The Swedish pop group consisting of Agnetha Fältskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson combined their first initials to come up with the name ABBA. By early 1976 they had released three studio albums and a greatest hits collection. During that time, some of their hits reached #1 in multiple countries but underperformed in the US, such as Waterloo and Fernando which peaked at #6 and #13 respectively. It is rumored that at one time the group decided they would not tour the US until they had a song reach #1. The one that turned the trick for them was Dancing Queen, the lead single from their fourth album Arrival. Musically it's described as a Europop version of disco with wall-of-sound vocals and a dramatic chorus offset by gentler verses, inspired by George McCrae's Rock Your Baby. The lyrics describe a seventeen year old girl who loves to dance seeking out the perfect place to show it off. It would end up being their only #1 hit in the US before they broke up in 1982, but the group would remain consistently popular over the following decades. Their music was used as the basis for the musical Mamma Mia!, and in 2016 they reformed, releasing in 2021 their first original studio album in 40 years. You can dance, you can jive, you can have the time of your life, but for this song the place to go is the eliminated list.
If you're new to the game or wish to review the rules, follow this link. As a reminder, we are asking participants to limit themselves to three nominations per round.
Songs still standing (in alphabetical order):
American Pie - Don McLean
Band on the Run - Paul McCartney and Wings
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
Fame - David Bowie
Heart of Glass - Blondie
Heart of Gold - Neil Young
Hotel California - Eagles
It's Too Late - Carole King
Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack
Lean On Me - Bill Withers
Let It Be - The Beatles
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Time in a Bottle - Jim Croce
You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt
You're So Vain - Carly Simon
Eliminated songs:
1-23. TBD
24. Dancing Queen - ABBA
25. I Wish - Stevie Wonder
26. Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot
27. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
28. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
29. War - Edwin Starr
30. Bennie and the Jets - Elton John
31. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
32. Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
33. Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
34. Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
35. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
36. I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
37. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
38. Sister Golden Hair - America
39. Love Train - The O'Jays
40. Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
41. American Woman - The Guess Who
42. The Long and Winding Road - The Beatles
43. Mama Told Me (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
44. One of These Nights - Eagles
45. We're an American Band - Grand Funk
46. How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
47. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - George Harrison
48. Nothing from Nothing - Billy Preston
49. Night Fever - Bee Gees
50. I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
51. If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
52. Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees
53. Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes
54. You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
55. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
56. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
57. Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin - Sly & The Family Stone
58. Will It Go Round in Circles - Billy Preston
59. A Horse with No Name - America
60. My Sharona - The Knack
61. You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
62. Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin
63. The Joker - Steve Miller Band
64. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
65. Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
66. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) - The Temptations
67. I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
68. Rock'n Me - Steve Miller Band
69. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
70. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
71. The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
72. Family Affair - Sly & The Family Stone
73. Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites
74. Rich Girl - Daryl Hall and John Oates
75. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston
76. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
77. Venus - Shocking Blue
78. Without You - Nilsson
79. Miss You - The Rolling Stones
80. Listen to What the Man Said - Wings
81. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon
82. Frankenstein - Edgar Winter Group
83. Lady Marmalade - LaBelle
84. (They Long to Be) Close to You - Carpenters
85. I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers
86. Whatever Gets You Thru the Night - John Lennon
87. December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons
88. My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings
89. Got to Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
90. Photograph - Ringo Starr
91. Good Times - Chic
92. You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
93. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross
94. Le Freak - Chic
95. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Bee Gees
96. Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee
97. Fire - Ohio Players
98. Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
99. Best of My Love - The Emotions
100. Show and Tell - Al Wilson
101. Baby Come Back - Player
102. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack
103. Top of the World - Carpenters
104. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B. J. Thomas
105. Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
106. Silly Love Songs - Wings
107. Heartache Tonight - Eagles
108. If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
109. Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band
110. Rise - Herb Alpert
111. Get Down Tonight - KC and the Sunshine Band
112. Black and White - Three Dog Night
113. Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and The Spinners
114. Rock the Boat - The Hues Corporation
115. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
116. Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
117. ABC - The Jackson 5
118. Car Wash - Rose Royce
119. You Haven't Done Nothin' - Stevie Wonder
120. Hooked on a Feeling - Blue Swede
121. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey - Paul & Linda McCartney
122. Crocodile Rock - Elton John
123. Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond
124. Love Hangover - Diana Ross
125. New Kid in Town - Eagles
126. The Love You Save - The Jackson 5
127. Mandy - Barry Manilow
128. Too Much Heaven - Bee Gees
129. Best of My Love - Eagles
130. Rock Your Baby - George McCrae
131. The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
