Sammy Davis Jr. singing the Theme from the TV Series Baretta – Keep Your Eye in the Sparrow

Bohemian Rhapsody was the first single released from Queen’s fourth album A Night at the Opera. It’s a strange song, which I suppose gives it the uniqueness. It consists of a number of sections including operatic segments, an a cappella passage, and a heavy rock solo put together by Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury.

Even though it nearly wasn’t released as a single it topped the UK chart for 9 weeks and is one of the biggest selling singles in the UK.

The original single was released in early 1976 in the US and was a Top 10 hit reaching Number 9. There was a re-release of the song in 1992, a tie in with the song’s appearance in the film Wayne’s World reaching hit #2.

It is considered by many as one of the greatest rock songs ever recorded.

In the 1970s I did not like this song. Nor was I much of a fan of Queen, although I do seem to like many of their singles and though that their Soundtrack for the movie Flash Gordon made the movie. It wasn’t until after Suzie McNeil did it on Rock Star Supernova that I began to like the song. I suppose that some songs just have to grow on you.

In 1975 Carole King teamed with author Maurice Sendak to bring characters from some of his Children books to the television screen. Really Rosie debuted on CBS TV in February 1975.

Carole King voiced the part of Rosie as well as performing the songs. She released the album of songs that reached Number 20 on the album charts.

They expanded the story creating a stage musical that has appeared in London and Off-Broadway.

Jessi Colter, born Mirriam Johnson, took the stage name about the same time that she married Waylon Jennings. Prior to her marriage to Jennings she was married to Duane Eddy. Jennings and Colter sang duets in 1970s, but when her first album on RCA records failed to sell she lost her contract.

Then in 1975 as her husband, Willie Nelson and others recorded music that was called Outlaw, she signed to Capitol Records. I’m Not Lisa came from her first Album. It was a big hit reaching #1 on the Billboard Country Chart and #4 on the Billboard Pop Chart.

Four years later she would give birth to another hit, her son Shooter Jennings.

Minnie Riperton had one of the most unforgettable voices. She could easily reach five octaves.

Her most remembered song, as well as her best selling recording, is Lovin’ You from 1974 album Perfect Angel. It was the song that pushed her into stardom although she had been entertaining since 1961. Just prior to this she was a member of Wonderlove, Stevie Wonder’s backup singers singing on his tour and on the album Fulfillingness’ First Finale.

A few years later, in 1976, Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer. After having a mastectomy she became a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society. At the age of 31 when she tragically died from the disease on July 12, 1979. She left behind a small body of musical work as well as her husband songwriter Richard Rudolph, son Marc, and a daughter, Maya Rudolph, the Saturday Night Live actress, who is mentioned at the end, when she sings “Ma-ah-aha-aha-ah-ya.”

Greg Lake of Emerson Lake and Palmer released his only solo song during the Christmas season of 1975.

Upon listening to the song, without really listening to the lyrics, this song written Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) and writing partner Peter Sinfield, it sounds like a nice little Christmas song. But it’s really a protest song against the commercialization of Christmas. It still makes my favorite list.

I doubt if any site dealing with the 1970′s doesn’t mention Lynynd Skynyrd’s Free Bird wouldn’t really be a 70′s music site. Although I have spoken with many people who remember the 70′s feel that this song was over played I still put it up there as one of the best songs of the Decade. It sure is one of my Top 10.

The song was written by group members Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant in the early day of the group and appeared on their first album, Pronounced ‘lĕh-’nérd ‘skin-’nérd. But it wasn’t until late 1974 that the group released it as a single.

The song is part ballad that ends with a raging three part guitar.

The song became the closing number of the band during their concerts.

When in 1987 it was decided to bring the surviving members on a tribute tour with Ronnie Van Zant’s brother Johnny singing lead, Johnny would not sing the words to the song. The first time that he sang in was two years later in 1989.

10 cc had been around for a couple of years, mostly in the United Kingdom and I’m Not In Love helped to push them International.

It was a Number 1 song in the UK and reached the Top 10 in the US.

The spoken phrase: “Be quiet, big boys don’t cry…”, was spoken by Kathy Warren. She was working as the receptionist of the Strawberry Studios where the band recorded the track.

Slow Ride was the biggest hit for Foghat, it reached Number 20 on the charts and the Album that it came from Fool for the City was their biggest Album.

The single version of the song was 1/2 the length (3:56) of the Album version (8:21)

The song was not written by Barry Manilow, but it became his first hit. The song originally was titled Brandy when it was a minor UK hit in 1971 by another artist.