#AtoZChallenge 1970's Billboard Hits - E is for...


It’s day five of the #AtoZChallenge, and that brings us to the letter E.  Are you enjoying the theme so far?



1970 - Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens

“Everything Is Beautiful” is a song written, composed, and performed by Ray Stevens. It has appeared on many of Stevens' albums, including one named after the song, and has become a pop standard and common in religious performances. The children heard singing the chorus of the song, using the hymn, "Jesus Loves the Little Children", are from the Oak Hill Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee. This group includes Stevens' two daughters. The song was responsible for two wins at the Grammy Awards of 1971: Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Ray Stevens and Grammy Award for Best Inspirational Performance for Jake Hess. Stevens' recording was the Number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in the summer of 1970. The song also spent three weeks atop the adult contemporary chart. Many country stations played the song, peaking it at #39 on Billboard's chart. Billboard ranked the record as the No. 12 song of 1970. The song includes anti-racist and pro-tolerance lyrics such as "We shouldn't care 'bout the length of his hair/Or the color of his skin."





1977 -  Evergreen - Barbra Streisand

"Evergreen" is the theme song from the 1976 film A Star Is Born. It was composed and performed by Barbra Streisand with lyrics by Paul Williams, and arranged by Ian Freebairn-Smith. The song was released on the soundtrack album to A Star Is Born.

As composers, Streisand and Williams earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song. the first woman to be honored as a composer. Streisand also earned a Grammy Award for Song of the Year. She and Williams also won Golden Globes for Best Original Song.

The song's opening couplet, "Love, soft as an easy chair, love fresh as the morning air," almost did not appear that way. Williams wrote the morning air line first, but told Streisand to "flip those two first lines, because it sings better."

In the US, the single became Streisand's second number 1 single and spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and six weeks atop the easy listening chart. This was Streisand's second number-one song on the Hot 100 (following "The Way We Were" in 1974), and her third on the adult contemporary chart ("The Way We Were" and 1964's "People"). In its year-end chart for 1977, Billboard ranked the platinum-certified single, which sold more than 2 million copies, the fourth-biggest single of the year. In the UK Singles Chart, the song peaked at #3 in 1977.





1978 - Emotion - Samantha Sang

"Emotion" is a song written by Barry and Robin Gibb. It was first recorded by Australian singer Samantha Sang, whose version reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1978. On this track, Sang sticks to a breathy, Barry-like sound. Gibb himself provided harmony and background vocals, using his falsetto on this track. The Bee Gees recorded their own version of the song in 1994 as part of an album called Love Songs which was never released but it was eventually included on their 2001 collection titled Their Greatest Hits: The Record. In 2001, "Emotion" was covered by the American R&B girl group Destiny's Child. Their version of the song was an international hit, reaching the top ten on the US Hot 100 chart and peaking in the top five on the UK Singles Chart.





Be sure to follow the 2017 AtoZ Challenge playlist for all of the songs featured in this years challenge.




Did you listen to any of these tunes in the 70's?  Would you like to know more about these artists in future posts? Let me know in the comments.

What does tomorrow bring?
Friday brings us the letter 'F'. 
Any guesses as to which 1970 Billboard Hits will be showcased?
Battle of the Bands results will also be posted.





Comments

  1. I fell in love with that Streisand song now. It is my kind of song :)
    I guess I'm an old man now.

    Godyears.net

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    Replies
    1. Haha! I wouldn't call you an old man for liking a song from the 70's.

      ~Mary

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  2. I love, love, love Barbara Streisand! 'Everything is beautiful' about your theme, super music. Enjoying it much. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. aww Thank you!

      I'm having a good time putting it together. Appreciate you stopping by!

      ~Mary

      Delete
  3. I had no idea Barbara Streisand was so talented - I have to admit that I'd only heard about her as the diva singer who causes ruckuses.
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - Dragon Diaries

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    1. Oh yes, she is very talented. Actress, composer, singer, etc.

      ~Mary

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  4. Hey Mary! I'm coming out of the shadows for a minute today! :)
    Great theme! And so many memories. I had totally forgotten about the song Emotion. I love anything that has to do with the Gibb brothers.
    And A Star is Born is one of my favorite movies. Love Streisand!
    Everything is Beautiful is such a good song too.
    Awesome post. Thanks for the memories.

