What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

Welcome to Our Forums. Once you've registered and logged in, you're primed to talk football, among other topics, with the sharpest and most experienced fantasy players on the internet.

The 100 Greatest Songs of 1976 #1. Foreplay/Long Time (3 Viewers)

94. Joan Armatrading “Down to Zero” (from Joan Armatrading)

Joan Armatrading’a self titled third album was her breakthrough- around the world that is, not in the United States where she remains to this day an obscure, almost unknown artist. But her combination of jazz and pop, along with her amazing vocals, produced some of the best songs of the era. Like this one.

Big fan.

The self-titled Armatrading album produced by the great Glyn Johns is one of the most gorgeous sounding records of any era.

Amen

all killer no filler
 
Rolling Stone created a bunch of false genres, but "pub rock" may have been the dumbest.
Theres not a genre more fitting to the australian rock scene of the 70s and 80s than pub rock.
Bands starting out had to play hard rock in front of hardened working men. No sissie ballads or keyboards.
When new wave started and guys started wearing make up, oh boy….these bands had to toughen up.
Pseudo Echo was the onky band to escape the hair and makeup stuff and find success.

Ac/Dc, inxs, basically every australian band yiu could think of had to do the hard slog through pubs.
The Church moved into avante garde and thrived in the uni’s, but their slog through pubs was difficult.
 
95. Bill Conti “Gonna Fly Now” (from Rocky- The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)


It’s a classic; everybody knows it. Cheesy but great. There are actually lyrics involved, not too many though.

This fall I’m going to Philadelphia for the first time. My nephew got admitted to Drexel so I’m gonna visit him, before flying to Pittsburgh and taking in a Steeler home game (also for the first time.) Of course I will visit, along with the Liberty Bell, the Rocky steps. I have to.
Are you taking the piss?
How does a song released in feb1977, that hit no.1 in july 1977, count as 1978?
I included it in my alternate 1977 list cause you didnt. Very high too. I think top 5
 
95. Bill Conti “Gonna Fly Now” (from Rocky- The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)


It’s a classic; everybody knows it. Cheesy but great. There are actually lyrics involved, not too many though.

This fall I’m going to Philadelphia for the first time. My nephew got admitted to Drexel so I’m gonna visit him, before flying to Pittsburgh and taking in a Steeler home game (also for the first time.) Of course I will visit, along with the Liberty Bell, the Rocky steps. I have to.
Are you taking the piss?
How does a song released in feb1977, that hit no.1 in july 1977, count as 1978?
I included it in my alternate 1977 list cause you didnt. Very high too. I think top 5
Album was released in 1976. I go by earliest release date, either album or single.
 
95. Bill Conti “Gonna Fly Now” (from Rocky- The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)


It’s a classic; everybody knows it. Cheesy but great. There are actually lyrics involved, not too many though.

This fall I’m going to Philadelphia for the first time. My nephew got admitted to Drexel so I’m gonna visit him, before flying to Pittsburgh and taking in a Steeler home game (also for the first time.) Of course I will visit, along with the Liberty Bell, the Rocky steps. I have to.
Cool! Let me know if you need any recommendations.

We Eagles fans actually don’t hate Steelers fans all that much. Most of our ire is reserved for Cowboys fans.

And yes, you need to see a college basketball game at the Palestra at some point.
 
Last edited:
95. Bill Conti “Gonna Fly Now” (from Rocky- The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)


It’s a classic; everybody knows it. Cheesy but great. There are actually lyrics involved, not too many though.

This fall I’m going to Philadelphia for the first time. My nephew got admitted to Drexel so I’m gonna visit him, before flying to Pittsburgh and taking in a Steeler home game (also for the first time.) Of course I will visit, along with the Liberty Bell, the Rocky steps. I have to.
Are you taking the piss?
How does a song released in feb1977, that hit no.1 in july 1977, count as 1978?
I included it in my alternate 1977 list cause you didnt. Very high too. I think top 5
Album was released in 1976. I go by earliest release date, either album or single.
Apologies.
I need my eyes checked.
I thought this list was 1978 all along lol
 
95. Bill Conti “Gonna Fly Now” (from Rocky- The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)


It’s a classic; everybody knows it. Cheesy but great. There are actually lyrics involved, not too many though.

