Now let's be honest, there were some songs that were kind of..unusual! But you couldn't help but like them anyway because certain ones were so funny and others tolerable to listen to. What were some of yours?

Mine were the following:

Convoy-C.W. McCall
Undercover Angel-Alan O'Day
The Streak-Ray Stevens
You sexy thing-Hot Chocolate
Kung Fu Fighting- Karl (with a 'K') Douglass

To name a few.

Actually one glaring one to start out my list:

"Blinded By The Light" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (the lyrics make no sense, are so misheard, even by me and the 7 minute lp version shows the lengths of how bad some of the overwrought electrical rock -- some place this version of this song in the progressive rock genre -- had become by 1977, other than that it's a great song!  ::) )

Others that would make my list:

"Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson
"Disco Duck" by Rick Dees & His Cast Of Idiots
"Troglodyte (Cave Man)" & "Bertha Butt Boogie" by Jimmy Castor Bunch
"Funky Worm" by War
"Yes We Can Can" by Pointer Sisters
"You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone
"Please Mr. Please" by Olivia Newton-John
"At Seventeen" by Janis Ian (her vocals on this song are soooooo bad; not anywhere near where they were when she cut her classic from 1967, "Society's Child")
"Spiders & Snakes" & "My Girl Bill" by Jim Stafford
"Lord's Prayer" by Sister Janet Mead (this should be a Catholic boys nightmare, but does have a good beat)
"More, More, More (Pt. 1)" by Andrea True Connection
"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy
"Clair" by Gilbert O'Sullivan
"Playground In My Mind" by Clint Holmes
"Dark Lady" by Cher (this is not Cher's best song, but it does start to wear on you or is that wear you down -- I remember this was playing back in 1974, when I was 10 years old at a Fair well I was on a ferriswheel -- I thought I was about to fall off when this came on in the Fairgrounds, I still have nightmares when I hear this while I'm falling asleep  ;D ) 

Not really songs, but the 45 rpm's fit this category:

"Sister Mary Elephant" by Cheech & Chong (this showed how low this comedy duo could get, especially when the sister tells the class to:

CLASS!  CLASS!!!  CLASS!!!!!!  Shut UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!! ;D

"Watergrate" by Dickie Goodman (I especially love when he had Spiro Agnew, the then VP at the end of this record be asked who will be President in 1976 and supposedly he starts singing from Paul McCartney's "My Love": "MEEEEEEEEEE, WO, WOO, WOOOO!")   
"Mr. Jaws" by Dickie Goodman (his use of "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tenille, "I'm Not In Love" by 10CC & "Please Mr. Please" by Newton-John were a hoot) 

It's fun to stay at the... Y M C A!!!  :D

Was that 70s?  ???

It's fun to stay at the... Y M C A!!!  :D

Was that 70s?  ???


Yes that was from 1979, by the Village People;  Of course you could also be:

"In The Navy" from the same year.  This sounds like a song the military might want to use nowadays (that is if they could get over their gay hangups), with "We want you, we want you!"  "Who me?"  "We want you as a new recruit!" ;D

And I missed one other HUGE offender from 1976:

"Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band

(I always loved on an episode of "Murphy Brown" from the late-1990's {the last time that show was funny} when they had Lily Tomlin's character let it be known she had been the manager of this group, and when Murphy asked her if they ever had another hit, Tomlin's character stated that they went no where after their followup, "Early Evening Noogie" didn't sell all that well!  ;D) 

I thought of one more (this is sooooooooo politically incorrect and almost the flip side of Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman"):

"You're Having My Baby" by Paul Anka

Disco Duck

Don't Give Up On Us - David Soul

Short People - Randy Newman

Saturday Night - Bay City Rollers

Anarchy in the UK - The Sex Pistols

Macho Man - The Village People

I may think of more later.  :)

Macho Man - The Village People


I'm agreeing.  8)

Pushbike song - Mixtures
Mouldy old dough - Leutenant Pigeon

Macho macho macho man! I wanna be... a macho man!  ;D


Great stuff. 8)

'Hot Rod Lincoln'- Commander Cody

'Day by Day' cast of Godspell

'Superstar'-Murray Head

'Run Joey Run' David Geddes (wierd man!  :P)

'I Believe in Music'-Gallery

Yes, gotta love the Village People. 'In the Navy' was my favorite!

I know I have the RUN JOEY RUN record still!

Songs that they don't even play anymore from those days get me like:

Heartbeat Is A lovebeat- Defranco Family

Hey Deanie- Shaun CASSIDY

Mr. Postman(Jimmy and Kristy McNichol    another that I still have...wonder if they are worth gold prices yet??

How about anything by artist Shaun Cassidy or Donny & Marie Osmond.  :D

Especially from Shaun is his reworking of "Da Doo Ron Ron".

