZE ME PLEEZE ME Slade
183 HELLO! HELLO! I’M BACK AGAIN Gary Glitter
184 PLEASE STAY (ONCE YOU GO AWAY) Marvin Gaye
185 PILLOW TALK Sylvia
186 THE SLUMS Donny Hathaway
187 BEEN TO CANAAN Carole King
188 COME GET TO THIS Marvin Gaye
189 I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW Gladys Knight & The Pips
190 THE PROMISED LAND Dave Edmunds
191 ROCK ON David Essex
192 SHOWDOWN Electric Light Orchestra
193 POWER TO ALL OUR FRIENDS Cliff Richard
194 SPANISH EYES Al Martino
195 ME & BOBBY & BOBBY’S BROTHER ABBA
196 FOREVER AND EVER Demis Roussos
197 MY LOVE IS GROWING Marvin Gaye
198 HELLO MUDDAH, HELLO FADDUH Alan Sherman
199 TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE
Tony Orlando & Dawn
200 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA
(THEME FROM ‘2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY’) Deodato
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