John Lennon: Instant Karma (1970)

"Instant Karma" was the first solo record by a Beatle to sell a million copies. Lennon’s solo work actually competed with his band on the charts. "Let It Be" also reached the top 5 in 1970. Phil Specter produced the Lennon hit, which took 10 days to record and release. Two months later, the Beatles split.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP3wT5lpa4

Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young: Woodstock (1970)

Joni Mitchell wrote "Woodstock" based on Graham Nash's descriptions of the event. Mitchell's version came out in 1969 while Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young released a version in 1970. Later, Led Zeppelin incorporated part of the song into their live version of "Dazed and Confused."

CSNY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKdsRWhyH30



Joni Mitchell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRjQCvfcXn0




　


　

The Velvet Underground: Sweet Jane (1970)

"Sweet Jane" has Velvet Underground versions with minor differences. The first came in 1970 and one with a bridge, which covered the original lyrics originally scrapped in 1969. The song is considered one of the all-time great works in rock history. The Cowboy Junkies recorded the most famous cover while Lou Reed joined Metallica to perform the song at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary show.


Velvet Underground:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkumhBVPGdg




Cowboy Junkies:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4XVJj4jER4




Lou Reed w/Metallica:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JucJAuDKqKw

John Lennon: Mother (1970)

John Lennon unleashes childhood pain in 1970’s “Mother.” His mother was killed by a drunk driver when he was 17 and his dad abandoned the family when he was a baby. The song begins with church bells, which sound a bit like AC/DC’s intro to “Hells Bells” a decade later. The song is dark, sad, and very personal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEnc3RQE2lg

The Doors: Waiting for the Sun (1970)

The Doors released the album Waiting for the Sun in 1968, but the single did not appear for two years. “Waiting for the Sun” finally makes an appearance on Morrison Hotel. The song was just not ready in 1968. Soundgarden later covered the track in 1996. On a side note, it has one of my favorite lines of all time “This is the strangest life I have ever known.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0kypyGSKsE

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Run Through the Jungle (1970)

Many believe "Run Through the Jungle" is about the Vietnam War, but John Fogerty refutes this. He says the song is actually about gun proliferation in America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbI0cMyyw_M

Paul McCartney: Maybe I'm Amazed (1970)

Paul wrote "Maybe I'm Amazed" before the Beatles breakup. It became his first monster hit after the band dissolved. He dedicated it to his wife, Linda, who he credits with helping him through the Beatles collapse. Although it was a big hit, Paul never released it as a single and is probably his most recognizable post-Beatles song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm2YyVZBL8U

I'm Eighteen by Alice Cooper (1970)

Alice Cooper's breakthrough hit...

2011 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee....

It took way too long for his induction!

Live:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXZcJojTucg

Studio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNF2KNcRm-U

A Song For You by Leon Russell (1970)

2011 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame inductee Leon Russell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37dw2r45Xzg

826. Southern Man by Neil Young (1970)

Neil Young launches into a stinging criticism of the south. "Southern Man" symbolically represents the entire region and questions its racism and policies toward blacks. Young wonders if they will ever make things right considering the southern economy and cotton kingdom was built on slave labor. Lynyrd Skynyrd answered Young's critiques in "Sweet Home Alabama" launching a perceived, yet non-existent, feud. Young has been known to play "Sweet Home Alabama" in concert while Lynyrd Skynyrd members profess an affection for Young's music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVRxdPWV3RM

827. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel (1970)

America entered the seventies much as it left the sixties...in turmoil. Simon and Garfunkel address the underlying tension and stresses of 1970 America in "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Interestingly, the song exposed turmoil within the duo. The pair split after the album, but they went out on top as the song proved a major hit.

There have been many covers of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" most notably Elvis in 1970 and Johnny Cash in 2002.

Simon and Garfunkel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-PNun-Pfb4

Elvis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FTAWzexOmQ

Johnny Cash (w/Fiona Apple):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6gyUotqwPM

833. Black Magic Woman by Santana (1970)

Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac wrote "Black Magic Woman", but the song did not achieve classic status until covered by Carlos Santana. As a result, people forget the Mac version while the song is closely associated with Santana. In fact, the cover helped Santana's Abraxas go quadruple platinum. The Santana version now appears on Guitar Hero.

Fleetwood Mac:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0uS0IhXYLA

Santana:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsshNKN_Kag&feature=related

839. Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (1970)

"Ohio" was inspired by the Kent State Massacre on May 4, 1970. At the time, American campuses were hotbeds of antiwar sentiment. Kent State students protested the Vietnam War leading to some violence and arson. The Ohio National Guard was called in to maintain order. On May 4, 2000 gathered to protest and the guard moved to disperse the crowd. They clashed with the protesters and eventually opened fire. The gunfire killed four.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI7-m919ynU

850. Iron Man by Black Sabbath (1970)

Although appearing in the Robert Downey Jr. films, "Iron Man" has no connection with the Marvel Comics superhero. Instead, the story is about a man that time travels to the apocalypse. On his return trip, he is bombarded by a magnetic field that changes his composition from flesh to steel. He also becomes mute. As a result, he can't warn humanity about their impending doom and he becomes an object of ridicule. Ironically, Iron Man destroys the world seeking vengeance against those who mocked him.

Live (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MII3ns2KTBc

Studio:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LjbMVXj0F8

906. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lightfoot (1970)

At the beginning of the seventies, folk and rock spawned a subgenre of singer songwriters. These artists tended to dwell on personal issues in a more intimate way than is capable in other genres. Gordon Lightfoot channeled his own confusion and emptiness over a divorce into "If You Could Read My Mind."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c8PieKE8rY

The song has been covered by many artists including Barbara Streisand, Johnny Cash, and Dwight Yoakim.

Streisand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8UJG-mmoOo

Johnny Cash:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lukJAutj4jo

Dwight Yoakam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYoF1i_NI_Y

979. Your Song by Elton John (1970)

Hard to believe, but this was a B-Side. The A-Side? Take Me To The Pilot. Both got significant airplay. John Lennon called it the best thing since the Beatles.

Best Line: If I was a sculptor, but then again, no

Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTa8U0Wa0q8