7 of the 70s: 4/25/13 (1974)...

Hey gang, it's time for another round of 70s goodness, and this week I'm back to 1974, the year an "Super Outbreak" of tornadoes kills over 300 in the Midwest. And it's all about hte "baby" today...

George McCrae - "Rock Your Baby"
from the album Rock Your Baby (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: Harry Casey, Richard Finch

One of the first big moments in disco, with a song written by the future heads of KC & The Sunshine band.

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Barry White - "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe"
from the album Can't Get Enough (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriter: Barry White

The man who helped conceive millions of children in the 70s (through his music, people) had his only #1 hit with this lush, celebratory jam.

Johnny Bristol - "Hang On In There Baby"
from the album Hang On In There Baby (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
Songwriter: Johnny Bristol

The former Motown writer/producer responsible for "Someday We'll Be Together" gets his own moment in the sun with this shuffling soulful number that brings me memories of the beach.

The Miracles - "Do It Baby"
from the album Do It Baby (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #13
Songwriters: Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian

Their first album without any involvement from Smokey Robinson brought the rechristened soul group another hit with Billy Griffin injecting some funk into their sound.

War - "Me And Baby Brother"
from the album Deliver The Word (1973)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #15
Songwriters: Thomas Allen, Harold Brown, Morris Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar, Howard Scott

From the time when the "quadraphonic" album was the rage, this jam goes from a funk nostalgia to cutting trip as the "brother" meets a bad fate.

Smokey Robinson - "Baby Come Close"
from the album Smokey (1973)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #27
Songwriters: Smokey Robinson, Pamela Moffett, Marvin Tarplin

Smokey's first top-40 pop hit apart from the Miracles showed what direction he was going in, as "quiet storm" soul was in its start.

The Rubettes - "Sugar Baby Love"
from the album Wear Its 'At (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #37
Songwriters: Wayne Bickerton, Tony Waddington

The British contribution (late as it was) to the "bubblegum pop" faze is this ditty from two members of Pete Best's band that went to #1 in Britain...

That does it for this flashback...I'll be back later with 8 more from 1984...