ABBA tops poll for favourite 1970s pop hit

Abba’s classic hit Dancing Queen has been voted the favourite pop song from the 1970s in a poll conducted by digital radio station Smooth Radio 70s.

In ABBA’s 40th anniversary year they topped the list devised to determine the top 70 songs of the 1970s decade that saw daytime soap Crossroads thrash evening serial Coronation Street in the ratings, the launch of Emmerdale Farm, sitcom laughs with Rising Damp, Porridge, Are You Being Served? and high dramas with such classics as Tales of the Unexpected, Upstairs Downstairs, The Sweeney and Crown Court.

While strikes saw TV taken off air, electricity cut off and rubbish uncollected the nation found comfort in the discotheques and clubs across the UK – power supplies withholding – to enjoy songs that still prove popular today. The handbag shuffle classic Dancing Queen clearly brings back fond memories of those sequined days as it pipped traditional favourite Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen to the top spot and was one of four entries- more than any other artist or group – in the Top 70 of the 70s chart which will be broadcast in full this Bank Holiday Monday on Smooth Radio 70s.

Other ABBA tracks that listeners picked as their favourite 1970s music includes Eurovision winning classic Waterloo to the No 46 spot, while Take A Chance On Me went in at 27 and Knowing Me Knowing You was in 16th place.

At No.2 the rock classic frequently voted the greatest song of all time, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, just loses out to Abba, while Rod Stewart’s classic Maggie May, which is not seen in the decades top 10 very often, sits comfortably at No.3.

Mark Goodier says of the chart, “Abba have had staggering longevity since their creation 40 years ago, and this listener survey proves they’ve never been more popular while the eclectic mix of music in ‘Top 70 of the 70s’ reflects listeners openness to a vast array of different genres of music.

“From Minnie Ripperton’s timeless ‘Loving You’ at No.70 to Abba’s now anthemic ‘Dancing Queen’ at No.1, this survey is overflowing with true classics and will make a great soundtrack to anyone’s Bank Holiday Monday.”

Presenters Mark Goodier, Carlos, Lynn Parsons, Andy Peebles and Kid Jensen will run-down the decade’s favourite songs in this special Top 70 of the 70s show on Smooth Radio 70’s on-line at www.smoothradio70s.co.uk and on digital radio from midday to 5pm this coming Monday.