Category 1970s

“Angel from Montgomery” (John Prine/Bonnie Raitt)

John Prine and Bonnie Raitt

Your angelic song of the day is John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery.” He wrote it back in 1970 and it first appeared on his self-titled 1971 debut album. It was immediately hailed as a major work and has since been covered by dozens of artists, from Gretchen Wilson and Emmylou Harris to John Denver and Carly Simon (in a contemporaneously…

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“What You Won’t Do for Love” (Bobby Caldwell)

What You Won't Do For Love

Honoring the late Bobby Caldwell, your forgotten ’70s soft rock/yacht rock/soft soul/smooth jazz song of the day is “What You Won’t Do for Love.” This was the lead-off single from Mr. Caldwell’s self-titled debut album, released in September of 1978. It rose all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #6 on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart,…

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“Layla” (Derek and the Dominos)

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

In honor of Jim Gordon’s passing, our classic song of the day is “Layla,” by Derek and the Dominos. Released in September of 1970, it rose to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 early in 1971 and became an instant rock classic. The song “Layla” was the next-to-last track (third of four tracks on the second side of the double-album’s…

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“Ariel” (Dean Friedman)

Ariel Dean Friedman

Today’s long-lost ode to a young Jewish girl from Paramus, New Jersey song of the day is “Ariel,” by Dean Friedman. This little slice of history was released in April of 1977 and rose all the way to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. (And it ties into yesterday’s classic song of the day, “American City Suite,” in that “Ariel”…

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