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. The First Cut Is The Deepest by Cat Stevens
9. American Pie by Don McLean
8. Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John & Kiki Dee
7. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
6. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
5. We Are The Champions by Queen
4. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
3. Piano Man by Billy Joel
2. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
1. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

10. Look At Yourself by Uriah Heep
Great great song.
9. When A Blind Man Cries by Deep Purple
The lost song from the Machine Head album.
8. Crime Of The Century by Supertramp
A Mozart in progressive rock.
7. Sunrise by Uriah Heep
Beautiful heavy keyboard rock.
6. Dazed And Confused by Led Zepplin
Next best thing from Zeppelin.
5. The Magician's Birthday by Uriah Heep
Wonderful guitar licks.
4. Child In Time by Deep Purple
One of the best songs ever.
3. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
This wonderful classic will live 100 years.
2. Rudy by Supertramp
The more you hear it, the more you like it.
1. Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd's best.

10. Desperado by Eagles
It was a tough debate for this spot between 'Desperado' and 'Hotel California'.
9. My Best Friend's Girlfriend by The Cars
The lyrics to this song are just so outrageous and bewildering, but it's what makes the song so darn good.
8. Ramblin' Man by The Allman Brothers
Just a great song for drivin' around in a convertible in the summertime.
7. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
'So I took what I could get and she said...' I love this song and its overall good feeling!
6. Walk This Way by Aerosmith
The perfect blend of rap and rock from S. Tyler and the gang.
5. You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC
This song just gets you going when you're down.
4. Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
Led's at the top of their game for this one.
3. More Than A Feeling by Boston
'I close my eyes, and she slips away' ...song is just awesome.
2. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
Slow, but awesome. The greatest song from the tremendous 'Dark Side Of The Moon' album.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
What is there to say? I mean when the drums come in...purely amazing.

10. Epitaph by King Crimson
It should be considered one of the best, too!
9. Aubrey by Bread
Sweet and melodious song!
8. A Time For Us by Johnny Mathis
Wao, what a beautiful melody!
7. Wildflower by Skylark
Delightfully played!
6. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
Excellent song to hear!
5. Down By The River by Neil Young
Melodious!
4. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by The Hollies
It is a fascinating song!
3. Dust In The Wind by Kansas
Truly beautiful!
2. Year Of The Cat by Al Stewart
A great melody, very well structured!
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
So far the best rock song. Unforgettable.

10. Europa by Santana
Gorgeous instrumental. Nobody can make an overdriven guitar cry like Carlos can, and this tune often makes me cry a little, too.
9. Thrasher by Neil Young
Why you need to get a really good 12-string guitar. 'Rust Never Sleeps' is a peculiar classic, featuring another classic tune, "Pocahontas". But my favorite lines are in the spaceman meets livestock novelty folk tune "Ride My Llama". But I could listen to "Thrasher" all day and all night.
8. New Kid In Town by The Eagles
The less-remembered, first single off of Hotel California, this song just made you feel good, even though it implied a certain uneasiness at Joe Walsh's joining the band. The Eagles' pre-Hotel hits are also essential items, as is the whole of Hotel California. After that, it doesn't matter that much.
7. Like A Hurricane by Neil Young
An epic, proto-grunge garage-metal love song! The version on Live Rust is Neil's greatest recorded excursion with Crazy Horse.
6. You Make Loving Fun by Fleetwood Mac
Just a sweet song sung by a great, very distinctive voice. Christine McVie is far too overlooked because of Stevie Nicks' star power.
5. Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who
To me, The Who were the first punk rockers. Alas, we keep getting fooled again... and again.
4. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
How many all-time classic guitar licks can you cram into one seven-minute epic?
3. Nobody's Fault by Aerosmith
Very raunchy album cut from "Rocks". Not to be confused with tune of the same name by Zeppelin. I say that "Rocks" represents Aerosmith's musical peak, whereas Spanky, the other guitarist in my band (BLAMF!), thinks "Toys In The Attic" was the peak and hates "Rocks".
2. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
At the time (I'm that old), I thought it was The Byrds or maybe even The Monkees, not Judas Priest, who existed but, like most people, I hadn't heard of them yet. But that's the amazing thing about the song -- that a bunch of East Coast Americans created this odd stew of Brit-style psychedelic pop mixed with a death metal theme and dark guitar riffs. The whole "Agents of Fortune" album is great. An earlier BOC gem is the hilarious "Career Of Evil".
1. Magic Man by Heart
Slow psychedelic guitars and one of the great female rock voices of all time. I could have said "Crazy On You" just as well. At the time, I was ready for Ann Wilson to get crazy on me!

10. Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple
How could you forget this classic?
9. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
Eric Clapton is god!!!
8. Black Dog by Led Zeppelin
One of the heaviest riffs of all time, and is an awesome song.
7. Slow Ride by Foghat
This is just a great song. Their simplistic, unpretentious sound is great.
6. Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith
The perfect anthem for the 70's.
5. Another Brick In The Wall Pt.2 by Pink Floyd
Kicka** band, kicka** song.
4. We Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who
A song you can listen to over and over and not get tired of.
3. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
A song that will remain forever.
2. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
A masterpiece... enough said.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Arguably the greatest rock song ever, let alone the 70's greatest.

10. Heart Of Gold by Neil Young
Anyone that just takes a seat and thinks about the highway, or the truck parked outside and watch out for the crops, would only think about Neil Young's music. He's the beginning of country-rock. This is his best song (for me!!) don't you think??
9. What A Fool Believes by Doobie Brothers
This unique native, rock and British-style fusion is something that we're able to hear just with the Doobies. Michael McDonald lets his signature come out and lets the world know that he can play jazz too!!
8. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
What happened with Soul and Motown? Marvin Gaye is an icon of the 70s feeling of change in black music; his natural feeling of freedom makes this song his best.
7. Evil Woman by Electric Light Orchestra
I have no doubt that everyone thought that Jeff Lynne's ELO were very unusual for their time, but, is that the reason that makes them the best vocal band in the 70s? I think so...
6. Feels So Good by Chuck Mangione
This Grammy award-winning song takes all of our attention because of the great talented Chuck and his ideas about contemporary jazz and some native things, this makes an incredible fusion that changed every contemporary jazz song after him.
5. Call On Me by Chicago
Nobody thinks about this great band, they did something new that lasted a very short time that way, jazzy stuff, brass arrangements in a rock band? Yeah, in the 70s... they were the best!!!!!
4. Hotel California by The Eagles
Great guitar solo, great voices, awesome lyrics, incredible performing, and a classic 70s country-rock taste... What more can you ask for??
3. Layla by Derek and the Dominos
The best duet in blues history, the rock blues king Eric Clapton, and the slide king Duane Allman, romantic and bluesy. The second part is better.
2. Like A Rolling Stone by Jimi Hendrix
This song is very rare, strange, and revolutionary... the Hendrix touch in this song is very special.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
The greatest song ever made!!!!!!!!

10. NIB by Primus And Ozzy
Sweet bass solo.
9. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
Awesome intro.
8. Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin
Just great.
7. Dazed And Confused by Led Zeppelin
Guitar solo is the best.
6. Paradise City by Guns 'N' Roses
5. Thunder Struck by AC/DC
Sweet beginning.
4. Shout It Out Loud by KISS
I just love it.
3. Rock And Roll All Nite by KISS
KISS is the best.
2. Highway To Hell by AC/DC
Angus Young.
1. Strutter by KISS

10. TNT by AC/DC
Great repetitive lyrics.
9. Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
Great voice, great solo, great unique sounds that says it all.
8. Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett
Classic and all famous and not famous people try to copy it but no one does it like Buffett.
7. Life In The Fast Lane by The Eagles
Great song that you don't get tired of.
6. Bohemian Rhapshody by Queen
There's no voice in classic rock that beats this one. As a trained opera singer with his hard rock voice as well, it gives a great performance.
5. Walk This Way by Aerosmith
Great sound with great lyrics with great guitar. They all just go hand in hand.
4. Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix
Great guitar...nothing beats it.
3. Baba O'Reilly by The Who
There's absolutely nothing like it.
2. Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd
Classic lyrics with a classic sound from Pink Floyd and the use of odd things as well... such as a helicopter.
1. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Everything about it is great... the lyrics, the solo, and the all-around performance.

10. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
9. You Can't Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones
No questions, the Rolling Stones were the best then, and they are the best now!
8. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam
7. Do You Love Me by The Contours
6. More Than A Feeling by Boston
5. American Woman by Guess Who
4. Baba O'Reilly by The Who
3. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
2. Killer Queen by Queen
1. Lola by The Kinks