The Muppet Show (1976-1981)

Year-End Poll #23: 1972

[Image description: a collage of photos of the 10 musicians and musical groups featured in this poll. In order from left to right, top to bottom: Roberta Flack, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Don McLean, Harry Nilsson, Sammy Davis Jr., Joe Tex, Bill Withers, Mac Davis, Melanie, Wayne Newton. End description]

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I mentioned in a previous poll how fast culture changed in the 1970s, and that doesn't feel like an exaggeration. This was the final year of the draft and more American troops were being taken out of Vietnam. As American troops were coming home, The Today Show aired a "while you were away" segment to go over how the culture has shifted while they were overseas. Most, if not all, of this segment was a joke, but it shows that even at the time people were aware that something was changing and it was changing fast. To paraphrase historian Rick Perlstein, they left a country where The Sound of Music was the most popular movie, and they came home to a country where the most popular movie was Last Tango in Paris.

To get back to the music, it feels wrong not to shine the spotlight on Don McLean's American Pie. For one, I probably could have used the lyrics as the blurb for one of the 60's polls and saved myself a lot of time. The lyrics themselves show this changing cultural shift as well, reflecting on how aimless this new generation felt. It's hard not to put a 2020s lens on everything. But looking back at a time that was rife with political scandals and politicians not seeming to care about the rising bodycounts affecting their citizens, I'd be lying if I said the sentiment doesn't hit home. "A generation lost in space" indeed.

However, in addition to the longest song on this poll, I also want to highlight one of the shorter ones. Specifically, Joe Tex's I Gotcha. Funk music is going to continue to grow in popularity this decade, even though the full extent of that cultural movement won't always be seen on the top of the charts. But the reason I wanted to highlight this song specifically is to use it as a prelude to what's coming next. If you listen to the song, pay attention to the chorus when the rest of the instruments drop out to put more emphasis on the percussion and how Joe Tex's rhythmic vocals play against the beat.

And for my third highlight, if the artist behind the tenth song sounds familiar, that's because the song was by Mr. Las Vegas himself. Or, if any Fallout fans follow this blog (and judging by the results on some of the 50's-60's polls, I know you're here), Mr. New Vegas. Speaking of gamers, Pong debuted this year as well.

I've rewritten this section multiple times, because I don't want to gloss over a specific moment in history, but it also feels jarring to bring it up in a poll with mostly unpolitical songs. After spending a few polls talking about how the war affected the American psyche, it feels important to reinforce that the people of Vietnam didn't have to be soldiers or reporters to see the war before their eyes instead of on a television set. 1972 also marks the year of the Christmas Bombings, one of the most horrific 12-day stretches in an already horrific war. Even though I don't go over every historic moment in these descriptions, it felt wrong not to bring this up. Even as this event would result in the general population's mistrust towards Nixon and the government growing even more rapidly, it wouldn't be enough.

Nixon no longer had to worry about reelection and it felt like the entire country was holding its breath before something major happened.

A Christmas Special with Love, Mac Davis (1979)

View of singers Tina Turner and Mac Davis performing on the "Mac Davis show." Audience is visible in background. Label on back: "Tina and Mac dance! One of the highlights of NBC-TV's 'The Mac Davis show,' Thursday, April 24 (9-10 p.m., PT, in color) is a dance between Tina Turner and Mac Davis. Guesting with Davis are Jose Feliciano, the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, Chad Everett and actress Penny Marshall." Handwritten on back: "Turner, Tina. 'The Mac Davis show.'"

E. Azalia Hackley Collection of African Americans in the Performing Arts, Detroit Public Library

Mac Davis - Colored pencils on paper - 6" by 8"

Beakers playing music.

The Sting II (1983). A team of cons is planning a new scam involving betting on a boxing match but one of its past victims aims to exact revenge by eliminating the whole group.

I love a heist movie, but this is simply NOT it. Messy and charmless with characters who never really pull you in, it just never really works. There are a few decent shots at least, but I can't believe it was nominated for an Oscar. 2/10.

The #1 song 50 years ago was Mac Davis’ “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me” _______________________________ Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me Songwriter: Mac Davis

Girl you're gettin' that look in your eyes And it's startin' to worry me I ain't ready for no family ties Nobody's gonna hurry me

Just keep it friendly girl 'Cause I don't wanna leave Don't start clingin' to me girl 'Cause I can't breathe

Baby baby, don't get hooked on me Baby baby, don't get hooked on me 'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free Baby baby, don't get hooked on me

Girl, you're a hot-blooded woman, child And it's warm where you're touchin' me But I can tell by your tremblin' smile You're seein' way too much in me

Girl, don't let your life Get tangled up with mine 'Cause I'll just leave you  I can't take no clingin' vine

Baby baby, don't get hooked on me Baby baby, don't get hooked on me 'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free Baby baby, don't get hooked on me

Baby baby, don't get hooked on me Baby baby, don't get hooked on me 'Cause I'll just use you then I'll set you free Baby baby, don't get hooked on me

Baby baby don't get hooked on me

“Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble,

When you're perfect in every way,

I can't wait to look in the mirror,

'Cause I get better lookin' each day,

To know me is to love me,

I must be a hell of a man,

Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble,

But I'm doin' the best that I can!”

Monday, January 22, 2024 1pm ET: Feature Artist: Mac Davis

Mac Davis (January 21, 1942 – September 29, 2020) was an American songwriter, singer, performer, and actor. A native of Lubbock, Texas, he enjoyed success as a crossover artist, and during his early career he wrote for Elvis Presley, providing him with the hits “Memories”, “In the Ghetto”, “Don’t Cry Daddy”, and “A Little Less Conversation”. A subsequent solo career in the 1970s produced hits…

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Happy birthday Mac Davis

The Mac Davis Show (1974) featuring Marty Feldman and Carl Ballantine.

1-21 - 1942 – Mac Davis

Vijftig jaar geleden: "Rock'n'roll I gave you all the best years of my life"

Vijftig jaar geleden was “Rock’n’roll I gave you all the best years of my life” van The Cats de Alarmschijf bij Radio Veronica. Continue reading Untitled

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Merry Christmas from 1977

Here's one I can totally relate to, ain't that right @impala-dreamer

Hard To Be Humble - Mac Davis - 1980