The 100 Greatest Songs of 1974 #12. Cat’s In the Cradle (3 Viewers)

[timschochet]

17. Joni Mitchell “Free Man In Paris” (from Court and Spark)

Free Man in Paris

Provided to YouTube by RhinoFree Man in Paris · Joni MitchellCourt and Sparkâ 1974 Asylum RecordsMastering Engineer: Bernie GrundmanBacking Vocals: David C...

youtu.be

Mitchell’s tribute to David Geffen (or perhaps it’s a sly mockery) is one of her greatest songs. Geffen was considered a ruthless businessman 50 years ago, except perhaps to his closest friends; he had roughly the same reputation that Scooter Braun has today. (Braun regards Geffen as his mentor in the music business.)

 

[Pip's Invitation]

17. Joni Mitchell “Free Man In Paris” (from Court and Spark)

Free Man in Paris

Provided to YouTube by RhinoFree Man in Paris · Joni MitchellCourt and Sparkâ 1974 Asylum RecordsMastering Engineer: Bernie GrundmanBacking Vocals: David C...

youtu.be

Mitchell’s tribute to David Geffen (or perhaps it’s a sly mockery) is one of her greatest songs. Geffen was considered a ruthless businessman 50 years ago, except perhaps to his closest friends; he had roughly the same reputation that Scooter Braun has today. (Braun regards Geffen as his mentor in the music business.)

You don’t get to be a billionaire without being ruthless. Unless you inherit billions, which means your ancestor was ruthless.

This too should have been higher (Binky: lower). The two hits from Court and Spark are among the very best songs of the 70s regardless of genre.

I have seen this performed live … by Phish.

 

[timschochet]

16. Bob Marley “No Woman, No Cry” (from Natty Dread)

Bob Marley - No Woman, No Cry (Official Video)

Bob Marley & The Wailers "No Woman, No Cry" (Live At The Lyceum, London 1975) official music video.Subscribe to the channel to never miss an update: https://...

youtu.be

Widely regarded as one of the greatest reggae songs of all time. Not my personal favorite Marley tune, but I had to place it high in the rankings.

 

[timschochet]

15. Jackson Browne “Fountain of Sorrow” (from Late For the Sky)

Fountain of Sorrow (Remastered)

Provided to YouTube by Rhino/ElektraFountain of Sorrow (Remastered) · Jackson BrowneLate for the Skyâ 1974 Elektra Entertainment Group Inc. for the United St...

youtu.be

I’ve been a fairly big fan of Jackson Browne’s early material over the years (from his first 3 albums), and this song just might be the best of it. So well written, such great introspective lyrics. I don’t get tired of this.

 

[timschochet]

14. David Bowie “Rebel Rebel” (from Diamond Dogs)

Rebel Rebel (2014 Remaster)

Provided to YouTube by RhinoRebel Rebel (2014 Remaster) · David BowieLegacyâ Under exclusive licence to Parlophone Records Limited, â 1974, 2014 Jones/Tintor...

youtu.be

Proto-punk: music from the late 60s and early 70s that set the stage for the punk rock movement of the late 70s.

“Rebel Rebel”: perhaps the ultimate proto-punk song. Bowie abandoned glam and ushered in a whole new sound with one of the sharpest guitar lines ever laid down.

 

[massraider]

I don't mind this song (or Cocker himself), but this isn't the most diverse song. Hearing this on AM Top 40 Radio twice an hour, it could get repetitive really fast.

Fackkking 'Ell, you have a great soul singer like Cocker, and the least soulful song he ever sang gets chosen.

Criminy

 

[massraider]

Proto-punk: music from the late 60s and early 70s that set the stage for the punk rock movement of the late 70s.

Birth of punk right here

Iggy and The Stooges - Raw Power (1997 Mix Private Remaster) - 01 Search And Destroy

The back story:I watched a documentary about David Bowie on BBC Four. They mentioned that he mixed "Raw Power" back in 1973. Intrigued (as I'd never previous...

www.youtube.com

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

Proto-punk: music from the late 60s and early 70s that set the stage for the punk rock movement of the late 70s.

