4x Life

One month in pop history, every week.

It’s June, 1974

Written by

Thomas Scovell

in

We’re half-way through 1974 already, nearing on having listened to a quarter century of hits in this project! What more will we hear before we get there? Let’s see what June has to offer…

Songs of the month

  • [new] “Annie’s Song” – John Denver
  • “Band On The Run” – Paul Mccartney And Wings
  • “Be Thankful For What You Got” – William Devaughn
  • “Bennie And The Jets” – Elton John
  • “Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
  • “Billy Don’t Be A Hero” – Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods
  • “Come And Get Your Love” – Redbone
  • [new] “Dancing Machine” – Jackson Five
  • “Don’t You Worry ’bout A Thing” – Stevie Wonder
  • “For The Love Of Money” – O’jays
  • [new] “Haven’t Got Time For The Pain” – Carly Simon
  • “Help Me” – Joni Mitchell
  • “Hollywood Swinging” – Kool And The Gang
  • “I Won’t Last A Day Without You” – Carpenters
  • [new] “I’m Coming Home” – Spinners
  • “I’m In Love” – Aretha Franklin
  • [new] “I’ve Been Searchin’ So Long” – Chicago
  • “If You Love Me” – Olivia Newton-John
  • [new] “If You Wanna Get To Heaven” – Ozark Mountain Daredevils
  • “Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely” – Main Ingredient
  • “Midnight At The Oasis” – Maria Muldaur
  • “My Girl Bill” – Jim Stafford
  • “Oh Very Young” – Cat Stevens
  • [new] “On And On” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
  • [new] “One Hell Of A Woman” – Mac Davis
  • [new] “Radar Love” – Golden Earring
  • [new] “Rikki Don’t Lose My Number” – Steely Dan
  • [new] “Rock And Roll Heaven” – Righteous Brothers
  • [new] “Rock The Boat” – Hues Corporation
  • [new] “Rock Your Baby” – George Mccrae
  • [new] “Save The Last Dance For Me” – Defranco Family
  • “Searchin’ So Long” – Chicago
  • [new] “Sideshow” – Blue Magic
  • [new] “Son Of Sagittarius” – Eddie Kendricks
  • “Sundown” – Gordon Lightfoot
  • [new] “The Air That I Breathe” – Hollies
  • “The Entertainer” – Marvin Hamlisch
  • “The Locomotion” – Grand Funk
  • “The Show Must Go On” – Three Dog Night
  • “The Streak” – Ray Stevens
  • [new] “Train Of Thought” – Cher
  • “TSOP” – MFSB
  • “Tubular Bells” – Mike Oldfield
  • [new] “Waterloo” – Abba
  • “You Make Me Feel Brand New” – Stylistics
  • [new] “You Won’t See Me” – Anne Murray

[new] = New to the chart this week.

You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

This month in history

This month Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” Reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Written as a farewell to her longtime musical partner Porter Wagoner, the song remains one of the most successful and enduring ballads in music history. It famously caught the attention of Elvis Presley, who wanted to cover it, but Dolly turned him down because his manager demanded half the publishing rights—a savvy business move that preserved her legacy and paved the way for Whitney Houston’s record-breaking 1992 version.

The 10th FIFA World Cup began in West Germany on June 14, 1974, marking a revolutionary shift in the world’s most popular sport. This tournament introduced the world to “Total Football,” a fluid tactical system popularized by the Netherlands and their star Johan Cruyff. It was also the first World Cup to feature the current FIFA World Cup Trophy, as the previous Jules Rimet Trophy had been permanently awarded to Brazil in 1970. The tournament’s blend of high-stakes drama and tactical innovation captivated a global television audience and defined the sporting summer of ’74.

On June 20, 1974, Roman Polanski’s neo-noir masterpiece Chinatown premiered in the United States. Starring Jack Nicholson as private investigator J.J. Gittes and Faye Dunaway as Evelyn Mulwray, the film revitalized the hardboiled detective genre with its cynical, complex screenplay by Robert Towne. Chinatown is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made, known for its haunting Jerry Goldsmith score and its exploration of power, corruption, and drought in 1930s Los Angeles—themes that felt particularly resonant during the political disillusionment of the mid-70s.

What’d Sadie think?

It’s a week for “The Streak” by Ray Stevens, “Band On The Run” by Paul Mccartney And Wings, two for “Billy Don’t Be A Hero” by Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods before  Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown” rounds out a varied month of number ones.

Loved ’em

  • “Dancing Machine” – Jackson Five
  • “I’m Coming Home” – Spinners
  • “Rock The Boat” – Hues Corporation
  • “The Air That I Breathe” – Hollies
  • “Waterloo” – Abba

Liked ’em

  • “Annie’s Song” – John Denver
  • “Haven’t Got Time For The Pain” – Carly Simon
  • “I’ve Been Searchin’ So Long” – Chicago
  • “If You Wanna Get To Heaven” – Ozark Mountain Daredevils
  • “Radar Love” – Golden Earring
  • “Rikki Don’t Lose My Number” – Steely Dan
  • “Rock And Roll Heaven” – Righteous Brothers
  • “Rock Your Baby” – George Mccrae
  • “Sideshow” – Blue Magic
  • “Son Of Sagittarius” – Eddie Kendricks
  • “Train Of Thought” – Cher
  • “You Won’t See Me” – Anne Murray

Leave ’em

  • “On And On” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
  • “One Hell Of A Woman” – Mac Davis
  • “Save The Last Dance For Me” – Defranco Family

Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.

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