70s Gold
Soft rock, soul, funk and disco: the golden hits and performances of the 1970s.
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On This Day: Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrd and “Free Bird”
On October 20, 1977, a plane crash took Ronnie Van Zant and two bandmates. We remember Lynyrd Skynyrd, Street Survivors and the story of “Free Bird.”
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Angie: How the Rolling Stones’ Ballad Hit No. 1 in 1973
On October 20, 1973, the Rolling Stones’ “Angie” hit No. 1 in America. The Jamaica sessions, the mystery of who Angie was, and the official promo.
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Ike & Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” on Ed Sullivan, 1970
The night Ike & Tina Turner took “Proud Mary” from nice and easy to nice and rough on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1970, and how the song became Tina’s own.
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James Brown on The Midnight Special: Get Up Offa That Thing
James Brown brings “Get Up Offa That Thing” to NBC’s The Midnight Special in 1976: the story of the song, the show and a funk legend’s late-’70s fight.
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Country Roads: Behind John Denver’s Wildlife Concert Video
The story behind John Denver’s 1995 Wildlife Concert performance of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and how the 1971 song became a West Virginia anthem.
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September: The Joyful Story of Earth, Wind & Fire’s Hit
The story behind Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September”: a guitar groove, a nonsense lyric, a family secret about the 21st night, and what to play next.
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Hotel California: The Story Behind the Eagles Classic
How the Eagles wrote and recorded “Hotel California,” what the lyrics mean, the 1977 live video, its Grammy win and the best versions to hear today.
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Jolene: The Story Behind Dolly Parton’s Country Classic
The true story behind Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” from a flirty bank clerk to a 1978 Midnight Special performance, plus the best versions to hear today.
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On This Day: Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” Arrives
Released as a B-side in October 1978, Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” became a disco anthem. The rushed session, the DJ who broke it, and the video.
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Willie Nelson and Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain: A Portrait
How Willie Nelson went from Nashville songwriter to country star with “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” his spare 1975 No. 1, and where to start listening.