Precious and Few: Pop Music of the Early Seventies [Paperback]

A fun personnal journey through early seventies pop/rock in the US. Loads of information and lists. Well written and comprehensive.

Written with a kind of respect that a college graduate would use to reminisce about his grade school cronies, "Precious and Few" is a walk down Memory Lane in Pro-Keds sneakers. The authors churn up quite a few of the Me Decade's most interesting pop singles (from 1970 - 75 only) and group them in various ways, such as pop religious songs and hard rock, a category that these two wholeheartedly admit to enjoying in their younger years. The authors know their material well enough, and though they often treat it with irreverence and sophomoric smugness, some might argue that the music from this era deserves nothing more or less. This book should find itself a place next to any 1970s K-Tel eight-track collection, Pet Rock, or black lite poster, and since it is no longer embarrassing to admit that 70s music is uncool, this book might be a good primer for anyone who can hum the chorus of "Billy, Don't Be a Hero."

I wasn't expecting much. The cover was very non-descript, almost campy. I was intrigued by the title, however: "Precious & Few" was the name of a Top 40 song by Climax, one of the 1970's many "one-hit wonders" of AM pop. Immediately the memories started a deluge. That song was THE favorite song of a certain girl in my 6th grade class. It was "music day" at Monroe Elementary School, and you were allowed to bring in your favorite 45's to play during the last hour of school. I was ready; I thought that Sammy Johns' "Chevy Van" would be a hit with my peers, but this certain girl's favorite song was "Precious & Few". She asked me if I had it (and she rarely even spoke to me, so this in and of itself was intimidating). I lied and told her that I had the single at home, and, yeah, I'd try to bring it in for "music day". I ran the entire way home and waited patiently for my mother to arrive from work. Then, with all of my developing 11 year-old charm, tried to talk her into turning right back around and taking me to Elder-Beerman (a downtown department store with a groovy collection of 45's and the world's coolest clerk, Mac). PLEEEEEEASEEE, MOM? It worked. We were back in our '71 LTD and headed to Mac. Alas, the single wasn't in stock. I was devistated. While Mom and my little brother went downstairs for a soft pretzel, I spilled it out to my retail guru: It was "music day" tomorrow, this girl I liked wanted to hear "Precious & Few", I lied and told her I had it, and, man, she'll NEVER talk to me again if I didn't deliver. Mac suggested a compromise... he had a new single by soul singer Jerry Butler called "Your Precious Love" that was really good, and it had "precious" in the title. She was just a "girl" , after all - did I really think she'd know the diff? Twisted logic, indeed, but I had few options at this point. I bought into his scheme, went downstairs to join Mom and little brother for a Frozen Coke, and tried to remain opptimistic about my chances with this pre-teen goddess. You know the rest of the story... and for brevity's sake I'll just say that Mac's suggestion forever ruined my chances with the girl of my dreams... A lengthy anecdote, indeed, but I feel that if you can relate at all, you need this book. It's an epiphany for early '70's radio junkies like myself, and the Breithaupt Brothers deserve a hearty round of applause from anyone who came of age listening to Top 40 radio post-Woodstock and pre-Disco. The radio stations I listened to (WMOH & WSAI) programmed a curious, crazy-quilt of sounds. Unlike today's highly formatted and ultimately soulesss radio programming, Top 40 in the early '70's turned us on to all sorts of sonic delights: country, heavy metal, pop, novelty tunes, and sweet soul music were all represented, and I feel much more enriched as a music fan for it. This book is like rummaging through an old closet, and the music is, for once, given a cerebral review rather than a campy tribute. Not that it lacks humor; the author's description of the music and the times is lovingly ironic and, often times, hilarious. The book is divided into sections, each one hitting upon many of the hits that made growing up back then a real gas. It has the right amount of history, the right amount of fun, and recalling the authors' description of the dreaded "mons" (you'll have to read the book) is making me laugh out loud right now. I've recommended "Precious & Few" to all of my like-minded friends, and I would be remiss not to highly recommend it to you, too. Trivia question: Who performed the "Theme From S.W.A.T."? E-Mail me your answer, and the winner will recieve absolutely nothing but my respect...