The Top 100 Adult Songs of the 70's*: #70-61

Inside The Rock Era began the special Monday, so if you missed the beginning, there's time for you to catch up.  We strongly advise you to listen to the songs now before they become inactive on YouTube.  We have featured 30 of The Top 100 Adult Songs of the 70's* thus far, and we are beginning to get into some smash hits.

  

#70:

"If"

Bread
1971

Songwriter David Gates of Bread considers "If" to be the best song he ever wrote.  This smash spent three weeks at #1 and six weeks in the Adult Top 5 against competition from "For All We Know" and "Rainy Days And Mondays" by the Carpenters and Lobo's "Me And You And A Dog Named Boo".

#69:

"It's Going To Take Some Time"

Carpenters
1972

This song was originally written by Stanley, Idaho's Carole King for her album Music.  In 1972, the red-hot Carpenters remade it, and, were it not for Neil Diamond's smash "Song Sung Blue", their version likely would have gone to #1.  It spent four weeks at #2 behind that, and was also out at the same time as "Vincent", "(Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All", and "Morning Has Broken".

#68:

"If Ever I See You Again"
Roberta Flack
1978

Roberta overtook a very popular Adult song (Michael Johnson's "Bluer Than Blue") to reach #1.  As impressive as that was, after three weeks at the top, the song only spent one more week in the Top 5 (a total of five).  Other top competition included "Even Now" by Barry Manilow and "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". 
 

#67:

"Hurting Each Other"
Carpenters
1972

This song scored two weeks at #1 against classics like "American Pie" and Nilsson's "Without You".  That great achievement has to be balanced, however, by the fact that "Hurting Each Other" only remained in the Adult Top 5 for four weeks.

#66:

"Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me"

Mac Davis
1972

Mac Davis achieved his breakthrough hit with "Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me".  It topped the Adult chart for three weeks against songs such as "Alone Again (Naturally)" and "Goodbye To Love".  It proved its staying power by remaining in the Top 5 for seven weeks.

#65:

"Sam"

Olivia Newton-John
1977

Olivia places five songs amongst the best in the decade, including this one here at #65*.  It reached #1 for two weeks, but was outdistanced by "Southern Nights", the #1 song both before and after it.  Perhaps more impressive are the six weeks in the Adult Top 3 that "Sam" spent.  Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen" also provided strong competition.

#64:

"Me And You And A Dog Named Boo"
Lobo
1971

Lobo spent six weeks in the Adult Top 5, including three weeks at the top.  His main competition came from "If" and "Rainy Days And Mondays".

#63:

"If Not For You"
Olivia Newton-John
1971

Olivia's first Adult hit is a cover of a song written and originally performed by Bob Dylan.  "If Not For You" was a smash, racing to #1 for three weeks against songs like "It's Too Late", "You've Got A Friend", and "Beginnings".  Olivia also spent six total weeks in the Adult Top 5.

 

 

 

 

 

#62:

"Songbird"

Barbra Streisand
1978

 

This song went to #1 for two weeks, but it also placed in the Adult Top 3 for six weeks and the Top 5 for seven.  It was tough going against songs such as "If Ever I See You Again" by Roberta Flack, "Bluer Than Blue", "Even Now", "Three Times A Lady", and "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", but Barbra held her own.

 

#61:

"Yesterday Once More"

Carpenters
1973

This song slugged it out with some great Adult hits, including "My Love" by Paul McCartney & Wings, "Touch Me In The Morning", "Delta Dawn", and "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose".  The Carpenters held did well against that lineup, posting three weeks at #1 and five in the Top 5.

There's some great songs in that set, and we have more lined up tomorrow.  Join Inside The Rock Era then for more of The Top 100 Adult Songs of the 70's*!