in the 70s - Top Ten Songs of the Seventies

Top Ten Songs of the Seventies

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

We also have pages on this topic devoted to the 80s and 90s

10. Train Train by Blackfoot
9. Burnin' For You by Blue Oyster Cult
8. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
7. Show Me The Way by Peter Frampton
6. Strutter by KISS
5. Desperado by Eagles
4. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
3. Showdown by ELO
2. Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett
1. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

10. The Rain Song by Led Zeppelin
9. Run Like Hell by Pink Floyd
8. Hey You by Pink Floyd
7. Brain Damage by Pink Floyd
6. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
5. Another Brick In The Wall Part II by Pink Floyd
4. Mother by Pink Floyd
3. Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part I - IV by Pink Floyd
2. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
1. Time by Pink Floyd

10. Baby Come Back by Player
Excellent!
9. Do You Know What I Mean? by Lee Michael
Best 'sing out loud while driving song' ever!
8. Old Days by Chicago
Nostalgia pop/rock -- superb!
7. She Did It by Eric Carmen
See above minus twang.
6. Come And Get Your Love by Redbone
Pop hook with extra twang -- excellent.
5. Hold The Line by Toto
Best arena rock song ever!
4. Does Your Mother Know? by ABBA
Best pop song ever!
3. I Gotcha by Joe Tex
Soul-punk.
2. Get Used To It by Roger Voudoris
The best one hit wonder ever!
1. Telephone Line by Electric Light Orchestra
The best ballad ever!

10. How Deep Is Your Love by Bee Gees
9. Deeper Than The Night by Olivia Newton-John
8. Cold As Ice by Foreigner
7. Miss You by The Rolling Stones
6. No Tell Lover by Chicago
5. Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves by Cher
4. How Much I Feel by Ambrosia
3. Renegade by Styx
2. More Than A Feeling by Boston
1. She's Gone by Hall & Oates

10. American Pie by Don McLean
It's long, but everytime McLean sings it, it sounds different and it's just crazy enough to work. Just a classic.
9. Fly Like An Eagle by The Steve Miller Band
Steve Miller's gotta fit in here somewhere.
8. The Chain by Fleetwood Mac
One of the best from the Rumours album.
7. Refugee by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Ya gotta hate his annoying, trashy voice, but the melody is kinda cool when you look at others songs around the same time. It borders on the eighties sound (1979-duh!) Anyway, it gives the list variety.
6. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac had their own, unmistakable sound...hence their success. This song is easier to listen to than most other seventies hits. It stands out.
5. Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult
If you've never heard it, go out and buy the most expansive and expensive Blue Oyster Cult greatist hits collection you can find. I'm not what you'd call a fan, but this is what good music is.
4. Who'll Stop The Rain? by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fogerty deserves a spot, right?
3. Crazy On You by Heart
Play it loud while driving, listen to the guitar. Most stations don't play the acoustic introduction which rocks in itself before the song starts just at the right time. The guitar alone makes this song worthy. Try to survive her voice by reducing your treble slightly.
2. Question by The Moody Blues
Most people under twenty haven't got a clue about these guys. This song, released in 1970, starts off interestingly enough and then slows down for a while and gets very pleasant. Then it picks up again. Keep in mind the place in time when listening. If you're old, then you know.
1. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
The way BOC sounds in this song blows me away. Combining that smooth, cool sound these guys are capable of with the guitar solo, they show what they're made of. As this song evolves it only gets better -- 5:08 just isn't long enough!

