Month: December 2018

As December was ending one could see the beginnings of the Music of the ’70’s

Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard it on the Grapevine” topped the Pop Charts during the final weeks of December 1968 and January 1969. Gaye was one of the Motown acts of the ’60’s that transitioned into the ’70’s with what many feel was his greatest album What’s Going On.

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s second Album “Born on the Bayou” was on the verge of being released. It would hit the stores during the beginning of 1969. 1969 and 1070 were the group’s best years. They released 5 singles that reach Number 2. They never had a Number 1 hit though. There were 3 others Top 10 hits and 5 Top 10 Albums of which 2 hit number 1 including what many consider their best Album “Cosmo’s Factory” released in the Summer of 1970.

Other groups that would be considered acts of the ’70’s that were coming into their own in late 1968 include Led Zeppelin, Three Dog Night and Chicago.

In England future members of Yes, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and Genesis were coming together to create music that in the early 70’s would be termed as Prog.

The Who was working on Tommy, often called the 1st Rock Opera. The album would be a big factor of them transforming from an British Invasion singles band to one of the leading bands of the 70’s.

In a few months a man would walk on the moon, a counter culture leader would lead his group to commit grisly murders, and a half million people to go to an outdoor concert that in many ways was the event that bridged the 60’s and 70’s.

Beginning on Christmas Eve 1977 the Brother Gibbs would begin strangle hold on the number 1 spot on the US Billboard Charts. From then until July 29, 1978 The Brothers Gibb (The Bee Gees, brothers Barry, Maurice and Robin, or their younger brother Andy) held the Number 1 spot for all but 7 weeks.

December 24, 1977 – January 7, 1978 (3) “How Deep is Your Love – Bee Gees
February 4 – February 25 ( 4) “Stayin” Alive” – Bee Gees
March 4 – March 11 (2) ” (Love is) Ticker than Water” – Andy Gibb
March 18 – May 6 (8) “Night Fever” – Bee Gees
May 13 – “If I Can’t Have You” – Yvonne Elliman (Written by the Bee Gees)
June 17 – July 29 (7) – “Shadow Dancing” – Andy Gibb

The artists and songs that were not associated with a Gibb were:
January 14 – January 28 (3) – “Baby Come Back: – Player
May 20 & 27 (2) – “With a Little Luck” – Wings
June 3 – “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” – Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
June 10 – “You’re the One That I Want” – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

The movie “Grease” would have another Number 1 song in 1978, its theme song “Grease” by Frankie Valli and written by Barry Gibb and held the top spot for 2 weeks August 26 and September 2.