1972: THE STORIES BEHIND THE YEAR'S BIGGEST SONGS

There was a time in pop music when there were songwriters and singers and the two very rarely mixed. But by the end of the 1960's, with rock & roll beginning to dominate the radio, musicians began to insist on writing and performing their own material, offering perspectives that were far more personal and culturally relevant than what came out of those songwriting factories which were written largely so that anybody could sing them. And even if the singer had not written the song, their passionate recorded performance would make a profound connection between the artist and the song. This was also a time when the radio was not nearly as segregated; pop music actually included rock, country, soul and the occasionally novelty song.

Jim Farber of Parade magazine has gone back exactly fifty years ago to list some song highlights from the year 1972, detailing the stories behind some of these hits which have managed to endure throughout the following decades.

Click below to read the article:

1972: The Stories Behind The Year's Most Unforgettable Songs

And here are a few of my favorites from this list of songs from 1972:

RANDOM SIGHTS + SOUNDS

First, here is some classic '70's soul to get you up on your feet:

"Band of Gold" - Freda Payne (1970) mp3

"Mr. Big Stuff" - Jean Knight (1971) mp3

"Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" - The Dramatics (1971) mp3

"Treat Her Like a Lady" - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (1971) mp3

"I Love Music" - The O'Jays (1975) mp3

Sia contributes a haunting version of "California Dreamin'" for the soundtrack of "San Andreas", the upcoming Dwayne Johnson action flick about "the big one" finally hitting L.A. The singer really brings her signature drama to this melancholy song that makes it truly memorable.

"California Dreamin'" - Sia (2015) mp3

I can't believe the music of the '90's is considered "old-school" but here we are. Kat Graham uses a sample of TLC's "What About Your Friends" and pays tribute with her new single, "1991". The video takes us back to the time of house parties and the cabbage patch:



Country-music sweetheart, Taylor Swift continues to build on her reign as a pop star with a glossy, star-studded, rap-assisted music video for her latest single, "Bad Blood". Directed by Joseph Kahn and featuring Kendrick Lamar, Swift plays a member of a band of tough, sexy agents training for some kind of mission. See how many of the famous faces in the clip you recognize.:



Finally, here's a flashback with Culture Club. The song is "Mistake Number Three" and was off their 1984 album, "Waking Up With The House On Fire". Although it didn't burn up the charts, I liked this single. But what I really love is the music video. Boy George was in full glam mode in this wild, over-the-top spectacle that has to be seen to be believed: