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. Time For Me To Fly by REO Speedwagon
Song of my first major break up. How can you forget something like that?
9. Closing Time by Tom Waits
Great bluesy/soft rock sound. Does anyone but me remember him?
8. Magnet And Steel by Walter Egan
Just a really good song.
7. Dream Weaver by Gary Wright
Drugs, drugs, and more drugs. Hey, it was the 70's!
6. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
EVERYONE'S Favorite.
5. Slow Ride by Foghat
Good one.
4. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Who doesn't want to be free?
3. Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
The anthem of my senior year in high school. It went to every party with me.
2. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
Everyone one thought 'Born to Run' was the best on this album. If you didn't go deeper than that and didn't listen to this one, you really missed out.
1. Wouldn't Let Me Leave This by Blank
There's no way I can pick an absolute #1 of the 70's. There were soooooo many good songs. Good old rock and roll, the best bands, the best times, the best of everything! Long live the words of the 70's "Sex, drugs and rock and roll"!!! Oh to live those days again for just one day! What a trip that would be..........

10. John Lennon by Working Class Hero
Just John and his guitar. Nothing more pure than that. This song resonates powerfully every time it's played.
9. Inner City Blues by Marvin Gaye
Amazing artist through and through. This is a personal favorite for a kid from the streets. A great song even today. If you don't have it already, also find his cover of the Beatles' "Yesterday"...it's one of the best covers of all time.
8. Who'll Stop The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival
How can you not like CCR? You might not always understand what the hell they're saying, but you still gotta love it. Just one of their great tunes.
7. Space Oddity by David Bowie
Better known as "Ground Control To Major Tom." I think this one was actually released originally in 1969, but it didn't really find popularity until the 70's. What a great song, sounds simple enough yet dynamic at the same time.
6. You Don't Have To Go by Led Zepplin
They had more meaningful songs, harder rocking songs, but of all the classics Zep' pumped out in the 70's this one just appeals to me the most.
5. Chicago by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
Supergroup. They released nothing but amazing stuff. Get your hands on some live material because they were great. Plenty of songs I could have picked, but "Chicago" was a deep song, and damn it's funky.
4. Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney
Some people criticized McCartney's solo albums, but they're great stuff as far as I'm concerned. Songs like "Too Many People", "Uncle Albert", "Mrs. Vandebilt" and "Too Many People" are classics too.
3. Machine Gun by Jimi Hendrix
I remember some people actually didn't like the Band of Gypsys. Hard for me to understand. The whole thing is great, but 'Machine Gun' stands out. Lots of great guitarists have played some great songs, but nothing drips with emotion quite like this one.
2. Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan
Dylan and Lennon are my heroes, and I could pick dozens of Dylan songs for this list, but I think this may have been his best of the 70's. "Like a Rolling Stone" is hard to ignore though.
1. Imagine by John Lennon
Not a rockin' tune, but a brilliant one. John Lennon was the greatest communicator of our time. This is his masterpiece.

10. Shooting Star by Bad Company
We know we all have had dreams of becoming a rock star.
9. Comfortably Numb by Pink FLoyd
Are you kidding me with Gilmour's guitar riffs?
8. More Than A Feeling by Boston
Never forget about Boston.
7. Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
Easily top ten material.
6. Hotel California by The Eagles
Incredible lyrics.
5. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Could you write a better song?
4. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
How many times have you wished someone was there? Most meaningful lyrics ever.
3. Wild World by Cat Stevens
Quite clearly, we live in a wild world.
2. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
We would all love to be a free bird.
1. Imagine by John Lennon
JUST IMAGINE!

10. Dance Turned Into A Romance by Jones Girls
A 70'S rarity, but t's one of the best melodies of the decade.
9. Right Back Where We Started From by Maxine Nightingale
This is the clap-your-hands-to-the-beat song. Makes people happy.
8. Murphy's Law by Cheri
This is an awesome beat...funky to the max!
7. More, More, More by Andrea True Connection
It takes a porn star to sum up 70's decadence in this sexy gem.
6. Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
Short but sweet. One of the catchiest songs written, and one of the most 'retailable' songs.
5. Ring My Bell by Anita Ward
Everyone knows the words, everyone loves it. Admit it!
4. Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John & Kiki Dee
A really fun track, plus it's the ultimate karaoke song for a couple to do.
3. Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston
A haunting vocal performance backed by a funky beat.
2. Love Come Down by Evelyn 'Champagne' King
The most powerful voice of the 70's.
1. Knock On Wood by Amii Stewart
The best disco beat ever!!!

