Tom Clay was a DJ working at a radio station in L.A. back in 1971, when he decided to create a unique remix of the popular 1965 song “What the World Needs Now Is Love”. It was first recorded and made into a world-famous hit by Jackie DeShannon and became an anthem of love against bigotry, segregation, and war.
Tom Clay’s remix has a young boy’s voice describing the words ‘hatred’, ‘bigotry’, ‘segregation’, and ‘prejudice’ as what call it “when somebody’s sick”. Clay added Vietnam war soundbites, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Teddy Kennedy’s eulogy for his brother Bobby, and newscasts about JFK and Bobby Kennedy’s assassinations. Clay’s version reached number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Dueling Banjos" by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
Maybe you won't remember this instrumental 70's hit, but you're bound to remember the infamous 1972 film that made it so popular - the American thriller, 'Deliverance.' Now, this film is wildly disturbing, and one of its most shocking scenes is accompanied by the folk song hit, "Dueling Banjos".
Even though the original composition was written by Arthur Smith, the film version of the song, which was the one to reach number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, was arranged and recorded by Steve Mandell and Eric Weissberg. The catchy bluegrass hit also reached number five on the Hot Country Singles chart.
"Signs" by Five Man Electrical Band
The Five Man Electrical Band were a Canadian rock group from the 70s, and their hit single "Signs" made this somewhat unknown band quite popular in the US. Their song, released in 1971, reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 4 in Canada.
The record the single was released on was certified gold, propelling this Canadian quintet straight to the top. Even if only for a very short time. "Signs" was written by the band's lead singer and guitarist, Les Emmerson, while road-tripping in California. The famous anti-establishment tune had a second wave of fame when the rock band Tesla covered it nearly twenty years later. The song made it to the top ten again.
"Cat’s In The Cradle" by Harry Chapin
This 1974 treasure is definitely one for the ages. 'Cat's in the Cradle was written by folk-rock singer Harry Chapin, who in turn got the inspiration from a poem his wife Sandy wrote. As the story goes on, Sandy Chapin says that the poem is about her first husband's complex relationship with his father, who is a prominent politician.
However, Harry Chapin quickly realized that it was very much about himself and his relationship with his son. Its beautifully haunting lyrics stay with us long after the song is over. Go on, give your dad a call. He'll be happy.
"Rock the Boat" by The Hues Corporation
"Rock the Boat" was one of the first ever disco songs to become a massive hit. Released in 1974 by The Hues Corporation, an American trio that was insanely talented, this song reached the number one spot on the US Billboard 100 chart and on the Canada Top Singles chart.
A fusion of disco, soul, and R&B, "Rock the Boat" was one of those songs that you could either seriously dance to or simply play in the background while you were cuddling with a loved one. Unfortunately, this amazing music trio didn't produce any more hit singles, but we'll always have 'the boat.'