Best Song of the 1970s Bracket - Born to Run wins!

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Tue May 05, 2020 4:24 pm

I don't understand the hatred for Lennon.

* He was unfaithful to Cynthia and not much of a father to Julian. If that's the reason I can respect it, but at the same time it's odd that we're talking about a bunch of 70s rockers and singling one out for being a bad husband and father. If he was abusive, I am ignorant of that fact.
* He got people to listen to Yoko Ono songs. Again, if that's the reason I can respect it, though it's pretty easy to skip songs these days.
* He got in spats with Paul. Yes, he said some stupid things, but I can't respect this reason because who cares.

The Stately Rhododendron · Tue May 05, 2020 6:48 pm

I inherited my distaste from my mom, who always got pissed at parishoners for suggesting they sing "Imagine" at church.

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Tue May 05, 2020 6:57 pm

That I can definitely respect.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Tue May 05, 2020 8:28 pm

I'll leave voting open until 7 tomorrow.

mrtyrmystry · Post by **mrtyrmystry** » Tue May 05, 2020 8:31 pm

Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) vs. I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home)

No Woman No Cry vs. Fly Like an Eagle

Bang a Gong (Get It On) vs. American Girl
I love 20th Century Boy, I like American Girl, I at least like the chorus to Bang a Gong. it's worth voting for what they signify

My Sweet Lord vs. Flash Light

Barracuda vs. Just What I Needed

Imagine vs. Southern Man
unfortunate facts: john and yoko made better music than all the other beatles, plastic ono band and imagine are Very Nice albums (if you dont loathe lennon), both these songs are silly lyrics set to nice music. anyways, put down imagine early so it doesnt have to continually get hate-voted down in future rounds

a "more fitting" or maybe you find it grotesque use for imagine's tune: backing UGK

Kodachrome vs. Lust for Life
paul simon sounds too nice and iggy pop sounds too nasty

Let It Be vs. Easy
personally probably don't need to hear either of these songs any more

Blackboard Monitor Vimes · Tue May 05, 2020 10:03 pm

Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) vs. I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home)
No Woman No Cry vs. Fly Like an Eagle
Bang a Gong (Get It On) vs. American Girl
My Sweet Lord vs. Flash Light
Barracuda vs. Just What I Needed
Imagine vs. Southern Man
Kodachrome vs. Lust for Life
Let It Be vs. Easy

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Wed May 06, 2020 9:40 pm

Voting is closed.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Wed May 06, 2020 9:45 pm

Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress) 11.5, I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home) 11.5 - Nicole cast the tie breaking vote.
No Woman No Cry 17.5, Fly Like an Eagle 4
American Girl 16.5, Bang a Gong (Get It On) 7
Flash Light 12, My Sweet Lord 11
Just What I Needed 12, Barracuda 11
Southern Man 16, Imagine 8
Lust for Life 12, Kodachrome 11.5
Let It Be 17, Easy 4.5

I'm really surprised by a couple of results here for the first time.

Next ballot will be posted tomorrow.

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Wed May 06, 2020 11:57 pm

Oh thank heavens - I can overlook our youthful cohort's disdain for the Beatles, but the survival of "Just What I Needed" makes that an easier pill to swallow.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Thu May 07, 2020 1:10 pm

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Wlf7 ... RmPudh4HYA

Your matchups:

#2 Live And Let Die – Wings
Album: Live and Let Die (soundtrack)
Year: 1973
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #2, UK #9
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR0UmZcf89E

#185 The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
Album: The Gambler
Year: 1978
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #16, US Country #1, UK #22
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGYJrjwiPC4

#63 Maggie May – Rod Stewart
Album: Every Picture Tells a Story
Year: 1971
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #1, UK #1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOl7dh7a-6g

#66 Radio Radio – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Album: This Year’s Model
Year: 1978
Charts: UK #29
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eifljYPFW-E

