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Once again, I am committing an act of folly. I did NOT do nearly enough research (e.g. going thru my record collection) before making this list, but y'know, that's life. So...email me, by all means, to tell me what I missed. Not how I got these in the wrong order, though--you're not going to convince me of that one, at least not for awhile. So then...
MICHAELANGELO MATOS’ TOP 100 SINGLES OF THE 1970s (first attempt):
1. The Incredible Bongo Band: “Apache” (MCA 1973)
2. James Brown: “Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine Pt. 1 & 2” (King 1970)
3. The Sex Pistols: “God Save the Queen” (EMI 1977)
4. Donna Summer: “I Feel Love” (Casablanca 1977)
5. Jacob Miller: “Baby I Love You So”/Augustus Pablo: “King Tubby’s Meets Rockers Uptown” (Rockers/Island 1975)
6. Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers: “Roadrunner (Once)”/“Roadrunner (Twice)” (Berserkely 1977)
7. Chic: “Good Times” (Atlantic 1979)
8. Temptations: “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” (Tamla 1971)
9. Toots & the Maytals: “Pressure Drop” (Island 1970)
10. Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Up Around the Bend” (Fantasy 1970)
11. Television: “Marquee Moon” (Elektra 1977)
12. Sister Sledge: “We Are Family”/“He’s the Greatest Dancer” (Cotillion 1979)
13. Marvin Gaye: “Let’s Get It On” (Tamla 1973)
14. Sly & the Family Stone: “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”/“Everybody Is a Star” (Epic 1970)
15. Stevie Wonder: “Superstition” (Tamla 1972)
16. Althea & Donna: “Uptown Top Ranking” (Lightning 1977)
17. The Clash: “(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais” (CBS 1978)
18. The Sex Pistols: “Anarchy in the U.K.” (EMI 1976)
19. James Brown: “The Payback Pt. 1 & 2” (Polydor 1974)
20. Michael Jackson: “Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough” (Epic 1979)
21. Gloria Gaynor: “Never Can Say Goodbye” (MGM 1974)
22. The Velvet Underground: “Sweet Jane”/“Rock and Roll” (Atlantic UK 1973)
23. Candido: “Jingo” (Salsoul 1979)
24. The Buzzcocks: “Why Can’t I Touch It” (United Artists 1979)
25. Smokey Robinson: “Cruisin’” (Tamla 1979)
26. Ken Boothe: “Everything I Own” (Trojan 1974)
27. Parliament: “Flash Light” (Casablanca 1978)
28. Chic: “Le Freak” (Atlantic 1978)
29. Ann Peebles: “I Can’t Stand the Rain” (Hi 1973)
30. Jimi Hendrix Experience: “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” (Reprise 1970)
31. Niney: “Blood & Fire” (Trojan 1971)
32. James Brown: “Hot Pants Pt. 1 & 2” (Polydor 1971)
33.
King Tubby: “Dark Destroyer Dub” (1978)
34. Iggy Pop: “Lust for Life” (RCA 1977)
35. Gary Numan: “Cars” (1979)
36. The Specials: “Gangsters” (2 Tone 1979)
37. The Clash: “Complete Control” (CBS 1977)
38. Kleenex: “Ain’t You”/“Hedi’s Head” (Rough Trade 1979)
39. The O’Jays: “Love Train” (Philadelphia International 1973)
40. Jimmy Cliff: “The Harder They Come” (Island 1972)
41. Donna Summer: “Bad Girls” (Casablanca 1979)
42. Shirley & Company: “Shame, Shame, Shame” (Vibration 1975)
43. The O’Jays: “I Love Music Pt. 1 & 2” (Philadelphia International 1975)
44. Three Degrees: “When Will I See You Again” (Philadelphia International 1974)
45. Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Sweet Home Alabama” (Sounds of the South 1974)
46. Stevie Wonder: “Boogie On Reggae Woman” (Tamla 1974)
47. Bob Dylan: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (Asylum 1973)
48. Curtis Mayfield: “Freddie’s Dead” (Curtom 1972)
49. Blondie: “Dreaming” (Chrysalis 1979)
50. Rod Stewart: “Maggie May” (Mercury 1971)
51. Sly & the Family Stone: “Family Affair” (Epic 1971)
