Top Ten Songs of the Seventies

What are your top ten favorite songs from the 70s?

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    By: Kelli
    • 10. Shining Star by Earth, Wind & Fire
      Inspiration and groove all in one...
    • 9. Love Train by O'Jays
      An actual dance song pre-disco?!?! You bet! Can't beat this one for both danceability and content!
    • 8. I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing by New Seekers **and** The Hillside Singers
      Both versions came out at the same time; the Hillside Singers' edition is the actual Coca-Cola commercial! See Song #1 for additional commentary.
    • 7. I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash
      The original **and** the best! See Song #1 for additional commentary.
    • 6. Feel Like Makin' Love by Roberta Flack
      See Song #4 for commentary.
    • 5. Love Theme from 'A Star is Born' (Evergreen) by Barbra Streisand
      Great all-purpose love song...
    • 4. Something's Burnin' by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
      Ties with Dusty Springfield's version of "The Look of Love"--along with Ravel's "Bolero," Stan Getz and Astrid Gilberto's "The Girl from Ipanema," all versions of "I Only Have Eyes for You," Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You," and Eric Clapton's "Change The World," among numerous others--as the most sensual songs of all time, the soundtracks to unabashed, no-holds-barred lovemaking!!
    • 3. Out In The Country by Three Dog Night
      Paul Williams' finest hour in songwriting, and my actual introduction to poetry/lyric interpretation (I had just turned 11 when this song came out in the late summer of 1970). Its dual meaning--a call to preserve the environment and to honor the need for solitude--still resonates more than 30 years later, and always will.
    • 2. I'll Be There by Jackson 5
      The ultimate version...Mariah Carey didn't do this song justice!
    • 1. Joy To The World by Three Dog Night
      This song is also my favorite of the pop/rock era! I have both the AM radio version and the most-often played longer version. Many, many wonderful memories of life at home, in the neighborhood, and at school are forever associated with "Joy..." and the time (Spring '71) it rocked its way to the top of the charts for the year. The late Hoyt Axton's brilliance as a songwriter shined through on "Joy"--who else could write something so seemingly opposite musically and lyrically ("The Pusher"), then turn around and pull out the stops on "Joy..."?! In any event, "Joy..." is a required song--along with "I Can See Clearly Now" (#7), "I'd Like to Teach The World To Sing" (#8), and "Sing" (runner-up)--for every child in our family today to learn vocally, instrumentally, or both. TIED FOR #1: "Joy" by Apollo 100, Tom Parker's absolutely soul-soaring, synthsizer-based rendition of Bach's exquisite "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."

    RUNNERS UP: "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge; "Sing" by The Carpenters; "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack; "Brown Sugar" and "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'" by the Rolling Stones; "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers; "The Candy Man" by Sammy Davis Jr.; "Roundabout" by Yes; "Day by Day" by the cast of Godspell; "Jesus Christ Superstar" by Murray Head; "Baroque Hoedown" (Theme of the Main Street Electrical Parade) by Walt Disney Productions; "Cinnamon Girl" by Neil Young and Crazy Horse; "The Story In Your Eyes" by The Moody Blues; "Love Her Madly" by The Doors; "Space Truckin'" and "Highway Star" by Deep Purple; "Venus" by the Shocking Blue; and the entire "Physical Graffiti" album by Led Zeppelin.
    By: Brian
    • 10. I Am Woman by Helen Reddy
      I hear this this gem is a hit with LPGA tour groupies.
    • 9. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
    • 8. Dancing Queen by ABBA
    • 7. Copacabana (At The Copa) by Barry Manilow
    • 6. Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves by Cher
    • 5. Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band
    • 4. Half Breed by Cher
    • 3. Muskrat Love by Captain & Tennille
    • 2. Convoy by C .W. McCall
    • 1. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes

    Only the best from the decade that gave us the pet rock,amc pacer,perms and fro's, pork chop side burns and Jimmy Carter.
    By: A.K
    • 10. Whiskey In The Jar by Thin Lizzy
      Just to show I can mix it a bit rather than name-dropping all the punk/new wave stuff.
    • 9. 11.59 by Blondie
      Wasn't put out as a single, but one of my favourite Blondie tracks all the same.
    • 8. Love In A Void by Siouxie & The Banshees
      One of the most consistent bands born out of punk.
    • 7. Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush
      Anyone who writes a song about Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights' has to be a bit special.
    • 6. New Rose by The Damned
      The first UK Punk single...has to be in here.
    • 5. Down In The Tube Station At Midnight by The Jam
      A masterpiece taken from one of the best albums of all time...'All Mod Cons'.
    • 4. No More Heroes by The Stranglers
      A very original band, and though they were sort of caught up in punk rather then deliberately punk, they were more genuine than the Pistols or The Clash.
    • 3. Love You More by The Buzzcocks
      Frantic. Still putting out good stuff today.
    • 2. Pretty Vacant by Sex Pistols
      The most important band of the seventies, this is my number one song of theirs.
    • 1. Babylon's Burning by The Ruts
      Punk perfection - this track just gets better and better every time I hear it.

    Honourable mentions for any punk band I haven't listed; criminally left out The Clash (sorry guys). No Ramones either...sorry, the Magazine track 'Shot By Both Sides' was great and could easily have found a place for that. I still love my punk, some of it just gets better with every listen. Tara
    By: Witek From Toronto
    • 10. Working Man by Rush
      Had to put a Rush song in, though there were perhaps better choices. This song from their first album is also their best, and the last Rush song they ever wrote.
    • 9. No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley And The Wailers
      Just so cool, personal and passionate, my favorite Bob song.
    • 8. Careful With That Axe, Eugene by Pink Floyd
      The recording on 'Ummagumma' is just mind-boggling. So trippy and tantric, it fits into a genre of its own.
    • 7. Machine Gun by Jimi Hendrix
      Though written before the '70s began, 'Machine Gun' was never released on a studio album and it was Jimi's concert centrepiece until his death.
    • 6. No Quarter by Led Zeppelin
      There were many other options available from Led Zeppelin that were considered for this slot, but 'No Quarter' got it on account of the many excellent live versions.
    • 5. Child In Time by Deep Purple
      The quintessential Deep Purple song featuring spine-tingling vocals by Ian Gillan, who is truly at his best (as is John Lord on organs).
    • 4. Nib by Black Sabbath
      Phenomenally groovy, all-round great: vocals, guitars, drums, bass.
    • 3. Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
      Unbelievable song; so much energy and power. When Plant sings "trying to find, trying to find, will I beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaah", I just get a chill up my spine.
    • 2. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
      Best song by the second greatest band. Released in late December of '79, it barely qualifies for the list. Every part is amazing; the solo is the best studio guitar work of all time.
    • 1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
      The biggest song by the greatest band. 'The Song Remains The Same' version is unparalleled: the sloppy solo is the best ever.

    By: Paul
    • 10. How Deep Is Your Love by Bee Gees
    • 9. Telephone Line by ELO
    • 8. Making Plans For Nigel by XTC
    • 7. Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston
    • 6. Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Joe Jackson
    • 5. Holiday In The Sun by The Sex Pistols
    • 4. Let's Go by The Cars
    • 3. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
    • 2. I Want You Back by Jackson 5
    • 1. Accidents Will Happen by Elvis Costello and the Attractions

    By: Meri
    • 10. Hotel California by Eagles
      Did anyone figure out what that warm smell was?
    • 9. Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
      I still hum this one.
    • 8. Roundabout by Yes
      This was one of the best concerts I ever attended.
    • 7. Time by Pink Floyd
      Those of us in the 70's can remember Floyd referred to as "burnout music". Hmmm, I wonder why? <>
    • 6. Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith
      Personally speaking, just about everything they did was great.
    • 5. Blinded By The Light by Manfed Mann's Earth Band
      Another mega-hit that will not be forgotten.
    • 4. Bohemian Rapsody by Queen
      This song just never dies!
    • 3. Black Sabbath by Iron Man
      I still listen to 'Paranoid' on a weekly basis. I lived Sabbath!!
    • 2. Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
      We watched these guys rock, and their careers end with the tragic deaths of part of the band.
    • 1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
      The greatest all-time rock band of the 70's!