#31 Family Affair – Sly & The Family Stone
Album: There’s a Riot Goin’ On
Year: 1971
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #1, UK #15
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xag5RKD0VHk

#110 Turn the Page – Bob Seger
Album: Live Bullet
Year: 1976
Charts: did not chart as studio album; not released as single for live version
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evnZfSEtr5k

#34 Long Train Runnin' – The Doobie Brothers
Album: The Captain and Me
Year: 1973
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVsLEI-hCXw

#106 O-o-h Child – The Five Stairsteps
Album: Stairsteps
Year: 1970
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dguz0IsCuKU

#15 Let's Stay Together – Al Green
Album: Let’s Stay Together
Year: 1971
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #1, UK #7
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKOcfZtKvYQ

#138 Stuck In The Middle With You – Stealers Wheel
Album: Stealers Wheel
Year: 1973
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #6, UK #8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln7Vn_WKkWU

#50 It's Too Late – Carole King
Album: Tapestry
Year: 1971
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #1, UK #6
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKxmnrRVHo

#86 Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
Album: Slowhand
Year: 1977
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #16,UK #81 (studio version)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxAiUq8yn34

#18 Proud Mary – Ike & Tina Turner
Album: Workin’ Together
Year: 1971
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #4
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lfT9TWAaMY

#134 I Saw the Light – Todd Rundgren
Album: Something/Anything?
Year: 1972
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #16, UK #36
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5zPHZ3i_FU

#47 I've Seen All Good People – Yes
Album: The Yes Album
Year: 1971
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #40
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FFxqdhqb9c

#89 Goodbye Stranger – Supertramp
Album: Breakfast in America
Year: 1979
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #15, UK #57
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8pVZ5hTGJQ

Your ballot:

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

I'll say voting closes Friday night at 7 p.m., but the way I've been doing this, you may get bonus voting time!

A Dim-Witted Saboteur · Thu May 07, 2020 2:24 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Thu May 07, 2020 4:02 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
This one is actually pretty close. These songs are both OK.

Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
This one is not close. The good song is better than the bad song.

Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Sly and the Family Stone had better songs in the 60s.

Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
I like both of these, but it seems like O-o-h Child should have done more with its start.

Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
This song is so good that I am going to vote for it even though it was in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. It was in a lot of things, mainly because it's a great song.

It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Tapestry is an awesome album, but Wonderful Tonight is the better song here.

Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
Ike Turner is a total dirtbag, but Tina is cool and this song is great.

I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger
Both of these songs are pretty good, but I've Seen All Good People does more.

mrtyrmystry · Post by **mrtyrmystry** » Thu May 07, 2020 5:59 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
i dont really want a bond theme to be the best song of the 70s

Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
Both these songs are good, I think. Don't tell me otherwise

honestly, i can kind of imagine elvis costello's voice making someone want to throttle him

Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Family Affair is my favorite "not conventional rock" song in this bracket. There's a Riot Goin' On is one of the most "celebrated by critics" albums ever, but I don't think people listen to it very often. apparently sly stone did a ton of drugs and kinda went solo for it - so the departure from the group's previous sound comes from... sly stone's drug-addled mind? it set some precedents: James Murphy said that he was surprised by how physically close some of the vocals on the album sound. Family Affair was a really early track to use a drum machine. also, it hit #1. that's kind of unbelievable to me (no more so than, like, Ode to Billie Joe, i guess). i say all of this as someone who generally wants their music to be super engaging (it is engaging, i guess. it's so funky).

"And another child grows up to be
Somebody you'd just love to burn"

i like turn the page.
if family affair manages to make, say, the top 16, i'll be really happy.

Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
no no the breaks by kurtis blow DOES NOT sample long train runnin

Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You

It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
It's Too Late is wonderful.

Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I Saw the Light is nice.

