Soft rock was quite popular in the mid-1970s, and there were plenty of warm, fresh songs that dropped in the summer of 1976. These three tracks, in particular, might just transport you back in time to that very year. Let’s take a look!
“Lowdown” by Boz Scaggs from ‘Silk Degrees’
That groovy melody, those chill vocals, that overall summery, California vibe. “Lowdown” by Boz Scaggs dropped in June 1976 and kicked off the summer with a particularly chill bang. I’d be bold enough to say this is one of the most influential songs from the early years of yacht rock. And it remains a great mix of elements of disco, soft rock, and blue-eyed soul.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Lowdown” was a No. 3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release and did similarly well in the UK and Canada. The song also earned Scaggs a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
“Still The One” by Orleans from ‘Waking And Dreaming’
This one just feels like summer. “Still The One” also dropped in August 1976, just in time for the final weeks of the season. This song is so optimistic and warm, I can’t think of a better track for a summertime playlist from that era.
This soft rock tune was a hit for Orleans, peaking at No. 5 on the Hot 100 and No. 9 in Canada. “Still The One” would later reach the Top 20 on the country charts in 1977 with a twangy cover from Bill Anderson.
“I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” by England Dan & John Ford Coley from ‘Nights Are Forever’
Remember cruising in your car to pick someone up for a hot date in the heat of summer in 1976? I wouldn’t be surprised if you were bumping this entry on our list of soft rock summer songs from 1976, considering it dropped in May of that year and was a radio favorite.
“I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” by England Dan & John Ford Coley peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and topped the Easy Listening chart in the US. The song would get quite a few covers over the following years from the likes of Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, Reba McEntire, Barry Manilow, and others.
Photo by NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
More The List
-
Seminal American rock group The Byrds consisted originally of Jim (Roger) McGuinn, born 1942, David Crosby, born 1941, Michael Clark, born 1944, Chris Hillman, born 1944 and Gene Clark, born 1941. Their folk and pyschedelic tinged music was popular and influential during the late 1960s and early 1970s. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) -
From left, Paul McCartney (playing a Hofner 500/1 violin bass guitar) and John Lennon (playing a Gibson J-160E acoustic guitar) of English rock and pop group The Beatles perform on stage for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) music television show 'Shindig!' at Granville Studios in Fulham, London on 3rd October 1964. The band would play three songs on the show, Kansas City/hey-Hey-Hey!, I'm a Loser and Boys. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) -
Portrait taken on September 13, 1982 shows British singer and drummer Phil Collins. Phil Collins combined his career as a drummer and singer with the band Genesis and a successful solo career. (Photo by Johan HULTENHEIM / TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP) / Sweden OUT -
Three Dog Night 1971 Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron and Cory Wells (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage) *** Local Caption *** -
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA – Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn (Brooks & Dunn) during 28th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at California Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) -
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet, Musiksendung, Deutschland 1970, Gaststar: Elton John. (Photo by Arthur Grimm/United Archives via Getty Images) -
LOS ANGELES – JANUARY 17: Country music group Lonestar (Michael Britt, Richie McDonald, Keech Rainwater and Dean Sams) attend the 27th Annual American Music Awards on January 17, 2000 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
