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. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Beautiful!
9. Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
...wonderful because I see the love light in your eyes...
8. Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney
He is very amazed!
7. Imagine by John Lennon
It's a peace request.
6. All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
All things must pass away...
5. Woman Is The Nigger Of The World by John Lennon
Yes it is, think about it, do something about it...
4. Hotel California by The Eagles
Hotel fantastic! Very creative.
3. Mind Games by John Lennon
We're playing those mind games together...
2. Live And Let Die by Paul McCartney & The Wings
It's exciting. So influential.
1. My Sweet Lord by George Harrison
One of the best songs I ever heard. He was a genius! God bless him.

10. I'm Not In Love by 10cc
I still love this song - overproduced, some would say "sappy" - hearing this in the summer of '75 on the crackling AM radio late at night was pure magic!!! I still LOVE this song and always will.
9. At Seventeen by Janis Ian
I know I'm getting on pretty mellow ground here but it's a gorgeous song - I'll always remember my teen years of the mid-70's when I hear this ballad.
8. Tuesday's Gone by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Beautiful piece of music.
7. Stranglehold by Ted Nugent
Ted seems like a dink these days- especially to us Canadians - but you can't forget this song - wonderful guitar playing - a true 70's classic.
6. Nightime by Big Star
One of the most grossly underated bands of all time - I just wish that I had actually been turned on to these guys in the 70's - this one could have been a classic if given the chance.
5. Shake Some Action by The Flamin' Groovies
If you ever hear this you'll at least agree that it SHOULD have been a hit - unfortunatley for the world it wasn't.
4. What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
Unreal - answer me this - why can't anyone seem to sing like this guy anymore - God I miss him.
3. War Pigs by Black Sabbath
What more can be said???
2. Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple
I'm certainly not going on songwriting merit alone here - not the greatest song in the world by any means but in Grade 7 in 1972 this was OUR "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zepplin
I don't even like this song anymore but I cannot ignore the hugeness of it - in the 70's every school dance of my life was ended with this song.

10. Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who
1971- Classic album.
9. Jumpin' Jack Flash by The Rolling Stones
The BEST live band I've ever seen.
8. L.A. Woman by The Doors
The best band to come out of the West Coast. Epitomized the late sixties and early seventies.
7. Baby I Love Your Way by Peter Frampton
Who DIDN'T own this album?
6. Bennie & The Jets by Elton John
The 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' album's chart buster. The whole album was great. Has this guy done anything worthy since?
5. Everthing Is Comin' Our Way by Santana
One of his lesser known songs... but a classic in its own right. THE originator of Latin rock.
4. Layla by Derek & The Dominoes
Whether plugged or unplugged, this song is a classic.
3. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed by Allman Brothers Band
Were there two better guitar players ever in the same band than Dicky Betts and Duane Allman??
2. Maggie May by Rod Stewart
Song that put him on the map.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zepplin
Probably THE definitive rock song of the decade.

10. Space Truckin' by Deep Purple
Even on my crappy stereo in '72 this song sounded good.
9. Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Great song.
8. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Led's unforgettable opus. It's very hard to make a case for this song to NOT be on this list. Plus, I had to have at least one song from Led 4.
7. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Couldn't decide between this, 'Money' or 'Young Lust'. This song has aged the best.
6. Show Biz Kids by Steely Dan
This group had many that could have made this list.
5. Hotel California by Eagles
Haunting song that played well for years.
4. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
Landmark song. Later accoustic version wasn't bad either.
3. Can't You Hear Me Knockin' by Rolling Stones
Vastly underrated song that perfectly blends rock and Latin percussion. Too long for most radio play tho'.
2. Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Brilliant song that perfectly captures the mood of the times.
1. Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin
Incredible tune, Jimmy Page's searing guitar (and electronic) work continues to amaze me into my 40's! Drums weren't bad either! Zeppelin was clearly the most significant band of the decade, and second place wasn't close.

10. Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen
It says it all...GET ON YOUR BIKES AND RIDE!!!
9. Dream On by Aerosmith
Never really cared for them, but I'm a New Englander so I guess I should be supportive.
8. La Villa Strangiato by Rush
Off of the 'Hemispheres' album, you want to hear the greatest instrumental ever? 9 minutes of pure bliss.
7. I've Seen All Good People by Yes
Fantastic!
6. Smokin' by Boston
The entire album is the balls!
5. Roxanne by The Police
You know it, I know it, even your grandma knows it. RRRRROXANNE!
4. Closer To The Heart by Rush
Great little song from the most looked over (and greatest) band of all time!
3. When The Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin
Brontosaurian drums, sorry folks...it's better than that WAY OVERPLAYED one!
2. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
What needs to be said?
1. American Pie by Don McLean
Everyone young and old knows the chorus!

10. Goodbye Stranger by Supertramp
Love the high voice. Cool song.
9. Time by Pink Floyd
I wish the beginning clock ticking wasn't so long. After that, it's an excellent song.
8. Harvest Moon by Neil Young
Neil Young is the man!
7. A Day In The Life by Beatles
Amazing song. Slow, Fast, Slow, Fast, Slow...
6. More Than A Feeling by Boston
Very,very good.
5. Bohemian Rapsody by Queen
WOW! What a very different song! Can't get sick of it.
4. China Grove by Doobie Brothers
Pure Classic Rock.
3. Hotel California by Eagles
What else can I say?
2. Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett
I am a huge fan of this song, and a huge BUFFETT fan.
1. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
One of the best Classic Rock songs of all-time.

10. Let It Be by The Beatles
9. We Will Rock You/we Are The Chmpions by Queen
8. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
7. Imagine by John Lennon
6. American Pie by Don McLean
5. Hotel California by Eagles
4. Another Brink In The Wall by Pink Floyd
3. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zepplin
1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

10. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
A song everyone sings.
9. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
One of my first favorites.
8. More Than A Feeling by Boston
Just a great song.
7. Sweet Child In Time by Deep Purple
Classic Rock.
6. A Day In The Life by The Beatles
Perhaps their best?
5. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
4. Aqualung by Jethro Tull
Just amazing.
3. Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
Not often thought of, but one of Zeppelin's best.
2. Hotel California by The Eagles
Gotta love the guitar solo.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Best song ever!

10. Children Of The Grave by Black Sabbath
Wicked song.
9. Electric Eye by Judas Priest
Cool song.
8. Money by Pink Floyd
The entire 'Dark Side Of The Moon' album is great.
7. Journey To The Center Of The Mind by Ted Nugent And The Amboy Dukes
This song rules.
6. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
9½ minutes.
5. War Pigs by Black Sabbath
I love Black Sabbath.
4. Walk This Way by Aerosmith
No comment.
3. Peace Of Mind by Boston
No comment.
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Sweet/profound lyrics, sweet song.
1. Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who
Great song, creative, charged...almost a masterpiece of sorts.

10. Refugee by Tom Petty
Wow.
9. Hotel California by Eagles
Great one.
8. Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen
How great is this classic rumpshaker??
7. More Than A Feeling by Boston
From a monotone group comes a great song that unfortunately has been way overplayed :-(
6. Over The Hills And Far Away by Led Zeppelin
Classic.
5. Candle In The Wind (live In Australia) by Elton John
Legendary...redefined the word 'ballad'.
4. Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits
One of the great songs by one of the best bands ever.
3. Baba O'Riley by The Who
This song is the most innovative songs ever....that synthesizer is too cool.
2. Layla by Derek & The Dominoes
God himself....the greatest guitarist on one of his best songs.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Come on...how great is this song? Brian May really cooks.