The 100 Greatest Songs of 1977 #1. Come Sail Away (1 Viewer)

[timschochet]

54. Electric Light Orchestra “Turn to Stone” (from Out of the Blue)

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More Beatlesesque goodness from Jeff Lynne. He knew how to write (copy?) a pop hook.

 

[FairWarning]

54. Electric Light Orchestra “Turn to Stone” (from Out of the Blue)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

More Beatlesesque goodness from Jeff Lynne. He knew how to write (copy?) a pop hook.

This one never did it for me, really cheesy sounding. You’re correct about Lynne’‘s ability to write a pop hook.

 

[FairWarning]

59. Foreigner “Feels Like the First Time” (from Foreigner)

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Chances are if you didn’t like “Jungle Love” you’re not going to love this one either. Oh well. Just because it’s gotten a lot of radio play over the years doesn’t make it bad. As I wrote about the earlier song by this band, it’s not something I’d go out of my way to listen to, but it’s still a very good song.

Actually liked this much more back in the day. It was pretty straight ahead rock for the dying AM format,

 

[Ghost Rider]

Marquee Moon is the most influential song of the 70s? There's a major hot take. I had to look up what song it was and who it was by.

 

[zamboni]

Marquee Moon is the most influential song of the 70s? There's a major hot take. I had to look up what song it was and who it was by.

That comment may cause some friction here.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

56. Kraftwerk “Trans Europe Express” (from Trans Europe Express)

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Talk about a song ahead of its time. There was quite literally nothing else that sounded like this in 1977, if you were even aware of it. Outside of Germany, you might hear this played in a few eclectic New York dance clubs, and later on a couple of black radio stations- and that’s it. Personally I was not aware of this song- or Kraftwerk- until I read about them at some point in the late 1980s. And then I didn’t hear the song until about 10 years after that.

If this was a list of the most influential songs of the year,, or even if the decade, “Trans Europe Express” might be #1, even above “Marquee Moon”. It predicted the entire electronic sound of the next decade.

I am glad you included this. Too low of course lol
The influence Kraftwerk made with this track in particular
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/27/kraftwerk-most-influential-electronic-band-tate

 

[Ghost Rider]

Marquee Moon is the most influential song of the 70s? There's a major hot take. I had to look up what song it was and who it was by.

That comment may cause some friction here.

Not trying to stir it up, but it seems strange to suggest that the most influential song of a decade that featured Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder and Queen is an obscure song by an obscure band, but punk fans always think their favorites were the most influential, probably because halfwit critics always talked up the genre while pooping over all others (go see how Rolling Stone crapped all over Zeppelin and Floyd in real time in the 70s). "No one listened to it, but it's the most influential thing ever!!"

 

[timschochet]

Marquee Moon is the most influential song of the 70s? There's a major hot take. I had to look up what song it was and who it was by.

That comment may cause some friction here.

Not trying to stir it up, but it seems strange to suggest that the most influential song of a decade that featured Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Stevie Wonder and Queen is an obscure song by an obscure band, but punk fans always think their favorites were the most influential, probably because halfwit critics always talked up the genre while pooping over all others (go see how Rolling Stone crapped all over Zeppelin and Floyd in real time in the 70s). "No one listened to it, but it's the most influential thing ever!!"

Actually I didn’t write that “Marquee Moon” was the most influential song of the decade. I wrote that “Trans Europe Express” COULD BE. I have no idea if it was or even how to judge that. But it certainly paved the way for a lot of 80s music.

“Marquee Moon” is a song I really like and I thought that given its fame among critics it belongs on this list. I personally like it better than “Trans Europe Express” and several other songs I have ranked higher. But though I can’t help but being influenced by personal preferences, I try not to let them dominate these rankings.

 

[Van Dyman]

56. Kraftwerk “Trans Europe Express” (from Trans Europe Express)

- YouTube

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Talk about a song ahead of its time. There was quite literally nothing else that sounded like this in 1977, if you were even aware of it. Outside of Germany, you might hear this played in a few eclectic New York dance clubs, and later on a couple of black radio stations- and that’s it. Personally I was not aware of this song- or Kraftwerk- until I read about them at some point in the late 1980s. And then I didn’t hear the song until about 10 years after that.

If this was a list of the most influential songs of the year,, or even if the decade, “Trans Europe Express” might be #1, even above “Marquee Moon”. It predicted the entire electronic sound of the next decade.

I don't know that you gets acts like Devo without this, either.

There's another from this year and is ahead of its time that I'm wondering if you'll include. It's kinda/sorta had the same influence in the same areas, though the angle of entry is different (not a euphemism).

The bolded seemed off when I first read it. I knew Devo started years before 1977, and Jocko Homo and Mongoloid were in Devo's 1976 short film. So I was about to say "Devo was probably going to happen regardless of Kraftwerk." But thanks to the magic of the internet...I don't know why Brian Eno and David Bowie chose to record Devo's first full-length album at the studio where early Kraftwerk stuff was recorded, but they did. So I learned something today.

 

[FairWarning]

54. Electric Light Orchestra “Turn to Stone” (from Out of the Blue)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

More Beatlesesque goodness from Jeff Lynne. He knew how to write (copy?) a pop hook.

This one never did it for me, really cheesy sounding. You’re correct about Lynne’‘s ability to write a pop hook.

if your musical taste had a sensibility ...

it's name would be Corky.

I do like some ELO - Fire on High and Showdown to start.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

"That nobody ever heard."

What makes it better is when it’s an anecdotal story about one person not knowing it.

 

[rockaction]

I'm ordering the limited edition blue vinyl 2 LP version of Marquee Moon this morning. Off of eBay. It's not easy to find, but I tracked down a reasonable copy for 60 bucks.

Yum!

 

[FBG Moderator]

Please everyone be more cool to people here.

 

[rockaction]

Please everyone be more cool to people here.

When people who appreciate things get called half-wits, it's pretty safe to assume a response is coming, no?

Why my comment got deleted and not the other one is certainly a subjective decision, is it not?

Enough of this. I have no time for mods that jump into a conversation without context.

 

[FairWarning]

"That nobody ever heard."

What makes it better is when it’s an anecdotal story about one person not knowing it.

If one was exposed to college radio in the late 70’s-early 80’s, they should be familiar with Television. I wasn’t, nor knew anyone in college who played it. Sure, it can be very influential, but that doesn’t always make it great. Some bands that I think are very influential in rock - Vanilla Fudge and MC5, don’t move the needle much in mainstream.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

The bolded seemed off when I first read it. I knew Devo started years before 1977, and Jocko Homo and Mongoloid were in Devo's 1976 short film. So I was about to say "Devo was probably going to happen regardless of Kraftwerk." But thanks to the magic of the internet...I don't know why Brian Eno and David Bowie chose to record Devo's first full-length album at the studio where early Kraftwerk stuff was recorded, but they did. So I learned something today.

I meant more that Devo's success was easier because of Kraftwerk (as were others'), IMO. Not that they would never have formed. I should have been clearer.

 

[rockaction]

Let's get moving to #53!

 

[FairWarning]

"That nobody ever heard."

What makes it better is when it’s an anecdotal story about one person not knowing it.

If one was exposed to college radio in the late 70’s-early 80’s, they should be familiar with Television. I wasn’t, nor knew anyone in college who played it. Sure, it can be very influential, but that doesn’t always make it great. Some bands that I think are very influential in rock - Vanilla Fudge and MC5, don’t move the needle much in mainstream.

That wasn’t the point I was making at all - everyone likes what they like and that’s fine.

On this forum we just did a Top 31 songs by American artists rankings where many people submitted lists and @krista4 compiled those lists in a countdown - Marquis Moon finished No. 3 overall behind Superstition and The Boxer. It wasn’t on my list, but to say it’s a song “no one knows” or that people only like it because the critics tell them they should is an arrogant and silly statement.

I guess it depends on the target audience and who is judging. This forum has a pretty high percentage of college educated posters, and were exposed to more types of music.

 

[timschochet]

53. Jimmy Buffett “Margaritaville” (from Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes)

- YouTube

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So this is a pleasant song that I enjoy listening to when it comes on the radio. I’ve always thought so. Sometimes I’ll sing along. It’s totally inoffensive; on the other hand, I don’t see any greatness here.

And yet…

Surely this is the most brilliantly marketed tune in pop music history? Jimmy Buffett is one of the wealthiest musicians alive and it is largely because of “Margaritaville” and the empire he has created, from a chain of restaurants and hot spots to merchandising of just about every product known to man. I challenge anyone to come up with another song that has been quite this successful in terms of marketing- I can’t think of one.

 

[rockaction]

I challenge anyone to come up with another song that has been quite this successful in terms of marketing- I can’t think of one

Marquee Moon

 

[rockaction]

I challenge anyone to come up with another song that has been quite this successful in terms of marketing- I can’t think of one.

Doesn't the guy have his own Florida real estate venture under the name Margaritaville? Or something? I'm off to look that up.

 

[rockaction]

Yes indeed. Greed knows no need unturned where vice is unspurned.

