The menacing bass line of "Flashlight" invites you to the Parliament experience. The song is funk at its finest. The wailing synthesizers and earthy drum rhythms dare you stay still. Released in 1978, the song and its accompanying record, Funkentelechy Vs. the Placebo Syndrome, secured a spot on the pop and R&B charts. George Clinton and Bootsy Collins are a dynamic duo as they produced a string of funk classics including "Give Up the Funk" and "The Mothership Connection." "Flashlight" has been sampled by artists such as Tupac and Snoop Dog.
"Blitzkrieg Bop" was released in 1976 and is the Ramones' first single on their first self-titled record. It never cracked the charts, yet the song's lack of accolades didn't stifle its popularity. Its peppy beat and catchy melody have made the song a popular choice for movies and commercial ads, such as "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," and AT&T Wireless. The famous "Hey ho! Let's go!" intro is often chanted at baseball games.
Many great singles are from films. The 1973 movie soundtrack, "The Way We Were," includes the Barbra Streisand hit song. Her plaintive voice evokes the painful memories of a past romance. The song ranks No. 10 on the American Film Institute's list of greatest movie songs; and upon its release, it appeared at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 40. There are several unreleased versions of the song, including a promotional single Columbia Records sent to movie theaters. It has alternate vocals than the movie soundtrack. There is a demo version of the song that opens with the lyric "daydreams" instead of "memories."
"She's got electric boots, a mohair suit; you know I read it in a magazine," is among the most beloved lyrics of the '70s. "Benny and the Jets" is included on Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. It has become a karaoke classic, and its lyrics continue to baffle singers as it is difficult to understand John's diction throughout most of the song. One thing is clear -- it is a tribute to glam-rock, a genre characterized by gaudy, over-the-top costumes.