Fireball's Fantastic 500 (2024 Edition) -- Late 1970s, Part 5

[Pastor Fireball]

Spring is just around the corner, and so are the 1980s. Here are my twenty favorite songs of the late 1970s.

#20. Boats Against the Current, Eric Carmen (1977) -- #19 in 2018

A very sad start to this week's list, as we learned just last night that Eric has passed away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_3J-x7YIzM

#19. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway), Billy Joel (1976) -- #47 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az1FSLfZxH4

#18. Jive Talkin', the Bee Gees (1975) -- #20 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oALKAh_bL5g

#17. Because the Night, Patti Smith Group (1978) -- #8 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BcivBprM0

#16. Are You Ready for Love, Elton John (1979) -- NEW!

Thanks to his biopic and farewell tour since my first Fantastic 500, I've willed myself to discover and re-discover many of Sir Elton's lesser-known songs. It was definitely worth it. This was one of those unearthed gems, and many more will come later in this series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jw7MtB2fm0

#15. Your Love, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. (1976) -- #30 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1bxrLrweow

#14. Lotta Love, Nicolette Larson (1978) -- #12 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmkTbgiWqmg

#13. Somebody to Love, Queen (1976) -- #21 in 2018

Another music film from the past six years, Bohemian Rhapsody, is responsible for influencing my song rankings. This song jumped, and another Queen song will debut later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrvO4baXLWI

#12. Part Time Love, Elton John (1978) -- #15 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKfIgrJwZ0Y

#11. Shining Star, Earth, Wind & Fire (1975) -- #10 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2UmP6C9rcs

#10. Time Passages, Al Stewart (1978) -- #11 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm6TsYypBpY

#9. Endless Flight, Leo Sayer (1976) -- #7 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diuvvTgEfd8

#8. After the Love Has Gone, Earth, Wind & Fire (1979) -- #9 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUCLNPOjPZw

#7. Don't Stop Me Now, Queen (1978) -- NEW!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM

#6. Nobody Does It Better, Carly Simon (1977) -- #6 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8niyG-cPgs

#5. Edge of the Universe, the Bee Gees (1975) -- #5 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBiKjy9f8rk

#4. What You Won't Do for Love, Bobby Caldwell (1979) -- #4 in 2018

We lost Bobby almost exactly one year ago, but this song hasn't lost its hold on the #4 spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gru4IfbKlfU

#3. Lovely Day, Bill Withers (1977) -- #3 in 2018

We lost Bill in 2020, but this song is still strong in the #3 spot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEeaS6fuUoA

#2. Days Gone Down (Still Got the Light in Your Eyes), Gerry Rafferty (1979) -- #2 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_4T0czSPrg

#1. Feels So Good, Chuck Mangione (1978) -- #1 in 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RID-gqSw85o

See you next Tuesday!