Latitude Margaritaville: 55+ Retirement Communities in Florida & South Carolina

Latitude Margaritaville builds 55+ active adult retirement communities. Live the Jimmy Buffett "no worries" lifestyle at our Florida & South Carolina locations

www.latitudemargaritaville.com

 

[rockaction]

Didn't Weezer's "Raditude" come out sometime around 1976? Or am I just dreaming?

Changes in raditude, changes in latitude or something like that?

Raditude - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[timschochet]

I challenge anyone to come up with another song that has been quite this successful in terms of marketing- I can’t think of one

Marquee Moon

What’s ironic about this discussion is that I obviously DO have to take popularity into account in my rankings. It’s not the most important factor but it is a factor.

For example, while I love “Marquee Moon”, my favorite song on that album, by far, is “Guiding Light”. But that’s simply too obscure for this list. To make the top 100 the song has to be well known.

 

[timschochet]

Yes indeed. Greed knows no need unturned where vice is unspurned.

Latitude Margaritaville: 55+ Retirement Communities in Florida & South Carolina

Latitude Margaritaville builds 55+ active adult retirement communities. Live the Jimmy Buffett "no worries" lifestyle at our Florida & South Carolina locations

www.latitudemargaritaville.com

That’s amazing. I knew about the long list of products but I wasn’t aware of that one.

I’m headed to Jamaica shortly (first time) and the resort I’m staying at is offering an all day “Margaritaville” tour package: spend the day like Jimmy would, and it finishes up with a party at his world famous restaurant.

 

[rockaction]

These are like blank slate threads.

 

[rockaction]

That’s amazing. I knew about the long list of products but I wasn’t aware of that one.

I’m headed to Jamaica shortly (first time) and the resort I’m staying at is offering an all day “Margaritaville” tour package: spend the day like Jimmy would, and it finishes up with a party at his world famous restaurant.

My mother's friend is a big Buffett head, so I know about things like that. She'll talk about it. Loves Jimmy and that lifestyle. Fine by me if you like it. Que sera, sera.

You should do the tour package. I'll bet it's actually fun, if a little corporate. Go for it! Oh wait, your family. Don't go on that one, bro. I'd be uncomfortable on it, if you know what I'm getting at.

 

[FairWarning]

53. Jimmy Buffett “Margaritaville” (from Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

So this is a pleasant song that I enjoy listening to when it comes on the radio. I’ve always thought so. Sometimes I’ll sing along. It’s totally inoffensive; on the other hand, I don’t see any greatness here.

And yet…

Surely this is the most brilliantly marketed tune in pop music history? Jimmy Buffett is one of the wealthiest musicians alive and it is largely because of “Margaritaville” and the empire he has created, from a chain of restaurants and hot spots to merchandising of just about every product known to man. I challenge anyone to come up with another song that has been quite this successful in terms of marketing- I can’t think of one.

Hate the song but there is no denying the empire he made from this. For that, I give him a Thatta Boy.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

Yes indeed. Greed knows no need unturned where vice is unspurned.

Latitude Margaritaville: 55+ Retirement Communities in Florida & South Carolina

Latitude Margaritaville builds 55+ active adult retirement communities. Live the Jimmy Buffett "no worries" lifestyle at our Florida & South Carolina locations

www.latitudemargaritaville.com

that is my worst nightmare ...it gave me the creeps looking at those "houses"

 

[rockaction]

that is my worst nightmare ...it gave me the creeps looking at those "houses"

I didn't get that far. I saw that they were selling a "lifestyle" to seniors and immediately got a little sick thinking "manufactured happiness rip-off."

I don't blame you. But I could be happy there, only in that I had enough money for a home and retirement. That would actually be a blessing.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I challenge anyone to come up with another song that has been quite this successful in terms of marketing- I can’t think of one.

Doesn't the guy have his own Florida real estate venture under the name Margaritaville? Or something? I'm off to look that up.

I swear I saw a Wheel of Fortune clip where someone won a house located there. Somebody then made a joke about not wanting to live next door to Buffet.

 

[rockaction]

I swear I saw a Wheel of Fortune clip where someone won a house located there. Someone made a joke about not wanting to live next door to Buffet.

That was featured in the link! Pat and Vanna giving the house away!

 

[zamboni]

Somebody then made a joke about not wanting to live next door to Buffet.

Seriously - who would want a drunk neighbor rummaging through your salt shaker collection?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Seriously - who would want your neighbor rummaging through your salt shaker collection?

Plus, all of the pop tops laying around

 

[zamboni]

Thought I just saw @Parrothead in here.