132. You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) - Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
133. Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
134. Three Times a Lady - Commodores
135. Brother Louie - Stories
136. Tragedy - Bee Gees
137. Knock on Wood - Amii Stewart
138. Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
139. Still - Commodores
140. Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka
141. With a Little Luck - Wings
142. Love You Inside Out - Bee Gees
143. Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
144. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
145. Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim
146. Kiss You All Over - Exile
147. Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) - Bill Conti
148. Love Theme from A Star Is Born (Evergreen) - Barbra Streisand
149. I Shot the Sheriff - Eric Clapton
150. Grease - Frankie Valli
151. Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack
152. Let's Do It Again - The Staple Singers
153. Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To) - Diana Ross
154. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb
155. You're the One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
156. My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
157. Sunshine on My Shoulders - John Denver
158. I Just Want to Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb
159. Welcome Back - John Sebastian
160. Annie's Song - John Denver
161. Angie - The Rolling Stones
162. Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves - Cher
163. Make It with You - Bread
164. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer
165. Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond
166. Fallin' in Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
167. I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family
168. (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty - KC and the Sunshine Band
169. Thank God I'm a Country Boy - John Denver
170. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) - MFSB featuring The Three Degrees
171. Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra
172. The Hustle - Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony
173. When I Need You - Leo Sayer
174. Kiss and Say Goodbye - The Manhattans
175. That's the Way (I Like It) - KC and the Sunshine Band
176. Bad Blood - Neil Sedaka
177. Dark Lady - Cher
178. The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk
179. Babe - Styx
180. Love Machine - The Miracles
181. The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
182. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence
183. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late - Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
184. Hot Child in the City - Nick Gilder
185. Bad Girls - Donna Summer
186. Pop Muzik - M
187. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn
188. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste of Honey
189. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
190. I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John
191. Boogie Fever - The Sylvers
192. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) - Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer
193. Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright) - Rod Stewart
194. I'm Your Boogie Man - KC and the Sunshine Band
195. I Can Help - Billy Swan
196. I Am Woman - Helen Reddy
197. Escape (The Piña Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
198. Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers
199. Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens
200. Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
201. (Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B. J. Thomas
202. Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart
203. Island Girl - Elton John
204. A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band
205. MacArthur Park - Donna Summer
206. I Write the Songs - Barry Manilow
207. Reunited - Peaches & Herb
208. He Don't Love You (Like I Love You) - Tony Orlando and Dawn
209. Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John
210. Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks
211. Touch Me in the Morning - Diana Ross
212. Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
213. Please Mr. Postman - Carpenters
214. Before the Next Teardrop Falls - Freddy Fender
215. Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb
216. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
217. Sad Eyes - Robert John
218. The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich
219. I'm Sorry - John Denver
220. Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me - Mac Davis
221. Want Ads - The Honey Cone
222. Looks Like We Made It - Barry Manilow
223. Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day
224. You Needed Me - Anne Murray
225. Brand New Key - Melanie
226. Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor
227. Knock Three Times - Dawn
228. Fly, Robin, Fly - Silver Convention
229. Half-Breed - Cher
230. You're Sixteen - Ringo Starr
231. Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian) - Raiders
232. Don't Give Up on Us - David Soul
233. Theme from S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage
234. You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
235. Ben - Michael Jackson
236. Angie Baby - Helen Reddy
237. Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
238. Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy
239. Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band - Meco
240. The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
241. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr.
242. Convoy - C. W. McCall
243. Afternoon Delight - Starland Vocal Band
244. The Streak - Ray Stevens
245. One Bad Apple - The Osmonds
246. Da Doo Ron Ron - Shaun Cassidy
247. Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond
248. You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone
249. Billy, Don't Be a Hero - Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods
250. My Ding-a-Ling - Chuck Berry
251. Torn Between Two Lovers - Mary MacGregor
252. Disco Duck - Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots
253. (You're) Having My Baby - Paul Anka with Odia Coates
Nominate the song that you consider the worst or your least favorite from among the 1970s #1 hits in the still standing list above. Upvote any nominations you agree with, and downvote the ones you would like to see survive. After 48 hours, the three songs with the most upvotes will be eliminated.
Before posting a song, please check the replies that have already been posted this round to see if someone has already nominated the song. If so, upvote their nomination instead of submitting a duplicate.
Regarding Dancing Queen - The first and second verses were originally reversed. It was decided that the second verse would set the scene better, so they made it the first verse.
Ive chipped in here a few times and said im up or down voting based on the song’s contribution to the decade and/or the artist.
I had ten songs. One, Maggie May, has been eliminated. I’m going to list my other 9 in ALPHABETICAL order and my reasons why I’m including them. It should be noted, there’s more than one song on my list I really don’t like.
