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


Today is day ten of the #AtoZChallenge and that brings us to the letter I. These four songs were the top ‘I’ songs according to the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End lists.



1971 - It's Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move - Carole King


"It's Too Late" is a song from Carole King's 1971 album Tapestry. Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music. It was released as a single in April 1971 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later certified Gold by the RIAA. Billboard ranked "It's Too Late" and its fellow A-side, "I Feel the Earth Move", as the No. 3 record for 1971.

The lyrics describe the end of a loving relationship without assigning blame. Music critic Dave Marsh noted the implicit feminism in the fact that the woman has left the man. Marsh also remarked on the maturity of the theme.

"I Feel the Earth Move" is a song written and recorded by pop singer-songwriter Carole King, which first appeared on her album Tapestry; additionally, the song is one half of the double A-sided single, the flip side which was "It's Too Late". Together, both "I Feel the Earth Move" and "It's Too Late" became among the biggest mainstream pop hits of 1971.







1972 -  I Gotcha - Joe Tex

"I Gotcha" is a song by Joe Tex. He originally intended for the song to be recorded by King Floyd, but Floyd never recorded it. Instead, Tex recorded it himself in the late 1960s but did not release it at that time. He decided to re-record the song in late 1971 and released it as the B-side of "A Mother's Prayer", the first single off his 1972 album that was also titled I Gotcha. This angry song has the singer accusing his lover of being unfaithful to him, by having an affair with another man, so he tests her to ask her to kiss him for a longer time, and when he is unsatisfied, he demands to her to have her give him back his love, as a result of playing with his affections. Radio DJs decided to flip the single over and started playing "I Gotcha". This would result in Tex having his first major hit in five years as "I Gotcha" eventually peaked at Number 1 on the R&B chart and Number 2 on the Pop chart for two weeks, behind "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack and would sell around three million copies. Billboard ranked it as the No. 6 song of 1972.





1977 - I Just Want To Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb

"I Just Want to Be Your Everything" is a song recorded by Andy Gibb, initially released in 1977. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, starting on the week ending 30 July 1977, and again for the week ending 17 September 1977. It was Gibb's first single released in the United Kingdom and United States. His previous single, "Words and Music" was only released in Australia. It is ranked number 26 on Billboard's 55th anniversary All Time Top 100 list. The song became a gold record.







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 'J'. 
Any guesses as to which Billboard Hits from the 70s will be showcased?






Comments

  1. I don't know any of these songs today, so you have educated me :)
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - Dragon Diaries

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The only one that I didn't know today was Joe Tex. Andy Gibb was one of my first crushes.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

      Delete
  2. I had the Tapestry album and how can you not love Andy Gibb. Never heard the Joe Tex song.

    Suzy at Someday Somewhere - Inaction

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Suzy

      I'm with you, Joe Tex was a new one for me as well. I think I'll do a separate post about him after the challenge. He seems like an interesting guy.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  3. Hi Mary. I've been meaning to look you up this year but it's taken me 10 days! Am saving this post to have a listen later (when I'm not rushed).
    I is for Island of Brac

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Arti!

      I know the challenge can be rather hectic for all of us. That's one of the nice things about putting together the playlist for you. So that you can listen to it any time during the year. I often listen to the playlist that I made for the challenge I did 2 years ago.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  4. I gotcha is my favourite from this list
    Interesting post, enjoyed a lot
    Thanks for sharing
    Dr Bushra
    Do visit mineI for Imbibe Yourself about Antenatal Care during Pregnancy – Part 1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dr Bushra

      I Gotcha was one that I had not heard before. Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

      Delete
  5. Good music. I remember listening to Carole King and watching Soul Train. Fabulous clip from the show! I'd enjoy learning more about all these artists. ~grin~ Happy blogging!

    http://darlamsands.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it was the fall of 1983, in Idaho. We had an earthquake. Carole King had some property not far from the epicenter. 'I Feel The Earth Move Under My Feet' got quite a bit of airplay locally for a week or two after that. I remember watching Soul Train as well, but for some reason, I just don't remember this song.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  6. Hi Mary. Fun post today! I LOVED Joe Tex's I Gotcha! Great Soul Train clip and an awesome way to start my day. Love Carole King, especially the two songs you chose to spotlight. I'm a fan of anything Gibb!
    Another great I song from that era is In A Gadda Da Vida. Who can resist a little Iron Butterfly? :)

    Thanks for introducing me to Joe Tex. I'm going to come back later and re-watch that video. It's terrific!

