I love compilations, especially as a DJ. They are a great beginning to get a feel for a genre of music, time period, and it’s an easy way to get a bunch of hits without having to purchase multiple CD’s. For some time I’ve been sitting on the compilation album Essential 70’s, a 3 CD compilation that includes many hits from that time period. While I wasn’t even thought of during the creation of most of this music (I was born in ’81), I have always had a fondness for 70’s music and artists; I grew up with an extensive music regimen which included Pink Floyd, Bob Dlyan, and Santana. Regardless of the age, era, or time, some songs never get old.
There’s a few songs that will always hit my heart, some on this compilation, other’s that did not make it. Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water is a smooth hard dramatic song that invokes so many images, even though it’s about a casino that burned down during a recording session. There’s also The Flying Lizards’ Money which has been using in so many movies you won’t recognize it until you hear it. Of course when talking about the 70’s you have to discuss Minnie Ripperton’s Loving You which always seems to make time stand still, this song is also an influence in Mariah Carey early in her career (just listen for those high notes!). Hot Chocolate’s You Sexy Thing, Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street, and Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy have been used in so many movies and television shows they feel timeless but invoke so many memories from that age. Actually, I was introduced to Rhinestone Cowboy through High School High (thank you Jon Lovitz.) There’s also Kiss, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, AC/DC, Bob Marley, The Dire Straits, Barry Manilow who made great music during the 70’s but have also made great influential music before and after.
Musically the 70’s was an exciting time, the dawn of disco and rock, but its music seems to get lost with the development of rock in the 60’s, heavy metal, synth-pop and hi-hop in the 80’s. Regardless so much of that periods music continues to resonate so much it makes me want to do a fairly reoccurring 70’s gigs. I could go on, but I’ve listed my favorites, what are your’s?