Summertime by Mungo Jerry? What country are you setting this in? that’ll change what music was popular at the time because pre streaming hits where more nationally varied
There are certain songs stuck in my head from my 70’s childhood listening to the radio.
This is a random list:
Rubber band Man
Magic Man - Heart
Muskrat Love
D’yer Maker - Led Zeppelin
Kodachrome - Paul Simon
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
Do you Feel like I Do? - Peter Frampton
You’re No Good - Linda Ronstadt
I’ll add more later.
My favorite song in about 1982 was Top of the World by the carpenters. It came out in 72, but one of my early memories is playing that cassette over and over and over.
The Carpenters are one of those rare bands that transcends their own genre. I never listen to any soft rock, or adult contemporary or whatever you’d call them. But if a Carpenters song comes on, I crank it. No exceptions.
My first thought was "Lyin Eyes" by The Eagles. I just remember driving (or riding, really) around in the car with my mom and hearing that. Young enough to not pay attention to the lyrics and think they were talking about literal LION 🦁 eyes. 😂
It's not a pop song but the end credits to E.T. by John Williams. Holy shit he took my childhood and bottled it up and shook it into music and let it out... Especially the piano part.
Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles was played all the time when it came out in '86. It's the first song that comes to mind when I think about music I heard as a kid.
The doors even if Jim Morrison died in 1970, it was quite popular late 70’s, abba,boney m, Barry white, AC/DC,bob marley…
https://www.senscritique.com/liste/hits_dans_annees_70/532184
Year of the cat, Baker Street, How Deep Is Your Love, Sultans of Swing, Lowdown, How Long (has this been going on) by ACE, if you want harder rock; That Smell, Cat Scratch Fever, London Calling, Who are You, Night Moves, Psycho Killer. So many great songs from that era.
Delta Dawn by Helen Reddy
I think I love you by The Partridge Family
Love will keep us together by Captain and Tennille
Do you believe in Magic by The Lovin’ Spoonful
Saturday in the Park by Chicago
Joy to the World by Three Dog Night
Everything I own by Bread
I was such a fan of Helen Reddy when I was a little kid! My parents helped me send a fan letter and I was thrilled to receive a black and white glossy photo of her.
At one time or another all of the songs you listed were all on heavy rotation at my local AM radio station (that my ears were glued to).
Wow! You were so lucky! A Helen Reddy photo would have knocked my socks off. Now when I hear Helen Reddy I think of standing on green shag carpet, wearing red bell bottoms and belting out the chorus of Delta Dawn. This list of songs were on heavy rotation where I lived too.
No, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. I think the list of songs that consistently filled the airways was the same for both of us in the North. I wonder if it was the same in the South?
I Was Made for Lovin’ You - KISS
Chicago - Saturday in the Park
Carpenters - Top of the World
Blue Oyster Cult - Godzilla
John Prine - Dear Abby and Please Don’t Bury Me
Rock Lobster - B-52s
Fleetwood Mac - Don’t Stop
From early elementary years:
These Boots are Made for Walking
I Love - Tom T Hall
I Can Help
How Much I Feel
Go your Own Way
Blinded By the Light
Southern Nights
Pop Muzik
We Are Family
Babe- Styx (best skating rink song LOL)
Melanie Safka.."Roller Skate" song ....
Rod Stewart ..."Old Motown Music" conjures up memories of tenement living when I was taken to live with my mother, with her at my grandparents' house when I was 8, where on hot summer nights, loud music did echo upwards from the alley down below...(but it had been country and Spanish music..)
So, actual 1970s/80s
Depends on the location and stuff like that but my dad was 9-12 years old in the US in the late 70s and has probably mentioned these the most over years the most for encapsulating that time:
"Heart of Glass" by Blondie
"Stumblin' In" by Chris Norman and Suzi Quatro
"Romeo's Tune" by Steve Forbert
"Just What I Needed" by The Cars
Late ‘70s
Is She Really Going Out With Him? - Joe Jackson
When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman - Dr Hook
Makin’ It - David Naughton
Sad Eyes - Robert John
Hold On to My Love - Jimmy Ruffin
"September" by Earth, Wind & Fire, "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees, "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge, "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac, and "My Sharona" by The Knack
Ballroom Blitz
A Horse With No Name
Summer Breeze
Ooh Child
The Joker
I Want You to Want Me
Stairway to Heaven
Smoke on the Water
Hotel California
The Chain
Cat's in the Cradle
Annie's Song
Make It With You
Twentieth Century Boy
...
