Fireball's Fantastic 500 (2024 Edition) -- Early 1970s, Part 1

[Pastor Fireball]

Now that I've finally wound down from my latest boardgame convention, I can move on with the next section of my favorite songs of all-time. We're into the 1970s now, which has typically been one of my biggest areas of expertise. Back in 2018, my 1970-74 list had 82 songs. That list took a big hit during my restructuring. My updated 1970-74 countdown has only 68 songs. To start, here are the 18 songs that dropped out of my Top 500.

#81. Changes, David Bowie (1972)
#79. Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again, the Fortunes (1971)
#77. Put Your Hand in the Hand, Ocean (1971)
#76. Heaven Help Us All, Stevie Wonder (1970)
#74. Another Saturday Night, Cat Stevens (1974)
#73. Why Can't We Live Together, Timmy Thomas (1972)
#72. My Love, Paul McCartney & Wings (1973)
#70. Coconut, Harry Nilsson (1972)
#69. Tighter, Tighter, Alive and Kicking (1970)
#67. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, Joan Baez (1971)
#66. Only You, Ringo Starr (1974)
#65. Long, Long Time, Linda Ronstadt (1970)
#64. Always Something There to Remind Me, R.B. Greaves (1970)
#61. Vincent, Don McLean (1972)
#59. Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes), Edison Lighthouse (1970)
#57. Bell Bottom Blues, Derek & the Dominos (1971)
#50. Turn Back the Hands of Time, Tyrone Davis (1970)
#49. Groove Me, King Floyd (1970)

My new countdown includes two new entries and two songs that were listed with the wrong years. Let's get this started!

#68. Too Late to Turn Back Now, Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (1972) -- #35 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfYkhQblYjY

#67. My Melody of Love, Bobby Vinton (1974) -- #62 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfnBxbDz77U

#66. The Entertainer, Marvin Hamlisch (1973) -- #63 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T4Uk7mDR-w

#65. Our House, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970) -- #80 in 2018

David Crosby's recent passing led to me listening to this tune a little more often, thus keeping it on my list a little longer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9I27w8Tuyw

#64. City of New Orleans, Arlo Guthrie (1971) -- #82 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvMS_ykiLiQ

#63. The Air That I Breathe, the Hollies (1974) -- #51 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhBqkxDvbHs

#62. Lookin' Out My Back Door, Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970) -- #75 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aae_RHRptRg

#61. Gypsy Woman, Brian Hyland (1970) -- #41 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StC5lwA2snM

#60. Let It Be, the Beatles (1970) -- #7 in 2018

A huge drop for one of the Beatles' most iconic songs. A little bit of Beatles burnout on my part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDYfEBY9NM4

#59. The Ballad of Billy the Kid, Billy Joel (1973) -- #58 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1ASIT5DqN0

#58. Smackwater Jack, Carole King (1971) -- #78 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ttfcrg-Yow

#57. Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Bob Dylan (1973) -- #43 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w5MSAUbK08

#56. Theme from "The Rockford Files", Mike Post (1974) -- #42 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg1Cx26-928

#55. Workin' at the Car Wash Blues, Jim Croce (1974) -- #68 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SULVCWbFUI

#54. You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio, Joni Mitchell (1972) -- #46 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YVroYzNz60

#53. Grandma's Hands, Bill Withers (1971) -- #53 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdrChyGb574

#52. Respect Yourself, the Staple Singers (1971) -- #45 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pYKdqD1ls

#51. I'll Take You There, the Staple Singers (1972) -- #28 in 2018

Back-to-back for the Staples family, but this song took a major hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3vgBzgYn4

More songs soon!