#AtoZChallenge 1970's Billboard Hits - F is for... and #BOTB Results


It’s day six of the #AtoZChallenge, and that brings us to the letter F.  But first, let’s talk about the recent Battle of the Bands results. 


The song for the battle was “Alone Again (Naturally)” and the contenders were Zsa Zsa Padilla vs Michael Buble & Diana Krall.  

The total votes came out as:

Zsa Zsa Padilla with 2 votes
Michael Buble & Diana Krall with 13 votes

Congratulations to the winner!

Thank you everyone that took the time to cast your vote in that battle! The next battle takes place on April 15 with a different song.

Now that has been taken care of, let's move on to today's Challenge.

Today’s letter for the #AtoZChallenge is F. Here are a few of the billboard hits from the 70’s that start with the letter F.


1972 - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack


"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a 1957 folk song written by British political singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger, who later became his wife, to sing. At the time the couple were lovers, although MacColl was married to someone else. Seeger sang the song when the duo performed in folk clubs around Britain. During the 1960s, it was recorded by various folk singers and became a major international hit for Roberta Flack in 1972, winning the Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year. Billboard ranked it as the No. 1 song of the year for 1972.




1975 -  Fame - David Bowie

"Fame" is a song recorded by David Bowie, initially released in 1975. Written by Bowie, Carlos Alomar and John Lennon, it was a hit in North America, becoming Bowie's first number 1 single in the Canadian Singles Chart as well as the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song was one of the most successful singles of the year, ranking at number 7 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100. It was less successful in Europe, reaching number 17 in the UK Singles Chart.





1976 - A Fifth Of Beethoven - Walter Murphy and The Big Apple Band

"A Fifth of Beethoven" is a disco instrumental recorded by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band, adapted from the first movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The record was produced by noted production music and sound effects recording producer Thomas J. Valentino. The "Fifth" in the song's title is a pun, referencing a liquid measure approximately equal to one-fifth of a gallon, a popular size for bottles containing hard liquor, as well as Beethoven's Fifth Symphony from which the song was adapted.

Released as a single by Private Stock Records in 1976, the song debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and climbed to number 1 within 19 weeks, remaining there for one week. It is listed as #10 in Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Charts for 1976.

In 1977, it was licensed to RSO Records for inclusion on the best-selling Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The song is Murphy's best known work and one of his few Top 40 hits, and is considered one of the most popular and memorable pieces of music from the disco era.





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?
Tomorrow brings us the letter 'G'. 
Any guesses as to which 1970 Billboard Hits will be showcased?






Comments

  1. Roberta Flack. What a singer, what a song. Love it. Bernie xx

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Bernie! I think I actually prefer her version of the song over the Fugees.

      ~Mary

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  2. Roberta Flack ia a great singer...
    http://internetseekho.com

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  3. Mary, Roberta Flack (Hey there's a "F" word!) song is very lovely not at all funky sounding like the later two but I remember "Fame" and "The Fifth of Beethoven" from my disco fanny shaking days. #AprilA2Z Art Sketching Through the Alphabet series with Curious as a Cathy and the letter "F" for fence, frog, fox, & funny face (I love you)! Happy a2zing, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cathy!

      One thing that I noticed while putting together the posts for this challenge, was that the earlier 70's seemed to have a more mellow tone to it than later on in the decade. Can't wait to stop in to see your sketches.

      ~Mary

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    2. Mary, Hmmm, thanks for pointing that out and now that I think about it, you're right. The mewsic picked up the funkier disco vibes around 1976. ;)

      Delete
  4. I had no idea there was Disco Beethoven :) - I think I may loath it ;)
    Love the other two though :D
    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings - Shapeshifters and Werewolves

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    1. Oh sure, you loathe Disco now.. but there was a time when it was the *in* thing!
      Ranked #10 for the year, I'd say it was popular :)

      ~Mary

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  5. OMG, the first time ever I saw your face - I don't know when I heard it first, but favourite is a wholly inadequate word for what I feel about it and Roberta Flack. A paradigm shifting song and voice.

    Fame's super too, but not the same level of goosebumps as with Roberta Flack :)

    Nilanjana
    Madly-in-Verse

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    Replies
    1. It really is something, isn't it?

