THE 200 ESSENTIAL SONGS OF THE 1970s. This update: #70- 61. Continues next weekend.

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.
70	I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN' YOU Kiss [1979] After unleashing rock anthems like "Rock And Roll All Nite" and "Shout It Out Loud", hard rock group Kiss added disco to their arsenal. This fusion resulted in the smash hit "I Was Made For Lovin' You". The single was especially successful in Canada (#1) and Australia (#2). Mixing hard rock with disco was a major departure for the band and inspired others to follow.
69	MY SHARONA The Knack [1979] "My Sharona" is one of the defining songs of the 1970s. It is a clever blending of Beatles with new wave. Teenage lust and sex oozed out of the disc's grooves. The single was a blueprint for 70s pop/ rock: basic and direct with an absence of the frills that were a feature of so many (lesser) songs. Sadly, the overwhelming hype surrounding the track and The Knack obliterated any chance of the band's chances of sustaining success.
68	(THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU The Carpenters [1970] The Carpenters were unsurpassed in their harmonies and musical constructions. Siblings Richard and Karen Carpenter spun magic, creating a string of hits that had an impact on pop music and the adult contemporary genre. The duo dominated radio airwaves with beautiful ballads such as "We've Only Just Begun", "Solitaire" and "Yesterday Once More". With "Close To You", the duo re-interpreted a Burt Bacharach & Hal David composition so skilfully, it heralded a major direction many other acts would emulate throughout the 1970s.
67	LIVING FOR THE CITY Stevie Wonder [1973] Stevie Wonder took his protest and social concerns to a new level with "Living For The City". The single was lifted off his brilliant 'Innervisions' album. His vocal conveys anger at the injustice African-Americans experience every day. The lyrics relate the story of an innocent man discriminated against and incarcerated because of the colour of his skin. Sound effects were added to emphasize the plight. The track is more a mini- movie than a song. It remains a standout in his vast catalogue.
66	HIGHWAY TO HELL AC/DC [1979] 'Highway To Hell' helped break AC/DC to a wider audience around the globe. Sadly, it was the final album featuring its legendary lead singer Bon Scott. He died some months later. By then, the planet had discovered the wealth of talent contained within the group. AC/DC are now rightly included among the giants of hard rock and a major influence on heavy metal. The band recruited Brian Johnson as new lead vocalist and struck back in 1980 with 'Back In Black'.
65	I AM WOMAN Helen Reddy [1972] Women's Lib gained momentum in the 1970s, seeing significant strides towards gender equality. Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman" tapped the mood of the time, creating an anthem that still inspires to this day. The song predates Margaret Thatcher (a pioneer even if she was a monster), Angela Merkel and the first American female president later this year. Reddy's song is sure to be heard around November 2016.
64	TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT Led Zeppelin [1975] Led Zeppelin were already in a stratosphere all their own when it came to hard rock. With "Trampled Under Foot", the band blasted their sound with funk and R&B. Other acts had tried before, but none had produced the results Led Zep served on its 'Physical Graffiti' album in 1975.
63	MERCY MERCY ME  (THE ECOLOGY) Marvin Gaye [1971] Marvin Gaye dragged Motown Records into a new era with his watershed album 'What's Going On'.  Suddenly, the soul legend didn't have love on the agenda. "Mercy Mercy Me" addressed environmental issues. Gaye took the song to #4 Pop and #1 R&B in the USA. Sadly, little progress ensued around the planet and today, the ecology is still in a dire state.
62	ATOMIC Blondie [1979] "Atomic" sounds like the sequel to "Heart Of Glass". Musically, it too fuses new wave and punk with disco music. As the 1980s approached, Blondie's latest single previewed the dance sounds that would bloom in the new decade. While issued as a single in 1980, "Atomic" was included on the group's 1979 album 'Eat To The Beat'.
61	PARANOID Black Sabbath [1970] Black Sabbath kick-started the 1970s for heavy metal fans with "Paranoid". The incessant energetic beat of the landmark track is ably matched by Ozzy Osbourne's powerful vocal.