Top Songs of 1978 - Part 8

In this series we have been looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here, songs 90-81 here, songs 80-71 here, songs 70-61 here, songs 60-51 here, songs 50-41 can be found here and songs 40-31 can be found here.  In this post we will look at songs 30-21.

This group of ten songs reminds me of what was right and what was wrong with music in the 70s. There are a few good songs on this list, and a clunker or two, but mostly they are just meh. On the other hand, there is once again a diversity of styles in the list. Disco, classic rock, pop rock, and then there is Barry Manilow and Meat Loaf. I am just never sure how to categorize either one. The list looks like this:

30. Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Meat Loaf
29. Dance With Me, Peter Brown
28. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late, Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
27. Can't Smile Without You, Barry Manilow
26. Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty
25. We Are the Champions / We Will Rock You, Queen
24. It's a Heartache, Bonnie Tyler
23. Love Is Like Oxygen, The Sweet
22. Hot Child In the City, Nick Gilder
21. Feels So Good, Chuck Mangione

30. Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Meat Loaf - I am not going to lie, I like Meat Loaf. I guess I would call his style theatrical rock or operatic rock. Whatever you want to call his style, it is always entertaining. The lyrics to his songs on the Bat Out of Hell album were written by Jim Steinman and they are catchy and often ironic, like those in this song. I have the Bat Out of Hell CD and usually play it when I am on a road trip. Crank it up and let it rip, there is not a bad song on the album.

29. Dance With Me, Peter Brown  - Not a bad song, just not my favorite.

Top Songs of 1978 - Part 7

In this series we have been looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here, songs 90-81 here, songs 80-71 here, songs 70-61 here, songs 60-51 here and finally, songs 50-41 can be found here. In this post we will look at songs 40-31. I like this list of songs, it is my favorite so far.

40. Magnet and Steel, Walter Egan
39. Dust In the Wind, Kansas
38. The Closer I Get to You, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
37. You're In My Heart, Rod Stewart
36. Hot Blooded, Foreigner
35. Hopelessly Devoted to You, Olivia Newton-John
34. Last Dance, Donna Summer
33. Sometimes When We Touch, Dan Hill
32. Take a Chance On Me, Abba
31. Jack and Jill, Raydio

40. Magnet and Steel, Walter Egan was one of the many "One Hit Wonders" from the 1970s. I really like this song though.

39. Dust In the Wind, Kansas is a very talented progressive rock band. Their Left-Overture album was one of the first I ever purchased. This song, however, is a bit of a downer and my least favorite of their hits.

38. The Closer I Get to You, Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. I think this is a beautiful song, maybe I am getting soft in my old age.

Top Songs of 1978 - Part 6

In this series, I am looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here, songs 90-81 here, songs 80-71 here, songs 70-61 here and finally, songs 60-51 are here.  


In this post I present to you, songs 50-41. Like most of the songs in the top 100, this section brings an assortment of styles and genres. From the hard driving pop of Thunder Island to the Disco/Funk of The Groove Line. From the blues/folk of Slip Slidin' Away to the soft rock of Goodbye Girl. From the R & B of Used Ta Be My Girl to the novelty of Short People. This list has it all! 

50. Thunder Island, Jay Ferguson
49. The Groove Line, Heatwave
48. Slip Slidin' Away, Paul Simon
47. Goodbye Girl, David Gates
46. Love Is In the Air, John Paul Young
45. An Everlasting Love, Andy Gibb
44. Love Will Find a Way, Pablo Cruise
43. Our Love, Natalie Cole
42. Use To Be My Girl, The O'Jays
41. Short People, Randy Newman

#50 - Thunder Island (Jay Ferguson) - Who wouldn't want to be stuck on Thunder Island?

#49 - The Groove Line (Heatwave) - I have to admit that I like this sound. It is very danceable and not strictly disco but really on the funkish side. And...if you watch the video, it's pretty cool to see everyone including the musicians dance together, in sync.

Top Songs of 1978 - Part 5

In this series, I am looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here and songs 90-81 can be found here. Songs 80-71 are posted here. Songs 70-61 are here.

Now let's look at songs 60-51...

#60 - Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
#59 - You Belong To Me - Carly Simon
#58 - This Time I'm In It For Love - Player
#57 - Back In Love Again - L.T.D.
#56 - Come Sail Away - Styx
#55 - On Broadway - George Benson
#54 - Disco Inferno - Trammps
#53 - My Angel Baby - Toby Beau
#52 - Still the Same - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
#51 - Imaginary Lover - Atlanta Rhythm Section

This is an interesting and diverse list of 10 songs. It just reminds me of the variety of musical genres that we got to experience during the 70s.

Top Songs of 1978 - Part 4

In this series, I am looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here and songs 90-81 can be found here. Songs 80-71 are posted here. In this post we will be looking at songs 70-61.

