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. Take It Easy by The Eagles
9. Mississippi Queen by Mountain
8. We Are the Champions by Queen
7. Fly Like An Eagle by Steve Miller Band
6. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
5. Listen To The Music by Doobie Brothers
4. Bang A Gong (Get It On) by T-Rex
3. Beth by KISS
2. More Than A Feeling by Boston
1. Blinded By The Light by Manfred Mann's Earth Band

10. Joy To The World by Three Dog Night
9. (They Long Be) Close To You by The Carpenters
Beautiful. 1970
8. The Long And Winding Road by The Beatles
The last song they did came out in 1970.
7. The Streak by Ray Stevens
Count probably every funny song Ray Stevens did, including the wonderful 'Guitarzan'!
6. My Sharona by The Knack
1979
5. Heart Of Glass by Blondie
1979
4. A Fifth Of Beethoven by Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band
An updated version of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Gotta love the classics! 1976
3. Shake, Shake, Shake (Shake Your Booty) by KC & The Sunshine Band
1976
2. American Pie by Don McLean
Coming in at 8 min. and 27 sec. this song is absolutely amazing. 1972
1. Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees
This is probably the best track on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, one of the best albums of the 70's. 1978

10. Slow Dancin' (Swayin' To The Music) by Johnny Rivers
His last Top 40 entry in 1977. Last I heard he is a Christian recording artist.
9. You Needed Me by Anne Murray
Canada, Top 10, 1978. This lady is a Canadian singer. Her best known recording was "Snowbird" (1970). Country-Pop-Easy Listening.
8. We Just Disagree by Dave Mason
This recording was repeated on Canadian radio time after time in 1977.
7. Telephone Line by Electric Light Orchestra
A personal favorite of mine from the summer of 1977.
6. On and On by Stephen Bishop
Another song from 1977 which enjoyed a lot of airplay. This songwriter was known in the eighties for his movie soundtrack work.
5. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
Another personal favorite from 1977. This track, and all of the songs from "Rumours" place high on my list of favorites. I love you Stevie Nicks.
4. Looks Like We Made It by Barry Manilow
A favorite on Canadian radio from 1977. This singer/songwriter was very popular during the mid to late seventies.
3. Lovin' You by Minnie Riperton
I believe the year was 1975. I hear this song and still cannot believe those high notes. Unfortunately, cancer claimed Minnie in 1979.
2. Burning Love by Elvis Presley
#2 in 1972. The best recording is on the U.K. import, "The Sound Of Your Cry," released in 1981. The lyrics may be somewhat dated by today's standards, but on this import recording, you can appreciate composer Dennis Linde's efforts to lay down a extra bassline. You be the judge.
1. Thinking About You by Elvis Presley
Released 1975 on the LP 'Promised Land'. Typical country/rock of the period? Sure, but Elvis was one of the few in my opinion who mastered the genre. This song is never heard today, like so many great Elvis recordings of the 70s, but find it, and discover another side of Elvis.

10. Baba O'Reilly by The Who
9. Give A Little Bit by Supertramp
8. Keep Yourself Alive by Queen
7. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
6. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
5. Cocaine by Eric Clapton
4. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
3. Mary Jane's Last Dance by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Okay, technically 80's.
2. You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC
1. Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith

10. Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac
9. Lawyers, Guns And Money by Warren Zevon
8. I'll Come Running To Tie Your Shoes by Brian Eno
7. If There Is Something by Roxy Music
6. The Passenger by Iggy Pop
5. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
4. Janie Jones by The Clash
3. Fear Is A Man's Best Friend by John Cale
2. You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory by Johnny Thunders
1. God Save The Queen by Sex Pistols

10. Life's Been Good by Joe Walsh
9. More Than A Feeling by Boston
8. Love Hurts by Nazareth
7. Rock And Roll All Nite by KISS
6. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
5. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
4. Hotel California by Eagles
3. Dust In The Wind by Kansas
2. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
1. Layla by Derek & The Dominos