This fall I’m going to Philadelphia for the first time. My nephew got admitted to Drexel so I’m gonna visit him, before flying to Pittsburgh and taking in a Steeler home game (also for the first time.) Of course I will visit, along with the Liberty Bell, the Rocky steps. I have to.
Cool! Let me know if you need any recommendations.

We Eagles fans actually don’t hate Steelers fans all that much. Most of our ire is reserved for Cowboys fans.

And yes, you need to see a college basketball game at the Palestra at some point.
Was it the Palestra that, after decades, it was discovered the floor wasn't regulation-length? It was one of those old barns and my feeble memory has it as the Palestra.
 
95. Bill Conti “Gonna Fly Now” (from Rocky- The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)


It’s a classic; everybody knows it. Cheesy but great. There are actually lyrics involved, not too many though.

This fall I’m going to Philadelphia for the first time. My nephew got admitted to Drexel so I’m gonna visit him, before flying to Pittsburgh and taking in a Steeler home game (also for the first time.) Of course I will visit, along with the Liberty Bell, the Rocky steps. I have to.
Cool! Let me know if you need any recommendations.

We Eagles fans actually don’t hate Steelers fans all that much. Most of our ire is reserved for Cowboys fans.

And yes, you need to see a college basketball game at the Palestra at some point.
Was it the Palestra that, after decades, it was discovered the floor wasn't regulation-length? It was one of those old barns and my feeble memory has it as the Palestra.
I’m not aware of that, and Google and Wikipedia don’t turn up anything about that.
 
At the expense of spotlighting, I had my mind on this, among others that I won't spotlight.
Unfortunately there will be no TV themes on this list, and no further songs like “Gonna Fly Now”. That may be due to my ignorance more than anything else. Though I will add that as usual there were so many classics to consider that they crowded out everything else especially as we move further up the list.
 
93. KC & The Sunshine Band “Shake Shake Shake (Shake Your Booty)” (from Part 3)


KC’s lyrics are typically dumb, but the music is just great. Disco at its best, just infectious. And watch the video: the performance is great and they are having so much fun.
 
93. KC & The Sunshine Band “Shake Shake Shake (Shake Your Booty)” (from Part 3)


KC’s lyrics are typically dumb, but the music is just great. Disco at its best, just infectious. And watch the video: the performance is great and they are having so much fun.
So many disco songs of that era have a lot more pizazz/energy when you see them performed live. I could be wrong, but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).

@Pip's Invitation is The Midnight Special master, so he can weigh in here.
 
93. KC & The Sunshine Band “Shake Shake Shake (Shake Your Booty)” (from Part 3)


KC’s lyrics are typically dumb, but the music is just great. Disco at its best, just infectious. And watch the video: the performance is great and they are having so much fun.
So many disco songs of that era have a lot more pizazz/energy when you see them performed live. I could be wrong, but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).

@Pip's Invitation is The Midnight Special master, so he can weigh in here.
As far as I know, all the LA episodes of the Midnight Special had live performances. Some of the London episodes had live vocals but taped musical backing.
 
93. KC & The Sunshine Band “Shake Shake Shake (Shake Your Booty)” (from Part 3)


KC’s lyrics are typically dumb, but the music is just great. Disco at its best, just infectious. And watch the video: the performance is great and they are having so much fun.
So many disco songs of that era have a lot more pizazz/energy when you see them performed live. I could be wrong, but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).

