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. Vehicle by Ides Of March
9. Nights In White Satin by Moody Blues
8. Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple
7. More Than A Feeling by Boston
6. Listen To The Music by Doobie Brothers
5. Dancing In The Moonlight by King Harvest
4. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
3. Come Sail Away by Styx
2. Still The One by Orleans
1. Sister Golden Hair by America

10. Joe Walsh by Lifes Been Good
Good song!
9. Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles
Not sure when this was recorded, but a great song with a lot of mental images.
8. Imagine by John Lennon
Possibly the greatest anti war song.
7. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
Just a great song.
6. White Room by Cream
The greatest trio ever assembled. Ginger Baker, Eric clapton, Jack Bruce...all great players. If only they had stayed together longer.
5. Hotel California by The Eagles
One of the greatest bands ever. So many great players. So many good albums. So many solo albums. Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Feldler.
4. All Right Now by Free
Great song by a one hit wonder.
3. The Who by Baba O' Reily
One hell of a song! A great Jewish jig at the end.
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zepplin
Is there any doubt? John Bonham, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones. Every single musician changed the way music was played.
1. Free Bird by Lynard Skynard
The greatest song ever! Have you heard a gutair opus like that...ever?

10. Baby As You Turn Away by Bee Gees
Beautiful song by some guys who sing pretty good. Barry Gibb is one of the best singer/songwriters I know of.
9. Nothin' To Hide by Poco
Country rock at it's best. Poco is one of the best vocal groups ever, along with LRB, Firefall, Bee Gees, Eagles and Crosby Stills Nash & Young.
8. Styx by Too Much Time On My Hands
My favorite Styx song.
7. Ready For Love by Bad Company
Paul Rodgers just shows why he is the best rock singer of all time.
6. Showdown-Shangri-la-Stranger by ELO
What a great group and songs. I couldn't put one of these in without the others. Jeff Lynne is one of the best musical talents of his generation.
5. Lights by Journey
My favorite Journey song, really a great rock ballad.
4. It's A Long Way There by Little River Band
I think this is one of the great rock classics by a band that is one of my favorites. A truly talented band who could rock and pop with the best.
3. Goodbye I Love You by Firefall
Great lyrics and a great song by a great group.
2. You're Only Lonely by J. D. Souther
One of the prettiest songs I've ever heard. Souther is the best singer-songwriter that nobody's ever heard of. This guy can sing.
1. Hotel California by Eagles
This is The Eagles at their best. They're probably the most talented band ever assembled.

10. Workin' At The Carwash Blues by Jim Croce
9. It's So Nice To Be Stoned by White Witch
8. Mercury Blues by Steve Miller
7. Wild Mountin Honey by Steve Miller
6. Ridin' The Storm Out by REO Speedwagon
5. Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac
4. Doctor My Eyes by Jackson Browne
3. The Eagle And The Hawk by John Denver
2. Walking Back To Georgia by Jim Croce
1. Hot August Night by Neil Dimond

10. Please Don't Go by KC & The Sunshine Band
Actually, I think this was a KC solo. Anywho, my favorite song from a band that must be on my '70s list.
9. Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
As much of a Clapton-the-guitarist fan I am, this is my favorite song by him. It's a "how'd I get so lucky" ballad.
8. Everytime I Think Of You by The Babys
Almost 2 songs in 1. Open the verse as a ballad, the chorus cranks up the beat & volume.
7. I Just Wanna Make Love To You by Foghat
The funky bass, the guitar riffs, the far-from-subtle lyrics, what's not to like?
6. Funk #49 by James Gang
The title says it all, Funk. Do we see a pattern here?
5. Amie by Pure Prairie League
I have to admit, for years I thought this (and most of Grand Funk's stuff) was an original song that my dad & uncles' band did. Imagine my surprise years later to hear it on the radio and find out it wasn't their song. :( Oh well, still love the song.
4. Vincent by Don McLean
"Starry, starry night..." just a beautiful song by a masterful songwriter.
3. Some Kind Of Wonderful by Grand Funk Railroad
Any song could've been entered here, but GFR has to be on this list. So, today, I guess I'll just ask, "Is there anybody, got a sweet little woman like mine?"
2. Feeling That Way / Anytime by Journey
Kind of like "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions", 2 songs that must be played back-to-back. From my all-time favorite band.
1. Still Crazy After All These Years by Paul Simon
I've always loved this song (and most of Paul's work), but now that I've gotten older, I can relate in a whole new way. "...but I would not be convicted by a jury of my peers..."