10. Wig Wam Bam by Sweet
Sweet's later stuff was heavier, more Glam Rock than this silly, catchy little song. Much controversy about the lyrics, too, if I remember (although I was just a kid then). But don't you love that beat?!
9. Ride A White Swan by T. Rex
I had to include some Glam Rock; the Seventies wouldn't be the Seventies without it.
8. Sailing by Rod Stewart
This isn't a song, it's an ANTHEM!
7. Way Down by Elvis Presley
I have nothing to say...
6. Bye Bye Baby by Bay City Rollers
Oh, stop laughing! I'm a Brit, I'm female, I was a teenager in the 70s, and the Rollers were 'the' teen pop band! Wave that tartan scarf!
5. You're The First, The Last, My Everything by Barry White
The sexiest men all have voices like Barry White. Never mind what they look like....
4. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Okay, I know, it's on everyone's list, but that's because it deserves to be.
3. Lady Marmalade by Labelle
What can I say?!
2. Take A Chance On Me by ABBA
I'm an unashamed ABBA freak, always have been...always will be. Even in the 80's and early 90's, when ABBA was a synonym for a joke, I remained loyal. I could make a Top Ten list out of ABBA songs alone, but to choose one, it has to be this one.
1. Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward
From the best album ever! I had 'War of the Worlds' on vinyl, now I have it on CD. Since hearing the album, I have never been able to read the book without Richard Burton's voice..."No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century...."

10. Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) by Looking Glass
Think of a lost opportunity for love. The original group was called Double, but they changed their name to make it sound better.
9. Come Sail Away by Styx
What an escape song! Yes it is an escape song to let the feelings flow, and Styx had so many many great songs.
8. Rocky Mountain High by John Denver
Not much to say on this one, except we lost a real talented singer in the 90's who had so much to give to the meanings of his songs.
7. Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad by Meat Loaf
What another meaningful song on how you can love a true love and never really get over it and have that love turn against you in a different way.
6. Love Hurts by Nazareth
We all seem to relate somehow, sometime, to how things end up in life.
5. Taxi by Harry Chapin
Another song on how life can turn around and make dreams take different roads.
4. Leader Of The Band by Dan Fogelberg
What a song about life and how things turn around.
3. Don't Give Up On Us by David Soul
Yes it was 'Hutch' on Starsky and Hutch, and it was amazing how much feeling came out of a TV cop.
2. Billy, Don't Be A Hero by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
Another one hit wonder from the early 70's Everyone I talk to remembers this song but it really is hard to find out who sang it Now you know
1. The Things We Do For Love by 10cc
Great song.

10. Lowdown by Boz Scaggs
Great vocals and bouncy beat coupled with catchy flute - one of the 70s best.
9. I'd Really Love To See You Tonight by England Dan &John Ford Coley
Listening to this lite hit is like going back in time to a more innocent age.
8. Gonna Fly Now by Maynard Ferguson
Yes is Rocky done in Jazz, but give it a chance. Amazing trumpet pop.
7. Deacon Blues by Steely Dan
A long soft 70's hit that has great vocals and even better jazz.
6. Baby Come Back by Player
A soft rock hit that could never be overplayed.
5. Sun Goes By by Dr. Music
Without a doubt, this is one of the best jazzy trupmet pop songs ever. Why don't they make music like the 'Doctor' does anymore?
4. After The Love Has Gone by Earth, Wind & Fire
More proof that the 70's were about great jazz and pop being married into deeply relaxing hits like this.
3. Lotta Love by Nicolette Larson
This tune just screams pop 70's with its great lyrics and bouncy flute solo. Love it.
2. I Just Wanna Stop by Gino Vannelli
Sweet romantic 70's. Soothes the soul.
1. What A Fool Beleives by Doobie Brothers
That voice, those keyboards, that soft bouncy beat...what can I say, the best song ever!

10. Just The Way You Are by Billy Joel
Nice one.
9. Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees
I must insist: commercial music can also be good!
8. Grease by Frankie Valli
Commercial music can also be good...
7. Pick Up The Pieces by Average White Band
Funky! I love funk!
6. Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) by Chic
Great!
5. Living In The Past by Jethro Tull
By far, my favorite band...
4. Last Train To London by Electric Light Orchestra
One of the most complete.
3. Time For Love by Chi-Lites
Good one!
2. Route 101 by Herb Alpert
The master, once again...
1. Love's Theme by Love Unlimited Orchestra
Orchestral celebration of love...what else can we ask for?