#70 - What's Your Name - Lynryd Skynyrd
#69 - Summer Nights - John Travolta & Olivia Newton John
#68 - Hey Deanie - Shaun Cassidy
#67 - Baby Hold On - Eddie Money
#66 - Count on Me - Jefferson Starship
#65 - Reminiscing - Little River Band
#64 - Shame - Evelyn "Champagne" King
#63 - You Needed Me - Anne Murray
#62 - Peg - Steely Dan
#61 - Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt

What's Your Name - These guys know how to rock...and with a name like Lynyrd Skynyrd they better be good!

Summer Nights - I was forced to listen to this song while riding the bus to school every day, at some point, I started liking it.

Top Songs of 1978 - Part 3

In this series, I am looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here and songs 90-81 can be found here. Going back and listening to these songs bring back lots of memories for me, both good and bad! Let's look at songs 80-71.

#80 - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood - Santa Esmeralda
#79 - Falling - LeBlanc & Carr
#78 - Sentimental Lady - Bob Welch
#77 - Serpentine Fire - Earth, Wind & Fire
#76 - You and I - Rick James
#75 - Always and Forever - Heatwave
#74 - Copacabana - Barry Manilow
#73 - Every Kinda People - Robert Palmer
#72 - Because the Night - Patti Smith
#71 - Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue - Crystal Gayle

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood was first recorded in 1964 and has been recorded several times since, with the best-known version recorded by the Animals in 1965. This version, with a disco spin, is recorded by Santa Esmeralda. Interestingly, Santa Esmeralda also did a disco version of "House of the Rising Son" also a song made famous by the Animals.

Falling a song by the first of the one-hit wonders on our list. I actually like this song, but maybe I am getting sentimental in my old age? Nahhhhh...

Top Songs of 1978 - Part 2

In this series I am looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here. In addition to some great song titles in this list, there is some quality music as well. Now let's look at songs 90-81.

#90 - It's So Easy - Linda Ronstadt
#89 - You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On) - High Inergy
#88 - I Love the Night Life - Alicia Bridges
#87 - Life's Been Good - Joe Walsh
#86 - Sweet Talking Woman - Electric Light Orchestra
#85 - Get Off - Foxy
#84 - Fool If You Think It's Over) - Chris Rea
#83 - Whenever I Call You "Friend" - Kenny Loggins
#82 - Running on Empty - Jackson Browne
#81 - Bluer Than Blue - Michael Johnson

Linda Ronstadt had poor taste in boyfriends (Governor Moonbeam), but she had good taste in music. Plus, she was kind of cute back then.

Gotta love the song title to this one.

I have to confess that many "disco songs" have grown on me over the years, this is one of them. Although, Alicia Bridges looks scary to me...sort of a female version of Billy Idol.

"Life's Been Good to Me So Far" is a classic, Classic Rock song, with a great intro. I never get tired of listening to it. Joe Walsh was a former member of the Eagles, and while he doesn't have the great vocal chops of a Glenn Frey or Don Henley, he can sure play the guitar.

Sweet Talking Woman is the second ELO song in the top 100.

Ahem, well, it was the 70's...

This is one of those songs that you don't appreciate when you're a teenager, but is much more meaningful when you have a little bit of life and love under your belt.

I was never a big Kenny Loggins fan, but this is a good song.

Running on empty is another one of those songs that gets more meaningful as you get older. Plus, it's another very good Classic Rock song.

For some reason, this song makes me want to slit my wrists...

Well, there you have it, songs 90-81...what do you think?

Top Songs of 1978 - Part 1

The other day I was in my car listening to a rebroadcast of a Casey Kasem countdown of the top 100 hits from 1978. When I returned home I did a quick Google search for the list and thought it would be fun to share the countdown on my blog. It was the year of Grease and Saturday Night Fever, so songs from both those movies are on the list. Disco was also still very big. However, there are other genres represented as well. Many of the songs on the list bring back memories for me of working at Miners Drive-in Yakima, especially those songs from the summer of 1978. There are also a few titles on the list that I couldn't remember. I hope you enjoy the countdown. Here are songs 100-91.

#100 - Deacon Blues - Steely Dan
#99 - Hollywood Nights - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
#98 - We're Alone - Rita Coolidge
#97 - The Name of the Game - ABBA
#96 - Ebony Eyes - Bob Welch
#95 - I Can't Stand the Rain - Eruption
#94 - Turn To Stone - Electric Light Orchestra
#93 - Don't Look Back - Boston
#92 - Flashlight - Parliament
#91 - Native New Yorker - Odyssey

There were four songs on the 100-91 list that I couldn't recall. In my defense, all but one were disco songs so that explains my unfamiliarity with the titles.

I love Steely Dan, and Deacon Blues has always been my favorite of their hits.

"They call Alabama the Crimson Tide, call me Deacon Blues"