Busy week at work so let’s jump straight to the new year sounds of January, 1974…
Songs of the month
- [new] “Americans” – Byron Macgregor
- “D’yer Maker” – Led Zeppelin
- “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” – Elton John
- “Helen Wheels” – Paul Mccartney And Wings
- “Hello It’s Me” – Todd Rundgren
- [new] “I Love” – Tom T. Hall
- “I’ve Got To Use My Imagination” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
- [new] “If We Make It Through December” – Merle Haggard
- “If You’re Ready” – Staple Singers
- [new] “Jungle Boogie” – Kool And The Gang
- “Just You N Me” – Chicago
- “Leave Me Alone” – Helen Reddy
- “Let Me Be There” – Olivia Newton-John
- [new] “Let Your Hair Down” – Temptations
- “Livin’ For You” – Al Green
- “Living For The City” – Stevie Wonder
- “Love’s Theme” – Love Unlimited Orchestra
- “Me And Baby Brother” – War
- “Mind Games” – John Lennon
- “My Music” – Loggins And Messina
- “Never Never Gonna Give You Up” – Barry White
- [new] “Put Your Hands Together” – O’jays
- [new] “Rock On” – David Essex
- “Rockin’ Roll Baby” – Stylistics
- “Show And Tell” – Al Wilson
- [new] “Sister Mary Elephant” – Cheech And Chong
- “Smokin’ In The Boys Room” – Brownsville Station
- [new] “Spiders & Snakes” – Jim Stafford
- [new] “Spiders And Snakes” – Jim Stafford
- [new] “The Americans” – Gordon Sinclair
- “The Joker” – Steve Miller Band
- “The Love I Lost” – Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes
- “The Most Beautiful Girl” – Charlie Rich
- “The Way We Were” – Barbra Streisand
- “Time In A Bottle” – Jim Croce
- “Top Of The World” – Carpenters
- “Until You Come Back To Me” – Aretha Franklin
- [new] “Walk Like A Man” – Grand Funk
- “When I Fall In Love” – Donny Osmond
- “You’re Sixteen” – Ringo Starr
[new] = New to the chart this week.
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.
This month in history
On January 15, ABC premiered a sitcom that would go on to define the decade’s obsession with 1950s nostalgia. Originally born from a segment on Love, American Style, Happy Days introduced the world to the Cunningham family and the breakout “cool” archetype, Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli. While critics were initially mixed, the show’s idealized vision of mid-century Americana struck a chord with an audience looking for escapism during the real-world tensions of the 1970s. It eventually became a ratings powerhouse and spawned a massive franchise of spin-offs.
After nearly eight years of staying off the road following a 1966 motorcycle accident, Bob Dylan returned to the stage on January 3 at the Chicago Stadium. Backed by The Band, this tour was one of the most anticipated musical events of the era, with ticket demand far exceeding supply. The high-energy performances, later immortalized in the live album Before the Flood, saw Dylan reinventing his own classics with a louder, more aggressive sound. It signaled that the “voice of a generation” was ready to engage with the public once again, setting the tone for his prolific output in the mid-70s.
3. The Series Premiere of The Six Million Dollar Man (January 18)
Following three successful television movies, the first weekly episode of The Six Million Dollar Man aired on January 18. Starring Lee Majors as Colonel Steve Austin, the show introduced the iconic “better, stronger, faster” bionic man to a weekly audience. Its blend of sci-fi action and slow-motion “bionic” sound effects became a playground staple for children of the 70s. The show didn’t just become a hit; it became a merchandising phenomenon and a precursor to the modern superhero and action-driven television we see today.
What’d Sadie think?
A week a song for “Time In A Bottle” by Jim Croce, Steve Miller Band’s”The Joker”, “Show And Tell” by Al Wilson and Ringo Starr’s, “You’re Sixteen”.
Loved ’em
- “Jungle Boogie” – Kool And The Gang
- “Let Your Hair Down” – Temptations
- “Rock On” – David Essex
- “Walk Like A Man” – Grand FunK
Liked ’em
- “I Love” – Tom T. Hall
- “If We Make It Through December” – Merle Haggard
- “Put Your Hands Together” – O’jays
- “Spiders & Snakes” – Jim Stafford
- “The Americans” – Gordon Sinclair
Leave ’em
- “Sister Mary Elephant” – Cheech And Chong
Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.