“Which Way You Goin’, Billy?” by The Poppy Family
Another Canadian band that hit it big back in the 70s was The Poppy Family. Released in 1969 in Canada, their hit single and incredibly sad song, “Which Way You Goin’, Billy?” topped charts in Canada and Ireland. One year later, it reached number 2 on the US Billboard pop chart.
The four-member psychedelic pop group sold millions of records worldwide, proving they were truly talented musicians. Married couple Susan and Terry Jacks were two of the members and a unique Tabla player and sitar strummer gave The Poppy Family a very special sound. The only member of the band that would produce another hit was Terry Jacks, but that was about it.
"Black Betty" by Ram Jam
You may remember the epic "Black Betty" from the soundtrack of 'Blow,' the famous film by Ted Demme. Ram Jam was a rock band formed around lead guitarist Bill Bartlett. He had over ten years of experience in the music industry since he had been playing with other '70s bands. One of them was Lemon Pipers, the band that topped the charts with 1968's 'Green Tambourine'.
Ram Jam was definitely a one-hit-wonder, but they still managed to cause a stir. Their hit "Black Betty" is a true rock 'n roll song that just makes your bones jump. It may have been a rework of a shorter song by master blues guitarist Lead Belly, but Ram Jam certainly made it special. Even though it became a worldwide hit, it caused a lot of problems. The NAACP wasn't happy with the bold lyrics and even tried to boycott the band!
"Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks
Ironically, everybody remembers "Seasons in the Sun" for its happy guitar sounds, but it was actually an incredibly sad song. The 1974 chart-topper featured some very gloomy lyrics, but it was still the hit that made Terry Jacks famous. For about 15 minutes, but still.
The song was originally written by a Belgian jazz singer called Jacques Brel in 1961. Two years later, it was translated and somewhat rewritten by an American singer and finally sung and made famous by Canadian-born Terry Jacks.
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" by Looking Glass
The Looking Glass certainly hit the nail on the head when it came to writing a song about a sailor's complete inability to commit to a serious relationship. Released in 1972, this wildly famous hit single was thought to have been based in a real-life story, but it was finally revealed that it wasn't.
The single was so popular that it reached the number-one spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the Cash Box Top 100 chart. Unfortunately, the American pop band was probably as crushed as Brandy was when they realized this would be their only hit single.
"Lovin’ You" by Minnie Riperton
American singer-songwriter Minnie Riperton was one of a kind, and audiences knew that right away. She had a stunning voice and an unparalleled five-octave coloratura soprano range that made her sound like an angel. Her biggest hit, the 1975 "Lovin' You," is an incredibly sweet song where she gave adoring fans a taste of her astounding vocal talent.
Minnie wrote "Lovin' You" to soothe her daughter when she was a little girl. Her daughter, as it turns out, is 'Saturday Night Live's' brilliant Maya Rudolph. The song, filled with lovely, calming sounds, was a perfect way for Minnie to show off her beautiful voice. Sadly, Minnie passed away from cancer just 4 years after her song became a timeless hit.