Birth of punk right here

Iggy and The Stooges - Raw Power (1997 Mix Private Remaster) - 01 Search And Destroy

The back story:I watched a documentary about David Bowie on BBC Four. They mentioned that he mixed "Raw Power" back in 1973. Intrigued (as I'd never previous...

www.youtube.com

don't want to get technical - but let's go back 4 years before this amazing kickass song with the same group


I Wanna Be Your Dog

 

[massraider]

Proto-punk: music from the late 60s and early 70s that set the stage for the punk rock movement of the late 70s.

Birth of punk right here

Iggy and The Stooges - Raw Power (1997 Mix Private Remaster) - 01 Search And Destroy

The back story:I watched a documentary about David Bowie on BBC Four. They mentioned that he mixed "Raw Power" back in 1973. Intrigued (as I'd never previous...

www.youtube.com

don't want to get technical - but let's go back 4 years before this amazing kickass song with the same group


I Wanna Be Your Dog

DANGIT

this is a better answer

 

[northern exposure]

Proto-punk: music from the late 60s and early 70s that set the stage for the punk rock movement of the late 70s.

Birth of punk right here

Iggy and The Stooges - Raw Power (1997 Mix Private Remaster) - 01 Search And Destroy

The back story:I watched a documentary about David Bowie on BBC Four. They mentioned that he mixed "Raw Power" back in 1973. Intrigued (as I'd never previous...

www.youtube.com

don't want to get technical - but let's go back 4 years before this amazing kickass song with the same group


I Wanna Be Your Dog

DANGIT

this is a better answer

What about MC5 and Kick Out The Jams?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Proto-punk: music from the late 60s and early 70s that set the stage for the punk rock movement of the late 70s.

Birth of punk right here

Iggy and The Stooges - Raw Power (1997 Mix Private Remaster) - 01 Search And Destroy

The back story:I watched a documentary about David Bowie on BBC Four. They mentioned that he mixed "Raw Power" back in 1973. Intrigued (as I'd never previous...

www.youtube.com

don't want to get technical - but let's go back 4 years before this amazing kickass song with the same group


I Wanna Be Your Dog

DANGIT

this is a better answer

What about MC5 and Kick Out The Jams?

What about The Monks?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

16. Bob Marley “No Woman, No Cry” (from Natty Dread)

Bob Marley - No Woman, No Cry (Official Video)

Bob Marley & The Wailers "No Woman, No Cry" (Live At The Lyceum, London 1975) official music video.Subscribe to the channel to never miss an update: https://...

youtu.be

Widely regarded as one of the greatest reggae songs of all time. Not my personal favorite Marley tune, but I had to place it high in the rankings.

The live version that appears on the Legend compilation is better than the studio version.

 

[zamboni]

Proto-punk: music from the late 60s and early 70s that set the stage for the punk rock movement of the late 70s.

Birth of punk right here

Iggy and The Stooges - Raw Power (1997 Mix Private Remaster) - 01 Search And Destroy

The back story:I watched a documentary about David Bowie on BBC Four. They mentioned that he mixed "Raw Power" back in 1973. Intrigued (as I'd never previous...

www.youtube.com

don't want to get technical - but let's go back 4 years before this amazing kickass song with the same group


I Wanna Be Your Dog

DANGIT

this is a better answer

What about MC5 and Kick Out The Jams?

What about The Monks?

Like many genres, it's tough to corral when punk really started. Many point to the Kingsmen's "Louie, Louie" as an early influence.

 

[timschochet]

13. The Doobie Brothers “Black Water” (from What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits)

The Doobie Brothers - Black Water (Official Music Video)

Official music video for The Doobie Brothers - "Black Water" from 'What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits' (1974)Subscribe to The Doobie Brothers channel https:...

youtu.be

I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me by the hand

Patrick Simmons’ tribute to Delta blues is timeless and wonderful and among the best songs this band ever released. I’ve always loved the dreamy way it begins. Gorgeous harmonies throughout.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

13. The Doobie Brothers “Black Water” (from What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits)

The Doobie Brothers - Black Water (Official Music Video)

Official music video for The Doobie Brothers - "Black Water" from 'What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits' (1974)Subscribe to The Doobie Brothers channel https:...

youtu.be

I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me by the hand

Patrick Simmons’ tribute to Delta blues is timeless and wonderful and among the best songs this band ever released. I’ve always loved the dreamy way it begins. Gorgeous harmonies throughout.

Amusing that their first #1 was from their "microphone #2" guy. And it was originally a B-side that DJs flipped over.

It's underrated as a group drunken singalong tune.

