“Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty
Gerry Rafferty may have been most known for being a member of the famous band Stealers Wheel, but he certainly made his mark as a solo artist.
In his hauntingly beautiful hit song “Baker Street”, Rafferty pulls on everybody’s heartstrings with his legendary guitar solo, making it a top-five hit across countries in the summer of 1978. Did we mention it has one of the most epic saxophone solos in music history?
"American Pie" by Don McLean
Don McLean may have had other singles that had their fair share of success, but none ever came close to the epic "American Pie." This song has been covered by countless artists, including Madonna, and it is simply one of those beautiful, timeless songs that will stay a favorite forever. Everybody knows "American Pie," and everybody gets a strong nostalgic feeling every time they hear it.
Released in 1971, this epic tune became a symbol of the counterculture hippie movement of the '60s and '70s. It didn't matter that it was over eight minutes long; people still managed to learn every single word by heart. And they still remember.
"Born To Be Alive" by Patrick Hernandez
Patrick Hernandez was the French disco king of the '70s. He had it all - the puffy hair, slick shoes, sharp suits, and even a dancing cane. Hernandez was definitely born to be on stage, and apparently, he was also born to top the charts with his number one hit, "Born to be Alive".
However, the disco king's song was definitely a one-time hit since Hernandez retired from his music career shortly after, in 1979. But hey, we're still dancing to the groove.
"My Baby Loves Lovin" by White Plains
This sweet, cheery tune had British pop group White Plains singing about "my baby loves lovin'." Performed by session pop singer and recording artist Tony Burrows and co-lead singer Ricky Wolff, "My Baby Loves Lovin" reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart and number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Released in 1970, this White Plains tune had all the romantics playing this tune for their sweethearts. Unfortunately, the British band didn't top any US charts again and finally disbanded in 1976.
"Reflections of My Life" by The Marmalade
Not only does this Scottish band have a great name, but they also produced a beautiful, bittersweet nostalgia song that became an instant classic. The Marmalade released "Reflections of My Life" in late 1969, and it reached number 3 in the UK and then number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1970.
The Marmalade was known for its psychedelic rock tunes, which went on to top charts in the UK, but as far as the US was concerned, "Reflections of My Life" would be their only hit.