7 of the 70s: 3/6/14 (1972)...

It's 70s throwback time, and this week I'm serving up seven more nuggets from 1972, the year that Pioneer 10, the first space station to leave the solar system, was launched.

Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose - "It's Too Late To Turn Back Now"
from the album Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
Songwriter: Eddie Cornelius

The sibling group had their biggest hit with this wonderful song that goes down like buttah.

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Al Green - "You Ought To Be With Me"
from the album Call Me (1973)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
Songwriters: Al Green, Al Jackson, Willie Mitchell

As Don Cornelius said, by this time Green wasn't just big, he was in orbit. This was his third #1 R&B hit, not played as much anymore as her other hits but definitely just as worthy. And yes a real live performance on Soul Train! He killed!

The Stylistics - "You Are Everything"
from the album The Stylistics (1971)
Billboard Hot 100 peak; #9
Songwriters: Thom Bell, Linda Creed

The first top-10 pop hit for the vocal group featuring the sublime falsetto of Russell Thompkins Jr. sounded like a hymn in the manner of "Day By Day"...

Joe Simon - "Drowning In The Sea Of Love"
from the album Drowning In The Sea Of Love (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11
Songwriters: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff

The Louisiana-born son of a Baptist Minister gets baptized in a whole different way in this pleading soulful record.

Jerry Butler and Brenda Lee Eager - "Ain't Understanding Mellow"
from the album The Sagittarius Movement (1971)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #21
Songwriters: Herschalt Polk, Homer Talbert

This successful duet caused the pair to record an entire album of material together.

Frederick Knight - "I've Been Lonely For So Long"
from the album I've Been Lonely For So Long (1973)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #27
Songwriters: Posie Knight, Jerry Weaver

The singer's wife wrote his biggest hit, a forgotten Stax gem.

The 5th Dimension - "Together Let's Find Love"
from the album The 5th Dimension Live!!! (1971)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #37
Songwriters: James W. Alexander, Willie Hutch

What I would've given to have been able to have seen the iconic vocal group live in concert in their prime. Damn.