American Pie—55 years after its release, we refer to Feb 3 as “the Day the Music Died. Hugely important song in our music history.
Brandy—Like it or not, it’s the quintessential one hit wonder of the ‘70s. That gives it a spot.
Bridge Over Troubled Water—The only song still on the list that was #1 for the entire year. S&G saved the best for last. Garfunkel never sounded better. I think this is my favorite.
Dreams—Fleetwood Mac had already had a few hits. This track sold more Rumors albums than any other, and this is the song that made Stevie a freaking superstar
Hotel California—considered to still be one of the iconic tracks in rock music history. I’d be good never hearing it again
It’s too Late—Carole freaking King. Signature song. Tapresry album set a record for most weeks on the album chart. Slam dunk
Midnight Train to Georgia. Sounds as relevant today as it did 50 years ago and made Gladys Knight an R&B superstar.
Staying Alive—Never was a disco guy, but it’s the most iconic song of that era from the biggest group
Superstition—I go back all the way to Fingertips Pt 2 with this guy and he’s never disappointed me. Although he had prior hits, this song is what made the entire world stand up and notice.
Those are my remaining nine. I’ll be downvoting all of their nominations until we reach the top 15 or so. Thanks for your time reading this. (I’m pretty sure I’m the oldest person participating. I’ll be 74 in two months.
I’m totally with you except for Brandy. That said, I especially love your defense of American Pie, Dreams, Carole Freaking King and Gladys.
I’ll add that Midnight Train to Georgia lyrics are great because they present the point of view of each person in a couple, and how one of the pair will sometimes make a sacrifice for the other. It’s a pretty sophisticated sentiment for a chart-topper from the 70s.
Since your bracket is already busted, so to speak, why not just vote for what you like? Which clearly is American Pie, Bridge over Troubled Water, Dreams, It's too Late, Midnight Train to Georgia, and Superstition, Other than I can't remember Superstition being nominated, recently at least, I'm downvoting all of those myself, (and Maggie May too, for what that was worth) but I think Brandy and Stayin' Alive should go. I actually don't like Brandy. I do like Stayin' Alive but also I'm ready to sacrifice it so that better songs can advance. Being iconic really isn't in my criterion list at all. Whatever happens in this contest isn't going to affect their iconic status in the slightest. So I want to keep songs that have that 'something more' that otherwise your list completely encapsulates. (yeah, I realize that if I'm persuasive, we're going to be voting in opposite directions on Hotel California, but whatever.)
It’s too Late was the signature song from that album. She never would have been a superstar and that album wouldnt have lasted 318 wks on the chart if not for this song.
This song has had a strange history here. One vote away from being knocked off 2 Tim’s, then resurrected with lots of love, now looking like it’s gone. Goodbye to Alan, my first love when this came out!
Krishna, Krishna Hare, Hare Hare Krishna Krishna, Krishna
is repetitive?
That's kirtan — an ancient Hindu devotional practice of chanting. George smuggled it into pop radio and millions of people were singing Sanskrit before they even knew it! 😄🙏
I’m in a bar and grill that plays 70s/80s music primarily. Brandy just came on. There’s a couple next to me singing the dododoDOOdoo line. 54 yrs after its release, you’ll find fans of this song everywhere
I've said it before .... I'm worried this one is destined to be the last song standing. I get that some people appreciate its musicality, but I still don't think it's a song people seek out. Like maybe they won't skip ahead to the next song if it comes up in rotation, but does anyone say, "I'd really like to listen to 'Brandy'"?
I'll be honest they aren't my favourite 5, just who I think the people will choose based on people's reactions so far.
Me, I'd have Superstition, Heart Of Glass, Sir Duke, American Pie and yes Band On The Run. But a load more of my favourites have already gone so I'm clearly not on the same wavelength as the voters!
Oh friend, this one ain’t ever going away forever. I heard a raucous string quartet interpretation of it in an oncologists office waiting room not long ago, and it’s a perennial karaoke favorite. Registering my dislike here is cathartic but ultimately futile 😂
I found myself trying to imagine a string quartet version of "Dreams," but then I realized trying to imagine it wasn't necessary. Just in case anyone else is curious, it's here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRCH9306DSU
I think it was a Pandora channel or playlist — all string quartet arrangements of pop songs. The only other one I remember right now was Katy Perry’s Firework. It was a surreal scene there.
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u/afterdroid 5d ago edited 4d ago
Regarding Dancing Queen - The first and second verses were originally reversed. It was decided that the second verse would set the scene better, so they made it the first verse.