4x Life

One month in pop history, every week.

It’s August, 1974

Written by

Thomas Scovell

in

It’s still 46 years before Sadie is born, in our journey through musical history, so let’s hear from August, 1974 sounded like…

Songs of the month

  • “Annie’s Song” – John Denver
  • [new] “Another Saturday Night” – Cat Stevens
  • [new] “Beach Baby” – First Class
  • “Call On Me” – Chicago
  • [new] “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” – Barry White
  • [new] “Clap For The Wolfman” – Guess Who
  • “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” – Elton John
  • “Feel Like Makin’ Love” – Roberta Flack
  • [new] “Free Man In Paris” – Joni Mitchell
  • [new] “Hang On In There Baby” – Johnny Bristol
  • [new] “I Honestly Love You” – Olivia Newton-John
  • [new] “I Shot The Sheriff” – Eric Clapton
  • [new] “I’m Leaving It All Up To You” – Donny & Marie Osmond
  • “If You Talk In Your Sleep” – Elvis Presley
  • [new] “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll” – Rolling Stones
  • “Keep On Smilin’” – Wet Willie
  • [new] “Let’s Put It All Together” – Stylistics
  • “Machine Gun” – Commodores
  • [new] “My Thang” – James Brown
  • [new] “Nothing From Nothing” – Billy Preston
  • “On And On” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
  • “One Hell Of A Woman” – Mac Davis
  • “Please Come To Boston” – Dave Loggins
  • “Radar Love” – Golden Earring
  • “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” – Steely Dan
  • “Rock And Roll Heaven” – Righteous Brothers
  • “Rock Me Gently” – Andy Kim
  • “Rock The Boat” – Hues Corporation
  • “Rock Your Baby” – George Mccrae
  • [new] “Rub It In” – Billy Crash Craddock
  • “Shinin’ On” – Grand Funk
  • “Sideshow” – Blue Magic
  • “Sure As I’m Sittin’ Here” – Three Dog Night
  • [new] “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • “Takin’ Care Of Business” – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
  • “Tell Me Something Good” – Rufus
  • “The Air That I Breathe” – Hollies
  • “The Night Chicago Died” – Paper Lace
  • [new] “Then Came You” – Dionne Warwick And The Spinners
  • “Waterloo” – Abba
  • [new] “Who Do You Think You Are” – Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods
  • [new] “Wild Thing” – Fancy
  • “Wildwood Weed” – Jim Stafford
  • [new] “You And Me Against The World” – Helen Reddy
  • [new] “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” – Stevie Wonder
  • [new] “You’re Having My Baby” – Paul Anka

[new] = New to the chart this week.

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

This month in history

While primarily a political event, the resignation of Richard Nixon was arguably the biggest “must-watch” television moment of the 1970s in the USA. On the evening of August 8, an estimated 110 million people tuned in to watch Nixon become the first U.S. President to resign. This televised exit didn’t just end a presidency; it solidified a era of deep skepticism and cynicism that would permeate 70s pop culture, from the gritty “New Hollywood” films to the rebellious spirit of the emerging punk and rock scenes.

On August 16, four guys from Forest Hills, Queens—Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy—stepped onto the small, dingy stage of a Bowery club called CBGB for their first public performance. The Ramones unleashed a short, fast, and loud set that stripped rock and roll back to its three-chord essentials. This performance is widely considered the “ground zero” of American punk rock. It provided the blueprint for a movement that would prioritize energy and attitude over technical perfection, forever changing the trajectory of music and youth fashion.

In late August, a low-budget independent film premiered in Austin, Texas, that would  rewrite the rules of horror. Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre introduced the world to Leatherface and a visceral, documentary-style terror that felt disturbingly real. Despite being banned in several countries and facing censorship for its perceived violence, the film was a massive box-office success. It paved the way for the “slasher” genre and remains a benchmark for how to build unbearable tension with minimal resources—a landmark in independent cinema.

What’d Sadie think?

It’s a month at the top for “Annie’s Song” by John Denver then “The Night Chicago Died” by Paper Lace before  Paul Anka’s new track, “You’re Having My Baby” takes the top for two weeks.

Loved ’em

  • “Another Saturday Night” – Cat Stevens
  • “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” – Barry White
  • “Free Man In Paris” – Joni Mitchell
  • “Hang On In There Baby” – Johnny Bristol
  • “I Shot The Sheriff” – Eric Clapton
  • “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll” – Rolling Stones
  • “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • “Wild Thing” – Fancy
  • “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” – Stevie Wonder

Liked ’em

  • “Beach Baby” – First Class
  • “I Honestly Love You” – Olivia Newton-John
  • “I’m Leaving It All Up To You” – Donny & Marie Osmond
  • “Let’s Put It All Together” – Stylistics
  • “My Thang” – James Brown
  • “Nothing From Nothing” – Billy Preston
  • “Rub It In” – Billy Crash Craddock
  • “Then Came You” – Dionne Warwick And The Spinners
  • “Who Do You Think You Are” – Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods
  • “You And Me Against The World” – Helen Reddy

Leave ’em

  • “Clap For The Wolfman” – Guess Who
  • “You’re Having My Baby” – Paul Anka

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

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