Ten Worst Songs Of The ’70s

October 26, 2011 12:00 PM

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Rolling Stone readers have picked the Ten Worst Songs of the ’70s. While some of them are no doubt pretty horrendous, if you grew up on AM radio as a kid, you will probably find some of your childhood favorites here. Take a look!

10.) “Lovin’ You” Minnie Riperton (1975)

Minnie Ripperton Fun Fact: Ripperton’s daughter, Maya Rudolph, grew up to become a Saturday Night Live cast member and movie star.

9.) “Feelings” Morris Albert (1974)

Feelings Fun Fact: French songwriter Loulou Gasté sued [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Morris Albert[/lastfm] in 1981 for copyright infringement. He claimed that the song was a plagiarism of the melody of his 1957 song Pour Toi. Gasté won the suit in 1988 and was awarded 88% of the song’s royalties.

8.) “Billy Don’t Be a Hero”

Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods (1974)

Billy Don’t Be A Hero Fun Fact: The song was originally recorded by Paper Lace where it was a #1 hit in England. They were beat to the punch with an American release by [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods[/lastfm], who also saw their version reach #1. [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Paper Lace[/lastfm] were responsible for another song thought by many to be a 70′s embarrassment: The Night Chicago Died.

7.) “Seasons in the Sun” Terry Jacks (1973)

Seasons In The Sun Fun Fact: The B-side of the Seasons in the Sun single was a song called Put the Bone In. It concerned a woman who wanted her butcher to leave the bone in her meat order.

6.) “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” Rupert Holmes (1979)

Rupert Holmes Fun Fact: In 1985, [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Rupert Holmes[/lastfm] won the Tony Award for both book and score for his first musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

5.) “Muskrat Love” The Captain and Tennille (1976)

Muskrat Love Fun Fact: Muskrat Love began life as Muskrat Candlelight as written and performed by Willis Alan Ramsey in 1972. [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]America[/lastfm] covered the song in 1973, changing the title to Muskrat Love. But it was the incredibly literal version by [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]The Captain and Tennille[/lastfm] that took the song to its greatest heights, reaching #4 on the Billboard charts. A subsequent Dr. Demento favorite, Hamster Love by Big Daddy, skewered the song in more ways than one.

4.) “You Light Up My Life” Debby Boone (1977)

You Light Up My Life Fun Fact: The song was recorded for the movie soundtrack by Kasey Cisyk and lip-synced in the film by Didi (Frenchie from Grease) Conn. But when it came time for a single to be recorded, [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Pat Boone[/lastfm]‘s daughter [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Debbie Boone[/lastfm] came into the mix. You Light Up My Life maintained a record-breaking 10 consecutive week #1 position at the top of the Billboard charts.

3.) “(You’re) Having My Baby” Paul Anka (1974)

(You’re) Having My Baby Fun Fact: The song was [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Paul Anka[/lastfm]‘s big return to the pop scene and his first number one hit in 15 years. His last song to hit the #1 spot was Lonely Boy in 1959.

2.) “Afternoon Delight” Starland Vocal Band (1976)

Starland Vocal Band Fun Fact: A previously unknown comic named David Letterman was cast member of [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Starland Vocal Band[/lastfm]‘s short-lived television variety hour.

1.) “Disco Duck” Rick Dees (1976)

Disco Duck Fun Fact: As popular as Disco Duck was, disc jocky [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Rick Dees[/lastfm] was forbidden to play the song on his own Memphis radio show. He eventually simply talked about (not played) the tune and was fired due to conflict of interest. Dees eventually became the successor of Kasey Kasem with The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown.

What do YOU think of the list? Did one of your favorites make this worst list? Or do you completely agree?

Let us know in the comments section below!

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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1138312400 Suzanne M. Mullany

You light up my life is a very romantic song. I think you’re wrong on that one.
Terry M.

The 10 worst songs of the 70s cracked me up. Most of those songs made me want to gag back in the day! Good choices!

http://gravatar.com/stevemayhem stevemayhem

I can’t disagree with any of these best-of-the worst choices either, but Helen Reddy’s excruciating “I am Woman” is conspicuously missing.

