And what a song! It was a tough choice between this, “Sister Golden Hair,” and “A Horse With No Name.” This wins simply by how many syllables they put into the word “know,” even though it sounds a lot like Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. And, for some reason, remembered it years later while trying to come up with a new song in 1972. Apparently, while driving down the highway in California with them, he saw a sign for the town of Ventura.

Growing up an Army brat, Dewey Bunnell’s family traveled a lot. “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” by England Dan And John Ford Coleyĭan Seals followed his brother Jim to California in 1971, bringing his buddy John Coley along, and a few years later they recorded a song that was an even bigger hit than “Summer Breeze.” An ode to calling up an ex to just hang out, (no big deal … whatever … we could watch TV or something.), the chorus is insanely catchy.

Plus, how many top ten songs have used a toy piano as instrumentation? Covered by tons of different performers, The Isley Brothers version is incredible, very different from the original, but utterly genius!Ģ. With a sublime melody and soaring harmonies, this song IS summer.

Released in August of 1972, it was a substantial hit, reaching #6 on the pop charts. Jim Seals and Darrell Crofts grew up in Texas, but their big hit just smacks of California (which, to be fair, is where they wrote it). Here are some favorite 70’s Soft Rock Songs: 1. Sure, it gets a bad rap for being wimpy and safe, but it reminds me of driving around listening to WOHO or CKLW in my mom’s car, back before I got old and everything hurt. Originally, the plan was to write a blog about songs with the word “Summer” in the title, but while trying to decide which version of “Summer Breeze” (Seals and Crofts or The Isley Brothers) to include, I started thinking about how much I love Soft Rock.

70s soft rock videos