American Pie Don McLean 1972
Reviewed By Rivka Willick
American Pie managed to predict the 70’s by remembering the 60’s which he accomplished by recounting the event that marked the musical end of the 50’s. Let me tell you, that’s no easy feat, and Mclean took 8 minutes and 33 seconds to tell that story. Long songs usually don’t stay on the top 40 charts for long, but American Pie stayed in the #1 position for four weeks in 1972 and has remained one of the most popular songs of the decade.
McLean wrote American Pie and released it on the 1971 album of the same name. He’s a balladeer who managed to tell stories we needed to hear. His poetic verses and almost infectious melodies delivered several hits with songs like “Starry, Starry Night” (about Vincent Van Gogh) and “And I Love You So.” However, he never matched the power of “American Pie.”
The song, also called “The Day the Music Died,” begins by remembering the Feb 3,1959 plane crash that killed rock and roll greats Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper. None of the people or events are specifically identified. People read many meanings into the song. The middle verse might refer to deaths of JFK, RFK, and MLK. The sixth verse begins “a girl who sang the blues…she just smiled and turned away” then “The Church bells were all broken”. This probably refers to the deaths of blues singer Janis Joplin, rocker Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison from the Doors. They all died within a few months.
The mysterious and often sad lyrics are set to a upbeat tune. This gives us a taste of the hope of the 60’s and the sense of lost and disappointment the 70’s would hold.
You’ve got a Friend Tapestry Carole King 1971
Reviewed By Rivka Willick
The folk album Tapestry stayed #1 for 15 weeks, the longest time for any solo female recording artist. It also set the tone for the decade where women would demand an equal voice and to be seen as individuals, not just sexual beings. Four of the songs on Tapestry made it to #1. Several other songs on the album were written or co-written by King but had already become hits by other artists. (“Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” The Shirelles).
James Taylor did a cover of “You’ve Got a Friend” also in 1971 and it became a huge hit, but I’ve always preferred King’s version. Her performance is presented in a new style for female performers. Her voice is a little rough and imperfect, so it’s totally approachable. It’s comfort food for the ears.
King had been writing songs for other performers for years, but Tapestry allowed the world to hear this poet sing. I remember playing the Tapestry over and over and after a while, I knew I had a friend.
“I Shot The Sheriff” Bob Marley 1973
Reviewed By Rivka Willick
Although Eric Clapton’s cover of “I Shot the Sheriff” hit #1 on the charts, I prefer the original. Bob Marley brought Jamaican music and the Rastafarism worldwide attention with his spirited reggae. Bob Marley and the Wailers got people moving and thinking all at the same time.
Reggae caught on fire in the 1970’s. The fast beat and syncopated sound filled a void. But above all, Marley’s political and cultural views found the perfect format in his poetic lyrics. The song tells of a man who openly admits to shooting the Sheriff, who the ballad tells us was a cruel and violent man, but he did not shoot the deputy. The song is a lament; the singer is falsely accused of one crime and not acknowledged for the other. We can’t help but walk away unsettled wondering how things can get so screwed up.
Marley wrote and performed reggae during the same era as disco, but in many ways they are polar opposites. Many disco songs have simple structures and their lyrics are shallow or just silly, whereas Marley’s almost exotic orchestration and thought provoking lyrics challenged the status quo.
Y.M.C.A. Village People 1978
Reviewed By Rivka Willick
By the end of the 70’s disco had taken over America. Performers like Donna Summers and the Bee Gees had soared to the top of the charts and created a sound you could dance to all night long. Jacques Morali, a French Composer visited a Gay Disco in New York’s Greenwich Village. The story goes that there was a costume ball and Morali saw the wide variety of tough yet colorful personas. He put together a group from the three costumed men. Felipe Rose, Alexander Briley, and Victor Willis. Since the group was formed in Greenwich Village they were called the Village People. Later three more were added.
I don’t know if that story is true, it sounds rather silly and artificial, but so do their songs. Y.M.C.A., recorded in 1978, became a major hit in 1979. The over the top look of the group and playful quality of the song made it a break out song every night at the disco. The group directly marketed to the gay community which shocked some and garnered lots of attention. Hand and dance movements were especially created for the song.
1950′s music reviews