324 US Pop Culture 1970 Part 1

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:03]Welcome back to the basement. I'm Steve Lewis.

[00:00:06]This week we finally take up 1970, picking up where we left off back in episode 235, US pop culture 1969 part 7.

[00:00:16]This week we'll kick things off with a look at music in the first quarter.

[00:00:21]As the new decade arrives, the 70s sound like the future.

[00:00:26]Having gone from tiny unmanned satellites to man on the moon in the 60s, the pace of technology seems sure to keep accelerating.

[00:00:34]By the end of the decade, it seems reasonable to imagine that some of us will be living and working in colonies on the moon or dome cities under the sea, and that social and technological advancement may lead us to a new golden age.

[00:00:50]Others imagine a more earthbound future with people getting back to the land to create a kind of communal agrarian utopia.

[00:00:59]Then there's always the chance that it may all be wiped out in mere minutes by worldwide nuclear war.

[00:01:05]Of course, it's all speculation as the new year of 1970 arrives. On January 1st, Jimi Hendrix kicks off the 70s by unveiling his new group with bassist Billy Cox and drummer Buddy Miles with a live set at the Fillmore East in New York. More about this in a little bit.

[00:01:23]As we'll see, possibly the biggest influence on music in 1970 isn't an artist or a group or an album, it's an event. Last August, Woodstock Festival will reach far more people in 1970 through a hit film and a soundtrack album. Some of the festival's performers will be boosted to new levels of success during the year.

[00:01:45]Its effect will be seen in the proliferation of live rock albums and after the artful studio creations of recent years, a more ramshackle happenstance approach to many studio albums.

[00:01:57]Even the Beatles' final album, recorded largely at sessions in January 1969 and released in the second quarter of 1970, will have a live improvised feel.

[00:02:08]The success of the Woodstock film will lead to a rise in concert films and rock documentaries, which the belated release of the Beatles' 1969 documentary film project will also dovetail nicely with.

[00:02:22]Woodstock-style festivals will continue to happen in all parts of the country.

[00:02:26]Some are great, some are poorly planned, and will have state governments considering ways to ban them.

[00:02:34]Let's get started with a look at the first top 10 album chart of the 70s on January 3rd.

[00:02:40]All of these albums had been in the top 10 in the last week of 1969 and we discussed them in episode 235, so I will go over them pretty quickly here.

[00:02:49]At number one is the Beatles' latest album, Abbey Road.

[00:02:53]It had been number one since November 1st, 1969, except for the last week of the year when it fell to number two behind Led Zeppelin II. It'll be number one again for three of the five weeks of January.

[00:03:07]At number two is Led Zeppelin II.

[00:03:10]The week of January 17th, Led Zeppelin II will return to number one again.

[00:03:15]After dropping to second behind Abbey Road on January 24th, it'll return to number one for the last week of January and the entire month of February.

[00:03:25]Let It Bleed by the Rolling Stones is in the second of two weeks at its number three peak.

[00:03:31]Willie and the Poor Boys by Creedence Clearwater Revival is at number four.

[00:03:35]It'll go to number three next week for three weeks and three more weeks in February, always behind Abbey Road and Led Zeppelin II, not necessarily in that order.

[00:03:46]At five and six are a couple of live albums, Tom Jones Live in Las Vegas, which will reach number three on January 31st, and was Captured Live at the Forum by Three Dog Night, which is in the second of seven weeks at its number six peak.

[00:04:03]Blood, Sweat and Tears is at number seven. It's been in the top 10 since February 1969 and spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number one in the spring and summer of the year.

[00:04:14]It'll finally drop out of the top 10 on February 7th, 1970, almost exactly a year after it entered.

[00:04:22]At number eight is Crosby, Stills & Nash. It peaked at number six in the last week of November 1969.

[00:04:30]Puzzle People by the Temptations is currently at number nine. It had peaked at number five in the last week of November and the first week of December.

[00:04:39]At number 10 is Santana, which has re-entered the top 10 after peaking at number four on November 22nd.

[00:04:46]It'll spend much of the next three months in the top 10, rising back up to number four for three weeks beginning April 18th.

[00:04:54]Turning to top 10 singles, eight of the top 10 singles in the first chart of January were the same as they had been in the last week of December. Again, like the albums, we discussed those singles in episode 235.

[00:05:08]Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head by B.J. Thomas from the hit film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid has just reached the number one spot where it'll stay for four weeks.

[00:05:20]At number two is Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul and Mary. It had been number one the week of December 20th, 1969.

[00:05:28]At number three is Someday We'll Be Together by Diana Ross and the Supremes.

[00:05:33]Late in 1969, Motown had announced that Diana Ross would soon be leaving the Supremes for a solo career. Last week, Someday We'll Be Together became the last number one single of the 60s.