52. Marvin Gaye: “Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)” (Tamla 1971)
53. Donna Summer: “Try Me, I Know We Can Make It” (Casablanca 1976)
54. Spinners: “I’ll Be Around” (Atlantic 1972)
55. Elvis Costello & the Attractions: “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea” (Radar 1978)
56. Dave Barker & the Upsetters: “Shocks of Mighty”/“Set Me Free” (Upsetter 1970)
57. Al Green: “Look What You Done for Me” (Hi 1972)
58. Talking Heads: “Take Me to the River” (Sire 1978)
59. Derek & the Dominos: “Layla” (RSO 1972)
60. Diana Ross: “Love Hangover” (Motown 1976)
61. The Buzzocks: “Ever Fallen in Love” (United Artists 1978)
62. The Undertones: “Teenage Kicks” (Epic 1978)
63. Elton John: “Philadelphia Freedom” (Uni 1975)
64. Bob Marley & the Wailers: “Duppy Conqueror” (Upsetter 1970)
65. Fleetwood Mac: “Go Your Own Way” (Warner Bros. 1977)
66. U. Roy: “Wake the Town” (Trojan 1970)
67. Abba: “Dancing Queen” (Atlantic 1976)
68. Al Green: “Call Me (Come Back Home)” (Hi 1973)
69. X-Ray Spex: “Identity”/“Let’s Submerge” (Virgin 1978)
70. Junior Byles: “Curly Locks” (Trojan 1974)
71. Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes: “The Love I Lost Pt. 1” (Philadelphia International 1972)
72. The Sex Pistols: “Holidays in the Sun” (Virgin 1977)
73. Big Youth: “I Pray Thee Continually” (Negusa 1973)
74. Joni Mitchell: “Help Me” (Asylum 1974)
75. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes: “Wake Up, Everybody Pt. 1” (Philadelphia International 1976)
76. Delta 5: “Mind Your Own Business” (Rough Trade 1978)
77. The Bee Gees: “Stayin’ Alive” (RSO 1977)
78. Al Green: “Tired of Being Alone” (Hi 1971)
79. Gladys Knight & the Pips: “Midnight Train to Georgia” (Buddah 1973)
80. Bob Seger: “Main Street” (Capitol 1976)
81. Freda Payne: “Band of Gold” (Invictus 1970)
82. Toots & the Maytals: “Sweet and Dandy” (Island 1970)
83. Manhattans: “Kiss & Say Goodbye” (Columbia 1976)
84. Dillinger: “Cokane In My Brain” (1976)
85. Ramones: “Blitzkrieg Bop” (Sire 1976)
86. Patti Smith: “Piss Factory” (1974)
87. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes: “Bad Luck (Pt. 1)” (Philadelphia International 1975)
88. David Bowie: “Heroes” (RCA 1977)
89. The Heptones: “Book of Rules” (Island 1976)
90. Tanya Winley: “Vicious Rap” (Paul Winley 1979)
91. Stiff Little Fingers: “Alternative Ulster” (Rough Trade 1978)
92. Staple Singers: “I’ll Take You There” (Stax 1972)
93. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes: “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” (Philadelphia International 1972)
94. The Chi-Lites: “Oh Girl” (Brunswick 1972)
95. Paul Simon: “Mother & Child Reunion” (Warner Bros. 1972)
96. McFadden & Whitehead: “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” (Philadelphia International 1979)
97. Jr. Walker & the All Stars: “Way Back Home” (Soul 1971)
98. Culture: “Two Sevens Clash” (Lightning 1976)
99. Joe Simon: “Drowning in the Sea of Love” (Philadelphia International 1971)
100. Paul McCartney & Wings: “Jet” (Apple 1974)
RUNNERS-UP:
1970
The JB’s: “The Grunt Pt. 1 & 2” (People)
John Lennon: “God” (Apple)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: “Ohio” (Atlantic)
Aretha Franklin: “Don’t Play That Song” (Atlantic)
Spinners: “It’s a Shame” (Motown)
Black Sabbath: “Paranoid” (Warner Bros.)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Who’ll Stop the Rain”/“Travelin’ Band” (Fantasy)
The Melodians: “Rivers of Babylon” (Island)
Edwin Starr: “War” (Gordy)
John Lennon: “Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)” (Apple)
1971:
Chi-Lites: “Have You Seen Her” (Brunswick)
Van Morrison: “Wild Night” (Warner Bros.)
