3 Top 40 Hits From 1970 That Every 70s Kid Still Knows by Heart Today
Three songs released in 1970 became memorable chart hits: The Carpenters’ “(They Long To Be) Close To You”, Chicago’s “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” and Glen Campbell’s “Honey Come Back”. Their success illustrates the range of popular music at the start of the decade, from a soft pop ballad to Chicago’s reflective rock and Campbell’s country crossover.
“Close To You”, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, was The Carpenters’ first No. 1 and spent four weeks at the top. Chicago’s song, written by Robert Lamm, was the band’s fifth single despite appearing on its debut album, and followed two of the group’s earlier singles that reached the Top 10. Campbell’s “Honey Come Back”, written by Jimmy Webb, reached the country Top 5 and the Billboard Hot 100 Top 20.
- The Carpenters scored their first No. 1 with “Close To You”.
- Chicago’s fifth single came from its debut album.
- Glen Campbell’s “Honey Come Back” crossed into the Hot 100 Top 20.
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At the start of the 1970s, pop, rock and country music often reached overlapping audiences through radio and the singles charts. A song’s chart performance could help introduce listeners to a band or singer, while also reflecting the variety of music popular at the time.
The Carpenters were a brother-and-sister duo known for Karen Carpenter’s vocals and Richard Carpenter’s arrangements. Chicago combined rock with brass instruments, while Glen Campbell was a country singer and guitarist whose recordings also found a pop audience. Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Robert Lamm and Jimmy Webb were the songwriters behind the three tracks.