7 of the 70s: 1/16/14 (1975)

It's 70s throwback time, and this week I'm back to 1975, the year that former Attorney General John Mitchell, Nixon's Chief of Staff HR Haldemann, and presidential assistant John Ehrlichman were convicted in the Watergate Scandal (so apropos here in Jersey...) (I've included links to buy anything on both MP3 and CD when I can...)

B.J. Thomas - "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song"
from the album Reunion (1975)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 
Songwriters: Larry Butler, Chris Moman

This Grammy-winning country song was the longest title to reach the top of the pop charts in April.

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The Eagles - "Lyin' Eyes"
from the album One Of These Nights (1975)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
Songwriters: Glenn Frey, Don Henley

Another Grammy winner, this tale of stolen love was one of the 70s great's best.

Spinners - "They Just Can't Stop It The (Games People Play)"
from the album Pick Of The Litter (1975)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
Songwriters: Bruce Hawes, Joe Jefferson, Charles Simmons

 This song was a great example of vocal interplay among the members of this soul group, though on Soul Train it's still jarring to have one of them lipsync the female part sung on record by Barbara Ingram.

Shirley (& Company) - "Shame, Shame, Shame"
from the album Shame, Shame, Shame (1975)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #12
Songwriter: Sylvia Robinson

Shirley (Goodman) and male co-lead Jesus Alvarez tore up the joint on one of the first big disco hits of the era.

Polly Brown - "Up In A Puff Of Smoke"
from the album Special Delivery (1975)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #16
Songwriters: Gerry Shury, Phillip Swern

Another early disco classic, this time from the British singer who sounded very much like a young Diana Ross.

Tavares - "Remember What I Told You To Forget"
from the album Hard Core Poetry (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #25
Songwriters: Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter

The Cape Verdean-American family vocal group from Boston predated their disco material with this earnest ballad of redemption.

Elvis Presley - "T-R-O-U-B-L-E"
from the album Today! (1975)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #35
Songwriter: Jerry Chestnut

One of the King's best of his later work was this raucous spelling lesson.

I'll return later with eight more from 1985...