Welcome to another Sun-Soaked episode of The Songs Of The Summer Series from friend and Contributing Author Ozmoe! This week: Remembering 1974…
What Was the Summer Song of 1974?
Let’s face it: 1974 was a weird summer in the United States.
And I don’t mean because of the resignation of a president. Or because CBS had tried out three different summer variety series, starring Bobbie Gentry, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and the Hudson Brothers – in that order – in the time slot vacated by the cancellation of The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour due to the titular couple’s divorce.
No, the summer of 1974 is weird because music listeners seemed to be losing their taste based on the pop chart.
The peak of the Hot 100 was bookended by two records that tnocs members have ranked among in the all-time 10 worst number ones surveyed, as of this writing. Ray Stevens’ The Streak ended its own streak of three weeks at the top on June 1, while Paul Anka’s You’re Having My Baby closed out late August and early September with its own three-week stand at the apex.
Even given this dubious standing, there were some records that beat the trend, and qualify to be considered as the Summer Song of 1974.
As a reminder, I define a summer song as bubbly, optimistic, easy to listen to and sing along with. It relaxes or excites you, or both.
summer chartster ozmoe
Obviously, The Streak and You’re Having My Baby don’t really qualify in these regards. But here are ones that I think do meet the criteria. Look and make your decision on what you think should rank in the top three, and in what order. All are listed chronologically based on their Billboard Hot 100 peak.
• Maria Muldaur: Midnight at the Oasis
With lyrics like “Send your camel to bed” and “I know your daddy’s a sultan,” this entry can seem like a novelty song if you take its words literally. But you’re not supposed to do that. Instead, let Maria’s gentle phrasing and the smooth music take you along to an intoxicating getaway to another world where romance is the featured element. A great song to hear while unwinding after a busy day and enjoying the moonlight before going to sleep.
• Joni Mitchell: Help Me
As an albums artist, Joni didn’t care one whit about having hit singles, but she got one anyway with this one, and it’s a beauty. She shows off her supple vocal range with no strain at all, which combined with top work by studio musicians gives this jazzy ballad an adventurous edge most songs lacked then as now. Incidentally, Joni and Maria spent three weeks together being the only female vocalists in the top 10 in 1974.
• Paul McCartney & Wings: Band on the Run
A record that shifts its tone not once but twice is an unlikely contender as a summer song. However, McCartney and the other members of his band make the transitions so cleanly that it flows with ease throughout. And the result was so good that part of it appeared at the end of the record’s B side as well (Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five). Paul was in a rocking mood this year, also having top 10 hits with Helen Wheels, Jet and Junior’s Farm.
• Olivia Newton-John: If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
Livvy solidified her country-pop credentials with this number, her second top 10 hit after Let Me Be There in 1973. This followed the template of its predecessor, with John Rostill as songwriter and Mike Sammes as backing bass singer in harmony. Sadly, Rostill committed suicide seven months before it became a smash in America. That’s about the only sad note associated with this sweet ode to devotion, sincerely sung and delivered.
• The Hues Corporation: Rock the Boat
Was it proto disco? Danceable soul? Caribbean-flavored pop? Maybe a combination of all? However you defined this record, Rock the Boat upset what sort of sounds were making the Hot 100. Its success in dance clubs led to many purchases of the song that in turn led to radio airplay, a pattern that would start to become the norm for the rest of the decade. The Hues Corporation disappeared from the charts rather quickly, but they definitely made an impact.
• George McCrae: Rock Your Baby
KC and the Sunshine Band might’ve been credited with six numbers on the Billboard pop chart instead of five had group leader Harry Wayne Casey did the lead on this song with his group. But the notes were too high for him to hit, so another TK artist, George McCrae, got the honor instead. Like Rock the Boat, this had Caribbean accents and other elements that made it unlike most previous soul-pop entries. And it’s a sensuous number for slow dancing too.
• Chicago: Call on Me
Back in the day when it was dominated by horns and not Peter Cetera or David Foster, the band Chicago could be counted on to dispense some pleasant jazz-pop tunes about every season during the early to mid-1970s. Call on Me is a fine representative of that era, with a lot of room for the musicians to shine in playing their parts along with a solid set of lyrics. Some may call this “early yacht rock,” but I think it’s better than that designation would imply.
• AᗺᗺA: Waterloo
If I had told you in 1974 that AᗺᗺA would later inspire a hit Broadway musical and two movies—the second starring Cher—would you have believed me? Probably not. AᗺᗺA was probably regarded as a cute novelty when Waterloo hit, although some might have recognized the strong instrumentation and vocal chops on display could lead to greater things. As it stands, Waterloo is a rousing upbeat number that dares you not to join along with the fun.
As always, you can come up with your own candidates. A likely consideration may be Beach Baby by First Class. As an imitation of the Beach Boys, it certainly has that classic summer sound. The problem is… that it didn’t hit its peak until October, and it was only in the top 40 the last three weeks of August 1974, so it’s likely that you didn’t hear it till summer ended. Still, I can see its merits for winning this contest.
