What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

The 100 Greatest Songs of 1972. #1. All The Young Dudes (2 Viewers)

71. Jim Croce “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” (from You Don’t Mess Around With Jim) 

https://youtu.be/hickVDiW8k0

This song contains one of my favorite lyrics ever: 

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape 

So good; love that. I love the whole song actually. It’s more of an acoustic blues tune than it is singer-songwriter/folk rock/soft rock, which were the categories that Croce was was typically thrown into. Whatever; he was a terrific songwriter and due to his untimely death a year later we’ll never know how much he might have progressed even more. 

 
timschochet said:
72. Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (from I Miss You) 

https://youtu.be/C1Qgh0_JF5o

For anyone who isn’t aware, Harold Melvin was actually Teddy Pendergrass, and this song by Gamble and Huff was the first in a string of classic soul hits in the 1970s. Teddy had an epic voice. 
Click to expand...
Dunno if your phrasing was just a figure of speech, but in case it wasn’t, Harold Melvin was a member of the band, he just wasn’t the lead singer. Just like how Spencer Davis wasn’t the lead singer of the Spencer Davis Group.

 
Pip's Invitation said:
Dunno if your phrasing was just a figure of speech, but in case it wasn’t, Harold Melvin was a member of the band, he just wasn’t the lead singer. Just like how Spencer Davis wasn’t the lead singer of the Spencer Davis Group.
Click to expand...
Actually did not know that. Thanks for the correction. 

 
70. Gary Glitter “Rock and Roll (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2)” (from Glitter) 

https://youtu.be/yTiSsTOFqyQ

Gary Glitter is a terrible human being who has sexually molested children. But this song is pretty iconic, mainly because it’s been played by every high school and college marching band that’s ever existed. I will be happy if I never hear it again, but it was impossible to leave off this list. 

 
timschochet said:
70. Gary Glitter “Rock and Roll (Pt. 1 & Pt. 2)” (from Glitter) 

https://youtu.be/yTiSsTOFqyQ

Gary Glitter is a terrible human being who has sexually molested children. But this song is pretty iconic, mainly because it’s been played by every high school and college marching band that’s ever existed. I will be happy if I never hear it again, but it was impossible to leave off this list. 
Click to expand...
I do not think that word means what you think it means.

 
69. The Doobie Brothers “Jesus Is Just Alright” (from Toulouse Street) 

https://youtu.be/JEvy8mROAj0

This was originally a gospel song by the Art Reynolds Singers, then The Byrds did a rock version for their album Ballad of Easy Rider in 1969. The Doobies’ cover is very similar to the Byrds, but they scored a hit and it became their tune forevermore. 
Toulouse Street was the breakthrough album for Tom Johnston and his crew. Although it was not well-regarded at the time, it contained a number of enormous hits for the band. 

 
AWWWWW OMG TIM ...

great call back man    :hifive:

this is the Doobies of my young teen childhood

their albums before Michael McDonald were so of their time and so ...I hate to say it ...so country-rock (Lyrnerd Skyrd)

I don't dislike Michael McDonald at all ...but the Doobies went through ALMOST as much of a change as Chicago

NOTE: total sound change but the Doobies still didn't suck gorilla balls

 
The Doobies best album is the next one from '73, but this one is also good.   Jesus Is Just Alright was usually not one of my favorites of their classic rock mainstays, but still a solid tune. 

 
timschochet said:
69. The Doobie Brothers “Jesus Is Just Alright” (from Toulouse Street) 

https://youtu.be/JEvy8mROAj0

This was originally a gospel song by the Art Reynolds Singers, then The Byrds did a rock version for their album Ballad of Easy Rider in 1969. The Doobies’ cover is very similar to the Byrds, but they scored a hit and it became their tune forevermore. 
Toulouse Street was the breakthrough album for Tom Johnston and his crew. Although it was not well-regarded at the time, it contained a number of enormous hits for the band. 
Click to expand...
I picked the Byrds version for my Third 100 of 1969. They are indeed very similar. 

 
timschochet said:
69. The Doobie Brothers “Jesus Is Just Alright” (from Toulouse Street) 

https://youtu.be/JEvy8mROAj0

This was originally a gospel song by the Art Reynolds Singers, then The Byrds did a rock version for their album Ballad of Easy Rider in 1969. The Doobies’ cover is very similar to the Byrds, but they scored a hit and it became their tune forevermore. 
Toulouse Street was the breakthrough album for Tom Johnston and his crew. Although it was not well-regarded at the time, it contained a number of enormous hits for the band. 
Click to expand...
Ted Templeman was also the producer for Tupelo Honey (Van Morrison), and later produced the debut eponymous albums for both Montrose & Van Halen*

