Guardian of the Galaxy’s Awesome Mix in Vol 2: ELO, Glen Campbell, Cat Stevens

Like the first “Guardians of the Galaxy,” Vol 2. has a fabulous soundtrack of 70’s songs.

Electric Light Orchestra – Mister Blue Sky

Already on the soundtrack of films from “The Game Plan” to “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Role Models,” “Wild Mussels,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “The Magic Roundabout,” “The Game Plan,” “Martian Child,” “The Invention of Lying,” “Megamind,” and “Battle of the Year” as well as the television shows “Doctor Who,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “American Dad!,” “Divorce,” “Revolution,” and “Waterloo Road,” this song kicks off “Guardians 2” with an adorable Baby Groot dance in the middle of a fight with a giant space monster.

Sweet – Fox on the Run

Most recently heard on the soundtracks of “Dazed and Confused” and “Detroit Rock City,” this 1974 song about groupies by the British band Sweet has been covered by many performers, including KISS’s Ace Frehley and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah – Lake Shore Drive

This 1971 song is a tribute to Chicago’s famous road along Lake Michigan.

Fleetwood Mac – The Chain

Credited to all five members of the band, reportedly this 1977 song was literally spliced together on tape from pieces they were working on.

Sam Cooke – Bring it on Home to Me

Lou Rawls sings back-up in this romantic Sam Cooke classic.

Glen Campbell – Southern Nights

One of my favorite Glen Campbell songs, this Allen Toussaint composition from 1977 features a guitar lick from Jerry Reed.

George Harrison – My Sweet Lord

One of the ex-Beatle’s biggest solo hits is this deeply spiritual song calling for unity between people and between individuals and God.

Looking Glass – Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)

Here’s the story behind the 1972 hit that plays an important part in the film.

Jay & The Americans – Come a Little Bit Closer

Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart with Wes Farrell wrote this classic story song about a flirtatious barmaid.

Sliver – Wham Bam Shang-a-Lang

This one-hit wonder sounds like the essence of the 70’s.

Cheap Trick – Surrender

Band member Rick Nielsen said: “When I wrote the song, the ‘we’re all alright’ was originally only intended to refer to the four of us; that’s why it comes right after the ‘Bun-E/Tom/Robin/Rick’s alright’ section. After we started playing it live however, I came to realize that, to our audience, it was inclusive of all of us – our generation; that we’re ALL alright, we survived the 60s & Vietnam & Nixon & everything, and we’re all still here, playing music and having fun. That’s when we started playing with it a little in concert; I’ll tell ya, you get 50 – 60 thousand people screaming ‘WE’RE ALL ALRIGHT!’ in unison, that’s a pretty positive affirmation!”

Cat Stevens – Father and Son

Like “Surrender,” this is a 70’s-era song about the conflict between baby boomer teenagers and their Greatest Generation parents.

Parliament – Flash Light

The essence of 70’s funk, this song by George Clinton, Bernie Worrell, and Bootsy Collins was also on the soundtrack of “Set it Off” and “Roll Bounce.”