Music to My Years: 1971
Welcome to Music to My Years. A new weekly feature here on my blog.
I am quickly hurtling towards my 50th Birthday and, one of the things that has stayed a complete constant in my life is music. I have so many songs which jog memories throughout my life and many of them will remain dear to me. I am now a radio presenter on Radio Ninesprings, and I will be sharing my Top 5 – 1 each day – the week after I share this post, Monday to Friday on my show from 3pm.
So, from the year I was born taking me right up to 2021, I am going to be sharing my top 10 chart songs from the year in question.
Table of Contents
10. My Brother Jake by Free
I have to admit to not knowing much about the background to this song but I do know that I really love it! Written by lead singer Paul Rodgers and the bass guitarist for Free, Andy Fraser, it was first released in the UK in 1971. I believe that Peter Cox of Go West is a big Free fan – so that makes it all fine by me!
9. My Way By Frank Sinatra
Well, this really had to be in here didn’t it?! The perfect song for anyone looking back on their life. Paul Anka originally discovered this song when it was called “Comme D’Habitude” while visiting France and re-wrote the lyrics as “My Way” when he returned to New York. See plagiarism even then!
Paul Anka then pitched the song to Frank Sinatra and his version quickly became one of his signature songs.
8. Knock Three Times By Dawn
I had to put this in. It was number one the week I was born – and I shall forever remember it for this very reason! The video is a little bit suggestive! Tony Orlando was the singer but never credited on the record.
7. Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves by Cher
This is one of those songs that I have always liked but not listened to enough over the years. The more you listen, the more you hear different things in the backing! It was Cher’s first number one solo hit, and part of a big comeback following a disastrous movie release in 1969.
6. Get It On by T Rex
I often wonder what would have become of Marc Bolan had he not sadly died in a car accident. He was such a talent and left a number of amazing songs. This is one of a few of his in 1971. It does depend upon my mood as to which one I play – but I think this is my favourite from this particular year.
5. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
Da, da, da! Of course, this had to go in! There is even a global singalong on YouTube of this song! Neil Diamond actually wrote this song about his second wife, Marcia BUT he needed a three-syllable name to fit the melody. The name Caroline was one he had written down and fitted perfectly. I don’t think I would have taken too kindly to it! They married in 1969 and divorced in 1995 so I guess she was fine with it.
4. TIRED OF BEING ALONE BY AL GREEN
I have ALWAYS loved this song and didn’t realise until I did my research for this post that it chared the year I was born. I never tire of listening to it. Apparently Al Green wrote this song when woke up the day after a show in Detroit at a motel in rural Michigan. It took him half an hour and was his first hit.
3. I Hear You Knocking by Dave Edmunds
The second of the ‘knocking’ songs from the year I was born, this one was originally released in `1955 and then, Dave Edmunds released it in 1970 but it was still on the chart in 1971. It was one of the UK’s biggest selling songs and I still enjoy hearing it.
2. Another Day by Paul McCartney
With Paul McCartney still one of my absolute favourites, this had to be here! It was the first single of his solo career, it was actually written in the ‘Let It Be’ sessions when he was still with The Beatles. It kind of reminds me of Eleanor Rigby.
1. Your Song By Elton John
Another first from one of the biggest acts on my list. Elton John wrote this song with Bernie Taupin in 1967. He then worked as a songwriter and studio musician and was the warm-up act for a band called Three Dog Night (where are they now?!). This band recorded the song for their 19070 but when it looked like Elton might finally make it in America with his own version, the band chose not to release it so they could give him a chance. Thus, a star was born!
It is the first song in Music to My Years to really mean something to me. When I brought Grace home from the hospital back at the beginning of 2007, this was the first song I sang to her when she wasn’t sleeping. It helped and she slept. I shall never forget that.
Find my playlist over on Spotify.
