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. Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
9. Angie by Rolling Stones
8. Highway Star by Deep Purple
7. Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits
6. Ready For Love by Bad Company
5. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
4. Dreamer by Van Halen
3. Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan
2. Uncle John's Band by Grateful Dead
1. Fly By Night by Rush

10. Constantinople by The Residents
The Residents now are accepted as commonplace, but they realized so much about the flaws in rock and the music industry long before the faux rebellion of punk reared its spitting retro head. "Constantiople" is both a discordant feel good song and an utterly eerie and lovecraftian. It works on so many levels.
9. Us And Them by Pink Floyd
Perhaps the 'Dark Side Of The Moon' defined the 70's in so many ways but and "Us and Them" captured a moment of melancholy realization in a timeless way.
8. The Boys Are Back In Town' by Thin Lizzy
This is the perfect summer song, sung by the perfect smooth summer voice, over the perfect late night driving guitar jag. I'm instantly transported to a time of huge luna moths circling giant lights on hot summer nights.
7. On Saturday Afternoons in 1963 by Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones's first two albums were simply amazing. Although "Chuck E.'s in Love" is the radio play single, this song catches all the romance and sadness inherent in this artist's fascinating repertoire.
6. Young Americans by David Bowie
In the middle of the Diamond Dogs tour, Bowie suddenly realize that his persona could flex and alter. The soul phase is a fascinating, tongue in cheek recognition of the power of the medium, but more importantly, "Young Americans" was the second phase of the great, long, artistic wink with which Mr. Bowie has now entertained us for decades. I love this song!
5. Disorder by Joy Division
Although the poignant "Love Will Tear Us Apart" got more airplay, "Disorder" showed Ian Curtis' lyric sense at its best. The morose description of waiting for a guide to come and take him by the hand and lead him to normalcy has a ring of despair and insight that is so 1979. Painfully, blissfully evocative.
4. Candy's Room by Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen mined the retro roots of rock, but leavened his mix with twin doses of poetry and working man empathy. But the melodramatic Boss always struck me as more fun than the "relevant" Boss, and the crescendo as the narrator exults "What...she...wants....is [ME!} tonight, oh and I love her so", is rock poetry at its quirky best.
3. Julie With.... by Brian Eno
Although one might argue that Roxy Music showed us graceful ways art rock could go, Eno's early solo work showed us how ambience, the single take, and thoughtfulness could combine to make unsentimental yet such endearing music. I listen to this, and like the narrator, "gaze out into the empty sky".
2. This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us by Sparks
Kinks crossed with music hall, tinkertoy keyboards and ringing guitars, lyrics which modernized Gilbert and Sullivan, Wodehouse on helium. This band defined a moment in time, pre-punk, post-rock, when nothing really mattered but understanding how silly it all truly has proven to be. In a way, it's too bad the teenyboppers discovered and misunderstood this record, because Sparks would have been fascinating spending more years in this vein.
1. Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape by Be Bop Deluxe
As the years pass me by, I'm more entranced by the naivety and genius of Bill Nelson's guitar work and lyrics on the live version of this song. The pacing just swoons with a sort of languor that perfectly captures the lyrical setting. 'Be Bop Deluxe' professed its youthful ennui in a very fresh, new time. It's an older world now, and that Yorkshire arguably is passing away, but the glissani-drenched live version keeps it all alive for me.

10. Let It Be by The Beatles
Just let it be.
9. Hotel California by The Eagles
Just a great song.
8. Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti
Pumps you up.
7. Disco Inferno by The Trammps
And I do like disco too.
6. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is the best. They will continue to be loved generation after generation.
5. Dream On by Aerosmith
A true great.
4. Paino Man by Billy Joel
It's better than drinking alone.
3. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Mama mia.
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zepplin
Yes, even today it's the last song played at proms.
1. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynrd
The most complete song because women hold you down.

10. Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits
Great guitar solo!!!!
9. Dust In The Wind by Kansas
8. Dream On by Areosmith
Great lyrics...my favorite Aerosmith song.
7. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
6. Battle Of Evermore by Led Zeppelin
Awesome lyrics!!
5. War Pigs by Black Sabbath
Amazing lyrics, amazing drums!!!
4. Dazed And Confused by Led Zeppelin
Great guitar, great drums, classic Zeppelin!
3. Hotel California by Eagles
Definitely the best Eagles song!!!
2. Midnight Rider by Allman Brothers
Come on....they're definitely underrated!!!
1. Stairway To Heaven (BBC version) by Led Zeppelin
I'm a huge Zeppelin fan but Page really tears this one up in the BBC version!!!

10. Hurricane by Bob Dylan
9. Highway Star by Deep Purple
8. Slow Ride by Foghat
7. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
6. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
5. Stranglehold by Ted Nugent
4. Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo by Rick Derringer
3. Thursday's Gone by Lynyrd Skynyrd
2. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
1. Paranoid by Black Sabbath

10. Dream On by Aerosmith
Awesome slow song.
9. 49327 by Waverly Rae
When I got one behind.
8. All The Ladies by Waverly Rae
Favorite party song.
7. Ms. Parker by Waverly Rae
Great lyrics.
6. Got It Bad by Waverly Rae
Great tune.
5. For Now by Waverly Rae
Why is no one else listinging Waverly Rae? They could be the most talented band ever!
4. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
This song changed my life.
3. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
May not equal up to Waverly Rae but still a lot of heart in this one.
2. What Is to Come by Waverly Rae
Probably a close tie with 'The Chant'.
1. The Chant by Waverly Rae
Simply amazing. I might not be standing here today with out this song.

10. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
Give it up to Clapton! Can't get any better than this...plus it's the goodfellas theme music!
9. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Great guitar work, one of the most underrated bands of all time.
8. Angie by Rolling Stones
My favorite song out of their 30 I could put on this list.
7. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Enough said.
6. Old Man by Neil Young
Great guitar, lyrics, the whole nine yards.
5. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
By far their best song performed together...gotta love it!
4. Mind Games by John Lennon
A fantastic song, really sets the stage for a legacy.
3. Wish You Were Here by Pink FLoyd
The best lyrical band of the 70's bar none.
2. Nights In White Satin by Moody Blues
What a great song for anyone who enjoys good music.
1. Wild World by Cat Stevens
Who would have known it would be so true?

10. Money by Pink Floyd
'Dark Side Of The Moon' is the best album ever released - and 'Money' is my favorite tune. Love those sound effects!!!
9. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
His greatest work - still remains great today.
8. Piano Man by Billy Joel
A good song about hopes and dreams.
7. Imagine by John Lennon
A beautiful song about social justice. Too short to be one of my top 3 picks.
6. Hotel California by The Eagles
The Spanish guitars will stay in my head forever.
5. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan
How does it feel?
4. American Pie by Don McLean
An 8-minute tribute, folk song, masterpiece.
3. Kashmir by Led Zepppelin
Everybody's heard this song in some shape or form. (cough p.diddy)
2. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Creative and original - purely brilliant.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
I've heard it so many times I hate it...yet I keep coming back.

10. Convoy by C.W. McCall
Best novelty record -- which reminds me of "Smokey & the Bandit".
9. Saturday Night by Bay City Rollers
Best bubblegum pop song; beats out Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You".
8. War by Edwin Starr
Hot politically charged rock/R&B record.
7. It's Too Late by Carole King
Soothing little ballad.
6. Heartache Tonight by Eagles
Too many to pick, but this one's the catchiest.
5. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
The campiest rock song I've ever heard; also brought back by "Wayne's World".
4. Dream Weaver by Gary Wright
Gotta thank "Wayne's World".
3. Blinded By The Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Classic rock done to a T; and a Bruce Springsteen song to boot!
2. Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry
Proof that not all of disco sucked.
1. Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees
No 70's list is complete without the Gibb brothers.

10. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
9. Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
8. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
7. Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
6. Ventura Highway by America
5. Brand New Key by Melanie
4. Sara by Fleetwood Mac
3. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
2. Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win) by Fleetwood Mac
The song I was named after!
1. Horse With No Name by America