At the dawn of a decade, no one can possibly predict where music will go over the next ten years. In that respect, 1970 was probably no different from 1990 (or even 2020.) With hindsight, looking over these selections from half a century ago, one notices how Laura Nyro’s “Blackpatch” anticipates Tapestry and Todd Rundgren, but most of them could’ve easily come out in ’69 or ’68.

A fair amount of musical icons appear on this playlist, from relatively early Bowie to prime James Brown to late Simon and Garfunkel. There’s also the best track off The Beatles’ last released album, plus choice cuts from three of the Fab Four’s post-breakup Major Solo Statements (sorry, Ringo.) Album cuts are favored over massive, overplayed hits, with a few exceptions like Sly & The Family Stone’s ridiculously-titled but undeniable number one single or The Temptations nicely acclimating themselves beyond the old Motown sound (as for the now Diana Ross-less Supremes, “Stoned Love” studiously but successfully clings to it.)

Among the weirdos and one-offs: Polish vocal quartet Novi Singers’ quirky vocalese; Linda Perhacs’ wild psychedelia, somehow both firmly of and way ahead of its time; a charming novella of a song from future adult-contemporary art-popper Al Stewart; and a deep cut from British folk singer John Martyn and his wife Beverly—one of my all-time favorite songs first heard on Saint Etienne’s curated mix The Trip in 2004. Also, don’t forget the inimitable Tom Jones, whose “Daughter of Darkness” has to be one of the most over-the-top, transcendentally demented top twenty hits ever. Coincidentally, I also first heard it in 2004 and remember thinking how difficult it must’ve been for the studio musicians to keep a straight face while playing on this gloriously (and probably unintentionally) goofy gem.

Click here to listen to my favorite songs of 1970 on Spotify.

1. Desmond Dekker, “You Can Get It If You Really Want”
2. David Bowie, “The Man Who Sold The World”
3. The Free Design, “Bubbles”
4. Sly & The Family Stone, “Thank You (Falettinmee Be Mice Elf Agin)”
5. Cat Stevens, “I Think I See The Light”
6. Rodriguez, “Crucify Your Mind”
7. Van Morrison, “Into The Mystic”
8. Al Stewart, “A Small Fruit Song”
9. Novi Singers, “Torpedo”
10. Laura Nyro, “Blackpatch”
11. John Martyn and Beverly Martyn, “Auntie Aviator”
12. Joni Mitchell, “The Priest”
13. John Lennon, “Look At Me”
14. Dionne Warwick, “Paper Mache”
15. Dusty Springfield, “Spooky”
16. George Baker Selection, “Little Green Bag”
17. The Beatles, “Two Of Us”
18. Aretha Franklin, “Pullin’”
19. James Brown, “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine”
20. Tom Jones, “Daughter Of Darkness”
21. Randy Newman, “Have You Seen My Baby?”
22. Harry Nilsson, “I’ll Be Home”
23. Paul McCartney, “Every Night”
24. Linda Perhacs, “Parallelograms”
25. Neil Young, “Don’t Let It Bring You Down”
26. Linda Ronstadt, “Long Long Time”
27. Nick Drake, “Northern Sky”
28. The Temptations, “Ball of Confusion (That’s What The World Is Today)”
29. Simon & Garfunkel, “The Only Living Boy In New York”
30. The Kinks, “This Time Tomorrow”
31. George Harrison, “What Is Life”
32. The Velvet Underground, “Oh! Sweet Nuthin’”
33. The Supremes, “Stoned Love”