1971: Music that holds up

Yesterday, I listened to "American Top 40" from September 18, 1971 and was struck by how many songs from that week hold up and deserve repeated listening today.  Among them:

• Ain't No Sunshine-Bill Withers (One person's absence leaves a huge hole.  Withers drives the point home effectively.)
• Beginnings-Chicago (From a band that got off to a strong start...What other band has enough quality material in its arsenal to release three double albums in three years?  Chicago had the necessary ingredients for success, starting in 1969--multiple lead singers with distinctively different vocal ranges and songwriting perspectives, a great horn section, and a collective ear for music the public would buy and appreciate.  Lyrically and instrumentally, "Beginnings" hits the perfect midpoint between sensitivity and confidence.)
• If Not For You-Olivia Newton-John (Her first hit single, a solid cover of a Bob Dylan tune; George Harrison's cover of it also holds up well.)
• If You Really Love Me-Stevie Wonder (After hearing Casey Kasem say this was Wonder's 25th chart hit, it was difficult not to feel like an underachiever.  One of many great hits of his during his best decade.  It's not at all surprising that he has been recording for over 50 years.)
• Mercy Mercy Me-Marvin Gaye (Who isn't moved by the plight of animals and humans in a damaged ecology?  At least, the ozone layer is improving, according to recent reports.)
• So Far Away-Carole King (It's no wonder that King's album, "Tapestry," was such a huge success.  Well-written, well-played, and sung with sparkling sincerity.  Her lyrics express a sentiment of longing and distance that stands up in any era.)
• Spanish Harlem-Aretha Franklin (An appealing blend of genres mesh in an effective cover.  The lead and backing vocals are sung with the conviction of a much larger gospel choir.)
• The Story In Your Eyes-The Moody Blues (One of the band's strongest hits; the lyrics say all they need to say in a fast-paced three minutes.)
• Superstar-The Carpenters (Unless you're composed entirely of granite, it has to tug at your heartstrings at least a little when Karen Carpenter sings, "Don't you remember you told me you loved me, baby?"  I've always thought the word, "baby," when referring to anyone, should be used sparingly in lyrics--and in life, for that matter--but, in this case, it works.  You know the story won't end well, but it's hard to stop listening.)
• Sweet City Woman-The Stampeders (This is a more subjective choice.  I have to put it on the list, though, because it uses the banjo in possibly the best way of any pop song.  Besides, what other band can execute a lyric such as, "And she feeds me love and tenderness and macaroons," so convincingly?)
• Take Me Home, Country Roads-John Denver (Longing for home, expressed honestly...Nothing wrong with that...)
• Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey-Paul and Linda McCartney (Name another pop song that pulls off this many stylistic transitions with ease.)
• Wedding Song-Paul Stookey (A moving guitar arrangement and heartfelt singing that does justice to timeless, beautiful lyrics.)
• Won't Get Fooled Again-The Who (Still one of the strongest album rock tracks about the dangers of not learning from history.)