*TT: gimme a break, Dave    
DLR: one break, coming up

 
Last edited by a moderator:
68. Neil Young “Harvest” (from Harvest) 

https://youtu.be/jkMQc82RMJw

Neil Young himself loves the song “Harvest” and regards it as the best thing he did on this album. I disagree, but it’s still a great song. The melody of the verse is the same as the chorus, which is a structure similar to Bob Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street”, and the songs are actually quite alike IMO. Both classics, much loved. 

 
timschochet said:
89. Manassas “Johnny’s Garden” (from Manassas) 

https://youtu.be/5u3OMoKbrrg

Manassas was the name of Stephen Still’s band in 1972, so this is basically a Stephen Stills solo effort. The album was meh, but there are a couple of really excellent songs. This one, about his time in England, later became a concert staple for Stills (the link is to a CSNY show.) 
Click to expand...
Some good pulls of late, this one especially. I agree with others that there are probably better songs on this album, but still like the choice. 

 
67. Arlo Guthrie “City of New Orleans” (from Hobo’s Lullaby) 

https://youtu.be/TvMS_ykiLiQ
 
This song was written by Steve Goodman, who penned a number of folk tunes in the late 60s/early 70s. He is also the author of “Go Cubs Go!”; the fight song of the Chicago Cubs. 

There have been several versions of this song, including one by Willie Nelson which won a Grammy for best Country song, but Arlo’s version is the best known (and probably Arlo’s best known song outside of “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”, though I enjoy some of his other lesser known material.) 

 
65. Jackson Browne “Doctor My Eyes” (from Jackson Browne) 

https://youtu.be/qKGTaplzmV4

This was Jackson Browne’s first big radio hit. As befitting the artist, it’s melodic, with reflective lyrics, but unlike most of the rest of the album which was acoustic, this tune was a rocker with electric instruments (albeit of a soft rock variety.).

”Doctor My Eyes” set the stage for a whole lot of excellent (and some mediocre) soft rock that would come to define the 1970s, including bands like The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. 

 
timschochet said:
65. Jackson Browne “Doctor My Eyes” (from Jackson Browne) 

https://youtu.be/qKGTaplzmV4

This was Jackson Browne’s first big radio hit. As befitting the artist, it’s melodic, with reflective lyrics, but unlike most of the rest of the album which was acoustic, this tune was a rocker with electric instruments (albeit of a soft rock variety.).

”Doctor My Eyes” set the stage for a whole lot of excellent (and some mediocre) soft rock that would come to define the 1970s, including bands like The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. 
Click to expand...
Upon a Wiki review, I never knew that David Crosby and Graham Nash sang background on the chorus. Not surprising, as they backed just about everyone from the Laurel Canyon contingent. Probably just never listened that closely, but hearing it again, their presence is very evident.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
timschochet said:
65. Jackson Browne “Doctor My Eyes” (from Jackson Browne) 

https://youtu.be/qKGTaplzmV4

This was Jackson Browne’s first big radio hit. As befitting the artist, it’s melodic, with reflective lyrics, but unlike most of the rest of the album which was acoustic, this tune was a rocker with electric instruments (albeit of a soft rock variety.).

”Doctor My Eyes” set the stage for a whole lot of excellent (and some mediocre) soft rock that would come to define the 1970s, including bands like The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. 
Click to expand...
Jackson Browne has a soothing effect on me. I sometimes put him on when I'm doing bills, and Running on Empty is one of my favorite all time albums. I'll take JB over the Eagles. 

 
foxco said:
Jackson Browne has a soothing effect on me. I sometimes put him on when I'm doing bills, and Running on Empty is one of my favorite all time albums. I'll take JB over the Eagles. 
Click to expand...
Hard not to think of this nowadays whenever I hear the title track.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
timschochet said:
64. King Harvest “Dancing In the Moonlight” (from Dancing In the Moonlight) 

https://youtu.be/SebH8En9ZOY

One of my favorite one hit wonders of all time (there’s another coming up a little later that I love even more.) Just a sweet soulful tune by King Harvest. 
Click to expand...
Good tune - always liked the opening piano/keyboard. Always wondered if they named themselves after The Band's "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)", but couldn't find anything.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
timschochet said:
68. Neil Young “Harvest” (from Harvest) 

https://youtu.be/jkMQc82RMJw

Neil Young himself loves the song “Harvest” and regards it as the best thing he did on this album. I disagree, but it’s still a great song. The melody of the verse is the same as the chorus, which is a structure similar to Bob Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street”, and the songs are actually quite alike IMO. Both classics, much loved. 
Click to expand...
Fun fact: This is otb_lifer’s favorite Neil song.