If you have any others to suggest as the summer song of 1974, do so in the comments below along with your vote.
Another trip back in time will be on its way next week!
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I’ll play fair and leave “Beach Baby” out on the technicality (although it would be No. 1 were it truly a summer hit). And so much brilliance with those first three — I love them all — but I’ll keep consistent with my thoughts on “Respect,” that they’re so much summer songs as songs for every season. Thus, I’ll go with 3) Waterloo 2) Rock the Boat 1) Rock Your Baby. Great list!
… they’re not so much summer songs …
This was tougher that it should have been. I’d wager that if you asked most people, the Mandela Effect would be in play here, and the fall-peaking “Beach Baby” would get the nod for SOTS for 1974.
(By the way, thanks for disqualifying Paul and Ray.)
Since this is strictly “Summer songs” territory and not simply “favorites,” here we go:
3: Rock Your Baby
2: Rock Your Waterloo
1: Rock The Boat
I’m trying to do the same thing, while remembering the criteria…and I’m not sure any of these really fit! BUT:
I’m basically in agreement with the crowd…
1. Boat
2. Baby
3. Waterloo
I might enjoy Waterloo a touch more than Rock Your Boat, but Boat has the happy summer vibes oozing out of every pore.
This is the toughest choice yet. Purely on musical terms Band On the Run takes it and it was his 80th at the weekend but….while I can see it playing with the roof down and hair flowing in the breeze the man who has everything has no need for my trinkets so I’m going
3. Rock Your Baby
2. Rock The Boat
1. Midnight at the Oasis
Meanwhile, this side of the pond summer was a bit off. We got Ray Stevens, we got Gary Glitter and the longest chart topper was Charles Aznavour with She?!?!? The kids went wild for it I’m sure. Whatever your opinion of its merits its not redolent of long hot summer days. On the credit side we also got Rock Your Baby and Three Degrees; When Will I See You Again at the top for 3 weeks each. In general though, roll on winter….
Wasn’t First Class a bit hit in the UK? (I actually thought they where British)
Yes, they were. Our dear, departed Joel Whitburn notes that Tony Burrows (the same guy who sang lead on Edison Lighthouse’s “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” and White Plains’ “My Baby Loves Lovin’,” does the lead vocals on “Beach Baby.”
oh, that totally makes sense – i can hear the voice. (And wasn’t it the theme for a BBC summer variety show? Seaside Special?)
More Tony Burrows? Why not!
He sang with three different groups – that each had a Top 10 record on the charts – simultaneously:
Baby Loves Lovin’
United We Stand
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
The guy was crushing it. He’s also singing the high voice on this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeIb7Ms4xHc
I have to admit to a complete blank where First Class are concerned. It was before my time is my excuse. Beach Baby was their only chart entry here and got to #13 so a reasonable hit but not as big as the US. After that they disappeared straight into the mists of chart trivia.
Seeing “Help Me” right now makes me recontextualize Prince’s still hard-to-believe passing. Joni Mitchell outlived him. I like how he interpolates “Help Me” in “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker”. I like Joni Mitchell a lot. “Help Me” sounds like the soundtrack to watching a sunset at the beach. 1) Help Me(every day Mitchell is alive is a blessing) 2) Band on the Run(my old avatar can’t get over “Press” being Paul McCartney’s second best post-Beatles song) 3) Rock the Boat(how can anybody not like this song?)
Apropos of nothing, I would like to take this opportunity to stan for Pipes of Peace.
Great list, ozmoe.
.
I thought I was the only person who likes “Press” a lot. Right there, that’s it, yes.
(Note to mt – there’s some weird thing where, if I I’m signed in and comment, it is in white text. I didn’t know how to correct or delete it, hense the weirdness above. Thank you for all of your efforts.)
Hey, Archie,
We know that you’re really busy, so thanks for stopping by!
On desktop, the white text thing happens sometimes when trying to paste existing text from something else.
Let me know if these workarounds fail and I’ll dig deeper.
““Help Me” sounds like the soundtrack to watching a sunset at the beach. “
Which reminds me, “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot also soundtracked the summer of ’74 in a big way.
I’m abstaining from voting because two of these songs, and that summer in general, feature prominently in an article I’m cooking up (it’s a slow cook in the slowest crock pot – here, have a banana and quit pestering the cook).
I just want to say I’m really happy that “Rock Your Baby” will make Tom’s upcoming book – I just listened to the long cut, which features an additional couple minutes of Jerrold Smith’s rhythm guitar and doesn’t need anything else.
Here’s something promised to give you a smile: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUlR8jWUKd8
Can’t wait to read your article, ArchieLeach! And how did you hear that “Rock Your Baby” was making the cut for Tom’s book?
And the video was hilarious!
Hey, @Ozmoe – The Stereogum announcement for the book mentions a few chapters.
“still writing for me?”