I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger
prog isnt really a genre that i have any reason to be into at all, but I first gave I've Seen All Good People a chance four years ago and I've loved it since. it's lovely, it's gorgeous. i think it makes me happier than any other song in the bracket except Friend of the Devil.
yes, i think it's better than roundabout. no, i dont watch anime.

dwd500 · Post by **dwd500** » Thu May 07, 2020 6:26 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
- I've never liked how Wings-era McCartney would just take 3 or 4 mini-ideas and just slap them together with almost no coherence, and this is a prime example. Matching it up against a great, simple, storytelling country song just throws it into stark relief.

Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
- Radio Radio is a good song, but it's maybe the 6th best on its own album. Its reputation really comes from the SNL deal.

Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
- There's so many other Seger songs I'd rather be voting for here, especially in light of what the next matchup will probably be. Sly's refusal to even think about finding a downbeat with his singing dooms it in this matchup.

Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
- The true tragedy of the one-song-per-artist rule is right here. We won't get to see What a Fool Believes in the bracket just because it and this song are nominally by the same band - without sounding remotely similar, and sharing less than half of the band members.

Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
- Al Green's got a heck of a voice, and it doesn't get better than on this track.

It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
- Interesting choice for the Carole King song. I think you picked the one that best shows off her jazz chops while still highlighting that fantastic Tapestry piano sound. I'll get to vote for Clapton when Layla comes around.

Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
- No matter how many times I hear it, that big change always hits the spot.

I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger
- I'm not big on either of these. I love Roundabout, though, so I'll vote for the band that at least did that.

MiltonPlayer47 · Post by **MiltonPlayer47** » Thu May 07, 2020 7:31 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler

Maggie May vs. Radio Radio

Family Affair vs. Turn the Page

Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child

Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You

It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight

Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light

I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

ValenciaQBowl · Post by **ValenciaQBowl** » Thu May 07, 2020 7:31 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
--This song was playing on the speakers during Trump's trip to visit the manufacturer of masks in Arizona earlier this week. Jus' sayin'.

Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
--Exciting to see this Elvis song go so far.

Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
--This is a rather turgid Seger song, but I don't think "Family Affair" is Sly's best, either.

Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
--Meh

Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
--Would be great to see this song keep going.

It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
--Did I say that Seger song is turgid? My apologies--"Wonderful Tonight" makes it look like jangly pop.

Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
--Ike's deep-voiced response of "rollin'" is great.

I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger
--It's unfortunate to have to choose between these two songs, as I'm betting that folks who like one will like the other. "I've Seen All Good People" is the third-best song on The Yes Album, and it's still good enough to make the Elite Eight of this bracket.

cdbarker · Post by **cdbarker** » Thu May 07, 2020 7:32 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

These choices are only going to get tougher. :)

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Thu May 07, 2020 8:40 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler Zero question here
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page I don't know if it's really better, but I lived in Michigan, I have to vote for Bob Seger.
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight This is kind of disappointing. I'd take Clapton's body of work, but I've never liked Wonderful Tonight. It just doesn't excite me. I'm looking forward to voting for Layla as many times as I can!
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

kammajos000 · Post by **kammajos000** » Thu May 07, 2020 9:01 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

Blackboard Monitor Vimes · Thu May 07, 2020 9:31 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
About a million years ago, when I was a sophomore in high school, I chose "Live and Let Die" for my first ASL song interpretation assignment. My class enjoyed it enough that they raved about it to our usual substitute, who was Deaf and assigned each of us name-signs. Mine is the S-handshape playing air guitar for this reason. However, none of that makes it a particularly good song, and I genuinely enjoyed "The Gambler" on first listening to it for this thread.
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
I personally don't care for Rod Stewart's voice, but I'll concede that this is the better song.
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Everything I had to say about "Turn the Page" last time still applies - the first 5 seconds should sell you on it.
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
Ever-relatable.
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Carole King has a great voice, even if this isn't one of my preferred songs by her, and I've always hated "Wonderful Tonight."
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