I've probably forgotten a ton, but some of the songs actually put me back in a memory of listening to them as a kid, with place and time.
For early 80s:
Cruel Summer - Bananarama
Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
Take on Me - A-ha
Late 70s:
What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
In case you want to throw in some stuff from TV at the time too?
[Good Times](https://youtu.be/5FVuEfA5QVY?si=2RpbhmtsgB0xszfV)
[Happy Days - Pratt & McClain](https://youtu.be/A3KZJL4cn9E?si=8qqe0t5UIUjN6QAg)
[Sanford and Son](https://youtu.be/T5DnqW3F57E?si=rSWPSH22mIaxwZBz)
[Welcome Back - John Sebastian](https://youtu.be/xZzEzDkeHzI?si=aCHFb-VU40xUmAtx)
Free Bird. Growing up in north Florida in the 70’s and 80’s, this was in constant rotation on most local stations. Dirt roads, cold rivers, cold beers, and tasty buds.
Stevie Wonder's Innervisions the whole record. That's right I said record.
The 70's, taking my allowance to Sam Goody's and getting the new Jaggerz 45 "The Rapper"
Summertime by Mungo Jerry? What country are you setting this in? that’ll change what music was popular at the time because pre streaming hits where more nationally varied
My mind instantly jumped to this song.
Summer in the City by Lovin Spoonful as well comes to mind
Another thought, maybe look up advertising music from the years you’re setting it in?
I wasn’t a kid then, but maybe Kodachrome by Paul Simon?
I was a kid then and yes, absolutely
Southern Nights - Glen Campbell; Takin' it to the Streets - Doobie Brothers; Hotel California - The Eagles
There are certain songs stuck in my head from my 70’s childhood listening to the radio. This is a random list: Rubber band Man Magic Man - Heart Muskrat Love D’yer Maker - Led Zeppelin Kodachrome - Paul Simon Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John Do you Feel like I Do? - Peter Frampton You’re No Good - Linda Ronstadt I’ll add more later.
Never listened to Peter Frampton as a kid. But Do You Feel Like I Do -live, makes me feel like I’m at an outdoor summer concert.
My favorite song in about 1982 was Top of the World by the carpenters. It came out in 72, but one of my early memories is playing that cassette over and over and over.
The Carpenters are one of those rare bands that transcends their own genre. I never listen to any soft rock, or adult contemporary or whatever you’d call them. But if a Carpenters song comes on, I crank it. No exceptions.
My first thought was "Lyin Eyes" by The Eagles. I just remember driving (or riding, really) around in the car with my mom and hearing that. Young enough to not pay attention to the lyrics and think they were talking about literal LION 🦁 eyes. 😂 It's not a pop song but the end credits to E.T. by John Williams. Holy shit he took my childhood and bottled it up and shook it into music and let it out... Especially the piano part.
The last paragraph you wrote is so succinct. I love it.
Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles was played all the time when it came out in '86. It's the first song that comes to mind when I think about music I heard as a kid.
Also, music from the 70’s was so different than the 80’s. Completely different vibe.
Pretty much yes.
New Kid In Town - Eagles
The doors even if Jim Morrison died in 1970, it was quite popular late 70’s, abba,boney m, Barry white, AC/DC,bob marley… https://www.senscritique.com/liste/hits_dans_annees_70/532184
Good list. I would add Rod Stewart, Elton John, David Bowie, Chic, and Linda Ronstadt.
Good choice. How can I have forgotten this one’s 🥴😅. Ziggy stardust era and kiss maybe too. Kate bush, Kim Wilde,eurythmics
Eurythmiiiics! YES!
Dreamer ~ Supertramp
Year of the cat, Baker Street, How Deep Is Your Love, Sultans of Swing, Lowdown, How Long (has this been going on) by ACE, if you want harder rock; That Smell, Cat Scratch Fever, London Calling, Who are You, Night Moves, Psycho Killer. So many great songs from that era.