[00:05:46]Ironically, what the public doesn't know at the time is that neither of the other two Supremes, Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, actually appeared on the last Diana Ross and the Supremes hit.

[00:05:58]The group played their last concert with Diana Ross on January 14th at the New Frontier Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

[00:06:06]Diana Ross will soon begin working on solo material for Motown and the Supremes will carry on with new member Jean Terrell.

[00:06:15]At number four is a two-sided hit for Creedence Clearwater Revival, Down on the Corner with Fortunate Son.

[00:06:23]It had peaked at number three on December 20th.

[00:06:26]Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam is at number five. It had been number one for the first two weeks of December.

[00:06:34]Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin is at number six. It'll hit number four on January 31st. It's their first and as it turns out only top 10 single.

[00:06:44]At number seven is I Want You Back by the Jackson 5. It'll go to number one on January 31st.

[00:06:52]Venus by Shocking Blue is new to the top 10 this week. It's currently at number eight. It'll reach number one on February 7th.

[00:07:00]Holly Holy by Neil Diamond is at number nine. It had peaked at number six in the last week of 1969.

[00:07:08]At number 10 is La La La If I Had You by Bobby Sherman. It's the other new entry in the top 10 this week. It'll peak one slot higher at number nine next week, January 10th.

[00:07:21]Top 10 singles that will come and go in the first quarter include Jam Up Jelly Tight by Tommy Roe, which will go to number eight on January 17th.

[00:07:31]Midnight Cowboy by Ferrante and Teicher will reach number 10 on January 17th.

[00:07:37]They're the piano-playing instrumental duo who had had three top 10 hits with movie and show tunes in 1960 and 61. Now they're back with another instrumental movie theme. This is their first hit in nine years. It'll reach number 10 on January 17th.

[00:07:54]Without Love There Is Nothing by Tom Jones will spend two weeks at number five beginning January 31st.

[00:08:01]Elvis Presley's Don't Cry Daddy back with Rubberneckin' will reach number six on January 31st.

[00:08:09]I'll never fall in love again by Dionne Warwick will reach number six on February 7th. The fictional cartoon band The Archies follow up their number one hit Sugar, Sugar from last summer with Jingle Jangle. This one will go to number 10 on February 7th.

[00:08:30]Thank you for letting me be myself again.

[00:08:35]Backed by Everybody Is a Star by Sly & the Family Stone will go to number one for two weeks beginning February 14th.

[00:08:43]It's their fourth top 10 single and second number one.

[00:08:47]Hey there, lonely girl. [singing] By Eddie Holman will go to number five on February 14th.

[00:08:55]No Time by The Guess Who will reach number six for three weeks beginning February 14th.

[00:09:01]Arizona by Mark Lindsay will spend two weeks at number 10 beginning February 14th.

[00:09:07]Ma Belle Amie by The Tee Set will reach number six on February 28th.

[00:09:14]The Temptations' Psychedelic Shack will reach number seven on February 28th.

[00:09:19]Creedence Clearwater Revival are back with another two-sided hit, Travelin' Band and Who'll Stop the Rain. It'll go to number two for two weeks beginning March 7th.

[00:09:30]Brook Benton had had 23 top 40 hits between 1959 and 1964, including seven top 10s. Now he's back with his first hit in six years and it's among his biggest of all. Rainy Night in Georgia will go to number four for two weeks beginning March 7th.

[00:09:49]Give me just a little more time. By Chairman of the Board will reach number eight for two weeks beginning March 7th.

[00:09:57]The Hollies return to the US top 10 for the first time since 1967 with He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.

[00:10:04]It'll be number seven for two weeks beginning March 21st.

[00:10:08]Santana's first hit single Evil Ways will go to number nine on March 21st.

[00:10:14]And Didn't I Blow Your Mind This Time by the Delfonics will reach number 10 on March 21st.

[00:10:21]Some 1969 albums still climbing the chart as the year begins include Bobby Sherman's self-titled album which will reach number 11 on January 31st.

[00:10:31]The Band by The Band has been out since September 1969.

[00:10:36]It'll peak at number nine on February 7th.

[00:10:39]The Plastic Ono Band's Live Peace in Toronto has John Lennon singing six songs on side one and Yoko Ono vocalizing on side two.

[00:10:49]Naturally, side one is getting most of the play.

[00:10:53]It'll peak at number 10 for two weeks beginning February 7th.

[00:10:57]Early pressings of the album included a postcard that could be sent in for a free John and Yoko calendar which I'll give you a look at.

[00:11:10]Sort of historic pictures, most of them pretty well known for each month of the year.

[00:11:16]And the front cover is blank with instructions to paste your own cover.

[00:11:23]Also still climbing the chart is Joe Cocker by Joe Cocker which will reach number 11 for three weeks beginning February 7th.

