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. Maggie May by Rod Stewart
Rod at his peak.
9. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
Great composition from an incredible album.
8. No Matter What by Badfinger
The one song no jukebox should be without by the ultimate garage band.
7. What A Fool Believes by Doobie Brothers
More Michael McDonald than Doobies, but always listenable.
6. Heart Of The Sunrise by Yes
Dynamics. What it's all about. Proved how truly great Yes is.
5. Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac
Just a pretty song you can listen to over and over.
4. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
The angst of love. Listen to Eric plead while he sings. and that bottleneck slide from Duane Allman.
3. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant by Billy Joel
So many great songs have come from Joel.
2. Overnight Sensation by Raspberries
Well written, well produced.
1. Close To The Edge by Yes
On a par with Mozart, Beethoven and all other classical composers.

10. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
This song will survive till the end of time.
9. Three Times A Lady by Commodores
I would have loved to write that one!
8. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Wagner would have been proud. Same as Verdi.
7. Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Loved by both music lovers and musicians, Stevie Wonder grooves!
6. Just The Way You Are by Billy Joel
Maybe his most accomplished masterpiece, his most beautiful, most timeless song.
5. We're All Alone by Rita Coolidge
The song was written and performed by Boz Scaggs but was covered by Rita Coolidge. This one has resisted the test of time.
4. Your Song by Elton John
Needs no presentation. Elton's first hit is style a reference in the ballad genre.
3. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Probably a song J.S. Bach, Beethoven and Mozart would have been jealous of.
2. If by Bread
Simply a masterpiece. David Gates, singer and songwriter will stay one of the fines melodists ever.
1. Daniel by Elton John
Is there any other song that makes you want to be cuddling tenderly beside the woman you love?

10. The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy
9. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
8. Stay With Me by Faces
7. Bad Company by Bad Company
6. Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas
5. Don't Look Back by Boston
4. Highway To Hell by AC/DC
3. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
2. Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple
1. All Right Now by Free

10. Weekend In New England by Barry Manilow
9. Sylvia's Mother by Dr. Hook
8. Sam by Olivia Newton-John
7. Heart Hotel by Dan Fogelberg
6. Dancing Queen by ABBA
5. Billy Don't Be A Hero by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
4. Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) by Bee Gees
3. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
2. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
1. Mandy by Barry Manilow

10. Counting The Beat by The Swingers
Think it may have been early 80's... eh, close enough and a good song.
9. Children Of The Sun by Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs
Billy sounds so much like Robert Plant in this song.
8. Do You Feel Like We Do by Peter Frampton
Who doesn't have the Peter Frampton Live almbum?
7. Don't Step On The Grass, Sam by Steppenwolf
6. Dirty Work by Steely Dan
5. Reeling In The Years by Steely Dan
4. Eagle Rock by Daddy Cool
3. Smokin' by Boston
2. Most People I Know by Billy Thorpe & The Aztecs
Great Aussie song, made history at Sunburry Music Festival.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
How can this not be the best song of the 70's?

10. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
9. Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
8. Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas
7. Hush by Dee Purple
6. Highway Star by Deep Purple
5. War Pigs by Black Sabbath
4. Tangerine by Led Zeppelin
3. Back In Black by AC/DC
2. Working Man by Rush
1. The Ocean by Led Zeppelin

