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4 Songs From 1970 Every 70s Kid Heard While Riding in the Family Car to School Each Morning
This article is a nostalgic look back at 1970, highlighting songs that were staples of car radio listening for children being driven to school during that era. It's part of a recurring "throwback" series from American Songwriter that revisits decades-old hits to evoke memories of childhood and family car rides for readers who grew up in the 1970s.
The piece lists four songs from 1970: "Let It Be" by The Beatles, which topped charts globally as the title track of the band's final album; "Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite being the artist's only major hit; "American Woman" by The Guess Who, a No. 1 hit in the US that also charted in the UK; and "War" by Edwin Starr, a protest anthem that also reached No. 1 on the Hot 100.
In short
- Article recalls four hit songs from 1970s car radio listening
- Featured: The Beatles, Norman Greenbaum, The Guess Who, Edwin Starr
- All four tracks reached the top of, or near, US charts
Explained simply
In the United States, radio was a common soundtrack to family car journeys in 1970, when many children were driven to school. Popular songs could become familiar across generations, even when young listeners did not know their artists or the stories behind the music.
The Beatles, Norman Greenbaum, The Guess Who and Edwin Starr all had major hits that year. Their songs ranged from reflective pop and rock to music with themes of protest, and several reached the top of the US charts.
The songs offer a snapshot of the music heard on American radio at the start of the 1970s. Looking back at them also reflects how memories of a particular era can be tied to everyday routines such as the school run.