      Thanks for dropping by!

      ~Mary

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  6. Awesome video of Bowie and Lennon. Thank you for that!

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    1. Hey Darla! Somehow I knew you would like that one ;) It is a rare one to see.

      ~Mary

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  7. The first time I heard "First Time..." I didn't like it and didn't like it much after that because it seemed too slow and dull. Later I realized what a beautiful song it is and now I like the song a great deal. Maybe part of getting older?

    Every time I now hear "Fifth of Beethoven" I'm reminded of a very cute stripper who performed in a carnival girlie show that I worked on for a short time. She used this song for her routine and she was the best stripper on the show.

    Now I almost wish I'd voted for Zsa Zsa just to make her loss seem a little less bad.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    Replies
    1. Zsa Zsa did take a beating in the battle, but I think she'll be all right. I also think that most people would have preferred that Buble had not done a duet, but rather sang by himself on this one. I'm just glad there was a bit of a turnout in voting.

      ~Mary

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  8. Have we heard Roberta Flack's song in any Hollywood film in the soundtrack? It seems so familiar but I can't place it.

    Godyears.net

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Debbie for grabbing that information! I would have had to look it up :)

      ~Mary

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  9. My first exposure to Roberta Flack's song was in the movie 'Play Misty for Me', starring Clint Eastwood and Donna Mills. Loved it then and still do. ♥ David Bowie: Another excellent choice. I had NO idea "Fame" was co-written by John Lennon! Still mourning them both. "A Fifth of Beethoven" has such an infectious beat and likely turned a few people on to classical music. I'm thinking most fans of that genre probably hated it, though. LOL

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    1. Hi Debbie

      I don't know that I've seen 'Play Misty For Me', but I like the song 'Misty'. In fact, I had seriously thought about having that song played at my wedding a million years ago.
      It felt as though I had struck gold when I found that old footage of Bowie and Lennon together.
      And 'Fifth of Beethoven' I remember liking it back in the day, but it is rather annoying to me now. Not sure of the reason.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  10. Amazing list of songs Love the one from Robert
    Thanks for sharing
    Dr bushra
    Do visit mine
    F-Feasible Quinoa – Switch to Good Health with Quinoa

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  11. Two very different and stonking great hits to start with, but I had never heard the disco Beethoven before, what an interesting interpretation :).
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - Dragon Diaries

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    1. It does make quite the combination of songs, doesn't it? Tomorrow brings another interesting assortment of songs.

      ~Mary

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  12. Hi Mary I have all of this weeks songs
    Roger

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    1. Hey Roger!

      That's awesome! I hope you listen to them frequently.

      ~Mary

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  13. Roberta Flack had such a beautiful voice. Killing me softly is my favourite Roberta Flack number. And the 5th of Beethoven - oh yes, that has a nice catchy beat and was perfect for disco.

    Suzy at Someday Somewhere

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    1. Thanks, Suzy!

      I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment on each of my posts. I've just been insanely busy the past 2 days, so now I'm playing catch-up. (Technically, I'm still on the clock for another hour and a half, but am taking advantage of a quiet moment at work)

      I would really hoping that Roberta Flack would fall on one the battle dates. I'm going to have to save that battle for a later date.

      Disco was a lot of fun, but I could never dance to it. I think I mentioned to someone earlier that I have two left feet and dance worse than Elaine from Seinfeld.

      ~Mary

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  14. Wow, MARY! 15 BOTB voters but only 2 of them with good taste in music (and women).
    [;o)}

    (It's a good thing no one takes me seriously.}

    ~ D-FensDogG
    Check out my new blog @
    (Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...

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    1. Whew.. good thing! I was a bit surprised by the votes myself. Good thing Diana Krall had Michael Buble to help her out with that song, or I'm guessing they would have lost to that vixen that you've recently become smitten with.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

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  15. GREAT post! I had no idea John Lennon cowrote Fame, and it was a lot of fun seeing him and Bowie do this video! And I always felt Murphy's Fifth was as good of a mashup of classical and disco ever! Thanks, Mary! You rule! (Still!)

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    1. Oh Arn, you sweet talker, you!

      I thought the Bowie/Lennon connection was a great find as well. Thanks for stopping by to show your support.

      ~Mare

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