Joe Laginestra

I guess you’re not for Women’s Liberation” ha ?

Tom McCray

I can’t disagree with any song on this list. As bad as many of them were, they were all bonifide hits. Heck, being in radio both then and now, I played them all. I’m sure all of the composers and singers were laughing all the way to the bank. Let’s hear it for Top 40 radio.
Tom “Donahue” McCray
Joe C.

The Pina Colada song one of the worst? It is a classic relationship story that you need to keep your lover interested and not be taken for granted. The voters must’ve been drinking – this is a fun song!!!

http://www.facebook.com/patti.ollweiler Patricia Ollweiler

They nailed it! GAG!!! LOL, those songs made me sick then, and they still do if I have the sad misfortune to hear one of them.

Metal Pikachu

I agree with all of this except for Pina Colada

C

I disagree with quite a few of these songs. For one thing, I love “Billy, Don’t Be A Hero” and “You Light Up My Life”. I like the melody of “Seasons In the Sun”, and Lovin’ You.
Pina Colada is a good song because of the meaning behind it.
As for “Disco Duck”, it has no redeeming qualities.

edward

I remember listening to Disco Duck on 77 WABC in 76. After which the great Ron Lundy would come on with his Willard the Duck voice
oldies76

This list is totally wrong and the people who voted for these GREAT songs, obviously never lived in the 70′s, like we did. The only exception would be “Disco Duck”, but that should be #10, not #1..

The worst song of the 70′s should be “Whenever I Call You Friend” by Loggins. Never liked his style of singing. And it’s overly played!
oldies76

“You Light Up My Life” on this list???? 10 weeks at #1 in 1977 and it’s one of the worst??

Let me know when cats bark, and dogs meow, then I’ll agree.
http://www.facebook.com/rodney.a.hamilton Rodney Allen Hamilton

I had to sing Muskrat Love in my 3rd grade music class. My music teacher was a bit off.
http://gravatar.com/mtx4 mtx4

Sorry guys, I love CBS-FM and I’ve been listening to you since back in the 70′s, BUT ALL ten of them were favorites of mine back then, and when I listen to them now, the memories make them even better.

http://www.facebook.com/patti.ollweiler Patricia Ollweiler

WOW. Just …wow. Those were and still are (to me and most) DREADFUL.

Patti G

With the exception of Minnie Riperton’s ‘Loving you’, I enjoy listening to all these songs. What annoyes me most is when magazines publish these list as though it were fact. It’s all a matter of opinion, folks.
Richard Magnan

I agree to all but one: Paul Anka’s “Having my baby”. I was born in 1952, and I heard my mother’s radio all the time and it played a lot of Paul Anka’s hits, such as “Put your head on my shoulder” and so much more. In fact, I have all his best on CD – 5 decades of him. Give him a break, will you. He’s an all of fame artist and I still enjoy all of his songs. Reminds me of my childhood.
Raul B. Brooklyn NY

You got it all wrong except for “Muskrat Love” & “Disco Duck” and even these 2 songs were still entertaining. All the others are great songs and are still being played today. They bring back alot of good memories for me as I was growing up. The songs and music of today can’t compare to the music of that era. I’m very happy to have been a part of it.
Peter Romersa

All these songs ROCK!!!! Disco Duck and Havin My Baby deserve to be on this list, but the others? They are ALL great love songs!!! An Afternoon Delight is a true DELIGHT for me to hear (and to do)!!! You didn’t include “My Ding-A-Ling” by Chuck Berry; “The Streak” by Ray Stevens; “Freebird” by Leonard Skynard; Hocus Pocus by Focus…this is just the beginning of MY LIST!

camille

Freebird?! Really?
Allen

So I hear that “Afternoon Delight” is not about sex (but of course, “My Ding-a-Ling” is!) “Freebird” has become the “Redneck National Anthem”–after some wrestlers co-opted the song–I think I have to agree with you here. “Hocus Pocus”–better if you hear the whole thing rather than the radio edit.