10. Back In Black by AC/DC
9. The Ocean by Led Zeppelin
8. Dyer'Maker by Led Zeppelin
7. Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin
6. The Crunge by Led Zeppelin
5. Trampled Underfoot by Led Zeppelin
4. Good Times, Bad Times by Led Zeppelin
3. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
2. Thank You by Led Zeppelin
1. Highway To Hell by ACDC

10. Runnin' With The Devil by Van Halen
Summer Jam 78', Kansas City... my first concert at 14 years old.
9. Refugee by Tom Petty
First heard him on the movie 'FM'.
8. Night Moves by Bob Seger
He was talking about the 60's but some things are timeless.
7. Yours Is No Disgrace by Yes
More headphone music.
6. Message In A Bottle by The Police
Turning point in modern music.
5. Do You Feel Like We Do by Peter Frampton
Did he say what I think he said?
4. Echoes by Pink Floyd
My parents called it a "phase".
3. Fly Like An Eagle by Steve Miller Band
Mowed lawns to buy this album.
2. 2112 by Rush
Remember quadraphonic?
1. Song For America by Kansas
Headphone music!

10. Any Way You Want It by Journey
9. Suite Madame Blue by Styx
8. Take It Easy by Eagles
7. Ice Cream Man by Van Halen
6. Riding the Storm Out (Live) by REO Speedwagon
5. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love by Van Halen
4. Gimme Three Steps by Lynyrd Skynyrd
3. Eruption/You Really Got Me by Van Halen
2. Hotel California by Eagles
1. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

10. Good Times, Bad Times by Led Zeppelin
Love it, love it, love it!
9. Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin
It's fun to sing to.
8. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
It's way awesome, anyone can rock out to it! Jimmy Page is too cool!
7. Breakfast In America by Supertramp
Nice lyrics, cool music.
6. Renegade by The Styx
Uh, it's cool...
5. Shattered by Rolling Stones
What can I say?
4. What It Takes by Aerosmith
I love it! Hear it live, and it rocks!
3. Hey Jude by The Beatles
It's awesome.
2. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
I like it a lot! Weird but cool!
1. Kashmir by Le Zeppelin
It's way cool! And a whole bunch of other things.

10. Fanny Be Tender (With My Love) by The Bee Gees
GREAT song, with harmonies that still take the breath away on repeated listens. Other comparable classics by the band - 'Nights On Broadway', 'Love You Inside Out', 'Jive Talkin'' and 'How Deep Is Your Love'.
9. Ballroom Blitz by Sweet
If I had to pick a one-hit-wonder track for the list, I'd have to make room for this satire. Popular at a time when our pop culture was Godfather-ed. The song that paved the way for other 'story about gunslinger' classics like 'Billy Don't Be A Hero', 'The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia' and 'The Night Chicago Died'.
8. Paradise By The Dashboard Light by Meat Loaf
Pure storytelling genius, a grand melodrama of a song. Unlike any song-cycle that's been really tried since, yet musically related to 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Stairway To Heaven' and 'American Pie'.
7. Let Me Be There by Olivia Newton-John
A classic early track (and first US hit) from a class act all around. The woman has perfect pitch, like Karen Carpenter and very few others. There are early gems like 'If You Love Me Let Me Know', 'If Not For You' and 'What Is Life', plus late the late her late 70's hits.
6. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
Anything Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote in the 70's (and much of their songs since) qualify for a list like this, yet 'Road' paved their way with gold.
5. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
If one song STILL stands today, despite disco's decrepit - and undeserved - reputation, it's Gaynor's signature song and spiritual anthem to three generations and millions of people.
4. Oh Very Young by Cat Stevens
Another timeless track from an artist who still transcends our imagination. Evocative like 'Peace Train', meaningfull like 'Father And Son' and spiritual like 'Morning Has Broken'.
3. Piano Man by Billy Joel
'Scenes From An Italian Restaurant' would be a close runner up to this one-of-a-kind tale that made him a star. Has rarely disappointed since, but 'Piano Man' and 'The Stranger' albums are true epics - masterpieces of art as music and words weave a spell.
2. American Pie by Don McLean
If I could've written just one song, this would no doubt be it! A classic compisition, with twists and turns, that tapped into a generation "lost in space." After 9-11, it resonates more powerfully than ever! The same applies to McLean's other classic -- 'Vincent'.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
The ultimate pop song...operatic, dramatic and grand!