Pick Your Top 10 of 1971

[Dawn]

This week's installment takes us back to 1971. Here are the top 100 songs of the year.

01. Joy To The World » Three Dog Night
02. Maggie May / Reason To Believe » Rod Stewart
03. It's Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move » Carole King
04. One Bad Apple » Osmonds
05. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart » Bee Gees
06. Indian Reservation » Raiders
07. Go Away Little Girl » Donny Osmond
08. Take Me Home, Country Roads » John Denver
09. Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) » Temptations
10. Knock Three Times » Dawn
11. Me And Bobby McGee » Janis Joplin
12. Tired Of Being Alone » Al Green
13. Want Ads » Honey Cone
14. Smiling Faces Sometimes » Undisputed Truth
15. Treat Her Like A Lady » Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
16. You've Got A Friend » James Taylor
17. Mr. Big Stuff » Jean Knight
18. Brown Sugar » Rolling Stones
19. Do You Know What I Mean » Lee Michaels
20. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down » Joan Baez
21. What's Going On » Marvin Gaye
22. Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey » Paul & Linda McCartney
23. Aint No Sunshine » Bill Withers
24. Signs » Five Man Electrical Band
25. She's A Lady » Tom Jones
26. Superstar » Murray Head & The Trinidad Singers
27. I've Found Someone Of My Own » Free Movement
28. Amos Moses » Jerry Reed
29. Temptation Eyes » Grass Roots
30. Superstar » Carpenters
31. My Sweet Lord / Isn't It A Pity » George Harrison
32. Sweet And Innocent » Donny Osmond
33. Put Your Hand In The Hand » Ocean
34. Chick-a-boom » Daddy Dewdrop
35. For All We Know » Carpenters
36. Help Me Make It Through The Night » Sammi Smith
37. Rainy Days And Mondays » Carpenters
38. If You Could Read My Mind » Gordon Lightfoot
39. Gypsy, Tramps And Thieves » Cher
40. Never Can Say Goodbye » Jackson 5
41. Rose Garden » Lynn Anderson
42. Don't Pull Your Love » Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
43. It Don't Come Easy » Ringo Starr
44. Mr. Bojangles » Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
45. I Love You For All Seasons » Fuzz
46. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get » Dramatics
47. That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be » Carly Simon
48. If You Really Love Me » Stevie Wonder
49. Spanish Harlem » Aretha Franklin
50. I Don't Know How To Love Him » Helen Reddy
51. Yo-yo » Osmonds
52. Bridge Over Troubled Water » Aretha Franklin
53. Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted » Partridge Family
54. Draggin' The Line » Tommy James
55. Proud Mary » Ike & Tina Turner
56. Beginnings / Colour My World » Chicago
57. Stay Awhile » Bells
58. Sweet City Woman » Stampeders
59. Me And You And A Dog Named Boo » Lobo
60. Another Day / Oh Woman, Oh Why » Paul McCartney
61. If » Bread
62. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) » Marvin Gaye
63. One Toke Over The Line » Brewer & Shipley
64. She's Not Just Another Woman » 8th Day
65. Bring The Boys Home » Freda Payne
66. I Just Want To Celebrate » Rare Earth
67. Never Ending Song Of Love » Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
68. Easy Loving » Freddie Hart
69. Liar » Three Dog Night
70. Stick-up » Honey Cone
71. Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep » Mac & Katie Kissoon
72. Love Story (Where Do I Begin) » Andy Williams
73. Wild World » Cat Stevens
74. When You're Hot, You're Hot » Jerry Reed
75. Funky Nassau » Beginning Of The End
76. If Not For You » Olivia Newton-John
77. Groove Me » King Floyd
78. Watcmng Scotty Grow » Bobby Goldsboro
79. Woodstock » Matthews' Southern Comfort
80. Amazing Grace » Judy Collins
81. I Hear You Knocking » Dave Edmunds
82. Lonely Days » Bee Gees
83. Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again » Fortunes
84. Won't Get Fooled Again » Who
85. Trapped By A Thing Called Love » Denise Lasalle
86. Mama's Pearl » Jackson 5
87. Timothy » Buoys
88. I Woke Up In Love This Morning » Partridge Family
89. Theme From "Shaft" » Isaac Hayes
90. If I Were Your Woman » Gladys Knight & The Pips
91. I Am..I Said » Neil Diamond
92. Wedding Song (There Is Love) » Paul Stookey
93. Don't Knock My Love, Pt. 1 » Wilson Pickett
94. Love Her Madly » Doors
95. Here Comes The Sun » Richie Havens
96. Sweet Mary » Wadsworth Mansion
97. Right On The Tip Of My Tongue » Brenda & The Tabulations
98. One Less Bell To Answer » Fifth Dimension
99. Riders On The Storm » Doors
100. It's Impossible » Perry Como