 

[shuke]

Yes indeed. Greed knows no need unturned where vice is unspurned.

Latitude Margaritaville: 55+ Retirement Communities in Florida & South Carolina

Latitude Margaritaville builds 55+ active adult retirement communities. Live the Jimmy Buffett "no worries" lifestyle at our Florida & South Carolina locations

www.latitudemargaritaville.com

that is my worst nightmare ...it gave me the creeps looking at those "houses"

The scariest part is that I'm 5 years away from being the target audience for **** like this.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

Yes indeed. Greed knows no need unturned where vice is unspurned.

Latitude Margaritaville: 55+ Retirement Communities in Florida & South Carolina

Latitude Margaritaville builds 55+ active adult retirement communities. Live the Jimmy Buffett "no worries" lifestyle at our Florida & South Carolina locations

www.latitudemargaritaville.com

that is my worst nightmare ...it gave me the creeps looking at those "houses"

The scariest part is that I'm 5 years away from being the target audience for **** like this.

I'm currently gathering information to make decisions about Medicare coverage in the next month ...

take a suck of that whippersnapper.

can't believe I'm this old - lol

 

[Andy Dufresne]

My friend tells a story where he was with a friend at a biker bar that inexplicably had Margaritaville as a selection.

Dude put $20 in and selected nothing but Margaritaville.

Frowny faces on the first one. Slight chuckles on the second as some caught on to the gag. Anger started to build on the third. The palpable rage caused my guy and his friend to leave before the crowd figured out whodunit.

 

[timschochet]

Yes indeed. Greed knows no need unturned where vice is unspurned.

Latitude Margaritaville: 55+ Retirement Communities in Florida & South Carolina

Latitude Margaritaville builds 55+ active adult retirement communities. Live the Jimmy Buffett "no worries" lifestyle at our Florida & South Carolina locations

www.latitudemargaritaville.com

that is my worst nightmare ...it gave me the creeps looking at those "houses"

The scariest part is that I'm 5 years away from being the target audience for **** like this.

Everyone reading this thread is an old man (or woman.) if you weren’t, why would you give a **** about 1977?

 

[massraider]

Doesn't the guy have his own Florida real estate venture under the name Margaritaville? Or something? I'm off to look that up

Crushing it with licensing and branding.

He is at the intersection of golf/fishing bros and elderly beach drinkers in Tommy Bahama. That is a very profitable intersection.

There's a Margaritaville on the Vegas strip. On the Vegas strip, there are some people who like to drink and walk the strip. It's not for everyone. But: for people who like to walk the strip and drink at the same time, their dream bar is Margaritaville.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

My friend tells a story where he was with a friend at a biker bar that inexplicably had Margaritaville as a selection.

Dude put $20 in and selected nothing but Margaritaville.

Frowny faces on the first one. Slight chuckles on the second as some caught on to the gag. Anger started to build on the third. The palpable rage caused my guy and his friend to leave before the crowd figured out whodunit.

Been done before

 

[Andy Dufresne]

My friend tells a story where he was with a friend at a biker bar that inexplicably had Margaritaville as a selection.

Dude put $20 in and selected nothing but Margaritaville.

Frowny faces on the first one. Slight chuckles on the second as some caught on to the gag. Anger started to build on the third. The palpable rage caused my guy and his friend to leave before the crowd figured out whodunit.

Been done before

Plagiarist

 

[timschochet]

Jimmy Buffett’s net worth: 900 million as of 2017. That’s a guy with basically one hit song from 45 years ago. Amazing.

 

[timschochet]

52. The Sex Pistols “Pretty Vacant” (from Never Mind the Bullocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Quite the leap from Aja, isn’t it? But what a great opening guitar riff. When asked by the press what the Pistols did with the money made from their debut album and resulting tour, Johnny Rotten replied, “****ing spent it, didn’t we?”

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Yes indeed. Greed knows no need unturned where vice is unspurned.

Latitude Margaritaville: 55+ Retirement Communities in Florida & South Carolina

Latitude Margaritaville builds 55+ active adult retirement communities. Live the Jimmy Buffett "no worries" lifestyle at our Florida & South Carolina locations

www.latitudemargaritaville.com

that is my worst nightmare ...it gave me the creeps looking at those "houses"

The scariest part is that I'm 5 years away from being the target audience for **** like this.

I just bought some weed, legally, and the man behind the counter told me I'm less than a year away from getting a 20% discount. I guess 55 isn't so bad after all.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

52. The Sex Pistols “Pretty Vacant” (from Never Mind the Bullocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

Quite the leap from Aja, isn’t it? But what a great opening guitar riff. When asked by the press what the Pistols did with the money made from their debut album and resulting tour, Johnny Rotten replied, “****ing spent it, didn’t we?”

this song and this album is ****ing fantastic

 

[FairWarning]

"That nobody ever heard."

