All the Playlists

Afternoon Delight – Starland Vocal Band

20 June 2017

This song hit #1 on US charts in 1976 and won the Starland Vocal Band a couple of Grammys. It’s not hard to see why. It has that soft country rock sound that became popular in the early 70s. Two of the originators of the band, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, had written for John Denver, so they let their country rock roots shine through in “Afternoon Delight.”

Summer Breeze – Seals & Crofts

20 June 2017

You can almost feel the warm summer breeze caressing your face when this song plays. Such 70s pop rock goodness. As refreshing as a cold class of lemonade when the heat’s hitting about 95 degrees. Seals & Crofts had a number of hits in the 70s, but nothing beats this summertime anthem.

I Believe In Love – Kenny Loggins

20 June 2017

This song is the epitome of effervescence. During the late 60s, 70s and 80s, Kenny Loggins went through many incarnations, from country rock to super pop. But, no song defines him better than this lively tune that wasn’t one of his biggest hits, but certainly exemplifies the eternal optimism evident in most of his songs.

Beginnings – Chicago

20 June 2017

The band Chicago, originally Chicago Transit Authority, is known for its heavenly horn section and scintillating harmonies. While this song was originally released in 1969, it wasn’t until it was re-released in 1971 that it became a chart-topper. It perfectly captures the moving rhythm of a city on a balmy summer day.

Hello It’s Me – Todd Rundgren

20 June 2017

This song is the quintessential 70s pop song. Sweet, breezy, but with potent lyrics. Like a lot of 70s songs, it’s happy with a touch of melancholy. Released in 1972, it was Todd Rundgren’s first original song and proved to be a chart-topper for him, hitting #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. It’s now considered a staple of the pop rock genre.

Love’s Theme – The Love Unlimited Orchestra

20 June 2017

This song is so heavenly. The love maestro himself, Barry White, fronted the Love Unlimited Orchestra, and definitely gave this song his own flair, classical with a tinge of disco. In the 70s, many groups had lush instrumentation: Chicago, ELO, Earth, Wind and Fire. This song, however, was one of the few purely orchestral arrangements to make it to number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 and deservedly so.

Fuersattel – Boozoo Bajou

20 June 2017

Here’s another gem from the Boozoo Guys. I can just picture myself turning some miles out in the Desert on dusk or heading for a surf at the crack of sparrows. Again and again, these guys assemble some uber cool shit.

God Save The Hungry – Grace Petrie

20 June 2017

Apparently every nation has to have an anthem. Presumably this is so that footballers can stand awkwardly before important matches, incoherently mumbling the words while a TV camera probes their faces in close-up before they’re allowed to get on with what they came for.

Veil Enchantress – Öona Dahl

20 June 2017

This week it’s my absolute pleasure to feature my dear friend Öona Dahl on the Music To Go Underground playlist. Öona and I met back in San Francisco in 2012 a long over due meeting since we lived three times in the same states and knew all the same people. A chance meeting on Facebook of all places would bring us to meet in person for the very first time.

Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest

16 June 2017

To me, this song captures the essence of the seventies. It’s whimsical, magical, ethereal, groovy, light/dark, cold/warm. The Wurlitzer electric piano that’s used throughout the song gives it a jovial, yet melancholy feel. The song sounds like a carnival rag dipped in teardrops.

Werewolf – Fiona Apple

16 June 2017

I know what you’re thinking.

“How cliche. The first song she picks is by Fiona Apple? What is she? Some kind of angsty, male-bashing feminist?” 

Well, not exactly.

Motorcycle – Rumble Strips

14 June 2017

This song is the perfect playlist starter. It starts with a cymbal and little by little drums fade in and trumpets giving no clue of what to expect from the song. There you get the attention of the listener.