7 of the 70s: 7/4/13 (1972)...

Hey gang, it's time for this week's 70s throwback, and right now I'm back to 1972, the year Jane Fonda tours North Vietnam, causing an uproar back in America...

Don McLean - "American Pie"
from the album American Pie (1971)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriter: Don McLean

A somber retelling of the loss of innocence and the transformation of rock and roll, "American Pie" seems only fitting to kick off this Independence Day post.

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


Albert Hammond - "It Never Rains In Southern California"
from the album It Never Rains In Southern California (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
Songwriters: Albert Hammond, Mike Hazelwood

This breezy California pop song was written and performed by a man from Gilbratar. Hammond journeymanned on the Spanish rock scene before hitting it big with this record.

America - "I Need You"
from the album America (1971)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9
Songwriter: Gerry Buckley

This song by the military-brat trio named for their country of their fathers' citizenship, this ballad was their second hit single. Crooner Andy Williams would cover it the same year, to less fanfare.

Donna Fargo - "The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A."
from the album The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A. (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #11
Songwriter: Donna Fargo

Country/pop hybrid was written by Donna for her newlywed husband, and it's churchlike reverence still charms today.

Mickey Newbury - "An American Trilogy"
from the album Frisco Mabel Joy (1971)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #26
Songwriters: Traditional (arranged by Mickey Newbury)

The singer/songwriter who arranged this himself but better known now for Elvis Presley's epic version, combining "Dixie" from the Confederacy, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" from the Union, and "All My Trials", a Bahamian folksong to represent the people in the middle of this conflict.

Cashman and West - "American City Suite"
from the album A Song Or Two (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak; #27
Songwriters: Terry Cashman, Tommy West

This four-part suite was condensed from its original 10+ minute version to just under 8 for the single, obviously aping McLean's epic.

Graham Nash & David Crosby - "Immigration Man"
from the album Graham Nash David Crosby (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #36
Songwriter: Graham Nash

I'll end this patriotic set with a tip of the hat to the people trying to become a part of this great nation, by a person who himself is a transplant from Britain (the good kind to the RWNJs)...

That's it for my 70s trip...I'll be back later with 8 from the 80s...