    I was 9 when the 70's hit. It was the end of the psychedelic era and the beginning of a rock age unlike no other. Super groups like Zep, Floyd, Aerosmith, Springsteen and Sabbath graced us with timeless music we shall never forget. Then we were blessed (cough) with the disco era... but that gave the lead for the club music of today. So I guess it wasn't all that bad, now was it? :)
    By: Adam
    • 10. Have You Ever Seen The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival
      John Fogerty is one of the best songwriters ever and his distinguishable voice makes this song.
    • 9. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
      Everyone has heard this song, you probably just never knew the name and the band. I didn't until recently.
    • 8. Piano Man by Billy Joel
      If it wasn't for Elton this man would be a household name. However, true music fans appreciate him.
    • 7. Listen To The Music by The Doobie Brothers
      A great driving song.
    • 6. Sister Golden Hair by America
      Another under-appreciated song.
    • 5. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
      Many people's #1 choice.
    • 4. Jessica by The Allman Brothers Band
      The fact that this song didn't make VH1's Top 100 made me lose all respect for the show.
    • 3. Hotel California by The Eagles
      The best song from the best band ever.
    • 2. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
      The dueling guitars are amazing. If you've never heard the full version you are missing out.
    • 1. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
      C'mon...who doesn't get shivers every time they hear the opening riff?

    Honorable mention: Carry On My Wayward Son (Kansas), Desperado (Eagles), Dream On (Aerosmith), Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Fat-Bottomed Girls (Queen), Born To Run (Bruce Springsteen).
    By: Dave
    • 10. Rock & Roll Damnation by AC/DC
      Real rock!
    • 9. Do Anything You Wanna Do by Eddie & The Hot Rods
      They've got something to say.
    • 8. Hotel California by Eagles
      All time classic!
    • 7. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
      Thunderbolt & lightning.
    • 6. Life's Been Good by Joe Walsh
      Superb !
    • 5. American Pie by Don McLean
      Melancholy.
    • 4. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet by BTO
      Those were the days.
    • 3. Boston by More Than A Feeling
      Rock on!
    • 2. Take It Easy by Eagles
      Take me back.
    • 1. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
      Unbelievable sax !

    By: Steve
    • 10. Rock Lobster by B-52's
      Harbinger of what's to come in the next decade.
    • 9. City Of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie
      Whenever I hear this song, I think back to driving to Atlanta in the middle of night for family vacations.
    • 8. Big Shot by Billy Joel
      Billy's in his awesome angry mood in this song. It's also good for capturing a slice of life in 1970's New York club life in the lyrics.
    • 7. Fernando by ABBA
      Every list of the 70's has to have ABBA and why not choose the song resurrected by "Malcolm in the Middle" on Fox?
    • 6. Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh
    • 5. Drift Away by Dobie Gray
      Is there anyone who can't relate to the lyrics? "Day after day I'm more confused..."
    • 4. Radar Love by Golden Earring
      I first heard this song in 1989, when it was covered by someone else. I thought it was brand new. Timeless sound.
    • 3. Someone Saved My Life Tonight by Elton John
      It was either this one or "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting."
    • 2. Black Water by Doobie Brothers
      Or anything by the Doobie Bros. I picked this one just because.
    • 1. Killing Me Softly With His Song by Roberta Flack
      Her live performances are chilling.

    By: Wayno
    • 10. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
    • 9. You Aint Seen Nothin' Yet by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
    • 8. (dont Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
    • 7. Hotel California by Eagles
    • 6. Rocky Mountian Way by Joe Walsh
    • 5. Iron Man by Black Sabbath
    • 4. Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple
    • 3. Just What I Needed by The Cars
    • 2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
    • 1. Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent

    '70s Music...there is nothing better.

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    This page currently edited by: CeramicsFanatic. Past editor: ChuckyG

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