7 of the 70s: 9/4/14 (1974)

It's throwback Thursday 70s time again, and this week I've got seven more nuggets from 1974, the year a bomb on board destroyed a TWA airplane flying from Athens to Rome, killing all 88 people aboard. Arab extremists were later linked to the tragedy.

Andy Kim - "Rock Me Gently"
from the album Andy Kim (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriter: Andy Kim

You couldn't be blamed for thinking this big hit for the Canadian lite-pop singer was a proto-disco foray of Neil Diamond, but Andy was already a vet in the biz, having a few top-40 hits in the 60s and penning the Archies hit "Sugar Sugar"...

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The Hues Corporation - "Rock The Boat"
from the album Freedom For The Stallion (1973)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriter: Wally Holmes

After getting a break scoring the music for the Blacula movie, the trio had one of the first big disco singles with this record custom-made for seashore radio play.

Barry White - "Never Never Gonna Give You Up"
from the album Stone Gon' (1973)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7
Songwriter: Barry White

The future love god of disco, Barry White, made a smooth glide into the top ten with this dreamy number that Lisa Stansfield would cover two decades later.

The O'Jay's - "Put Your Hands Together"
from the album Ship Ahoy (1973)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #10
Songwriters: Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff

This spiritual throwdown comes from their "concept" album Ship Ahoy, notable for its cover depicting slaves on a ship bound for the States.

The Impressions - "Finally Got Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man)"
from the album Finally Got Myself Together (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #17
Songwriter: Ed Townsend

The veteran gospel group had been through a host of lead singers, and this smooth soul affirmation was their biggest after Curtis Mayfield left.

Al Wilson - "La La Peace Song"
from the album La La Peace Song (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #30
Songwriters: Johnny Bristol, Liz Martin

Two versions of this anti-war song made the chart in 1974, with Wilson's beating out O.C. Smith and making the top-40.

The Main Ingredient - "Happiness Is Just Around The Bend"
from the album Euphrates River (1974)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #35
Songwriter: Brian Auger

The trio from Harlem was your triple-power motivator in this welcome respite from the socially rebellious tracks of the year.

I'll be back with eight more from 1984...