The Stately Rhododendron · Thu May 07, 2020 10:56 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler - While I don't enjoy either of these songs, The Gambler most resembles a song I would enjoy. Kenny Rogers has that storytelling style and has a solid studio backing, but man's stories are banal. Live and Let Die - what's up with the production here, everything sunds "zany".
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio - both good tracks. Tough matchup, but this is not my favorite Elvis phase.
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page - Turn the page? More like turn it up past 2 on the dial. Come on, more excitement! More Action!
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child - Slow Train Coming, now there's a wonderful 70s song. I've always loved Dylan's born again phase. Just the abject fear that comes through - only other time I hear it from him is Lovesick on Time Out of Mind. Anyways, Long Train Runnin has a good mouth harp going for it. Doobie Brothers are always good to me.
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You -A great song against a terrible one!
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight - It's too Late is a wonderful song. There's like an extra dimension to Carole King's voice, its kinda got its own echo. Iconic Album cover too.

What’s going on, Eric? You’ve got a touch of brain damage? So you’re going
to stand for MP and you think we’re being colonised by black people. Come
on you’ve been taking too much of that Daily Express stuff, you know you
can’t handle it.
Own up. Half your music is black. You’re rock music’s biggest colonist.
You’re a good musician but where would you be without the blues and
R&B?
You’ve got to fight the racist poison, otherwise you degenerate into the
sewer with the rats and all the money men who ripped off rock culture with
their cheque books and plastic crap.
Rock was and still can be a progressive culture not a package mail order
stick-on nightmare of mediocre garbage.

Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light - easy
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger - just a really fun song

ScoBo · Post by **ScoBo** » Thu May 07, 2020 11:05 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio

Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
I have been to only a couple of concerts, but one of those was when Bob Seger came to Kansas City in 2006. I was in Rolla at the time and Missouri got hit with a winter storm a couple of nights before. We had to delay leaving Rolla until the morning of the concert and took an atypical route that took an hour or two longer than normal, but we made it.

Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Great pick for the Doobie Brothers.

Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light

I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger
Both of these are great, but I'd be more likely to crank up the volume for the latter.

Ethnic history of the Vilnius region · Fri May 08, 2020 7:38 am

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

BenWeiner27 · Post by **BenWeiner27** » Fri May 08, 2020 2:43 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Fri May 08, 2020 8:17 pm

24 hours to vote!

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Fri May 08, 2020 8:17 pm

Stained Diviner wrote: ↑Tue May 05, 2020 4:24 pm I don't understand the hatred for Lennon.

* He was unfaithful to Cynthia and not much of a father to Julian. If that's the reason I can respect it, but at the same time it's odd that we're talking about a bunch of 70s rockers and singling one out for being a bad husband and father. If he was abusive, I am ignorant of that fact.
* He got people to listen to Yoko Ono songs. Again, if that's the reason I can respect it, though it's pretty easy to skip songs these days.
* He got in spats with Paul. Yes, he said some stupid things, but I can't respect this reason because who cares.

https://local.theonion.com/man-always-g ... 1819578998

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 pm

Crap! In that case, good riddance.

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Sat May 09, 2020 1:36 pm

Live and Let Die vs. The Gambler
Fellow commentators have noted that "Live and Let Die" seems like it was assembled via dartboard of song elements, which has some validity. More of a "Band on the Run" man myself. I really liked "The Gambler" more than I expected, and like most good advice, it's vague enough to be both universally applicable and subject to your own flawed interpretations.

Maggie May vs. Radio Radio
I find "Maggie May" kind of boring but can recognize its appeal; however, I get the inkling that Elvis Costello, like many critical darlings, actually kind of sucks. Haven't heard this song before, but his vocals are terrible, and considering the message of the song, it should make a better case vs. the other songs it's competing with.

Family Affair vs. Turn the Page
This first backbeat is excellent, although the listless vocals do bring it down. At the end, I was asking "That's it?!" Ah, well. Have always liked "Turn the Page", and will continue to.

