The Top 100 Adult Songs of the 70's*: #90-81

Here we have Day Two of our latest fun item--The Top 100 Adult Songs of the 70's*.  Enjoy!

#90:

"Weekend In New England"

Barry Manilow
1977 

This smash was the first Adult #1 of 1977, taking over from Mary MacGregor's "Torn Between Two Lovers".  It surrendered to "Evergreen" from Barbra Streisand, but showed its strength by remaining at #2 for three weeks--that competition earns "Weekend in New England" a spot in The Top 100*.

 

 #89:

"I'd Really Love To See You Tonight"

England Dan & John Ford Coley
1976

Song #89* was written by Parker McGee, who had a minor hit himself with "I Just Can't Say No To You".  England Dan & John Ford Coley got to #1 with this one, but it was a brief stay, as James Taylor took over the following week with "Shower The People".  Rather than go away, however, the song remained strong at #2 for one week and #3 for four weeks.

 

 

#88:

"The Way I Want To Touch You"
Captain & Tennille
1975

The follow-up to "Love Will Keep Us Together", the Captain & Tennille kept their momentum with a #1 Adult hit for two weeks.  It competed against "Something Better To Do" by Olivia Newton-John, John Denver's "I'm Sorry", and Simon & Garfunkel's reunion song, "My Little Town".

 

#87:

"Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The 'Ole Oak Tree"

Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
1973

 

Tony Orlando and Dawn check in next at #847.  Songwriters Irwin Levine and Larry Brown based it on the true story of a convict returning from jail that they had read in The New York Post in 1971.  Orlando & Dawn spent two weeks at #2 and two at #2 with this one.

 

 

#86:

"I'm Sorry"

John Denver
1975

We'll be hearing more from John Denver, one of the most successful Adult artists of the 70's, not to mention for all-time.  His smash in 1975 spent two weeks at #1 and three weeks at #2 against competition from "Something Better To Do", "The Way I Want To Touch You", and Art Garfunkel's "I Only Have Eyes For You".


 

 

 

#85:

"I Honestly Love You"

Olivia Newton-John

1974

Here's a great example of the divergence between the Adult Contemporary format and the Top 40 format.  This song was far more popular overall than the Adult radio stations gave it credit--It reached #1 for three weeks, but had little competition, meaning it should have been on top for much longer.  Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Makin' Love" was the only other Top 100 Adult Song of the 70's* out at the same time.

#84:

"Vincent"
Don McLean

1972

Don McLean got as high as #2 for three weeks before turning south.  However, he faced some of the toughest competition of the decade:  "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "A Horse With No Name", "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All", "Morning Has Broken", and "It's Going To Take Some Time" were all out at the same time.

#83:

"If You Leave Me Now"

Chicago

1976

 

One of America's great all-time groups, Chicago places this one among the top Adult songs of the decade.  Bassist Peter Cetera wrote it and sang lead, and it captured the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.  "If You Leave Me Now" had just one week at #1, but three at #2 and two more at #3 going against Adult heavyweights such as "Don't Stop Believin'" by Olivia Newton-John, "Fernando", and "Muskrat Love".

 

#82:

"You Won't See Me"

Anne Murray
1974

In 1974, Anne Murray recorded a remake of the Beatles song "You Won't See Me".  John Lennon is said to have told Murray that hers was his favorite Beatles cover song.  The song hit #1 for two weeks and spent seven in the Adult top 5.  The main competition came from "Sundown", "Annie's Song", and "I Won't Last A Day Without You".

 

#81:

"Please Mr. Please"

Olivia Newton-John
1975

This song had the distinction of reaching the Top 10 on the three major formats in radio--Popular, Adult, and Country, but it did the best among adults.  "Please Mr. Please" reached #1 for three weeks, but the only other Top 100 Song* of the decade out at the same time was Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy", which overtook it. 

Be sure to join us tomorrow on Inside The Rock Era as we reveal ten more of the greatest Adult songs of the decade.