Or from Donny & Marie Osmond their awful reworking of "Deep Purple" (1963's version by Nino Tempo & April Stevens should have been it for this song) or Marie's solo version of "Paper Roses".

And btw mentioning Marie's "Paper Roses" reminds me of a woman who wasn't recording music at the time, but certainly raised enough controversy in the decade and also sang on those god awful (but were sooooo funny) orange juice commercials (and being from Florida and living there in that decade you couldn't help but notice and have to bite really hard down on your lip), but the woman in question was the infamous:  Anita Bryant! ;D 

What about that roller skating song by "melonie" or "melody"

What about that roller skating song by "melonie" or "melody"


You mean, Melanie?  And you mean the #1 song from first few weeks of 1972:  "Brand New Key"?

Yeah that would fit the category, though. 

Three other #1 songs from that year that would fit this category are:

"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy

&

"My Ding-A-Ling" by Chuck Berry

&

"Candy Man" by Sammy Davis, Jr.  (as much as I like the original movie version of "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory", I certainly could have done without the theme song, even as a child of only 9 years old at the time). 

funky worm by war ,i think

funky worm by war ,i think


:)

Yeah, I was thinking it was from War, thank you for the correction.  It still fits this category, though.

I'm just a little shocked no one's mentioned:  "Torn Between Two Lovers" by Mary McGregor.  Which has the distinction of having the most votes to have taken off a radio station's playlist.  ;D 

can't forget"there's got to be a morning after" - maureen mcgovern

Let Her In - John Travolta

War's 'Lowrider' is fun to listen to!

:)

Yeah, I was thinking it was from War, thank you for the correction.  It still fits this category, though.


"Funky Worm" from War ??
It's the Ohio Players from 1973.

"Funky Worm" from War ??
It's the Ohio Players from 1973.




So I was right at first, althugh now I feel a bit confused.  ???

How could I leave out 'Mr. BoJangles' by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band!

How could I leave out 'Mr. BoJangles' by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band!


Is that the one where it sounds like he's singing "the dog 'upped' and died" ?? Wasn't a comment on that song part of some comedian's routine at one time?

Yep, 'He up and died', that's the one. Don't know the comic sketch though

I also liked Cher's 'Half Breed', just to throw another one out. Catchy tune I think

Is that the one where it sounds like he's singing "the dog 'upped' and died" ?? Wasn't a comment on that song part of some comedian's routine at one time?

This song is (supposed to be) about an old black dancer of the 30's named Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

i will survive....gloria gaynor

muskrat love.....captain and tennile

don,t go breaking my heart...elton john and kiki dee

Love this topic -- silly songs from the 70s are the best!  They remind me of a time when I was much younger, more naive, and not nearly as bitter...

How about these ones?

"Mr. Blue Sky" by ELO
"The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace
"Popcorn" by Hot Butter
"Midnight at the Oasis" by Maria Muldaur
Any song by ABBA
"One Tin Soldier" by Coven
"Mellow Yellow" by Donovan
"The Cover of the Rolling Stone" by Dr. Hook
"When You're Hot You're Hot" and "Amos Moses" by Jerry Reed
"Junk Food Junkie" by Larry Groce
"Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)" by Leo Sayer
"Don't Call Us" by Sugarloaf

and my all-time favorite goofy song, "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry!

i am watching vh1 count down of one hit wonders and
seasons in the sun by terry jacks fits this catagory well.

Blue Suede's version of 'Hooked on a feeling'

Love those 'Ooga-Chuckas' in the beginning! LOL!

<<Blue Suede's version of 'Hooked on a feeling'

Love those 'Ooga-Chuckas' in the beginning! LOL!>>

Oh God. I was in college then and whoever ran the university radio station must have LOVED that song. That and David Bromberg's "The Hold-Up"

My personal choices for worst songs are

Chick-a-Boom (the one that goes, "Chick a boom, chick a boom, don't you just love it")
                       
  and

Muskrat Love

Actually, they were so bad they couldn't be good.

So my final answer is: anything by the Cowsills

<<Blue Suede's version of 'Hooked on a feeling'

Love those 'Ooga-Chuckas' in the beginning! LOL!>>

Oh God. I was in college then and whoever ran the university radio station must have LOVED that song. That and David Bromberg's "The Hold-Up"

My personal choices for worst songs are

Chick-a-Boom (the one that goes, "Chick a boom, chick a boom, don't you just love it")
                       
  and

Muskrat Love

Actually, they were so bad they couldn't be good.

So my final answer is: anything by the Cowsills








What about anything from the Partridge Family?  Especially, "I Knew Jesus Before He Was Superstar".

What about anything from the Partridge Family?  Especially, "I Knew Jesus Before He Was Superstar".


funny you should mention the partridge family.the digital
cable music station i was listening to earlier played
"i woke up in love this morning" it definitly fits here.