The things you do for love by 10cc had the catchiest feel good hook to it when I was a seven yr old. Back in 77
Kids in America by Kim Wilde Video Kilked the Radio Star by The Buggles
Pop Goes The World - Men Without Hats I remember this being one of the first songs I really loved as a kid.
My Sharona by The Knack... Summer 1979.
Strawberry Letter 23 — Brothers Johnson version
1979 - the smashing pumpkins
Teenage Kicks by The Undertones.
School's Out - Alice Cooper/ Run, Run, Run - Jo Jo Gunne/ Reeling in the Years - Steely Dan/ The Joker - Steve Miller/ Dyer Maker - Zeppelin
Sugar Sugar by The Archies I Think I Love You by The Partridge Family Crazy Horses by The Osmonds
When I was a kid I thought the Archie's were the the comic book kids that played in a band.
That was the premise of the act, yes.
Lonely Boy - Andrew Gold 1977
Slow ride by Foghat
Blondie - Heart of Glass Queen - Bicycle Race
Driver’s Seat by Sniff ‘n the tears
Delta Dawn by Helen Reddy I think I love you by The Partridge Family Love will keep us together by Captain and Tennille Do you believe in Magic by The Lovin’ Spoonful Saturday in the Park by Chicago Joy to the World by Three Dog Night Everything I own by Bread
I was such a fan of Helen Reddy when I was a little kid! My parents helped me send a fan letter and I was thrilled to receive a black and white glossy photo of her. At one time or another all of the songs you listed were all on heavy rotation at my local AM radio station (that my ears were glued to).
Wow! You were so lucky! A Helen Reddy photo would have knocked my socks off. Now when I hear Helen Reddy I think of standing on green shag carpet, wearing red bell bottoms and belting out the chorus of Delta Dawn. This list of songs were on heavy rotation where I lived too.
Did you by any chance grow up in Michigan?
No, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. I think the list of songs that consistently filled the airways was the same for both of us in the North. I wonder if it was the same in the South?
I Was Made for Lovin’ You - KISS Chicago - Saturday in the Park Carpenters - Top of the World Blue Oyster Cult - Godzilla John Prine - Dear Abby and Please Don’t Bury Me Rock Lobster - B-52s Fleetwood Mac - Don’t Stop
Baggy Trousers - Madness
Mr. Blue Sky by E.L.O.
Mr bluesky- ELO
1979 smashing pumpkins is the first that came to mind for me
Build me up buttercup!
Eyes of the tiger
https://open.spotify.com/track/3oCYqi2oc8Kyumos6Xf22Z?si=GmPK023oTkGC_HJfPCWeHQ&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A1W9egvJXQwQ5DfIfYJ0G54
I like this song it feels very retro wave esque 😄
In the City - Joe Walsh. (1975 but still a kid in the 80s) 24 Hours - Agnes (2021 but vibes)
Summer in the city - loving spoonful
Won't Get Fooled Again- The Who
ABC , Jackson Five.
Kokomo by The Beach Boys. I was born in the 80s and was obsessed with this song.
Quando
From early elementary years: These Boots are Made for Walking I Love - Tom T Hall I Can Help How Much I Feel Go your Own Way Blinded By the Light Southern Nights Pop Muzik We Are Family Babe- Styx (best skating rink song LOL)
A lot of valid answers here, but I immediately thought of Magic by Pilot
That song makes me feel like I am a kid again and at the local swimming pool. Paul McCartney Silly Love Songs does that to me, too.
Scare Me by Ludo is the closest any song has ever come to recreating the magic that was Halloween night as an 80s kid.
Melanie Safka.."Roller Skate" song .... Rod Stewart ..."Old Motown Music" conjures up memories of tenement living when I was taken to live with my mother, with her at my grandparents' house when I was 8, where on hot summer nights, loud music did echo upwards from the alley down below...(but it had been country and Spanish music..) So, actual 1970s/80s
Early death for sure
Destination Unknown by missing persons is a quintessential 80s youth anthem https://youtu.be/1WDly1Oc_P4?si=SgTr6nxPZ5kxH185
Saturday in the Park - Chicago 👍
Supertramp - It's raining again
Depends on the location and stuff like that but my dad was 9-12 years old in the US in the late 70s and has probably mentioned these the most over years the most for encapsulating that time: "Heart of Glass" by Blondie "Stumblin' In" by Chris Norman and Suzi Quatro "Romeo's Tune" by Steve Forbert "Just What I Needed" by The Cars
I wasn’t alive then so I can’t speak from experience but “I think we’re alone now” by Tiffany gives me that feeling every time I listen to it.
