Most popular dance tunes that Influenced what we listen to.

[LittleNipper]

1971 and we have Rod Stewart's MAGGIE MAY
And the Theme from SHAFT

 

[LittleNipper]

We have reached a pivotal year. Suddenly, a whole group of rockers realized that they were growing old and nostalgia seems to be casting its shadow across the music scene. With all the drugs, loud music, and a sexual revolution --- the pendulum began to swing back to a kinder gentler time and thoughts of IF ONLY, and WHAT IF began to creep into what had hitherto been unstoppable dive into a BRAVE NEW WORLD. 1972 Don McLean's BYE, BYE MISS AMERICAN PIE would seemingly influence other throwback songs, Movies, and TV shows all about those Happy Days of yesterday. This song seems to do it all most poignantly though it was hard to dance to (as were many tunes of this period). Music was now mostly designed for meditation and contemplation. However, it is possible to do a number of different dance steps to this music masterpiece.

To be fair the next tune was from 1969:however, HOT BUTTER made POPCORN a real hit in '72. Here is the song and here is the dance ---
Is it any wonder why people wouldn't want to return to the past if this was the future?

 

[LittleNipper]

1973 brings with it the best song the Rolling Stones ever recorded and a nice slow dance tune They uses acoustic guitars and came up with a real work of art. It's a shame they didn't stick with this sound - ANGIE.

Which beings us to number 2. This is a real oddball. Not to say the song isn't good -- it really is; however, TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE by Tony Orlando & Dawn is not about a guy getting out of prison but a prisoner of war returning home. The idea came from the Civil War fashion of women wearing a yellow ribbon in their hair to signify a love away at war. Of course the style music has nothing to do with the mid-nineteenth century and neither do the words; however, it fit pop, rock and country ----- so everyone was happy.

 

[LittleNipper]

Okay, okay so Kung Fu becomes popular in 1974. So they would have to come up with a song about KUNG FU FIGHTING So the dance would have a lot of hand action HAAAAH!

And so why not have a Swedish group singing about WATERLOO. This would be ABBA's first single!

 

[LittleNipper]

ABBA is going strong in 1975 with SOS (as if they needed any help)

And we have UNA PALOMA BLANCA pretty good Spanish for a dutch song writer.

 

[LittleNipper]

The Bicentennial Year 1976 gave us more ABBA -- DANCING QUEEN

And Also Chicago's --- IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW

Another good dance song that year was from the guy with two first names (Elton John). The song was DON'T GO BREAKIN' MY HEART and this came out before Mr John came out and broke all the women's hearts

 

[LittleNipper]

1977 we have the Eagles' HOTEL CALIFORNIA and Donna Summer I FEEL LOVE

 

[LittleNipper]

1978 The number 1 is STAY'n ALIVE by the BEE GEES

And there were the Village People with Y.M.C.A.

 

[LittleNipper]

It is getting harder to pick the songs of the particular year because most of the singles are beginning to be released the year after the LP or albums have been released. All three of these songs are from 1978 --- but these singles reached number one in 1979
First is HEART OF GLASS

Gloria Gaynor had the song that would become a standard, again from a 1978 Album I WILL SURVIVE

BORN TO BE ALIVE, again a 1978 album that contained the single that would be a worldwide hit
Can you imagine anyone born to be dead? Oh, well --- the tune is catchy anyway. Stay alive, survive, and born to be ---- does anyone else notice the trend!

 

[LittleNipper]

1980 brings us Barbara Streisand and Barry Gibb's WOMAN IN LOVE

UPSIDE DOWN -- Diana Ross

 

[Marion Morrison]

Prince was a musical genius.