Rock Me Softly II

Whether it’s expat poolside barbecues in Zambia, “sundowners” at the Raft in Walvis Bay, or Friday night pizza in Virginia (or hanging out at the Regal Beagle with the gang from Three’s Company), I’m all about lite rock’s mantra of chilling out, making friends, and taking it easy. Lite rock can make you feel like it’s 1975 and you’re driving a van down an empty desert highway with the sun in your eyes before spotting some young, long-haired hitchhikers in the distance. Over the past five years or so I’ve noted Millennials’ growing (and I hope unironic) interest in classic lite rock, especially Bread- a band who for me looms large in early childhood memories of riding in the car with my dad (a Vietnam War veteran).

Lobo

After the tumult, fun, and rebellion of the ‘60s, most baby boomers eventually settled down, got married, and had kids but many of them didn’t want to lose touch with the spirit of John, Paul, George, and Ringo and so ‘70s lite rock became a sonic salve for many ‘60s souls trying to stay true to their ideals while making it in the post-revolution. No pun intended but many lite rock songs are about “making it”- often with strangers- yet these songs never mention the pregnancy, venereal disease, broken families, and psychological damage that can accompany unbridled fornication. (Other dangers associated with lite rock include casual drug use, the New Age movement, and a relaxation of dress standards). 

Dr. Hook

Sure, lite rock lyrics may include half-baked, hedonistic philosophies encouraging listeners to satisfy every urge, make it with every person, and put our most selfish desires above all else, but to me ‘70s lite rock also represents a pretty cool time in American history “before the deluge” as Jackson Browne said. I mean, there's no way the ‘90s, ‘00s, or whatever time we’re living in now is superior to the ‘70s which looking back may have been the coolest decade in my lifetime and the high point of American civilization before the ‘80s destroyed all those ‘60s dreams of peace, love, civility- and fun- dreams that people actually tried to put into practice in the ‘70s. Here are some more of my favorite lite rock songs. Enjoy! 

01. Captain & Tennille – “Do That to Me One More Time” (1979)

02. Lobo – “Don’t Expect Me to Be Your Friend” (1972)

03. Bread – “It Don’t Matter to Me” (1970)

04. King Harvest – “Dancing in the Moonlight” (1972)

05. Paul Davis – “I Go Crazy” (1977)

06. Gary Wright – “Dream Weaver” (1975)

07. Bread – “The Guitar Man”  (1972)

08. Bread – “Baby I’m-A Want You” (1971)

09. Lobo – “I’m Only Sleeping” (1974)

10. Bread – “Make It with You” (1970)

11. Dr. Hook – “When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman” (1978)

12. Seals and Crofts – “Summer Breeze” (1972)

13. Sammy Johns – “Chevy Van”(1975)

14. Dr. Hook – “Sharing the Night Together” (1978)

15. Starland Vocal Band – “Afternoon Delight” (1976)

16. Christopher Cross – “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” (1981)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

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Three’s Company