 
63. Paul Simon “Mother and Child Reunion” (from Paul Simon)

https://youtu.be/L0BUsDf0dxY

In 1972, Along with Andean folk music from Peru, Paul Simon was also listening to Reggae from Jamaica, and was one of the very first American artists to bring an element of this to the mainstream. “Mother and Child Reunion” is not only a landmark tune however; it’s pretty good soft rock as well. 

 
62. Todd Rundgren “Hello It’s Me” (from Something/Anything?)

https://youtu.be/lLeCB7Kn-VE

This is a slightly better song than “I Saw the Light”. Neither of these belongs in the top 50 of this list. They’re very nice, serviceable soft rock of the era, nothing spectacular IMO. 
 

And yes I know that there’s currently a lot of soft rock on this list; 1972 was a great year for soft rock and of course I adore it. But there will be other genres. I was kidding above 

 
timschochet said:
62. Todd Rundgren “Hello It’s Me” (from Something/Anything?)

https://youtu.be/lLeCB7Kn-VE

This is a slightly better song than “I Saw the Light”. Neither of these belongs in the top 50 of this list. They’re very nice, serviceable soft rock of the era, nothing spectacular IMO. 
 
Click to expand...
I see it the other way around and ISTL being one of the better songs of the year. But it’s all a personal choice.

 
timschochet said:
I wake up to soft rock every morning. 
Click to expand...
I like soft rock too but it’s not my favorite music genre.   I’m poking fun at much of the music listed so far but I still love the thread.   Never take my comments personally.   Everyone has their own taste in music.   Appreciate your efforts with these lists and can’t imagine trying to tackle one of these.

 
timschochet said:
71. Jim Croce “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” (from You Don’t Mess Around With Jim) 

https://youtu.be/hickVDiW8k0

This song contains one of my favorite lyrics ever: 

You don’t tug on Superman’s cape 

So good; love that. I love the whole song actually. It’s more of an acoustic blues tune than it is singer-songwriter/folk rock/soft rock, which were the categories that Croce was was typically thrown into. Whatever; he was a terrific songwriter and due to his untimely death a year later we’ll never know how much he might have progressed even more. 
Click to expand...
Listened to "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" all night and this morning because of this thread. 

Ha! This thread'll get ya! 

 
I'll ask the gallery here. What's your favorite Croce song? What's his best, in your opinion? 

Those two different questions might bring different answers. 

 
Leroy Hoard said:
rockaction said:
I'll ask the gallery here. What's your favorite Croce song? What's his best, in your opinion? 

Those two different questions might bring different answers. 
Click to expand...
I Got A Name for both.
Click to expand...


In the "THIS IS THEIR BEST SONG" draft, I admitted that "I Got A Name" is my favorite, but took "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)" as best for the following reason:  

10.14  Jim Croce - Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)

Torn between this one and "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song."  Both have what I think are his best guitar parts.  I chose this one because it has parentheses.

Not really sure why I put so much emphasis on the guitar parts, though.

 
krista4 said:
In the "THIS IS THEIR BEST SONG" draft, I admitted that "I Got A Name" is my favorite, but took "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)" as best for the following reason:  

10.14  Jim Croce - Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)

Torn between this one and "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song."  Both have what I think are his best guitar parts.  I chose this one because it has parentheses.

Not really sure why I put so much emphasis on the guitar parts, though.
Click to expand...
Hey my next pick on this list also has parenthesis! 

 
61. Randy Newman “God’s Song (That’s Why I Love Mankind)” (from Sail Away) 

https://youtu.be/C0TvfqmWf4M

About 20 years ago I went and saw Randy Newman live in concert. (He’s always been a favorite artist of mine.) He played this song on piano, stopped about halfway though and said “Can you believe Disney hired me?” 

Newman’s satirical take on God is bitingly funny, and dead serious at the same time. He envisions the Lord as a wise ### huckster who is amused by humans trying to worship Him while He treats them like dirt. He “loves mankind” because they’re suckers. This is truly one of the most brilliant, and quite possibly most depressing, songs ever written. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

timschochet
The 100 Greatest Songs of 1974 #1. Lady Marmalade
11 12 13
Replies
613
Views
101K
Lehigh98
Lehigh98
timschochet
The 100 Greatest Songs of 1976 #1. Foreplay/Long Time
10 11 12
Replies
580
Views
91K
DocHolliday
DocHolliday
timschochet
The 100 Greatest Classic Rock Albums of All Time: #1. Sticky Fingers
40 41 42
Replies
2K
Views
176K
Pip's Invitation
Pip's Invitation

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top