What makes it better is when it’s an anecdotal story about one person not knowing it.

If one was exposed to college radio in the late 70’s-early 80’s, they should be familiar with Television. I wasn’t, nor knew anyone in college who played it. Sure, it can be very influential, but that doesn’t always make it great. Some bands that I think are very influential in rock - Vanilla Fudge and MC5, don’t move the needle much in mainstream.

That wasn’t the point I was making at all - everyone likes what they like and that’s fine.

On this forum we just did a Top 31 songs by American artists rankings where many people submitted lists and @krista4 compiled those lists in a countdown - Marquis Moon finished No. 3 overall behind Superstition and The Boxer. It wasn’t on my list, but to say it’s a song “no one knows” or that people only like it because the critics tell them they should is an arrogant and silly statement.

I guess it depends on the target audience and who is judging. This forum has a pretty high percentage of college educated posters, and were exposed to more types of music.

Well, sure but that only furthers the point - making a blanket statement about whether a band is known or not based on your personal experience is an arrogant statement. This country and the world is a pretty big place - it would be like saying "no one watches soccer" just because you (in the general sense) find it boring.

Some may find it arrogant, but i was a DJ for 15+ years in all sorts of settings. I can only go by my experiences. Some bands do get rediscovered long after an album release.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

"That nobody ever heard."

What makes it better is when it’s an anecdotal story about one person not knowing it.

If one was exposed to college radio in the late 70’s-early 80’s, they should be familiar with Television. I wasn’t, nor knew anyone in college who played it. Sure, it can be very influential, but that doesn’t always make it great. Some bands that I think are very influential in rock - Vanilla Fudge and MC5, don’t move the needle much in mainstream.

That wasn’t the point I was making at all - everyone likes what they like and that’s fine.

On this forum we just did a Top 31 songs by American artists rankings where many people submitted lists and @krista4 compiled those lists in a countdown - Marquis Moon finished No. 3 overall behind Superstition and The Boxer. It wasn’t on my list, but to say it’s a song “no one knows” or that people only like it because the critics tell them they should is an arrogant and silly statement.

I guess it depends on the target audience and who is judging. This forum has a pretty high percentage of college educated posters, and were exposed to more types of music.

Well, sure but that only furthers the point - making a blanket statement about whether a band is known or not based on your personal experience is an arrogant statement. This country and the world is a pretty big place - it would be like saying "no one watches soccer" just because you (in the general sense) find it boring.

Some may find it arrogant, but i was a DJ for 15+ years in all sorts of settings. I can only go by my experiences. Some bands do get rediscovered long after an album release.

I think you keep missing my point - I'll let it go.

 

[FairWarning]

Yes indeed. Greed knows no need unturned where vice is unspurned.

Latitude Margaritaville: 55+ Retirement Communities in Florida & South Carolina

Latitude Margaritaville builds 55+ active adult retirement communities. Live the Jimmy Buffett "no worries" lifestyle at our Florida & South Carolina locations

www.latitudemargaritaville.com

that is my worst nightmare ...it gave me the creeps looking at those "houses"

The scariest part is that I'm 5 years away from being the target audience for **** like this.

Everyone reading this thread is an old man (or woman.) if you weren’t, why would you give a **** about 1977?

Because I like music history.

 

[Bogart]

53. Jimmy Buffett “Margaritaville” (from Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

So this is a pleasant song that I enjoy listening to when it comes on the radio. I’ve always thought so. Sometimes I’ll sing along. It’s totally inoffensive; on the other hand, I don’t see any greatness here.

And yet…

Surely this is the most brilliantly marketed tune in pop music history? Jimmy Buffett is one of the wealthiest musicians alive and it is largely because of “Margaritaville” and the empire he has created, from a chain of restaurants and hot spots to merchandising of just about every product known to man. I challenge anyone to come up with another song that has been quite this successful in terms of marketing- I can’t think of one.

Jimmy Buffett has always amazed me. As you travel around the beachy parts of Mexico, the Carribian and South America, Margaritaville Bar and Grills stand out like a sore thumb. But with the Hard Rocks and Planet Hollywoods going out of business around them, Jimmy's places seem to survive. Kudos to him.

And while I have never sought out owning a JB album or really even seeing him live (I pulled babysitting duty every year when my ex and her sister would go), I could probably hit 80-90% of the lyrics from "Songs You Know By Heart".