10. Trans-Europe Express by Kraftwerk
I absolutely love this song. I give it great credit for being the first big electronica hit. This song alone inspired many of the hiph-op pioneers (Afrika Bambaataa; Run-D.M.C.) as well as a lot of today's modern techno artists (Massive Attack;Fatboy Slim). "Rendezvous on Champs-Elysees. Leave Paris in the morning on T.E.E."
9. Piano Man by Billy Joel
This song is a masterpiece in itself. Absolutely excellent piano playing. What can I say, Billy Joel's a genius. Arguably his best work. Other great songs by him include We Didn't Start The Fire, Italian Restaurant, and Pressure, along with numerous others I can't name right now. "It's nine o'clock on a Saturday; the regular crowd shuffles in. There's an old man sitting next to me making love to his tonic and gin."
8. Paradise By The Dashboard Light by Meat Loaf
Of all the songs that Meat Loaf actually wrote himself, this one is the best. Actually, this is Meat Loaf's best song. Period. It goes in 5 different direction and runs for almost TEN minutes long. And listeners such as myself loved every moment of it. It may not hold excellent lyrics, but it does hold the prize for one of the most famous and well known songs of all time. "It never felt so good, it never felt so right. Now we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife!"
7. American Pie by Don McLean
The Song That Never Dies. Don McLean's 'American Pie' is a tribute to the plane crash in 1959 that killed music stars Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper. This song explains Don's feelings when he heard the news on his radio. "I started singin' 'Bye-Bye Miss american pie.' Drove my Chevey to the levee, but the levee was dry."
6. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
This is arguably Lynyrd Skynyrd's greatest song. Lynyrd Skynyrd was such a great group. They had numerous ageless songs, Swamp Music and Sweet Home Alabama to name a few. Man, it took a group of seven people to create this nine and a half minute masterpiece. "And if I stayed here with you things just wouldn't be the same. Well I'm as free as a bird now...and a bird know you cannot change."
5. Hotel California by Eagles
While it may not be one of the top 5 best song ever written, this song is definitly a very well-written song. It's got great lyrics, instruments, and vocals. Combine that all into one and you've got yourself a classic that never ages. "I heard the mission bell and I was thinking to myself, 'This could be Heaven or this could be Hell.'"
4. More Than A Feeling by Boston
This song is possibly one of the top 10 most well known songs of the 70's. Even if you don't recognize the title, you'd know it if you heard it. This song was released in 1976, and to this day is considered a classic. You honestly can't say you don't like it. "I looked out this morning and the sun was gone. Turned on some music to start my day."
3. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Quite easily Freddie Mercury's best work. What can I say, Queen's ingenious. Running at almost 6 minutes long, Bohemian Rhapsody takes, count 'em, FOUR different direction, and so subtly that you feel as though you have to love it. For extraordinary rhythm and melody along side with great instrumentals, I place Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at #3 for the top songs of the 70's. R.I.P. Freddie Mercury. "I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me. He's just a poor boy from a poor family! Spare him his life from this monstrosity!"
2. Hey Jude by The Beatles
One of the most famous songs of all time, and arguably the best written Beatles song. While it may not hold the earth-shattering lyrics of 'Across The Universe', it makes up for it in unpredictability and extraordinary instrumental and vocal performance. "Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better."
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
One of, if not THE, altogether best-written song of all time. If angels could sing, this would be their song of choice. Thank you, Led Zeppelin, for creating the most beautiful song ever written. "And as we wind on down the road! Our shadows taller than our swords!"

10. Love Lies Bleeding by Elton John
This song cooks!
9. Cat Scratch Fever by Ted Nugent
Nugent at his best!
8. One More Time by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Reminds me of a redhead I knew.
7. Boat On The Charles by Todd Rundgren
Get emotional when I hear it.
6. Bad Time by Grand Funk Railroad
Lively pace.
5. Dancing Days by Led Zeppelin
Mom didn't like me hearing this song.
4. Do Ya by Electric Light Orchestra
WOW!
3. Living Thing by Electric Light Orchestra
Kissed pretty cousin in back of trans am to this song.
2. You Make Loving Fun by Fleetwood Mac
Heard this at fun party.
1. Real Man by Todd Rundgren
My theme song in my youth.

10. Two Little Boys by Rolf Harris
British-adopted Aussie lovely stiring, sad friendship song.
9. Black Betty by Ram Jam
A good commercial rock classic.
8. Selling England By The Pound by Genesis
The underrated Peter Gabriel-Genesis lineup, much better than the clinical Phil Collins. Sheer magical.
7. Burn by Deep Purple
Great riff from Blackmore.
6. Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who
Lyrics are just great to sing along to.
5. Heroes by David Bowie
A song that took us to the 80's before the 80's began.
4. My Sharona by The Knack
The best one off ever.
3. Silver Machine by Hawkwind
British cult band, still going strong
2. Dont You Know Its Differant For Girls by Joe Jackson
Not one of the Jackson 5, but a cracking song.
1. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Great acoustic song.

10. Hotel California by Eagles
Beautiful guitar, the bongos were sweet, perfect tune for chilling out. The Eagles had lots of good tunes, but this one is their most famous.
9. Love Hurts by Nazareth
This song may not be a masterpiece like 'Stairway To Heaven', but I love Nazareth and this song's just great. I'm pretty sure it was played at every school dance.
8. Rock And Roll by Led Zeppelin
Zeppelin is definitely the standout band of the 70s. They had lots of great songs, but this one's the best party tune.
7. Baba O'Reilly by The Who
Another kickass band, another kickass song.
6. Another Brick In The Wall Pt. 2 by Pink Floyd
Okay, this song is probably closer to being released in 1980, but it's still in the same era. Pink Floyd rocked, they had lots of great songs, but this one's my favourite.
5. Iron Man by Black Sabbath
One of the most famous guitar riffs ever written. The pioneers of metal music and lest we forget, Ronnie James Dio gave us our salute, the "horns."
4. Rock And Roll All Nite by KISS
What's the 70s without KISS? Come on! They were awesome, parents hated them, they were seen as satanic, and they made great music. All the components of a kickass rock band.
3. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
This is the second most-requested song on the radio, next to 'Stairway To Heaven'.
2. Slow Ride by Foghat
This song just has a fun meaning and it's a really great tune, awesome for partying.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Words can't describe the beauty of this song. Definite Classic.