What about anything from the Partridge Family?  Especially, "I Knew Jesus Before He Was Superstar".

Did the Partridges really sing that? I know Glen Campbell did, anyway.

Did the Partridges really sing that?


David Cassidy (Keith) and Shirley Jones (the mother) were the only two that sang.  None of them, I do believe, played instruments.

Cassidy of course had a brief solo career and is the only one of the "Partridges" that were actually Jones' child (as was his younger brother, Shaun).

Jones was already an established singer and also movie star, originally part of the MGM roster of actors/actresses back in the 1950's (she shows up in many musical movies, including "Carousel" and of course, "The Music Man" -- where she played the mother {and Marion the librarian} to future "The Andy Griffith Show" & "Happy Days" -- as well as many movies and a director, Ron Howard). 

Many times, in the early 1970's, when there was a billed "Partridge Family" concert the only one to be there was David Cassidy and/or occassionally Shirley Jones (I think she did learn how to play the tambourine during the course of the shows run).  It was well established, with the fans, like with "The Monkees" that  the "Partridge Family" was very fictional.  Of course Cassidy was also a HUGE teen idol.  And sometimes there was running humorous bets that perhaps some of the other, "Partridges" might show up in concert, but of course that never happened.

Of course Danny Bonaduce went on to another type of career in music, radio broadcasting of course (as well as occassionally guesting on some TV shows and making cameos in movies). 

And of course the most successful of the "Partridges" in her TV acting career was of course Susan Dey (most notably on "L.A. Law", off and on from 1987 to 1994).       

 

David Cassidy (Keith) and Shirley Jones (the mother) were the only two that sang.  None of them, I do believe, played instruments.

I know that. What I mean is, did they do "I Knew Jesus Before He Was a Superstar"?

I know that. What I mean is, did they do "I Knew Jesus Before He Was a Superstar"?


Well, I don't know about that?  ??? 

The only thing I know for certain from the recording of that song is that David Cassidy and Shirley Jones voice do show up on the song.  Other than that you might have to do a research on the internet -- maybe let the rest of us know the answer, please.  ::) 

Well, I don't know about that?  ??? 

The only thing I know for certain from the recording of that song is that David Cassidy and Shirley Jones voice do show up on the song.  Other than that you might have to do a research on the internet -- maybe let the rest of us know the answer, please.  ::) 

Do you know what Partridge Family album this song is on, or was it on the show, or what? I know Glen Campbell's version has an odd "Partridgey" sound to it - are you sure you don't have that confused?

What was the name of that song that combined classical music with a disco beat? 'A Fifth of Beethoven' - I like that one; whenever I hear it, I remember a clip I once saw from the Gong Show where a contestant was dancing along to it.  :)

So my final answer is: anything by the Cowsills


That was more 60s  wasn't it?

America did a version of 'Muskrat Love' which I thought sounded okay. Never heard the other version.

I think David Dungas 1976 song "Blue Jeans On" was kinda cheesy, but I like it!

'Dead Skunk' by Louden Wainwright III

Still The One by The Orleans, anyone remember that one?

Are you kidding? It was on the radio constatntly! Almost to the point you would get tired of it.

Actually one glaring one to start out my list:

"Blinded By The Light" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (the lyrics make no sense, are so misheard, even by me and the 7 minute lp version shows the lengths of how bad some of the overwrought electrical rock -- some place this version of this song in the progressive rock genre -- had become by 1977, other than that it's a great song!  ::) )

Others that would make my list:

"Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson
"Disco Duck" by Rick Dees & His Cast Of Idiots
"Troglodyte (Cave Man)" & "Bertha Butt Boogie" by Jimmy Castor Bunch
"Funky Worm" by War
"Yes We Can Can" by Pointer Sisters
"You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone
"Please Mr. Please" by Olivia Newton-John
"At Seventeen" by Janis Ian (her vocals on this song are soooooo bad; not anywhere near where they were when she cut her classic from 1967, "Society's Child")
"Spiders & Snakes" & "My Girl Bill" by Jim Stafford
"Lord's Prayer" by Sister Janet Mead (this should be a Catholic boys nightmare, but does have a good beat)
"More, More, More (Pt. 1)" by Andrea True Connection
"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy
"Clair" by Gilbert O'Sullivan
"Playground In My Mind" by Clint Holmes
"Dark Lady" by Cher (this is not Cher's best song, but it does start to wear on you or is that wear you down -- I remember this was playing back in 1974, when I was 10 years old at a Fair well I was on a ferriswheel -- I thought I was about to fall off when this came on in the Fairgrounds, I still have nightmares when I hear this while I'm falling asleep  ;D ) 