Long Train Runnin' vs. O-o-h Child
Most of my experience with "Long Train Runnin'" comes from playing it on DDR as a teenager, which was a . . . complex time in my life. Still a catchy groove which doesn't waste a moment. "O-o-h Child" is a pretty weak flame in comparison.

Let's Stay Together vs. Stuck in the Middle With You
I like but don't love either of these songs, so it's kind of a tossup. Went with my genre convictions in the end.

It's Too Late vs. Wonderful Tonight
Don't have much to say about "It's Too Late" other than "likable". At this point, mostly unaccompanied singer-songwriters better have something special attached to get a rise out of me. But - slow Clapton is the worst Clapton.

Proud Mary vs. I Saw the Light
Feel I should like this version of "Proud Mary" more than I do, but "I Saw the Light" is bland and dull.

I've Seen All Good People vs. Goodbye Stranger
Wow, this must be the prog section of entire bracket; funny how that worked out. They're both similar in the layered vocals that are probably in too high a register for me to really enjoy. Although the album cover of Breakfast in America is both compelling and disturbing. I think I enjoyed the first song a bit more, but it's hard to see it go far in this tourney.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Sat May 09, 2020 1:56 pm

This is the last call for votes.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Sat May 09, 2020 8:11 pm

Voting is closed.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Sat May 09, 2020 8:13 pm

The Gambler 10.5, Live and Let Die 10
Maggie May 13, Radio Radio 7
Turn the Page 14, Family Affair 7
Long Train Runnin' 14, O-o-h Child 6
Let's Stay Together 10, Stuck in the Middle With You 9.5
It's Too Late 11.5, Wonderful Tonight 8.5
Proud Mary 17, I Saw the Light 1.5
I've Seen All Good People 12.5, Goodbye Stranger 7.5

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Sun May 10, 2020 6:37 pm

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0T7tT ... MD5zCCS7OQ

Your matchups:

#7 Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
Album: Born to Run
Year: 1975
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #23
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1glxaEB5G7I

#172 Cars – Gary Numan
Album: The Pleasure Principle
Year: 1979
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #9, UK #1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Lo-D8NQF0

#58 I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Album: Love Tracks
Year: 1978
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #1, UK #1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHhZPp08s74

#73 Surrender – Cheap Trick
Album: Heaven Tonight
Year: 1978
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #62
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sAm5UCJ9vA

#26 Life on Mars? – David Bowie
Album: Hunky Dory
Year: 1971
Charts: UK #3
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0JmvGKP4H4

#115 American Woman – The Guess Who
Album: American Woman
Year: 1970
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #1, UK #19
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uf6EY2BZBw

#39 Fire and Rain – James Taylor
Album: Sweet Baby James
Year: 1970
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #3, UK #42
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbD7lfrsY2s

#98 Ramblin' Man – The Allman Brothers Band
Album: Brothers and Sisters
Year: 1973
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa4DCp6cl2U

#10 Tangled up in Blue – Bob Dylan
Album: Blood on the Tracks
Year: 1975
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #31
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKcNyMBw818

#153 We Are Family – Sister Sledge
Album: We Are Family
Year: 1979
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #2, UK #8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azvWQ2PWNwI

#55 Boys Don't Cry – The Cure
Album: non-album single
Year: 1979
Charts: did not chart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSAqXEcgoZ4

#77 Mississippi Queen – Mountain
Album: Climbing!
Year: 1970
Charts: did not chart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFhM1XZsh6o

#23 Layla – Derek & The Dominos
Album: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Year: 1971
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #10, UK #7
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TngViNw2pOo

#124 Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City – Bobby "Blue" Bland
Album: Dreamer
Year: 1974
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #91
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38OOUDTsqM0

#42 Rock and Roll – The Velvet Underground
Album: Loaded
Year: 1973
Charts: did not chart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Dahqz-R49I

#95 Brass in Pocket – Pretenders
Album: Pretenders
Year: 1979
Charts: Billboard Hot 100 #14, UK #1
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI0WnoDK4Nw

Your ballot:

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

Voting will close Tuesday, May 12 at 8 p.m.