    I'm unplugging for a while but I'll be back in a month or so...
    Thanks for your note at my place yesterday! <3

    Michele at Angels Bark

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    1. Hey Michele!

      Andy Gibb was one of my very first celebrity crushes. And Barry Gibb is so talented, writing so many songs for so many other artists.

      It seems like every movie that Streisand was in, her music did very well.

      Hope you don't unplug for too long. Like I said yesterday, the longer you stay away, the harder it is to come back.

      ~Mary

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  5. How interesting that Streisand was the first female composer honored so. And I have to say that, while I mentioned on your kindly comment visiting my blog that seventies music isn't really my thing outside David Bowie, I do love me some Aerosmith now and then. And I still enjoy learning about these obviously talented artists. Happy blogging!

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    1. Aerosmith is a good group! Just think, all of these earlier artists helped pave the way for them (although they did do their fair share of paving as well)

      ~Mary

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  6. Great theme and love Barbra Streisand. Nice share! 💐

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    1. Thank you!

      Streisand will be making another appearance later in the challenge. So stay tuned!

      ~Mary

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  7. Love the theme of this post. I learned a lot about Barbra Streisand.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you!

      I learn quite a bit doing these posts as well. Little pieces of trivia. you never know when they will come in handy.

      Thanks for stopping in!

      ~Mary

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  8. Ah, this really takes me back to the music my sister would play on her stereo in the afternoon before she went to work. Sounds like my childhood! :)

    26 Things To Hate About Writing: E is for Edits

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    1. Yay for childhood memories! Music makes them all the better. Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  9. Replies
    1. Emotion was a big hit. But even I had forgotten that she sang on this song with Barry and his brothers.

      Thanks for dropping in!

      ~Mary

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  10. Mary I have a very large pile of 45,s and yes you will find some Ray Stevens in that pile but you will not find any of the three songs you have listed here today oh and your friend was right we are getting snow tonight
    Roger

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    Replies
    1. Hey Roger!

      I had forgotten that Ray Stevens also did straightforward music. I had been accustomed to his novelty songs such as 'The Streak' and 'Mississippi Squirrel Revival'.

      Stay safe on the roads tonight!

      ~Mary

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  11. Love the song "Emotion". I always thought it was on the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack. Obviously being released in 1978 and having the Barry Gibb so heavily involved was why I thought as much.

    The Gibb brothers were so talented and had such a great ability to harmonize. Just incredible.

    Darren

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    1. They were very talented. And so very sad that Barry is the only one left. I watched an interview a few weeks ago, and he is now taking the stage with his children and nieces and nephews.

      And they still sound good!

      ~Mary

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  12. Those are great. I haven't heard Evergreen in way too long.

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  13. I love 'Evergreen' and the movie, too! Such a heartbreaking moment when Kris decided to end it all. The other two bring back memories as well. I was a Bee Gees fan from the very beginning ~1966. Not too crazy about most of their Disco music, but that certainly turned them into superstars. It saddens me too, that Barry is the only one left and he's the oldest.

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    1. Hi Debbie!

      You know, I don't think I've ever watched any of her movies all the way through. But I have enjoyed her music. Her voice is so very distinctive.

      I tried to learn the Hustle back in the day, but it turns out I have two left feet. I'm better off watching from the sideline - Makes for better/easier conversation in my opinion.

      Thanks for dropping by. Appreciate the support!

      ~Mary

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    2. Evergreen is my choice. Not only does Barbra Streisand sing it, she sings it to Kris Kristofferson. Can't beat that for a #1 hit!

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  14. Mary, "Emotion" featuring Andy Gibb I totally forgot about but boy did I ever like that song.

    Art Sketching Through the Alphabet with Curious as a Cathy and the letter "E" (elephant, eagle, elk)

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    1. The Gibbs had so many hits between them all, it is easy to lose track, while loving each of them.

      ~Mary

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  15. I love the way how Streisand makes the song sound so effortless.
    Don't recognise the last pick specifically, but the style is very familiar :).
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - Shapeshifters and Werewolves

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    1. Streisand does sing effortlessly, and she has a tremendous voice.

      ~Mary

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  16. Three awesome songs. How could you not like these? Evergreen is one of my favourites.

    Suzy at Someday Somewhere

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