10. Magic Man by Heart
Last but certainly not least, the Wilson sisters.
9. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
One of the greatest bands around.
8. Neither One Of Us by Gladys Knight & The Pips
No one sings a ballad like Gladys.
7. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe by Barry White
Mister Lover Man.
6. Elderberry Wine by Elton John
Elton has many great songs, but this is one of my favorites.
5. Smokin' by Boston
Fast movin', hard hittin' band.
4. Beth by KISS
Sing it Peter!!!!
3. Rock And Roll All Nite by KISS
KISS was the band to beat in the '70s (and they still are as far as I'm concerned).
2. Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad by Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf had one of the most powerful voices in the '70s.
1. Whiskey In The Jar by Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy had so many great songs (like this one), but the only one you ever hear on the radio is "The Boys Are Back In Town."

10. Anarchy In The U.K. by Sex Pistols
Punk must be covered in a 70's list, so here it is one of the most popular hits of THE punk band.
9. Y.M.C.A. by Village People
O.K., gay disco... but I've grown up with this song...
8. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? by Creedence Clearwater Revival
This is the greatest song from this amazing band of the '70s. They had some more popular singles, such as "Proud Mary", but they're of the 60s... This band lived the golden era (67-73) and contributed to it with some of the best songs of this genre.
7. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
Perhaps its piano part is too long, but it's still a great song. Who can forget the Clapton guitar at the beginning?
6. Hotel California by Eagles
I've always been bored with this band. I've never understood why they were so popular, but I must recognize that this song is a classic.
5. Lady D'Arbanville by Cat Stevens
Maybe everybody hated him when he (named Yusuf Islam) approved the sentence over Rushdie, but his three golden albums from the early '70s are a great listening experience. Even in modern movies, such as "Almost Famous", Stevens songs are still used.
4. Telephone Line by ELO
I've chosen "Telephone Line", but I could have taken "Wild West Hero", "Sweet Talkin' Woman", "Can't Get It Out Of My Head", "Midnight Blue" or "21st Century Man". Jeff Lynne is one of the most underrated musicians of all time.
3. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
Is there someone who doesn't know this song? It has been covered many times and it's the most popular disco song. And it's great, also. Try to play it acoustic, try to play it in rock style...it still works.
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
This is the best song of the best pure-rock band of the golden era. I'm sure Metallica took its inspiration for "One" or "Unforgiven" from this song.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
This is maybe the greatest song ever written. I've always loved Queen, the greatest band of modern music, excluding the Beatles. This epic-opera song was elected as the best song in the last 25 years in the U.K. It's easy to realize why...

10. Baker Street by Gerry Raferty
Just soooo... relaxing to hear this one.
9. Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) by The Hollies
If you get a chance, download this song or buy the greatest hits album. The sound is just unbelievable for the time.
8. Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
This whole album is fantastic!
7. These Eyes by The guess who
Just one of many great Canadian bands and a HUGE song.
6. Time by Pink Floyd
"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day..." That pretty well sums up my high school days.
5. Pinball Wizard by The Who
Reminds me of my younger days hanging out at the pinball palace up the street.
4. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
Awesome! If you have never seen the BOSS live, catch him before it is too late.
3. Hotel California by The Eagles
Nothing needs to be said here.
2. Blinded By The Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Another great piece by a good band that brings back many memories of when I finished school and started working.
1. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
This one is a gimmie. Simply a great piece.