Delroy Wilson: “Better Must Come” (Jaguar)
Marvin Gaye: “What’s Going On” (Tamla)
Al Green: “Let’s Stay Together” (Hi)
Undisputed Truth: “Smiling Faces Sometimes” (Invictus)
Marvin Gaye: “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” (Tamla)
Jean Knight: “Mr. Big Stuff” (Stax)
Isaac Hayes: “Theme from Shaft” (Stax)
1972:
Aretha Franklin: “Rock Steady” (Atlantic)
Rod Stewart: “You Wear It Well” (Mercury)
Funkadelic: “Loose Booty” (Westbound)
Alice Cooper: “School’s Out” (Warner Bros.)
Al Green: “I’m Still in Love with You” (Hi)
Van Morrison: “Jackie Wilson Said (I’m in Heaven When You Smile)” (Warner Bros.)
Johnny Nash: “I Can See Clearly Now” (Epic)
Rolling Stones: “Happy”/“All Down the Line” (Rolling Stones)
The O’Jays: “Back Stabbers” (Philadelphia International)
T. Rex: “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” (Reprise)
Rolling Stones: “Tumbling Dice” (Rolling Stones)
Todd Rundgren: “I Saw the Light” (Bearsville)
1973:
The JB’s: “Doing It to Death Pt. 1” (People)
Edgar Winter: “Free Ride” (Epic)
Spinners: “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” (Atlantic)
Manu Dibango: “Soul Makossa”
Lou Reed: “Walk on the Wild Side” (RCA)
The Isley Brothers: “That Lady (Pt. 1)” (T-Neck)
Spinners: “One of a Kind (Love Affair)” (Atlantic)
Bloodstone: “Natural High”
First Choice: “Smarty Pants”
1974:
Joni Mitchell: “Free Man in Paris” (Asylum)
Dennis Brown: “Westbound Train” (Trojan)
1975:
David Bowie: “Young Americans” (RCA)
Bruce Springsteen: “Born to Run” (Columbia)
Fleetwood Mac: “Say You Love Me” (Warner Bros.)
Bee Gees: “Jive Talkin’” (RSO)
Bob Marley & the Wailers: “No Woman No Cry (Live)” (Island)
10cc: “I’m Not In Love” (Mercury)
Bob Dylan: “Hurricane Pt. 1 & 2” (Columbia)
1976:
Parliament: “Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)” (Casablanca)
Junior Murvin: “Police And Thieves” (Island)
Richard Hell & the Voidoids: “Blank Generation” (Sire)
Hamilton Bohannon: “Let’s Start the Dance” (1976)
Vicki Sue Robinson: “Turn the Beat Around” (1976)
Patti Smith: “Gloria” (Arista)
Max Romeo: “War In A Babylon” (Island)
Rod Stewart: “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” (Warner Bros.)
Delroy Wilson: “I’m Still Waiting” (Charm)
1977:
X-Ray Spex: “Oh Bondage, Up Yours!”/“I Am a Cliché” (Virgin 1977)
Ian Dury & the Blockheads: “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll” (Stiff)
James Brown: “Body Heat” (Polydor)
Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band: “Whispering/Cherchez la Femme/Se Si Bon”/“Sunshower” (RCA)
Chic: “Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)” (Atlantic)
Stevie Wonder: “Sir Duke” (Tamla)
Elvis Costello: “Watching the Detectives” (Stiff)
Talking Heads: “Psycho Killer” (Sire)
The Clash: “White Riot”/“1977” (CBS)
1978:
X-Ray Spex: “The Day the World Turned Day-Glo”/“I Am a Poseur” (Virgin)
Sylvester: “(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real” (Fantasy)
Funkadelic: “One Nation Under a Groove” (Warner Bros.)
Blondie: “Heart of Glass” (Chrysalis)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: “Radio Radio”/“Tiny Steps” (Radar)
The Buzzcocks: “What Do I Get” (United Artists)
The Only Ones: “Another Girl, Another Planet” (Epic)
1979:
Public Image Ltd.: “Death Disco” (Virgin)
Kleenex: “You”/“U” (Rough Trade)
Prince: “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (Warner Bros.)
Funky Four Plus One More: “Rappin’ and Rockin’ the House” (Enjoy)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions: “Oliver’s Army” (Columbia)
Ian Dury & the Blockheads: “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”/“Reasons to Be Cheerful, Pt. 3” (Stiff)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse: “My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)”/“Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)” (Reprise)
Machine: “There But for the Grace of God Go I” (RCA)
Gang Of Four: “At Home He’s a Tourist”/“It’s Her Factory” (EMI)
Donna Summer: “Hot Stuff” (Casablanca)
Peaches & Herb: “Reunited” (Polydor)
Talking Heads: “Life During Wartime” (Sire)
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