@Pip's Invitation is The Midnight Special master, so he can weigh in here.
As far as I know, all the LA episodes of the Midnight Special had live performances. Some of the London episodes had live vocals but taped musical backing.
Seems like KC and Co. didn't - or couldn't - perform live because this supposed Midnight Special clip also seems lip synched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ZeFKVG2Iw

As does this version on the Dolly Parton show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8no2UG-oZ0
 
but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).
It appears that is the Midnight Special. I was at that taping. I recall seeing them twice in numerous tapings I went to with my brother when we moved to Burbank, 1975-77.
 
but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).
It appears that is the Midnight Special. I was at that taping. I recall seeing them twice in numerous tapings I went to with my brother when we moved to Burbank, 1975-77.
That's awesome. I don't dispute that they appeared there - clearly they did. Just sounded so much like the single version that it sounded lip synched. I'll trust your ears though as having been there.
 
but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).
It appears that is the Midnight Special. I was at that taping. I recall seeing them twice in numerous tapings I went to with my brother when we moved to Burbank, 1975-77.
That's awesome. I don't dispute that they appeared there - clearly they did. Just sounded so much like the single version that it sounded lip synched. I'll trust your ears though as having been there.
I'm wondering if they did that for just that Y2 video. When at the tapings, every song was played live there.
 
but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).
It appears that is the Midnight Special. I was at that taping. I recall seeing them twice in numerous tapings I went to with my brother when we moved to Burbank, 1975-77.
That’s so cool that you were there.
 
but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).
It appears that is the Midnight Special. I was at that taping. I recall seeing them twice in numerous tapings I went to with my brother when we moved to Burbank, 1975-77.
That’s so cool that you were there.

It really was a lot of fun. They were shot at NBC Studios on Alameda.

They had us sit on those one inch thick gym mats. That video is one of the best I've seen showing crowd shots. I know I'm in that video, just can't find me.

They were shot in a normal building lot, and each band had a 1/4 section of the building, and we would just move those damn mats over to the next band that played.

Such great memories.
 
but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).
It appears that is the Midnight Special. I was at that taping. I recall seeing them twice in numerous tapings I went to with my brother when we moved to Burbank, 1975-77.
That's awesome. I don't dispute that they appeared there - clearly they did. Just sounded so much like the single version that it sounded lip synched. I'll trust your ears though as having been there.
I'm wondering if they did that for just that Y2 video. When at the tapings, every song was played live there.
That has to be it. The audio Tim linked is the studio version.

I saw them live at the Cap Centre outside of D.C. in 1977. At least on that night, KC was not a good live singer :lol:
 
92. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers “Anything That’s Rock ‘N’ Roll” (from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)


1976 featured some of the greatest debut rock albums of all time and this is certainly one of them. It’s amazing how tight this band was right from the get go (though I guess it’s really not since three of them had been performing as Mudcrutch for several years before.)

I have found room for 3 Petty tunes on this list but the whole album deserves major love and attention. My favorite song that did NOT make this list is “Hometown Blues”. But “Anything” is just a killer.
 
93. KC & The Sunshine Band “Shake Shake Shake (Shake Your Booty)” (from Part 3)


KC’s lyrics are typically dumb, but the music is just great. Disco at its best, just infectious. And watch the video: the performance is great and they are having so much fun.
So many disco songs of that era have a lot more pizazz/energy when you see them performed live. I could be wrong, but that clip doesn't seem to be the actual Midnight Special performance though, as those performances were generally live and not the album version (like the clip there).

@Pip's Invitation is The Midnight Special master, so he can weigh in here.
As far as I know, all the LA episodes of the Midnight Special had live performances. Some of the London episodes had live vocals but taped musical backing.
Seems like KC and Co. didn't - or couldn't - perform live because this supposed Midnight Special clip also seems lip synched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ZeFKVG2Iw

As does this version on the Dolly Parton show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8no2UG-oZ0
One of my first 8 tracks was KC and the Sunshine band. I think I was around 10 years old when mom started buying me my own music. My mom loved music and played a lot of Beatles and early Stones. She also played disco and folky stuff like John Denver so I was pretty diverse in my music. I added Black Sabbath Paranoid to my early 8 track collection and by the time I was a a teen, I was all into to hard rock. I never quit loving much of the disco though and saw KC live in the late 90s or early 2000s? Don’t remember when exactly but it was a really fun concert with almost everyone dancing and smiling ear to ear.
 
92. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers “Anything That’s Rock ‘N’ Roll” (from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)


1976 featured some of the greatest debut rock albums of all time and this is certainly one of them. It’s amazing how tight this band was right from the get go (though I guess it’s really not since three of them had been performing as Mudcrutch for several years before.)

I have found room for 3 Petty tunes on this list but the whole album deserves major love and attention. My favorite song that did NOT make this list is “Hometown Blues”. But “Anything” is just a killer.
Aside from the two big songs from this record (which presumably are what will appear later), my FM stations in Philly were also playing this and Rockin Around with You in the 80s, even before the Wilburys and Full Moon Fever took Petty to an even higher level of stardom. That’s a testament to the strength and endurance of this album.
 
91. James Brown “Get Up Offa That Thing” (released as a single)



So James Brown is annoyed that you’re sitting down during a funk song and just listening. He wants you to stand up and dance- get up offa that thing.

And even if you do get up and dance you’ll never dance as good as James Brown does on this video. What a legendary performer this guy was.
 
91. James Brown “Get Up Offa That Thing” (released as a single)



So James Brown is annoyed that you’re sitting down during a funk song and just listening. He wants you to stand up and dance- get up offa that thing.

And even if you do get up and dance you’ll never dance as good as James Brown does on this video. What a legendary performer this guy was.
Happy to see him make the list this time around. Thought his Hell album deserved some love in the 1974 list.
 
91. James Brown “Get Up Offa That Thing” (released as a single)



So James Brown is annoyed that you’re sitting down during a funk song and just listening. He wants you to stand up and dance- get up offa that thing.

And even if you do get up and dance you’ll never dance as good as James Brown does on this video. What a legendary performer this guy was.
Love this tune. Nobody better.
 
90. Orleans “Still The One” (from Waking and Dreaming)


Nice, pleasant soft rock that’s stood the test of time.
Didn't this get use a lot for some commercial ventures or a theme song somewhere? Feel like I've heard this a million times and more often than I should have for where it ranks in the era.
 
90. Orleans “Still The One” (from Waking and Dreaming)


Nice, pleasant soft rock that’s stood the test of time.
Didn't this get use a lot for some commercial ventures or a theme song somewhere? Feel like I've heard this a million times and more often than I should have for where it ranks in the era.
Probably thinking of Burger King.

Can't talk about the song without talking about that Waking and Dreaming album cover.
 
90. Orleans “Still The One” (from Waking and Dreaming)


Nice, pleasant soft rock that’s stood the test of time.
Didn't this get use a lot for some commercial ventures or a theme song somewhere? Feel like I've heard this a million times and more often than I should have for where it ranks in the era.
Yes. Per Wiki:

In 1977, "Still The One" was used as a jingle by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) to promote the 1977-78 television season,[6] and again in the 1979-80 television season,[7] when the network was the highest rated in the country. The lyrics were sometimes adapted for local station promotional advertisements, sometimes awkwardly; e.g. "We're still having fun, Dayton Twenty-Two's the one."

I remember the Philadelphia ABC station promos with this.

In addition, it was used in an Applebee's commercial.
 
90. Orleans “Still The One” (from Waking and Dreaming)


Nice, pleasant soft rock that’s stood the test of time.
Didn't this get use a lot for some commercial ventures or a theme song somewhere? Feel like I've heard this a million times and more often than I should have for where it ranks in the era.
Probably thinking of Burger King.

Can't talk about the song without talking about that Waking and Dreaming album cover.
Oh my
 
90. Orleans “Still The One” (from Waking and Dreaming)


Nice, pleasant soft rock that’s stood the test of time.
Didn't this get use a lot for some commercial ventures or a theme song somewhere? Feel like I've heard this a million times and more often than I should have for where it ranks in the era.
Probably thinking of Burger King.