And my choices:
03. It's Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move » Carole King
21. What's Going On » Marvin Gaye
22. Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey » Paul & Linda McCartney
23. Aint No Sunshine » Bill Withers
30. Superstar » Carpenters
46. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get » Dramatics
47. That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be » Carly Simon
56. Beginnings / Colour My World » Chicago
79. Woodstock » Matthews' Southern Comfort
99. Riders On The Storm » Doors

'71 was an excellent year for music, and some of the ones I eliminated would have easily made the top 10 in less strong years.

Which 10 are your favorites?

[Pete70s]

Yikes! My favorite year of all time. This could get ugly....


03. It's Too Late » Carole King
05. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart » Bee Gees
06. Indian Reservation » Raiders
08. Take Me Home, Country Roads » John Denver
11. Me And Bobby McGee » Janis Joplin
14. Smiling Faces Sometimes » Undisputed Truth
15. Treat Her Like A Lady » Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
16. You've Got A Friend » James Taylor
18. Brown Sugar » Rolling Stones
19. Do You Know What I Mean » Lee Michaels
20. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down » Joan Baez
21. What's Going On » Marvin Gaye
22. Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey » Paul & Linda McCartney
23. Aint No Sunshine » Bill Withers
24. Signs » Five Man Electrical Band
25. She's A Lady » Tom Jones
28. Amos Moses » Jerry Reed
29. Temptation Eyes » Grass Roots
30. Superstar » Carpenters
31. My Sweet Lord / Isn't It A Pity » George Harrison
38. If You Could Read My Mind » Gordon Lightfoot
40. Never Can Say Goodbye » Jackson 5
41. Rose Garden » Lynn Anderson
42. Don't Pull Your Love » Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
46. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get » Dramatics
48. If You Really Love Me » Stevie Wonder
49. Spanish Harlem » Aretha Franklin
54. Draggin' The Line » Tommy James
56. Beginnings / Colour My World » Chicago
58. Sweet City Woman » Stampeders
59. Me And You And A Dog Named Boo » Lobo
60. Another Day / Oh Woman, Oh Why » Paul McCartney
62. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) » Marvin Gaye
66. I Just Want To Celebrate » Rare Earth
68. Easy Loving » Freddie Hart
69. Liar » Three Dog Night
71. Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep » Mac & Katie Kissoon
73. Wild World » Cat Stevens
74. When You're Hot, You're Hot » Jerry Reed
75. Funky Nassau » Beginning Of The End
76. If Not For You » Olivia Newton-John
79. Woodstock » Matthews' Southern Comfort
81. I Hear You Knocking » Dave Edmunds
82. Lonely Days » Bee Gees
83. Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again » Fortunes
84. Won't Get Fooled Again » Who
87. Timothy » Buoys
89. Theme From "Shaft" » Isaac Hayes
90. If I Were Your Woman » Gladys Knight & The Pips
91. I Am..I Said » Neil Diamond
94. Love Her Madly » Doors
95. Here Comes The Sun » Richie Havens
96. Sweet Mary » Wadsworth Mansion
98. One Less Bell To Answer » Fifth Dimension
99. Riders On The Storm » Doors


Oh, MAN! I gotta whittle it down from THAT....

OK Here goes...

