7 of the 70s: 11/21/13 (1970)...

It's time for today's 70s throwback, and this week I'm back to 1970, the year future presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter were elected governor of California and Georgia...(I've included links to buy anything here if possible)...

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - "Tears Of A Clown"
from the album Make It Happen (Tears Of A Clown) (1967)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: Henry Cosby, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder

Three years after this song appears as an album track, it was picked up as a single in England, where it topped the charts before coming back and doing the same in the States.

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Vanity Fare - "Hitchin' A Ride"
from the album Early In The Morning (1969)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
Songwriters: Peter Callender, Mitch Murray

A fave of grade school music classes everywhere due to its recorder solos, this pop nugget romanticizes a feat nobody really does anymore (hitchhiking)...

Marmalade - "Reflections Of My Life"
from the album Reflections Of The Marmalade (1970)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10
Songwriters: Junior Campbell, Thomas McAleese

The Scottish rock band that started as the Gaylords got their moment in the American sun with this wistful track featuring a "reverse guitar solo", where a extended note was turned around and played over.

Pacific Gas & Electric - "Are You Ready?"
from the album Are You Ready (1970)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14
Songwriters: Chad Allen, John Hill

This California blues-rock band powered up on this extended jam that would get notice from the actual power company of the same name, which made them change their name to PG&E. I'm sure these days they would just use the track for their commercials.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - "Teach Your Children"
from the album Deja Vu (1970)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #16
Songwriter: Graham Nash

Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia traded his steel guitar performance on this track for the folk-rock group teaching the Dead how to do harmonies. Fair trade, all in all.

Jimmy Cliff - "Wonderful World, Beautiful People"
from the album Wonderful World, Beautiful People (1970)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #25
Songwriter: Jimmy Cliff

Before his acclaimed soundtrack to The Harder They Come, the Jamaican reggae artist had his first big hit in the UK with this "kumbayah" style charmer.

Five Flights Up - "Do What You Wanna Do"
from the single
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #37
Songwriter: J.B. Bingham

This obscure R&B record was one of the arrangements of Ernie Freeman, who made the top ten himself with "Raunchy".

That's it for now...I'll be back later with 8 more from 1980...