MiltonPlayer47 · Post by **MiltonPlayer47** » Sun May 10, 2020 6:52 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
I'm not the biggest Springsteen fan, but I have always loved "Born to Run."

I Will Survive vs. Surrender

Life on Mars? vs. American Woman

Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
James Taylor is boring.

Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
"Tangled up in Blue" would have also been my choice for the Dylan song for this tournament.

Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen

Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City

Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

Stained Diviner · Post by **Stained Diviner** » Sun May 10, 2020 8:04 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
Cars is pretty good, but it ain't Born to Run.

I Will Survive vs. Surrender
It's my wife's favorite song.

Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
I admit it. I like sell-out Bowie more than the serious stuff.

Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
I've spent a lot of time listening to both of these acts and both of these songs, and I don't regret it. These songs are both great.

Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
We Are Family is too long, but it's a decent song. I mean, it's not Nobel worthy.

Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
These are both good songs. Leslie West can play some guitar.

Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Obvs. The whole Layla album is awesome. If you don't like George Harrison, this is your chance to vote for a song obsessing about his wife by a guy who would later marry her while George was still alive.

Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket
As I have said before, I like Lou Reed a lot more than Velvet Underground.

Ethnic history of the Vilnius region · Sun May 10, 2020 8:37 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

Steeve Ho You Fat · Post by **Steeve Ho You Fat** » Sun May 10, 2020 8:46 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars abstain
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

ScoBo · Post by **ScoBo** » Sun May 10, 2020 9:27 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

dwd500 · Post by **dwd500** » Sun May 10, 2020 9:30 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
- Cars isn't even the best song about cars in this matchup.

I Will Survive vs. Surrender
- Talk to me when Gloria Gaynor starts playing a 5-neck guitar.

Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
- The only part of American Woman I hate is the spelling section at the beginning. There's not a section of of Life on Mars that I hate.

Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
- Because I may not get other chances to talk about it: the musical Working has some great songs, including James Taylor's Millwork.

Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
- As long as Dylan songs can tend to be, the best ones never feel like it. This one always flies by.

Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
- For the cowbell.

Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
- Ain't No Love is good, but Layla's two good songs.

Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket
- I'm not big on either of these, but the last bit of Rock and Roll is more fun than Brass ever gets.

mrtyrmystry · Post by **mrtyrmystry** » Mon May 11, 2020 6:28 am

Born to Run vs. Cars

I Will Survive vs. Surrender
the cheap trick lyrics remain pretty funny

Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
must vote for artist. Hunky Dory, Ziggy Stardust, Station to Station all generally recommended. maybe my favorite (song of this decade?) is "Five Years"

Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
james taylor is lifeless to me, not that im lively.

Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
blood on the tracks is obviously very worth listening to. if anything, We Are Family is much more repeatable than most dylan

Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
im a light Enemy of gloominess/self-absorbed music, which includes the Cure, some of the many bands they influenced, and some of the beloved siouxsie/the smiths'/even joy division's music on principle. But in the late 70s, the Cure made nice normal "post-punk" including this wonderfully naive pop song. Mississippi Queen has a wicked riff and rhythm and is as effectively brief as Boys Don't Cry, but Boys Don't Cry is the Cure's nicest song with a bit of edge, and its opponent is too pure.

Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City

Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket
rather predictably, i revere the three Velvet Underground albums from the 60s that precede Loaded

A Dim-Witted Saboteur · Mon May 11, 2020 10:21 am

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

ValenciaQBowl · Post by **ValenciaQBowl** » Mon May 11, 2020 11:43 am

Born to Run vs. Cars
--"Born to Run" is certainly a contender for best song of the 70s.