10. Year Of The Cat by Al Stewart
Just a very nice little tune.
9. King Heroin by James Brown
James Brown does a little bit of preaching. That's his role, that's his job.
8. Sweet Surrender by Tim Buckley
One of the wierdest ones of the decade. And definitely one of the most underrated.
7. Rock And Roll (Part 1 & 2) by Gary Glitter
This song is just too cool.
6. Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack
It's hard to believe this was not a hit. Blaxploitation didn't get much better than this.
5. Stranglehold by Ted Nugent
This is heavy!!!
4. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones
Probably the best song to emerge from the British punk movement.
3. Fox On The Run by Sweet
Goofy band, goofy song. I love it.
2. My Way by Sid Vicious
A very funny remake of the Sinatra classic. And it was extra funny hearing it in Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas".
1. Hurricane by Bob Dylan
You just can't play this song enough. This really is Bob Dylan at his very best.

10. Beth by KISS
Everyone should hear this lovely song.
9. The Hustle by Van McCoy
Another tune to slide and twirl with tender. Can you do it?
8. Computer Love by Kraftwerk
Oooooo, try the 70's technotronic groovy, swirl your head.
7. Never, Never, Never by Shirley Bassey
She means serious, so everybody pay attention. It's a lesson in your life.
6. Love I Never Had It So Good by Quincy Jones
My soul silently floating for this soul sound.
5. You Take My Heart Away by (from the soundtrack to the first Rocky film)
Very grand.
4. Moonlight Feels Right by Starbuck
Let's take a night ride out of town with this song.
3. Shannon by Henry Gross
My inside heart cried.
2. More, More, More by Andrea True Connection
Non stopable; happy dance. When will it stop.
1. Never Gonna Fall In Love Again by Eric Carmen
Easy to listen to, this song makes your day wonderful.

10. Tea For One by Led Zeppelin
9. In The Light by Led Zeppelin
8. Ten Years Gone by Led Zeppelin
7. Since I've Been Loving You (live) by Led Zeppelin
6. Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
5. Bring It On Home by Led Zeppelin
4. Dazed And Confused by Led Zeppelin
3. When The Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
1. No Quarter (live) by Led Zeppelin

10. In The Year 2525 by Zager & Evans
A very strange song, yet after a while it begins to sound good. Very good, indeed.
9. YMCA by Village People
On the dance floor, the first song you hear: YMCA.
8. The Logical Song by Supertramp
A song you can always hear. And you'll never get tired of it.
7. Boston by More Than A Feeling
It is more than a feeling, it's a very good rock song.
6. Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life by Monty Python
A somewhat unusual song, but very catchy. Described in one word: Merry.
5. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
The saxophone solo on this song is perhaps the best solo ever. Ever.
4. The River by Bruce Springsteen
The lyrics, the lyrics and the lyrics. Well, it's an incredibly mind-boggling song.
3. Piano Man by Billy Joel
This song always makes me feel good, even though the lyrics are quite sad. A song which is often overlooked.
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
The mother and father of all rock songs.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Well, what is there to say? Not only the best song in the 70's, but arguably the best ever.

10. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
Eric Clapton and his band ruled the 70's.
9. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Just a little overrated but still a great song.
8. Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple
I still can rock out to this song even after all these years.
7. Life In The Fast Lane by The Eagles
Another great Eagles song.
6. Life's Been Good by Joe Walsh
A former Eagle, Joe Walsh rocks.
5. Dancing Days by Led Zeppelin
Another underrated classic from the greatest band ever.
4. Rock And Roll All Nite by KISS
KISS rules.
3. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
A truly wild song. Queen owned the 70's.
2. Living, Loving Maid by Led Zeppelin
Extremely underrated Zeppelin song, deserves more credit.
1. Take It Easy by The Eagles
The Eagles best. Everything a classic rock and roll song needs or could have, classic.

10. Glory by Television
You must have 'Marquee Moon' in your rock collection.
9. Hotel California by The Eagles
The long, magnificent guitar introduction is one of my favourites.
8. L.A. Woman by The Doors
They can't be outside from a real good '70 rock compilation.
7. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by The Ramones
Fantastic punk song by the Ramone brothers.
6. The Passenger by Iggy Pop
It has a great melody and a very good bass riff.
5. Walk On The Wild Side by Lou Reed
Probably the best Lou Reed song, in association with 'Perfect Day'.
4. Anarchy In The UK by Sex Pistols
Why I should say anymore?
3. Ever Fallen In Love by The Buzzcocks
The punk rock genius of this great mancunian band.
2. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
An unforgettable southern rock guitar riff.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
It's THE CLASSIC, it's THE SONG in the history of rock.