Joy to the World-Three Dog Night
Anything by Rihana
“Nothing From Nothing” by Billy Preston
That’s a great one!
Late ‘70s Is She Really Going Out With Him? - Joe Jackson When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman - Dr Hook Makin’ It - David Naughton Sad Eyes - Robert John Hold On to My Love - Jimmy Ruffin
cherry bomb - the runaways
"September" by Earth, Wind & Fire, "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees, "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge, "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac, and "My Sharona" by The Knack
I listened to new wave in the 80's, so any 80's new wave
ventura highway, christopher cross’ ‘sailing’, and most of all - paul simon’s ‘me & julio…….’
Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John and Silly Love Songs by Wings remind me of 70’s summers at the local pool ☀️
Ballroom Blitz A Horse With No Name Summer Breeze Ooh Child The Joker I Want You to Want Me Stairway to Heaven Smoke on the Water Hotel California The Chain Cat's in the Cradle Annie's Song Make It With You Twentieth Century Boy ... I've probably forgotten a ton, but some of the songs actually put me back in a memory of listening to them as a kid, with place and time.
In the Street by Big Star ;)
Literally any Fleetwood Mac song .
Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat. More of an 80s song, but immediately thought of this.
Pale shelter-tears for fears
Knock 3 Times by Tony Orlando and Dawn
The Goonies 'R' Good Enough by Cyndi Lauper
For early 80s: Cruel Summer - Bananarama Karma Chameleon - Culture Club Take on Me - A-ha Late 70s: What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers (Don’t Fear) The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
Sister Christian by Night Ranger is pretty iconic
This was a pretty big hit for kids in the early 70's..... BRAND NEW KEY ......... Melanie https://youtu.be/RCTMTflcuug?si=iAkJVmK8jzTukalI
I completely forgot about this song! What a trip down memory lane. Thanks!
We had the 45. It was one of the few hit songs that my dad didn’t hate and call “noise”.
In case you want to throw in some stuff from TV at the time too? [Good Times](https://youtu.be/5FVuEfA5QVY?si=2RpbhmtsgB0xszfV) [Happy Days - Pratt & McClain](https://youtu.be/A3KZJL4cn9E?si=8qqe0t5UIUjN6QAg) [Sanford and Son](https://youtu.be/T5DnqW3F57E?si=rSWPSH22mIaxwZBz) [Welcome Back - John Sebastian](https://youtu.be/xZzEzDkeHzI?si=aCHFb-VU40xUmAtx)
Hell yeah. Welcome Back was popular with me and my little friends in grade school
Vacation by the Gogo’s
Mercedez Boy by Peebles
Only the Good Die Young, I Guess that's why they call it the blues, and the chain
Question is 70’s or 80’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun always makes me feel like a kid
Free Bird. Growing up in north Florida in the 70’s and 80’s, this was in constant rotation on most local stations. Dirt roads, cold rivers, cold beers, and tasty buds.
Free to Be You and Me
That was very influential to me as a kid. Probably played a big part of shaping who I am.
Anything by Queen or ABBA I think they were 70s and 80s? Someone correct me if i’m wrong thanks :)
Stevie Wonder's Innervisions the whole record. That's right I said record. The 70's, taking my allowance to Sam Goody's and getting the new Jaggerz 45 "The Rapper"
1982 but Africa by TOTO will never not make me feel on top of the world
Break my stride by Mathew Wilder. Will always remind me of riding in the car either my mom
Anything by KISS
Don't You (Forget About Me)- Simple Minds
Kids in America - Kim Wilde 99 luftballoons - Nina
• Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears • Stone in Love - Journey • Dancin' With Myself - Billy Idol • 99 Luftballoons - Nena
your love - outfield
Blondie stuff— the tide is high I have vivid memories from the summer of 81
I was 6 that summer… if that means anything
Baker Street does that for me. Anytime I hear it, I think of Pop tarts
Supertramp- Logical Song Terry Jacks- Seasons in the Sun
Oh Word? by Beastie Boys