03. It's Too Late » Carole King
05. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart » Bee Gees
06. Indian Reservation » Raiders
14. Smiling Faces Sometimes » Undisputed Truth
15. Treat Her Like A Lady » Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
16. You've Got A Friend » James Taylor
18. Brown Sugar » Rolling Stones
19. Do You Know What I Mean » Lee Michaels
20. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down » Joan Baez
21. What's Going On » Marvin Gaye
22. Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey » Paul & Linda McCartney
23. Aint No Sunshine » Bill Withers
30. Superstar » Carpenters
31. My Sweet Lord / Isn't It A Pity » George Harrison
38. If You Could Read My Mind » Gordon Lightfoot
46. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get » Dramatics
54. Draggin' The Line » Tommy James
56. Beginnings / Colour My World » Chicago
58. Sweet City Woman » Stampeders
62. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) » Marvin Gaye
66. I Just Want To Celebrate » Rare Earth
69. Liar » Three Dog Night
71. Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep » Mac & Katie Kissoon
74. When You're Hot, You're Hot » Jerry Reed
79. Woodstock » Matthews' Southern Comfort
81. I Hear You Knocking » Dave Edmunds
84. Won't Get Fooled Again » Who
87. Timothy » Buoys
96. Sweet Mary » Wadsworth Mansion
98. One Less Bell To Answer » Fifth Dimension
99. Riders On The Storm » Doors

STILL over 30 songs, and I can't bring myself to cut ANY of them....

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

I know most of these--but who on earth are Fuzz??? I don't recognize their name OR the song title! You'd think since it was #45 for the year, that I would know it! The name 8th Day sounds familiar, but the song title isn't ringing a bell at all. I THINK I've heard "Funky Nassau", but can't place what it sounds like.

Anyway, I will respond in detail when I have more time.

[Dawn]

Here's a link to a clip of the Fuzz song: www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00000JMXC001007/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_007/002-3254502-2807269 . I've never heard anything else of theirs, though.

[Ken]

1971 - What a great year for music!

So many classic tracks to choose from

My picks:
1.My Sweet Lord / Isn't It A Pity » George Harrison
2.It Don't Come Easy » Ringo Starr
3.I Hear You Knocking » Dave Edmunds
4. Draggin' The Line » Tommy James
5.Signs » Five Man Electrical Band
6.Riders On The Storm » Doors
7.Liar » Three Dog Night
8.Beginnings / Colour My World » Chicago
9.Temptation Eyes » Grass Roots
10.Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get » Dramatics

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

admin said:

Here's a link to a clip of the Fuzz song: www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B00000JMXC001007/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_007/002-3254502-2807269 . I've never heard anything else of theirs, though.

Hmmm. That does sound sorta familiar. Thanks, Dawn! (I will pick my top 10 from 1971 later)

[alandhopewell]

"Riders On the Storm"-Doors
"Shaft"-Issac Hayes
"Mr. Bojangles"- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
"Superstar"- Carpenters
"For All We Know"- Carpenters
"Maggie May"- Rod Stewart
"Signs" -Five Man Electrical Band
"Joy to the World"-Three Dog Night
"Me and You and a Dog Named Boo"- Lobo
"If You Could Read My Mind"- Gordon Lightfoot

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

15. Treat Her Like a Lady > Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
17. Mr. Big Stuff » Jean Knight
29. Temptation Eyes » Grass Roots
43. It Don't Come Easy » Ringo Starr
48. If You Really Love Me » Stevie Wonder
56. Beginnings » Chicago (note: there were 2 songs listed here; I just picked one)
65. Bring The Boys Home » Freda Payne
80. Amazing Grace » Judy Collins
83. Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again » Fortunes
89. Theme From "Shaft" » Isaac Hayes

Wow, that was tough! I went back and changed one of my answers--I may have to do it again *lol* because it was hard to pick just 10 songs.

[H2IZCOOL]

OK, now that I am back, I have time to check out 1971.

First of all from my top 250.

You've Got A Friend » James Taylor
If You Could Read My Mind » Gordon Lightfoot
That's The Way I've Always Heard It Should Be » Carly Simon
One Less Bell To Answer » Fifth Dimension
If I Were Your Woman » Gladys Knight & The Pips

Five songs from a great year. There are likely a dozen or more songs in positions 250-500 (if I ever decide to expand my list.)