    Michele at Angels Bark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey there One-El Michele!

      Believe it or not, In A Gadda Da Vida, is technically from the 60's, being released in 1968. Great song choice, though!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      ~Mary

      Delete
    2. Ah yes it is. Forgot that you were focusing on the 70s decade alone. Of course I usually lump late 60s in with "my era" of music, baby boomer that I am...:)

      Delete
    3. Ha! I actually had to look it up to respond. I read your comment and my mind said "Hey! How did we miss this one?!?"

      Can you believe we're as old as we are? Just last week I posted on Facebook that my sister would have been celebrating her 63rd birthday, and then I realized she's been gone for 21 years. Then the mortifying thought that if she is that old, I must be getting old, too! In my head, I'm still in my early 30's.

      Delete
  7. I love "It's too Late" I haven't heard it in ages!
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carole King's 'Tapestry' was a pretty decent album. Give the whole thing a listen.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  8. WHAT?! One of the Gibb Brothers AGAIN?
    Oh, Gibb it a rest!

    Ha! I'm just kidding, MMQE! I'm just being "contrary".

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

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those Gibbs were all over the 70's! I think you may get a reprieve from them on Thursday, but then they'll make another appearance next week.

      When are you not contrary? :p

      ~Mary

      Delete
  9. I remember all of them. "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" was what I call an EBS Special (https://thesoundofonehandtyping.wordpress.com/what-is-an-ebs-special/), but the others were good.

    I read years ago that Joe Tex changed his name to Joe X at some point.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh John, that hurts my heart. Andy was my tweenage crush. I'm definitely going to do some more research on Joe Tex. He sounds like an interesting person.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  10. Oh the 70's! My husband's favorite time for music. All of these brought a smile to my face but especially Aerosmith!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Heidi

      I think the 70's had some really good tunes. The early 70's have special memories of my siblings, and the later 70's were just my crazy teenage years.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  11. Great job! I haven't heard these tunes in a while, but they all definitely ROCK! Thanks for sharing! hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Marie!

      I think the pace is going to pick up a little bit in the alphabet. We're dealing with more stuff from later in the decade now. (at least for a few days)

      Thanks for dropping in!

      ~Mary

      Delete
  12. I have the Tapestry album on CD. I got it for my 50th birthday (almost 15 years ago!) Joe Tex, however, was not one of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Alana!

      Joe Tex is one that wasn't on my radar either. But he had big sales, as Billboard Hot 100 Year-end has him ranked at #6 for 1972.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  13. Hi Mary some what late this week love Carol King song also never heard the Joe Tex song before and just not into Andy Gibb
    Roger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Roger.. I'm running late myself ;)

      At least there was one that you liked...

      ~Mary

      Delete
  14. Mary, All of your songs are a big part of the 70s decade and my life but I do not remember "I Gotcha" by Joe Tex. I do remember the hot pants, though. lol Great clip from the Soul Train. Thanks for visiting yesterday's "I" post! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cathy

      I'm with you. When I was putting together the post, I thought I had written my notes wrong. Had to double check my sources because I had not heard of Joe Tex either. I'm running behind today - mostly because I had to report for work at the last minute (my boss/cousin is sick and she needed someone to cover for her) I'll be around later this evening hopefully.

      ~Mary

      Delete
  15. Carole King wrote and co-wrote such a huge catalog of great songs. Some of the best in our generation.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love comments! Did you know that comments that are less than 8 words long are considered spam? So, don't hold back! Spill yer guts. Let me know you stopped by and let me know what you liked about the post, or what you didn't like. If you are a blogger, be sure to include a link to your blog, so that I can easily reciprocate.

Recent Posts

Recent Posts Widget