4x Life

One month in pop history, every week.

It’s October, 1973

Written by

Thomas Scovell

in

It’s still 46 years and 10 months before Sadie is born in our journey through musical history, let’s turn our ears back to October, 1973!

Songs of the month

  • [new] “All I Know” – Garfunkel
  • “Angie” – Rolling Stones
  • [new] “Basketball Jones Feat. Tyrone Shoelaces” – Cheech And Chong
  • “Basketball Jones Ft Tyrone Shoelaces” – Cheech And Chong
  • “Brother Louie” – Stories
  • “China Grove” – Doobie Brothers
  • “Delta Dawn” – Helen Reddy
  • “Free Ride” – Edgar Winter Group
  • [new] “Funky Stuff” – Kool And The Gang
  • “Get It Together” – Jackson 5
  • “Gypsy Man” – War
  • “Half Breed” – Cher
  • [new] “Heartbeat – It’s A Lovebeat” – Defranco Family
  • “Higher Ground” – Stevie Wonder
  • [new] “Hurts So Good” – Millie Jackson
  • [new] “I Got A Name” – Jim Croce
  • [new] “In The Midnight Hour” – Cross Country
  • [new] “Jesse” – Roberta Flack
  • [new] “Just You N Me” – Chicago
  • “Keep On Truckin’” – Eddie Kendricks
  • [new] “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan
  • “Let’s Get It On” – Marvin Gaye
  • “Loves Me Like A Rock” – Paul Simon
  • “Midnight Train To Georgia” – Gladys Knight And The Pips
  • “My Maria” – B.W. Stevenson
  • [new] “Paper Roses” – Marie Osmond
  • [new] “Photograph” – Ringo Starr
  • “Ramblin’ Man” – Allman Brothers Band
  • [new] “Rocky Mountain Way” – Joe Walsh
  • “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” – Elton John
  • “Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose” – Dawn
  • [new] “Space Race” – Billy Preston
  • [new] “Summer (The First Time)” – Bobby Goldsboro
  • “That Lady” – Isley Brothers
  • “Theme From Cleopatra Jones” – Joe Simon
  • [new] “Top Of The World” – Carpenters
  • “Touch Me In The Morning” – Diana Ross
  • [new] “We May Never Pass This Way Again” – Seals And Crofts
  • “We’re An American Band” – Grand Funk
  • “Why Me” – Kris Kristofferson
  • “Yes We Can Can” – Pointer Sisters
  • [new] “You’re A Special Part Of Me” – Diana Ross And Marvin Gaye
  • “You’ve Never Been This Far Before” – Conway Twitty

[new] = New to the chart this week.

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

This month in history

On the 5th of the month Elton John released his seventh studio album, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”, which quickly became a defining work of the 1970s. This double LP showcased the height of the partnership between Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, delivering hits like “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and the sweeping title track. The album stayed at #1 on the Billboard 200 for eight weeks and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest pop-rock records of all time, capturing Elton’s unique blend of glam rock energy and soulful balladry.

The 17th saw the U.S. premiere of “The Way We Were”, starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. The film became an instant classic, lauded for its chemistry between the leads and its bittersweet exploration of love across political and social divides. Beyond its box office success, the movie’s title song, performed by Streisand, became an enduring pop culture anthem, winning an Academy Award and topping the charts.

And on the 20th after 14 years of construction and intense architectural controversy, the Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. The event was a massive global spectacle, featuring a fireworks display and a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. As one of the most recognizable structures in the world, the opening of this “secular cathedral” transformed Sydney’s skyline and provided a world-class home for the performing arts, symbolizing a new era for Australian and global culture.

What’d Sadie think?

Two weeks at the top for Cher with”Half Breed” before a week each for the Rolling Stones and”Angie” then “Midnight Train To Georgia” by Gladys Knight And The Pips.

Loved ’em

  • “Hurts So Good” – Millie Jackson
  • “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan
  • “Rocky Mountain Way” – Joe Walsh
  • “Top Of The World” – Carpenters

Liked ’em

  • “All I Know” – Garfunkel
  • “Funky Stuff” – Kool And The Gang
  • “Heartbeat It’s A Lovebeat” – Defranco Family
  • “I Got A Name” – Jim Croce
  • “In The Midnight Hour” – Cross Country
  • “Jesse” – Roberta Flack
  • “Just You N Me” – Chicago
  • “Paper Roses” – Marie Osmond
  • “Photograph” – Ringo Starr
  • “Space Race” – Billy Preston
  • “We May Never Pass This Way Again” – Seals And Crofts
  • “You’re A Special Part Of Me” – Diana Ross And Marvin Gaye

Leave ’em

  • “Summer (The First Time)” – Bobby Goldsboro

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

More posts