[00:11:32]On March 20th, Cocker will begin a grueling 48-date North American tour.

[00:11:38]It's especially grueling because reportedly, he only learned from management on March 12th that a tour was scheduled. With his backup group the Grease Band going their separate ways, Cocker turned to friends Leon Russell and Denny Cordell to put a backing group together in eight days. They assemble a large group of players including Delaney and Bonnie, session greats like Rita Coolidge, Carl Radle, Jim Horn, Bobby Keys, Jim Keltner, and Jim Gordon with Russell also performing and acting as music director.

[00:12:11]The Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour opens in Detroit and will wind up on May 17th in San Bernardino. It's also being filmed for a big screen theatrical release. As you've guessed, it's wild and ramshackle with lots of drink, drugs, fights, and people dropping into and out of the tour. By the end, Cocker and Russell have had a major falling out and the experience reportedly contributes to setting Cocker on a downward spiral of substance abuse that will last for a decade.

[00:12:42]Nevertheless, it's a great show with some really outstanding performances.

[00:12:47]In other late 1969 releases, To Our Children's Children's Children by The Moody Blues will reach number 14 for three weeks beginning February 7th.

[00:12:58]Engelbert Humperdinck's self-titled album will peak at number five on February 14th.

[00:13:04]Grand Funk Railroad will hit number 11 for two weeks beginning March 21st.

[00:13:09]Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head by B.J. Thomas will hit number 12 for two weeks beginning March 21st. And Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 will reach number five on April 25th.

[00:13:23]Turning to new album releases, Hello, I'm Johnny Cash is released on January 19th. It'll peak at number six on March 14th.

[00:13:33]Released on January 26th is Chicago II and Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel.

[00:13:41]Also released in January is American Woman by The Guess Who. It'll get to number nine on May 16th and stay there for four of the following five weeks.

[00:13:51]Also released in January, Frigid Pink's self-titled album which will spend four weeks at number 11 beginning April 4th.

[00:13:59]And Try a Little Tenderness by Glen Campbell which will reach number 12 for two weeks beginning April 28th.

[00:14:07]Sweet Baby James by James Taylor is released on February 1st. It's his second album and his first for Warner/Reprise.

[00:14:15]Like many new artists, it'll take a while to climb the chart. It will eventually reach number three in November. More about it later.

[00:14:23]On February 9th, we get The Doors' new album Morrison Hotel.

[00:14:28]Released on February 26th is The Beatles again with the title quickly changed to Hey Jude by The Beatles. It has a beautiful cover with photos from what turned out to be the group's final photo session at John's home on August 22nd, 1969.

[00:14:45]The album is a US collection of previously released non-album singles and B-sides plus Can't Buy Me Love and I Should've Known Better which had only made appearances in the US on United Artists' Hard Day's Night soundtrack. A few tracks, notably I'm Down and The Inner Light, are conspicuous by their absence even though there was plenty of room on the album to have included them.

[00:15:11]On March 11th, Crosby, Stills & Nash follow up their 1969 hit album with Déjà Vu and the very notable addition of Neil Young.

[00:15:21]Psychedelic Shack by The Temptations is released on March 6th. It'll go to number nine for two weeks beginning May 2nd.

[00:15:29]Band of Gypsys by Jimi Hendrix is released on March 25th. It's a live recording of Hendrix's New Year's performances with Billy Cox and Buddy Miles at the Fillmore East mentioned earlier. It's an introduction to his post-Experience lineup. It's been a year and a half since Hendrix's last studio album and Hendrix has been under pressure for new material. The album is released by Capitol as part of a legal settlement with Hendrix's former manager. In any case, it'll be popular going to number five for four weeks beginning May 16th.

[00:16:03]Released on March 31st is It Ain't Easy by Three Dog Night. It's actually the second release for the album which had come out with a nude cover earlier in the year which was quickly and thankfully withdrawn and replaced. Also released in March is Here Comes Bobby by Bobby Sherman. It's the second album from the teen heartthrob star of ABC-TV's Here Come the Brides. Knowing their audience, it's promoted as having the world's first self-destruct album cover. It opens into three panels each with a picture of Bobby. The center is a full-color portrait that can be removed and is suitable for framing. The outer cover is meant to disassemble into a giant 37-in full-color poster. It comes with an inner sleeve that becomes the outer sleeve when the package is taken apart. Whether it's based on the album packaging or not, the album will go to number 10 on May 16th.

[00:17:01]And that'll give us a start on 1970.

[00:17:04]I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you will join me next time when we carry on with movies, television, and particularly what our old friends The Beach Boys were up to in the first quarter of the year.

[00:17:16]As always, I look forward to your comments. Thanks for watching. Please hit like if you don't mind. Subscribe if you haven't. Have a terrific week. Bye.