THE 200 ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1970s. Today: #180- 171. Continues tomorrow.

THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1970s It was the decade of glam, disco, funk, Philly Soul, heavy metal, the singer/songwriter, punk and new wave. Here are the 200 songs that mattered most during the Seventies, in terms of influence, impact and success. To be eligible, the song needed to be released- as a single or on an album- during the years 1970-1979.
180	KASHMIR Led Zeppelin [1975] "Kashmir" saw the influential Led Zeppelin blend an orchestra with guitar- powered rock. The collision of  blues with bursts of Middle Eastern music spawned a thrilling result. Running well over 8 minutes, the mighty track sustains interest thanks to the members' musical power and the unique lead vocals of Robert Plant. As grand as the track (from the album 'Physical Graffiti') is, it successfully builds up the tension and remains a highlight in the group's canon.
179	CAN THE CAN Suzi Quatro [1973] Suzi Quatro became the quintessential 'rock chick' with a string of hits that began with "Can The Can". It was her first #1 and was an early taste of success for Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman's talents as record producers. The single was followed by more chart toppers: "48 Crash" and "Devil Gate Drive". After Quatro, there was no doubting a woman could rock as well as any man.
178	THE GAMBLER Kenny Rogers [1978] Country music's tradition of storytelling was perpetuated through a series of songs released by Kenny Rogers. Beginning with "Lucille" and continuing up to "Coward of the County", the country superstar delivered story songs that successfully crossed over to a pop audience. "The Gambler" inspired a series of telemovies.
177	I'VE SEEN ALL GOOD PEOPLE / YOUR MOVE / ALL GOOD PEOPLE Yes [1971] Yes was at a turning point in the evolution of its sound on the 1971 release 'The Yes Album'. Jon Anderson's vocal leads the group through its arguably most accessible prog-rock piece. The 3 tracks were seamlessly combined into one, lasting just under 7 minutes known as "I've Seen All Good People / Your Move/ All Good People". The acoustic quality of the music is the perfect sonic context for the harmonies. This Yes track takes the rich legacy of Crosby, Stills & Nash into an art rock setting.
176	YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta [1978] 'Grease' was a box office hit and its soundtrack album found success on the charts around the world. Its 2 leads became household stars. John Travolta's career took off with his roles in the musical and 'Saturday Night Fever' at around the same time. Co-star Olivia Newton-John had already scored hits, after leaving Australia and relocating to the UK and then America. 'Grease' remains a perennial favourite. The duet "You're The One That I Want", penned by another Australian expatriate named John Farrar, was a #1 single in Britain, America, Europe, Canada and Australia. The chemistry between the 2 singers created enough magic to propel another - the highly entertaining "Summer Nights" to the top in the UK. The 2 duets kept Newton-John and Travolta atop the British chart for a total of 16 weeks that year. The soundtrack remains one of the world's best selling albums of all time.
175	Y.M.C.A. Village People [1978] Even those born in the decades since the 1970s would be familiar with The Village People's "Y.M.C.A.". To this day, it fills dancefloors as crowds engage in the choreography spelling out the song title. This audience participation is one of the most famous. The high camp of the vocal group is just as essential to its longevity. Each character's costume added to the song's appeal. The single reached #1 in Britain, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It peaked at #2 in America.
174	YOU DON'T BRING ME FLOWERS Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand [1978] Many are familiar with the origins of the duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers". Both Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand had recorded solo versions of the ballad on their respective albums. A creative disc jockey decided to create a duet out of the 2 individual tracks. The response from listeners was so strong that Columbia Records (which conveniently had both vocalists on its roster) gathered Diamond and Streisand to re-record the song as a duet. This new version shot to #1 in the USA and was a Top 5 hit in Britain and Australia. This is a rare occasion where a superstar duet brings out the best of the participants. The pairing makes sense as both had credentials in the Adult Contemporary genre. It also avoids being too sickly sweet.
173	OLIVER'S ARMY Elvis Costello [1979] Elvis Costello showed the depth of his lyrical ability on the ably crafted "Oliver's Army". It had stings amid all the pop hooks, rendering the song an instant radio and chart hit. The song was included on his 'Armed Frces' album. As the 1970s approached an end, Costello was unveiling the layers of versatility he possessed. He had mastered punk and new wave earlier in the decade. "Oliver's Army" was political and more pop-oriented. In the 1980s and beyond, the musician would explore other musical styles.
172	DREAMER Supertramp [1974] Supertramp achieved major success with the 'Breakfast In America' album in 1979, but the group positioned itself for worldwide success with "Dreamer". The track was lifted off the band's 'Crime of the Century' album. This was to become Supertramp's breakthrough song, slightly denting the charts but achieving a respectable UK peak position of #13. The group's sound had shifted. Keyboards powered the track. Supertramp was moving away from its early prog rock approach and developing its individual pop/ rock style. Over the next few years, the band's songs boasted thought-provoking lyrics (eg. "The Logical Song", "Casual Conversations" and "Take The Long Way Home").
171	FOLLOW YOU, FOLLOW ME Genesis [1978] Around the time Peter Gabriel quit Genesis in 1975, the group was finally poised for its commercial breakthrough. He was the key songwriter and visionary member. Finding the void hard to fill with a replacement, the band decided to continue as a trio. In 1978, Genesis introduced its downsized line-up with the aptly titled 'And Then There Were Three'. Phil Collins remained the drummer, but had an increased role as lead vocalist. The trio made changes to its sound. Previous albums were prog rock or art rock, driven mostly by Gabriel. The remaining members now pursued a more pop sound. "Follow You Follow Me" marked that line in the sand. This was a love song that was tailor made for the mainstream. The ballad became the group's most successful single to date. Its parent album went gold. Genesis grew into a regular visitor to the Top 40, particularly in the 1980s. Later, Phil Collins would launch a lucrative solo career. Mike Rutherford would also do well with side project Mike And The Mechanics. Where other groups might have quit, Genesis persevered and, (to quote Collins:) against all odds, triumphed. It all started here.