So -- five more (gonna be tough!!)

Maggie May / Reason To Believe » Rod Stewart
Smiling Faces Sometimes » Undisputed Truth
It Don't Come Easy » Ringo Starr
Another Day / Oh Woman, Oh Why » Paul McCartney
Lonely Days » Bee Gees


Honorable Mention:
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart » Bee Gees
Take Me Home, Country Roads » John Denver
Me And Bobby McGee » Janis Joplin
Superstar » Carpenters
Timothy » Buoys
Riders On The Storm » Doors

[Cool Hand Logan]

89. Theme From "Shaft" » Isaac Hayes
02. Maggie May / Reason To Believe » Rod Stewart
22. Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey » Paul & Linda McCartney
31. My Sweet Lord / Isn't It A Pity » George Harrison
15. Treat Her Like A Lady » Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
49. Spanish Harlem » Aretha Franklin
05. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart » Bee Gees
54. Draggin' The Line » Tommy James
39. Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves » Cher
38. If You Could Read My Mind » Gordon Lightfoot

[Triple J]

My top 10 of '71...

01. Joy To The World » Three Dog Night
02. Maggie May / Reason To Believe » Rod Stewart
18. Brown Sugar » Rolling Stones
19. Do You Know What I Mean » Lee Michaels
22. Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey » Paul & Linda McCartney
31. My Sweet Lord / Isn't It A Pity » George Harrison
43. It Don't Come Easy » Ringo Starr
55. Proud Mary » Ike & Tina Turner
82. Lonely Days » Bee Gees
84. Won't Get Fooled Again » Who

[boogieman68]

This was a good year. Less bubblegum and more classics than 69-70 IMO:

02. Maggie May/Reason To Believe - Rod Stewart
I've always liked the lyrics and the instrumentation in Maggie May...not quite as fond of Reason...

03. It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move - Carole King
One of the most prolific songwriters of the 60's who broke out bigtime as a soloist with "Tapestry". Great album, great songs.

05. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - The Bee Gees
Pre-falsetto Barry Gibb had such a unique voice. As usual, the brothers are in perfect harmony on this recording.

23. Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Bluesy with great melodies and a catch hook make this a favorite of mine. It's hard not to be tempted to count the "I know"'s

30. Superstar - The Carpenters
Karen Carpenter had a hauntingly beautiful voice which still gives me goosebumps on her better records like this one.

31. My Sweet Lord/Isn't It a Pity - George Harrison
This one just takes me back to playing in the park at age 3 and being without a care in the world...

38. If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot
Never liked it as a kid but this song has grown on me. They really don't write 'em like that anymore.

44. Mr. Bojangles - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Another favorite from my preschool years.

61. If - Bread
Short and simple yet so meaningful and earnest in its message of unfaltering love. Some Bread songs are too sappy for my tastes. Not this one...I love it.

89. Theme From "Shaft" - Issac Hayes
"Shut your mouth!"...."I'm just talking about the Shaft" Another time capsule song.

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

boogieman68 said:

61. If - Bread
Short and simple yet so meaningful and earnest in its message of unfaltering love. Some Bread songs are too sappy for my tastes. Not this one...I love it.

That is a good one!

Here's a cute bit of graffiti that I read on a blackboard back in high school:

"'If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you?'...Maybe you're just not artistically inclined!"

[55dodger]

My top 10:

Won't Get Fooled Again
It's Too Late
Riders on the Storm
Beginnings
Maggie Mae
Me & Bobbie McGee
Just My Imagination
Take Me Home, Country Roads
You've Got a Friend
Joy To the World

[edehl]

Temptation Eyes » Grass Roots
For All We Know » Carpenters
Rainy Days And Mondays » Carpenters
If You Could Read My Mind » Gordon Lightfoot
Don't Pull Your Love » Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
It Don't Come Easy » Ringo Starr
Draggin' The Line » Tommy James
Beginnings / Colour My World » Chicago
Another Day / Oh Woman, Oh Why » Paul McCartney
Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again » Fortunes

With honors:
Won't Get Fooled Again » Who
Love Her Madly » Doors
Riders On The Storm » Doors