It is fair to say that there’s not one person in this world who hasn’t danced to this tune. But the funk legend Wild Cherry wasn’t always at the top of the charts. Before they came out with the awesome “Play That Funky Music” in 1976, they couldn’t even book a single gig!
Funnily enough, the legendary song came about when the band was playing at a club to an audience that was somewhat disappointed and unresponsive. Someone suddenly shouted, “play that funky music white boy!”. The frontman, Rob Parissi, got the line stuck in his head, and the rest, as they say, is history.
"Feelings" by Morris Albert
Some song titles have hidden meanings, secret stories, and inside jokes. But this hit by Morris Albert is as straightforward as they come. "Feelings" is exactly about that - feelings. Sad feelings, to be more exact. Brazilian-born Albert took creative liberty and improvised on an already existing song written by Loulou Gasté, a known French composer. And despite the fact that Albert faced a lot of copyright lawsuits, his version of the song was a huge hit in 1975.
The very sad lyrics and soft tune turned "Feelings" into one of the most emotional ballads of the 1970s and has been covered by countless artists through the years. From the great Nina Simone to the legendary Ella Fitzgerald and even Julio Iglesias, the song definitely had its time in the spotlight.
"I Love You for All Seasons" by The Fuzz
"I Love You for All Seasons" was a soulful ballad written by Sheila Young and performed by the D.C. soul trio, The Fuzz. Released in December 1970, the song reached number 10 on the US R&B chart and number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.
The heartfelt tune reached deep into your soul thanks to the beautiful voice of the trio of ladies that made up The Fuzz. And even though they didn't produce any more hits, they sure made this one count.
"American Pie" by Don McLean
Don McLean may have had other singles that had their fair share of success, but none ever came close to the epic "American Pie." This song has been covered by countless artists, including Madonna, and it is simply one of those beautiful, timeless songs that will stay a favorite forever. Everybody knows "American Pie," and everybody gets a strong nostalgic feeling every time they hear it.
Released in 1971, this epic tune became a symbol of the counterculture hippie movement of the '60s and '70s. It didn't matter that it was over eight minutes long; people still managed to learn every single word by heart. And they still remember.
"Born To Be Alive" by Patrick Hernandez
Patrick Hernandez was the French disco king of the '70s. He had it all - the puffy hair, slick shoes, sharp suits, and even a dancing cane. Hernandez was definitely born to be on stage, and apparently, he was also born to top the charts with his number one hit, "Born to be Alive".
However, the disco king's song was definitely a one-time hit since Hernandez retired from his music career shortly after, in 1979. But hey, we're still dancing to the groove.