Fifty years ago, in 1970, the country was experiencing racial tension, worrying about the environment, and fighting a far-off war. It’s so much different now.
Here were the #1 songs on the pop charts in 1970. I remember all of them and I own most. Some of my favorite tunes. RB=rhythm charts.
Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel. #1 for six weeks. Gold record. My second favorite S&G song.
I’ll Be There– Jackson Five. Or Jackson 5ive, if you prefer. #1 for five weeks; #1 for six weeks RB.
Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head – B.J Thomas. #1 for four weeks. Gold record. From the 1969 movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, which I saw in the cinema.
(They Long To Be) Close To You – Carpenters. #1 for four weeks. Gold record.
My Sweet Lord – George Harrison. #1 for four weeks, Gold record.
I Think I Love You – Partridge Family. #1 for three weeks. Gold record.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross. #1 for three weeks; #1 RB. This tune was used for some high school Black History assembly I was in, or so I seem to recall.
American Woman – The Guess Who. #1 for three weeks. Gold record. I kept the 1:15 album intro. One of Tricia Nixon’s favorite songs.
War – Edwin Starr. #1 for three weeks; #3 RB. The Temptations were the first to record this. “Motown head Berry Gordy didn’t want them associated with such a controversial song, so he had Starr record it and his version was released as a single. Starr didn’t have as big a fan base to offend.”
Mother Mary
Let It Be – The Beatles. #1 for two weeks. Double platinum record.
The Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. #1 for two weeks; #1 for three weeks RB. “Just like Pagliacci.”
Mama Told Me Not To Come – Three Dog Night. #1 for two weeks. Gold record. A Randy Newman song.
ABC – The Jackson Five. #1 for two weeks; #1 for four weeks RB.
The Love You Save – Jackson Five. #1 for two weeks; #1 for six weeks RB. I always liked sing the Jermaine parts.
Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sly and the Family Stone. #1 for two weeks; #1 for five weeks RB. Gold record. I’m a sucker for a song that namechecks other songs by the group.
Everything Is Beautiful – Ray Stevens. #1 for two weeks. Gold record.
The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles. #1 for two weeks. Platinum record. the last Beatles single for a while.
Make It With You – Bread. Gold record.
I Want You Back – Jackson Five. #1 for four weeks RB. Platinum record.
Venus – The Shocking Blue. Gold record.
Cracklin’ Rosie – Neil Diamond. Platinum record.