Actually had a similar discussion with the wife recently. One song that absolutely takes me back to a specific place and time is Santa Esmerelda's cover of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood".
Soph year at A&M, Champions (or something like that) in that shopping center off University where IHOP is now.
This was big at Dances and probably clubs-2 song medley. Too long to put the whole thing on the radio. I think it might have been the first big song/songs by the Village People.