 

[massraider]

13. The Doobie Brothers “Black Water” (from What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits)

The Doobie Brothers - Black Water (Official Music Video)

Official music video for The Doobie Brothers - "Black Water" from 'What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits' (1974)Subscribe to The Doobie Brothers channel https:...

youtu.be

I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me by the hand

Patrick Simmons’ tribute to Delta blues is timeless and wonderful and among the best songs this band ever released. I’ve always loved the dreamy way it begins. Gorgeous harmonies throughout.

Amusing that their first #1 was from their "microphone #2" guy. And it was originally a B-side that DJs flipped over.

It's underrated as a group drunken singalong tune.

I was super late to the Doobie Brothers.

When I was a kid, I thought it was a stupid name, and any band that had a guy with a mustache and a Crystal Gayle haircut I rejected immediately. (And there were SEVERAL of these guys in the 70's).

Now I dig them, and I like both versions.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

13. The Doobie Brothers “Black Water” (from What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits)

The Doobie Brothers - Black Water (Official Music Video)

Official music video for The Doobie Brothers - "Black Water" from 'What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits' (1974)Subscribe to The Doobie Brothers channel https:...

youtu.be

I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me by the hand

Patrick Simmons’ tribute to Delta blues is timeless and wonderful and among the best songs this band ever released. I’ve always loved the dreamy way it begins. Gorgeous harmonies throughout.

They were a good band. The rock critics despised them, but the record-buying public didn't.

 

[zamboni]

13. The Doobie Brothers “Black Water” (from What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits)

The Doobie Brothers - Black Water (Official Music Video)

Official music video for The Doobie Brothers - "Black Water" from 'What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits' (1974)Subscribe to The Doobie Brothers channel https:...

youtu.be

I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty momma come and take me by the hand

Patrick Simmons’ tribute to Delta blues is timeless and wonderful and among the best songs this band ever released. I’ve always loved the dreamy way it begins. Gorgeous harmonies throughout.

They were a good band. The rock critics despised them, but the record-buying public didn't.

No one loved them more than Raj, Rerun and the gang did.

 

[timschochet]

12. Harry Chapin “Cat’s In the Cradle” (from Verities and Balderdash)

Harry Chapin - Cats in the Cradle

Song starts 1:05LyricsMy child arrived just the other dayHe came to the world in the usual wayBut there were planes to catch, and bills to payHe learned to ...

youtu.be

So here is a song that almost everybody knows. Like most of what Chapin did, it’s a story song, the lyrics originally written by his wife. The tale is simple yet deeply moving: a father is too busy to spend time with his son, and when the son grows up he’s too busy to spend time with his dad. An obvious message with very little subtlety; Harry wants to hit us on the head with a hammer. And it has always worked with me. The final verse lines “My boy was just like me” still gets me every time, Sob.

 

[zamboni]

12. Harry Chapin “Cat’s In the Cradle” (from Verities and Balderdash)

Harry Chapin - Cats in the Cradle

Song starts 1:05LyricsMy child arrived just the other dayHe came to the world in the usual wayBut there were planes to catch, and bills to payHe learned to ...

youtu.be

So here is a song that almost everybody knows. Like most of what Chapin did, it’s a story song, the lyrics originally written by his wife. The tale is simple yet deeply moving: a father is too busy to spend time with his son, and when the son grows up he’s too busy to spend time with his dad. An obvious message with very little subtlety; Harry wants to hit us on the head with a hammer. And it has always worked with me. The final verse lines “My boy was just like me” still gets me every time, Sob.

Great song and one of the ultimate gut punches for the dads among us.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

12. Harry Chapin “Cat’s In the Cradle” (from Verities and Balderdash)

Harry Chapin - Cats in the Cradle

Song starts 1:05LyricsMy child arrived just the other dayHe came to the world in the usual wayBut there were planes to catch, and bills to payHe learned to ...

youtu.be

So here is a song that almost everybody knows. Like most of what Chapin did, it’s a story song, the lyrics originally written by his wife. The tale is simple yet deeply moving: a father is too busy to spend time with his son, and when the son grows up he’s too busy to spend time with his dad. An obvious message with very little subtlety; Harry wants to hit us on the head with a hammer. And it has always worked with me. The final verse lines “My boy was just like me” still gets me every time, Sob.

The crying emoji is the only way to react to this.