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. Showdown by Electric Light Orchestra
9. The Backstabbers by The O'Jays
8. Disco Inferno by Trammps
7. The Summer Wind by Frank Sinatra
6. I Really Want To Know You by Gary Wright
5. Ol' 55 by The Eagles
4. Smokin' by Boston
3. I'm Not In Love by 10cc
2. Chevy Van by Sammy Johns
1. Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John

10. Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who
This song is the bridge between the Age of Aquarius and the Age of Excess. "Meet the new boss: same as the old boss".
9. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
The southern boogie rock anthem. The second-best live recording of the Seventies.
8. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
The best example of British pop music from the decade. One of several Elton John songs that could have foot the bill, includung "Captain Fantastic" and "Love Lies Bleeding"
7. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
When it comes to glam rock overexcess, this song has it all. But unlike a lot of music from that genre, it still holds up all these years later.
6. Just What I Needed by The Cars
Punk rock merged with pop to form New Wave music. The radio darling of that genre was The Cars, and this song was the signature tune off their debut album in 1978.
5. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Simply the mist haunting, moody song of the decade - Floyd had some great songs during this time, but this was their best.
4. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
No-one dominated the airwaves in the mid-Seventies like Fleetwood Mac, and no one song typified their bluesy-pop offerings more than this one.
3. Hotel California by The Eagles
The prototypical example of California rock: laid back, but with a dark edge. Announced that not only the Sixties, but also the Seventies, weren't all they were cracked up to be.
2. Do You Feel Like We Do? by Peter Frampton
Simply the greatest live song of the decade, from arguably the best album of the decade, "Frampton Comes Alive". Still melts speaker wires even today.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
What can you say? Thirty-five years of constant airplay can't be wrong!

10. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
Maybe it was Bob Holness from Blockbusters ... maybe it wasn't ... who cares ... what a saxaphone ....
9. Emmaline by Hot Chocolate
What a guitar...!
8. Moondance by Van Morrison
Class
7. Lido Shuffle by Boz Scaggs
Woooooaaaaaahhhh - oooooohhhh --- ooooohhhhh --- oooohhhhh
6. Superstitious by Stevie Wonder
Sooooooo funky
5. Drive In Saturday by David Bowie
Didn't we all just want to be "Buddy" ...?
4. Breakfast In America by Supertramp
Summed up the 70's entirely
3. Blue Jeans by David Dundas
Doesn't get the credit it deserves
2. Blinded By The Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Awesome
1. Mr. Blue Sky by ELO
Summers in the 70's were so much better

10. Blue Sky by The Allman Brothers Band
I wasn't going to repeat bands but how can I not with the Allman Brothers out there? Amazing song. Great guitar throughout the whole song.
9. Cat's In The Cradle by Harry Chapin
Why doesn't anybody have this on their list!?!?!? Awesome song about a father who spends hardly any time with his son but his kid still loves him and aspires to be like him. "When you comin' home dad, I don't know when, but well get together then"
8. American Pie by Don McLean
Really like this song...it's really sad if you learn the story. The day the music died!!!!!!!!
7. Hey Jude by The Beatles
What can I say?
6. Mississippi Queen by Mountain
Great song! All there is to it.
5. Let It Rain by Eric Clapton
The guitar playing in this song is amazing. Fast but keeps a rhythm in which keeps the song interesting.
4. Levon by Elton John
If you do not appreciate EJ's voice in this you are insane. An amazing song with the greatest vocals in any song EVER!!!
3. Space Oddity by David Bowie
Actually first released in 1969, but rereleased out of the UK in '71. Amazing song... Bowie truly hits a rhythm when he is singing this song.
2. Hurricane by Bob Dylan
Although I am not normally a big Dylan fan, this song captures the false imprisonment of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. A very influential song.
1. Melissa by The Allman Brothers Band
This song is... for lack of a better word... beautiful. Crossroads seem to come and go. The gypsy flies from coast to coast, knowing many, loving none. Bearing sorrows, having fun. Awesome song.

10. Life's Been Good by Joe Walsh
Seems to be a theme song by one of great guitar gods.
9. Mama Let Em Play by Jerry Doucette
Pretty obscure for a top notch classic rock song. Give it a listen.
8. Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
The original redneck anthem. Great tune from beginning to end.
7. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Everyone's favorite. Could easily be @ 1.
6. 2112 Overture by Rush
The classic rock & roll story. Great guitar work too.
5. Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple
A true classic! "Some stupid friends of Fabian burnt the place to the ground".
4. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
No top 10 list should be without a Floyd song. The band that makes you think.
3. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
It don't get much better than this classic.
2. The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy
Was a #1 hit for many weeks back in the day.
1. Back In The Saddle by Aerosmith
It just rocks!

10. Mandy by Barry Manilow
This is the first song that I heard him sing & I fell in love with him.
9. Imagine by John Lennon
I can't imagine it not being on someone's list.
8. Jive Talkin' by BeeGees
As the other person said, this song is just so funky.
7. Billy, Don't Be A Hero by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
Maybe because of my age, but I liked this one and never hear it any more.
6. Time In A Bottle by Jim Croce
He died way too soon.
5. Joy To The World by Three Dog Night
This song just makes me happy.
4. Crocodile Rock by Elton John
This song just makes me so happy. I was like 13 when it came out and just starting to listen to rock and roll music.
3. That's The Way (I Like It) by Kc & The Sunshine Band
Makes me wanna dance.
2. Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder
Great song, great album.
1. American Pie by Don McLean
Something about that song gets to me.

10. Time by Pink Floyd
9. Come Sail Away by Styx
8. Iron Man by Black Sabbath
7. You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC
6. Dream On by Aerosmith
5. Money by Pink Floyd
4. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
3. Hotel California by The Eagles
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

10. The Pretender by Jackson Browne
Great lyrics.
9. Still The One by Orleans
Great love song.
8. December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) by The Four Seasons
Great song.
7. Bad Girls by Donna Summers
Good disco song.
6. Your Mamma Don't Dance by Loggins & Messina
Perfect dance song.
5. Welcome Back by John Sebastian
Greatest theme song ever.
4. Come And Get Your Love by Redbone
Very upbeat song.
3. Rock Your Baby by George McCrae
One of the best disco songs ever.
2. Take It To The Limit by Eagles
Great song about fullfilling your dreams.
1. Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen
Best lyrics Bruce has ever written.