Can't talk about the song without talking about that Waking and Dreaming album cover.
Oh my
Orleans co-founder John Hall (not the ex-NFL kicker nor the love child of Hall & Oates) had an interesting post-Orleans career, including serving as a U.S. Congressman just north of me.

 
90. Orleans “Still The One” (from Waking and Dreaming)


Nice, pleasant soft rock that’s stood the test of time.
Didn't this get use a lot for some commercial ventures or a theme song somewhere? Feel like I've heard this a million times and more often than I should have for where it ranks in the era.
Probably thinking of Burger King.

Can't talk about the song without talking about that Waking and Dreaming album cover.
Oh my
Orleans co-founder John Hall (not the ex-NFL kicker nor the love child of Hall & Oates) had an interesting post-Orleans career, including serving as a U.S. Congressman just north of me.

He objected to certain candidates using “Still the One” as their intro music because they were on the other side of the aisle from him.
 
When I was a kid, I thought Orleans was a local act. D'oh! Still dug the yacht-y grooves, though.
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.
Given your tastes I'm surprised this isn't higher (Binky: lower). Its reputation has only grown over the years.
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.
A few months ago, a guy up here ran a huge multi-week poll on the app formerly known as twitter, to find Canada's Greatest Song. He started with something like 300 songs and matched them H2H each day. Winner moved on. The final came down to 2 Lightfoot songs. This one, and my favorite If You Could Read My Mind. This one won. (The final 16 was dominated by Neil Young, The Hip and Lightfoot, for what it's worth)
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.

way higher on my list...but I'm a Lightfoot truther.
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.
:lmao:. Great line Tim.
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.
A few months ago, a guy up here ran a huge multi-week poll on the app formerly known as twitter, to find Canada's Greatest Song. He started with something like 300 songs and matched them H2H each day. Winner moved on. The final came down to 2 Lightfoot songs. This one, and my favorite If You Could Read My Mind. This one won. (The final 16 was dominated by Neil Young, The Hip and Lightfoot, for what it's worth)
I like it (don’t love it) but it’s not even the best Canadian song of 1976.
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.
A few months ago, a guy up here ran a huge multi-week poll on the app formerly known as twitter, to find Canada's Greatest Song. He started with something like 300 songs and matched them H2H each day. Winner moved on. The final came down to 2 Lightfoot songs. This one, and my favorite If You Could Read My Mind. This one won. (The final 16 was dominated by Neil Young, The Hip and Lightfoot, for what it's worth)
Gino Vannelli was robbed.
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.
A few months ago, a guy up here ran a huge multi-week poll on the app formerly known as twitter, to find Canada's Greatest Song. He started with something like 300 songs and matched them H2H each day. Winner moved on. The final came down to 2 Lightfoot songs. This one, and my favorite If You Could Read My Mind. This one won. (The final 16 was dominated by Neil Young, The Hip and Lightfoot, for what it's worth)
I like it (don’t love it) but it’s not even the best Canadian song of 1976.
As long as Heart is considered Canadian I agree. 🇨🇦
 
89. Gordon Lightfoot “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (from Summertime Dream)


I’d have to say that by 1976 Gordon Lightfoot’s best songs were behind him. But then there is this epic tune, not quite as long as “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” but still up there- it takes a long damn time for this boat to sink. Still a classic though.
A few months ago, a guy up here ran a huge multi-week poll on the app formerly known as twitter, to find Canada's Greatest Song. He started with something like 300 songs and matched them H2H each day. Winner moved on. The final came down to 2 Lightfoot songs. This one, and my favorite If You Could Read My Mind. This one won. (The final 16 was dominated by Neil Young, The Hip and Lightfoot, for what it's worth)
I like it (don’t love it) but it’s not even the best Canadian song of 1976.
Neil didn't release any albums that year aside from his thing with the Stills-Young Band... 🤔

Oh gosh, you've got an Anne Murray song way up high, don't you?
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top