I Will Survive vs. Surrender
--"I Will Survive" is a bigger and probably more music-historically important song than "Surrender," but I loved the album Heaven Tonight when I was in middle school.

Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
--I still wish the Bowie song was "Rebel, Rebel"

Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
--I wouldn't be upset if this song won the tournament. It sounds like the 70s to me.

Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
--He ain't no False Prophet.

Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
--So I guess The Cure song was released in June 1979, but it wasn't on an LP till 1980. In any case, it just doesn't feel in any way like a 1970s song.

Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
--LAAAAY-LUH

Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket
--This is brutal; I love both of these songs, but in the end I have to go with the band that spawned a thousand 80s indie groups.

AgathokakologicalPunk · Mon May 11, 2020 4:23 pm

Cars
Surrender
American Woman
Ramblin’ Man
We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry
Layla
Brass in Pocket

kammajos000 · Post by **kammajos000** » Mon May 11, 2020 5:24 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

rylltraka · Post by **rylltraka** » Mon May 11, 2020 9:27 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
"Born to Run" is the apotheosis of Springsteen's grungy Americana poetics. "Cars" is just a great, unique song which is as much tech demo as musical product, but despite also being about cars, can't really hold a candle. But I will shed a single tear.

I Will Survive vs. Surrender
What a contrast in messages, just looking at the titles. Endure, or cower? "I Will Survive" is just a great, iconic disco track, although it has about two minutes of material and is yet four and a half minutes. "Surrender" is fun but infinitely more trifling in terms of impact and visibility. Cheap Trick does put on a good show, though, as I can attest.

Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Bowie's the kind of artist who has 30 songs that could be included on this list. I could listen to "Life on Mars?" close to forever on infinite repeat. Find it tough to get through all of "American Woman" once.

Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
It's tough to balance my general disdain for the singer-songwriter genre with these generally solid examples of the genre. The lack of spectacular musicianship bothers me quite a bit in something like "Fire and Rain". The antithesis to this is "Ramblin' Man", whose beautiful guitar work (that ostinato!) pairs with the fine vocals.

Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
"Tangled Up in Blue" I have listened to 500 times and will another 500 more (and I can play it on guitar, moderately poorly). "We Are Family" is fun but far too slight to knock off any truly excellent competition.

Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
With "Boy's Don't Cry" I enjoy the message and the song, but I wouldn't call any aspect of it amazing. It sounds very much like what it is, a fine piece of post-new-wave pop rock. Now, that Leslie West guitar sound? That's something so juicy you aren't finding it anywhere else, and it don't overstay its welcome. That said, Mississippi hasn't been under a monarchy since at least 1803.

Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
"Layla" is one amazing song and one okayish song squashed into one. But it's a walkover over this pleasant piece of soul.

Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket
My only previous experience with the first song was the snippet that played while a jukebox was constructed from the ground up as the flavor cutscene in Civilization 4 for the technology, well, Rock and Roll. It's pretty good. But I'll always be a fan of Chrissie Hynde sass.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Mon May 11, 2020 9:56 pm

The deadline to vote is tomorrow.

BenWeiner27 · Post by **BenWeiner27** » Tue May 12, 2020 3:26 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

ryanrosenberg · Post by **ryanrosenberg** » Tue May 12, 2020 3:51 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

Blackboard Monitor Vimes · Tue May 12, 2020 6:34 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

Whiter Hydra · Post by **Whiter Hydra** » Tue May 12, 2020 6:51 pm

Oops, I should probably vote in this.

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket

Wartortullian · Post by **Wartortullian** » Tue May 12, 2020 9:26 pm

Born to Run vs. Cars
I Will Survive vs. Surrender
Life on Mars? vs. American Woman
Fire and Rain vs. Ramblin’ Man
Tangled up in Blue vs. We Are Family
Boys Don’t Cry vs. Mississippi Queen
Layla vs. Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City
Rock and Roll vs. Brass in Pocket