Joe Laginestra

“Seasons in the Sun” doesn’t belong on the list, it is one of the greatest songs ever written. The list should be choc’ full of disco songs – that crap stuck up the latter part of the 70′s. That’s the problem with our society; people aren’t in touch with their true feelings anymore. They want to dance they’re asses off all the time instead of sitting on it and listening to the lyrics of a really great ballad that could benefit the soul – man ! C’mon people let’s “Get Back” to where we once belonged – to quote an ol’ Beatles song.

camille

Oh my gosh man you totally make sense! Just when I think eveyone is insane, someone like you says something that makes sense.

Samie W

“Seasons in the Sun” was one of my favorites from the 70s. With its focus on the motifs of time and change, I have always found this song to be deeply moving and profoundly philosophical. I would never consider it to be one of the worst of the decade.
krazikate

All the mentioned songs really were bad. What were we thinking? Then again I was only a teenager and hopelessly in love. The Minnie Riperton song I disliked (a lot) back then and still don’t care for it and will usually change the station. Whenever I hear the songs now on WCBS/FM 101.1, I do cringe a bit but they ALWAYS take me back to more innocent times and always make me smile.
Ralph Hahn

If anything, “Lovin’ You” should be on the BEST songs from the 1970s. Minnie Riperton had the voice of an angel. Her daughter, Maya Rudolph, is a former cast member of “Saturday Night Live.”

Mike Barnes

Like the stones said It’s only Rock n roll but i like it
I think most of Rolling stone’s choices for the list were wrong and they are elitist snobs
Disco duck and Muskrat Love do stink, but the other songs ESPECIALLY You light up my life
because it was the biggest seller of the decade. Maybe it is the musical taste of the persons who compiled the “WORST” list that is really bad and not so much the songs
Most pop tunes are meant to be simple and catchy not “Bach or Beethoven”
what do you think they would have thought of Led Zeppelin’s dazed and Confuzed
o The Rolling stones’ “SHATTERED” If somebody likes a song, it makes the song worth it
regardless of it’s artistic merits, so get over it-quack, quack!!!!!
==================================
Dear administrator:
(cancel and don’t post my other comments because i thought it was SONG BY SONG not just one all inclusive comment-sorry!!!!!!!!!
http://gravatar.com/dawnd13 dawnd13

I agree with Ralph…Minnie Riperton does NOT belong on this list. However, remember that sleazoid song “Pillow Talk” by sylvia? THAT was disgusting!

Mike Barnes

this is one song i agree should be on the list….P U!!!!! not melodic, not fun, but remember the band America did it first
Mike Barnes

for being such a bad song, why did it outsell every other single of that decade?
Maybe the songs not so bad, but the taste of the people who selected this for the list is!
Mike Barnes

Well at least the song doesn’t endorse ABORTION! Besides, Odia Coates (The female part)
registered “electric” in the song…another one that’s not great but hard to believe it is in the top 10 WORST…Right now they are playin “Lola” and I think that song is worse, of course I’m not a tranny!

camille

Lola is a groovy song man.

Mike Barnes

Again, a cute song about something almost everybody likes…..why isn’t “shattered” by the stones on this list…I like the stones but that song gives me the creeps and makes my skin crawl and itch!!!!!!!
http://topworst70ssongs marley

who took the survey for the worst songs of the seventies? I love those songs they were great times and the songs were good for us.who did the survey hard rock guys with no feelings?
I think I dated a couple back then they were history fast….COME ON HAVING MY BABY?
THAT WAS GOLD. love you guys !!!!!!
camille

Okay really man? These are some rockin’ tunes man! “Afternoon Delight”, “You Light Up My Life”, “Seasons in the Sun”, “Pina Colada”, “Muskrat Love? Why in the freaking hell are those on this list man?! Have you heard the lame music of this lame generation? It sucks man! I am 17 years old and am ashamed to be a teenager because of it. I listen to music like this because it’s way better. Lists like this annoy me because they act as though this is fact when it’s just a few people’s opinions. No one bothered to ask me, who makes these lists anyway? But thank you so much for not putting Shaun Cassidy or the Bay City Rollers on this worst songs list. I appreciate that man.
http://wcbsfm.com advance2go

The Pina Colada song is novel and witty. Should not be on this list. Agree with the rest though