Movie Songs That Became Hits---1970

1970 was not quite the year that 1969 was in terms of movie songs that became blockbuster hits on the pop charts. But there are several you'll remember well. And one that might surprise you.

We'll begin with the movie that swept the Oscars that year. It's PATTON, the Best Picture Oscar winner starring Best Actor, George C. Scott. One of the best war movies and bio-pics ever made, it is also remembered for its instrumental theme song that recurred throughout the film. Written by Jerry Goldsmith, here it is, courtesy of YouTube complete with stills from the movie and from WWII....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj-SNiWm-F0

The direct opposite of PATTON was the next movie we focus on from 1970. It was MASH, one of the most successful anti-war movies ever made.

MASH also spawned one of the most popular TV series of all time with both the film and the TV show sharing the same theme song (instrumental only for TV). It was written by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Mike Altman, the 14-year old son of the film's director, Robert Altman. It is ranked #66 in the American Film Institute's ranking of 100 Years...100 Songs.....

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo8lg0I3MUw

Our next hit song from the movies in 1970 is the theme from LOVE STORY starring Ryan O'Neill and Ali McGraw. Considered by critics as both one of best romantic pictures and one of the sappiest films ever made, it may also be one of the first chick flicks ever produced. With its strong college-based theme, I suspect all of us saw it. The theme song by Francis Lai was instrumental only in the movies with Carl Sigma later adding the lyrics and Andy Williams later taking it to #9 on Billboard Hot 100 and #1 for four weeks on the Easy Listening charts in 1970.  Here's the Willam's vocal version with scenes from the film.....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A1KZKksGKE

We end this posting with a hit song from a 1970 movie, but you don't likely know the version in the film. "For All We Know" won the Best Original Song Oscar in the movie LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS. Here it is performed in the film by Larry Meredith.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhBm2Fh3pBY

Richard Carpenter of the famous Carpenters performing group heard the song in the movie and thought it was perfect for himself and his sister, Karen to perform. And so it was, in 1971 reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot #100 rankings and # 1 for 3 weeks on the Easy Listening charts. Here it is as seen on "The Andy Williams (TV) Show" back when the song was still climbing the charts in 1971....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3doTyoI80E

Next time, we look at songs from the movies that became hits back in 1971.