Not really songs, but the 45 rpm's fit this category:

"Sister Mary Elephant" by Cheech & Chong (this showed how low this comedy duo could get, especially when the sister tells the class to:

CLASS!  CLASS!!!  CLASS!!!!!!  Shut UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!! ;D

"Watergrate" by Dickie Goodman (I especially love when he had Spiro Agnew, the then VP at the end of this record be asked who will be President in 1976 and supposedly he starts singing from Paul McCartney's "My Love": "MEEEEEEEEEE, WO, WOO, WOOOO!")     
"Mr. Jaws" by Dickie Goodman (his use of "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tenille, "I'm Not In Love" by 10CC & "Please Mr. Please" by Newton-John were a hoot) 

hard to believe that Blinded by the Light was written by Bruce Springsteen

What was the name of that song that combined classical music with a disco beat? 'A Fifth of Beethoven' - I like that one; whenever I hear it, I remember a clip I once saw from the Gong Show where a contestant was dancing along to it.  :)


As far as my knowledge goes, Walter Murphy did "A Fifth of Beethoven" featured in the movie soundtrack "Saturday Night Fever"

Did the Partridges really sing that? I know Glen Campbell did, anyway.



I can vouch for this one, unfortunately, cause I owned that Partridge Family album

David Cwazooidy (Keith) and Shirley Jones (the mother) were the only two that sang.  None of them, I do believe, played instruments.

Cwazooidy of course had a brief solo career and is the only one of the "Partridges" that were actually Jones' child (as was his younger brother, Shaun).

Jones was already an established singer and also movie star, originally part of the MGM roster of actors/actresses back in the 1950's (she shows up in many musical movies, including "Carousel" and of course, "The Music Man" -- where she played the mother {and Marion the librarian} to future "The Andy Griffith Show" & "Happy Days" -- as well as many movies and a director, Ron Howard). 

Many times, in the early 1970's, when there was a billed "Partridge Family" concert the only one to be there was David Cwazooidy and/or occwazooionally Shirley Jones (I think she did learn how to play the tambourine during the course of the shows run).  It was well established, with the fans, like with "The Monkees" that  the "Partridge Family" was very fictional.  Of course Cwazooidy was also a HUGE teen idol.  And sometimes there was running humorous bets that perhaps some of the other, "Partridges" might show up in concert, but of course that never happened.

Of course Danny Bonaduce went on to another type of career in music, radio broadcasting of course (as well as occwazooionally guesting on some TV shows and making cameos in movies). 

And of course the most successful of the "Partridges" in her TV acting career was of course Susan Dey (most notably on "L.A. Law", off and on from 1987 to 1994).       

   
  David was Shirley Jones'  stepson.  Her sons with David's father, Jack, were Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan.  Boy, you don't know how much it pains me that I know these cheesy facts :D

I must admit that at the time I liked these songs but how about  Indian Reservation by Paul Revere and the Raiders and Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan.  Ol' Gilbert was a little depressing ;)

I must admit that at the time I liked these songs but how about  Indian Reservation by Paul Revere and the Raiders and Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan.  Ol' Gilbert was a little depressing ;)


Alone Again (Naturally). That's the nice thing about that song: It's a sad song but it's not really depressing (at least not to me).

How about "Life is a rock but the radio rolled me" and "Seasons in the sun. Rhino records puts out a "Have a nice day" Vol. 1-? with most of these posted songs

'Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me' was great!! I love that song!

And 'King Tut' was hysterical!!

How about "Magnet & Steel" by Walter Egan? What a cheesy, sappy idea for a song! Yet, somehow it works.

I remember that song well. Wasn't he with Bread?

I remember that song well. Wasn't he with Bread?
I'm not for sure--I don't think so.  I do know that he was friends with Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac, and that they sang the backing vocals on "Magnet & Steel."

'Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me' was great!! I love that song!




Remember how the guy sang really fast on that song?  I think the Barenaked Ladies may have copied that style a little bit on their song 'One Week' as well.  :)

Remember how the guy sang really fast on that song?  I think the Barenaked Ladies may have copied that style a little bit on their song 'One Week' as well. 

Oh yeah, you can see the influence past groups had in the music of todays artists.

What about anything from the Partridge Family?  Especially, "I Knew Jesus Before He Was Superstar".


No, you're kidding, right? Tell me there's no such song.

How about Bobby Goldboro's sapsterpieces? "Honey" HAS to be one of the worst songs of the era. Ditto "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife" (though they may have been in the 60s.)

Hmmm...
"Spill the Wine"
"My Ding-a-Ling"

and there was a song with a refrain (it was a duet)

How it makes me quiverrrrrrrrrrrr
How it make me (spoken in a sighing tone:) smile
With all this love I have to give her
I guess I'm gonna stay right hear awhile

Gag.