Burrrrrrnnnnnnn
The Summer Song of 1974 has to be either “Rock The Boat” or “Rock Your Baby,” which always seemed like extensions of each other. Both songs were huge, both were everywhere you turned that summer (I was 10). Some of the other candidates put forth here were not really summertime hits. “Midnight At The Oasis” and “Band On the Run” were springtime hits. “Beach Baby” was wondrous and an all-time favorite, but, like you say, it hit in the fall.
I’d like to add my support for “Sideshow” and “The Air That I Breathe” as strong contenders for the Summer Song of ’74.
Ooh, two that I’d forgotten about.
Certain fond memories were just rekindled by recollecting the Hollies tune… thanks, Guy K!
I’d go:
One: nice ranking!
Two: nice new avatar!
ooooh, tough choice – but I’m doing a write-in vote for First Class. The others are better, but that one sounds like summer. Even if it does have a quote from Sibelius…
Nice article. I completely forgot the Chicago song, but recognized it instantly with the link. I love Chicago (city and band)!
I just turned 11 during that Summer of ’74 and did not have the most sophisticated musical taste; however, what I really liked then, I still do and possibly even more. The difference is that I have much greater appreciation for more adult tunes (e.g., Please Come to Boston, Sundown, Tell Me Something Good, Annie’s Song, Joni Mitchell).
My favorites from that summer are still the pop confections:
1) Rock Me Gently – Andy Kim
2) Billy Don’t Be A Hero – Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods – Even at a young age, Bo Donaldson stirred up some feelings. He was on a few celebrity panel game shows displaying some magnificent chest hair. TMI. Onward…
3) Band On The Run – Macca could usually be counted on for a banger summer song that made #1 in June or July
4) The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace – cstolliver would know the definitive answer, but was this song banned on WLS and/or WCFL? Rockford radio played it. There was also a TNOCS discussion about the East Side of Chicago, which is the sizable Lake Michigan. Boats not mentioned in the song.
5) The Streak – Ray Stevens – The Stereogum TNOCS crowd (Tom included) can be smug, uptight, lack a sense of humor, and not embrace schmaltz/ schlock. A few more needlessly mean spirited writeups like last Friday’s Barenaked Ladies man child tantrum and I will be hanging out here more. My Dad, who HATED Top 40, loved this song and worked references to “Ethel” into conversation. This was huge and I still think the song is funny. DEAL Stereogum TNOCSers!
Rock Your Baby and Rock The Boat would be my #2 and #3 from your list with Macca #1.
I have every single 45 that I mentioned and of your list, I only have ONJ and Macca. 67 cents @ JCPenney
Nice list and write-up. Cheers.
NB: Did Sonny and Cher both have their own talk shows after the separation. Poor Chastity and viewers!
It was worse than that. Sonny and Cher both had their own shows in 1974-75 (Cher’s lasted slightly longer), then someone came up with the great idea to reread the divorced couple with their own series in 1976. Needless to say, it flopped as well.
You should do a piece on horrendous 70’s variety shows and Sonny & Cher, Solo Sonny, Solo Cher, Reunited Sonny & Cher could have its own sub-section. Puts Pink Lady & Jeff and the Brady Bunch Variety Hour in perspective. No wonder Bobby Gentry quit showbiz.
Upvoted for schlock in regard to film. I’m saving money now, but getting close to completing The Criterion Collection in the middle of 2021. But I also have a schlock collection; my favorites are The Car, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, and Demon Seed(arguably, too good to be schlock). Thank god for Arrow. Is dreck the same thing as schlock? They’re synonyms, but in my mind, dreck is unsuccessful schlock.
The hill I die on is for Weezer. I don’t think they’re shlock or dreck, but my opinion is a minority one in the online ecosystem. Van Weezer was my favorite album of 2021. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion. Never got over the excitement of catching “Buddy Holly” at the right time on MTV.
…but I was getting close…
Re: The Night Chicago Died, my recollection was that it was a hit on both WLS and WCFL, though much fun was made of the “East Side” gaffe. Ron Smith’s books (the Windy City Whitburn) say it went to No. 1 on both stations. For the year, Smith ranked it 23rd on WCFL and No. 3 on WLS, behind only One Tin Soldier and Seasons in the Sun.
I’m tempted to take a hint from R.S. about Andy Kim and make my top three a “Rock” trifecta of Boat/Baby/Gently, but here’s the real deal:
1. Rock The Boat
2. Waterloo
3. Midnight At The Oasis (I always rolled my eyes at this one when I was little, “dad’s music” it was… grew to love it as an adult, guess I couldn’t appreciate Maria’s sexuality at my young age when I was still crushing on ONJ)
Like “Beach Baby,” “Rock Me Gently” misses it just because of timing — it was top five in the fall at the same time as the First Class hit.
I’d have to go with “Waterloo,” even though the song’s wartime metaphor sieges upon the sunny summer vibes a bit. Maybe sing “water luge” instead?
Other songs that scream summer to me: Kool & the Gang’s “Jungle Boogie” (technically from 73), Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel,” Junior Byles’ “Curly Locks,” Queen’s “Killer Queen,” the Delfonics’ “I Told You So,” and Anne Murray’s “Just One Look.”