7 of the 70s: 9/26/13 (1972)...

Hey gang, it's time for today's 70's throwback, and this week I'm back to 1972, the year Bobby Fischer defeated Russian chess master Boris Spassky to become the first American world chess champion. (I've included links to buy the songs on mp3 and CD when available)

Sammy Davis Jr. with the Mike Curb Congregation - "The Candy Man"
from the album Sammy Davis, Jr. Now (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley

The Rat Packer stripped "The Candy Man" of its Willy Wonka roots and enlisted children of the corn singers the Mike Curb Congregation for this record certain to cause diabetes with repeated use.

(Click below to see the rest of the post)


Curtis Mayfield - "Freddie's Dead (Theme from Superfly)"
from the album Superfly (Original Soundtrack) (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4
Songwriter: Curtis Mayfield

On the other side of the "Candy Man" was the story of Freddie from the blaxploitation film Superfly with it's classic soundtrack from the former Impression.

Jim Croce - "You Don't Mess Around With Jim"
from the album You Don't Mess Around With Jim (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
Songwriter: Jim Croce

The late singer/songwriter's first hit was about this bad bad boy from Midtown New York who only gets his comeuppance from the next big thing.

Sailcat - "Motorcycle Mama"
from the album Motorcycle Mama (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #12
Songwriter: John Wyker


The laid-back rock band from Alabama lasted only one album, but they gave the world this short little ode to a biker chick.

Procol Harum - "Conquistador"
from the album Live In Concert With The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1972)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #16
Songwriters: Gary Brooker, Keith Reid

The British progressive rock monster revived a track from their 1967 debut with the Canadian orchestra for a big live hit.

Redbone - "The Witch Queen Of New Orleans"
from the album Message From A Drum (1971)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #21
Songwriters: Lolly and Pat Vegas

The band whose members had both Native American and Mexican heritage spooked the charts with this tale of a lady from the Big Easy..

Bob Dylan - "George Jackson"
from the album Masterpieces (1978, Australia)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #33
Songwriter: Bob Dylan

The final song of this dark-side throwback is a tip of the hat to the Black Panther that was gunned down in jail which incited the Attica Prison Riots.

That's it for this week's trip, I'll be back later with eight more from 1982..