By Rick Hiduk
One of the most popular soft rock groups of the 1970s that just barely made it to the 1980s, the Captain & Tennille were also easy targets for criticism for their sincere yet banal approach to their career. In the end, they were definitely better appreciated by the audience of adult contemporary radio stations, evidenced by their continued success far into 1980. So, what was there biggest hit?
“Love Will Keep Us Together” was a smash in a weird year – 1975 – when pop music was starting to rock harder and grab onto the disco beat. (The early 70s were exceptionally soft). That buoyant ditty was a universal success.
But, on the Adult Contemporary charts, where they were even more popular, their biggest hit was a remake of a cheesy song by the folk-rock group America – “Muskrat Love.”
Their very popular TV show, characterized by the Captain’s cap and Toni’s pre-shag doo unfortunately became a caricature of what they wanted to present.
I like many songs by the Captain & Tennille, but the only record I ever bought by them was “Can’t Stop Dancin’.” I already had “Love Will Keep Us Together” on a K-Tel album.
POP HITS
- Love Will Keep Us Together #1(4) 23 1975
- Do That To Me One More Time #1 (1) 27 1980
- Lonely Night (Angel Face) #3 19 1976
- Muskrat Love #4 20 1976
- The Way That I Want to Touch You #4 17 1975
- Shop Around #4 18 1976
- You Never Done Me Like That #10 22 1978
- Can’t Stop Dancin’ #13 12 1977
- You Need a Woman Tonight #40 10 1978
- Por Amor Viverimos #49 6 1975
- Happy Together (A Fantasy) #53 6 1980
- Love on a Shoestring #55 7 1980
- Come in from the Rain #61 11 1977
- I’m On My Way #74 6 1978
ADULT CONTEMPORARY
- Muskrat Love #1 (4) 19 1976
- The Way That I Want to Touch You #1 (2) 11 1975
- Love Will Keep Us Together #1(1) 17 1975
- Lonely Night (Angel Face) #1 (1) 13 1976
- Shop Around #1 (1) 11 1976
- Do That To Me One More Time #4 17 1980
- I’m On My Way #6 11 1978
- Come in from the Rain #8 11 1977
- Circles #9 14 1977
- Can’t Stop Dancin’ #12 10 1977
- You Never Done Me Like That #14 14 1978
- Happy Together (A Fantasy) #27 7 1980