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. A Horse With No Name by America
9. Cold As Ice by Foriegner
8. Life In The Fast Lane by Eagles
7. Gimmie Shelter by Grand Funk Railroad
6. Gimme All Your Lovin' by ZZ Top
5. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
4. Highway Star by Deep Purple
3. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
2. Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
1. Locomotive Breath by Jethro Tull

10. More Than A Feeling by Boston
9. Imagine by John Lennon
8. Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
7. Dream On by Aerosmith
6. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
5. Your Song by Elton John
4. Let It Be by The Beatles
3. Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who
2. Come Sail Away by Styx
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin

10. Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan
A really sad song, but I like it so much.
9. Lovin' You by Minnie Ripperton
A lovely song from a beautiful singer.
8. Go All The Way by The Raspberries
A great rock song.
7. Shannon by Henry Gross
A very sad song about our emotional attachment to animals.
6. Cat's In The Cradle by Harry Chapin
A very meaningful song about father and son relationships.
5. Space Oddity by David Bowie
His best ever song I think.
4. Nadia's Theme by Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkins, Jr.
Just an Instrumental I love.
3. Going In With My Eyes Open by David Soul
Such a beautiful love song.
2. Don't Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston
One Of the greatest disco songs of all time.
1. Ben by MichaelJackson
My favorite Michael Jackson song.

10. Hotel California by The Eagles
9. Happy Xmas by John Lennon
Another great message and great song.
8. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon
Great message great song!
7. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
A classic!
6. Revelation (mother Earth) by Ozzy Osbourne
Great album, great songs! One of the best from Ozzy Osbourne.
5. Only Women Bleed by Alice Cooper
Alice cooper is awesome.
4. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Great song.
3. Hey Jude by The Beatles
I don't think this song was made in the 70's, but around there.
2. N.I.B. by Black Sabbath
This song needs no comment.
1. Imagine by John Lennon
The best song ever made!

10. Come Sail Away by Styx
9. I'm Not In Love by 10cc
8. Across 110th Street by Bobby Womack
7. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time) by The Delfonics
6. Crazy On You by Heart
5. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
4. Billy, Don't Be A Hero by Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
3. Seasons In The Sun by Terry Jacks
2. Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen
1. Stairway To Heaven by Lep Zeppelin

10. After The Thrill Is Gone by Eagles
From the album "One Of These Nights." A gorgeous country-rock type ballad typical of the band's style. Has a great mood to it. This is my 4th song by this group in the top 10 of the '70s!! Wasn't released as a single.
9. She's Always A Woman by Billy Joel
From the album "The Stranger." What a beautiful piano song!! I first heard it several weeks ago on the radio, and already it has made it to my top 10 of the '70s! Billy Joel wrote a great, simple melody here--a classic ballad. Peaked at #17 in October, 1978.
8. (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
From the album "Agents Of Fortune." This is a beautiful song with excellent harmonies and guitar riffs. Definitely one of the best of the '70s and of all time. Hit #12 in 1976.
7. The Sad Cafe by Eagles
From the album "The Long Run." This moody, nostalgic song is one of the Eagles' finest. The harmonies in the bridges are excellent, and the saxophone solo at the end "sums up" the (sad!) theme. It's the best song on this rather underrated album. Not a single.
6. Dust In The Wind by Kansas
From the album "Point Of Know Return." The lush guitar sounds and the strings make this a top-notch tune. Like "I'm Sorry," "Dust In The Wind" is also (appropriately) reminiscent of the sound of the wind. Kansas put out some excellent music. Hit #6 in April, 1978--very good for a "disco" year.
5. Hotel California by Eagles
From the album "Hotel California." This timeless title track from a legendary album is one of my all-time favorites, as it is for many people. That unforgettable 2-minute or so guitar solo at the end, plus the theme and the rest of the instrumentals, definitely make this song worthy of top 10 status. Spent 1 week at #1 in May, 1977.
4. I'm Sorry by John Denver
From the album "Windsong." I don't understand why John Denver gets so much flack. "I'm Sorry" is such a beautiful ballad! It's from his "Windsong" album, and the instrumentals in this song do genuinely sound like a fresh, summer breeze (like Don Henley's "The Boys Of Summer" sounds like summertime, you know?). Great songwriting job! Spent 1 week at #1 in September, 1975.
3. Year Of The Cat by Al Stewart
From the album "Year Of The Cat." An incredible song with a gorgeous instrumental bridge. Who could not appreciate the nostalgic beauty of this song? Peaked at #8 in 1977.
2. Sultans Of Swing by Dire Straits
From the album "Dire Straits." This song has a FANTASTIC guitar hook, not to mention other guitar solos!! This fabulous rock tune hit #4 in April, 1979, a "disco" year, which means it has to be classic! My third-favorite song by my second-favorite band.
1. The Last Resort by Eagles
From the album "Hotel California." This tune is the best song by the Eagles, my favorite band. This song has an incredible "journeying" mood to it, especially in the mini-instrumental breaks. This song best showcases Don Henley's lyrical genius and the great songwriting and playing ability of the band. Not released as a single.

10. Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' by Journey
The best bar tune to sing along with (in three part harmony).
9. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant by Billy Joel
A story within a story.
8. Battle Of Evermore by Led Zeppelin
Sandy Denny of British folk rock Fairport Convention fame provides the haunting background vocals, 6 years before she dies from a fall down the steps.
7. Don't Touch Me There by The Tubes
Better known for their later hit, One in a Million Girl, this great, little known parody of old motorcycle songs reflects a Mothers of Invention influence.
6. Victim Of Love by The Eagles
Along with 'Life in the Fast Lane', their best.
5. LA Woman by The Doors
Another great road song.
4. Jessica by Allman Brothers
Try not to speed (I dare you) when you listen to this on the car radio.
3. Someone Saved My Life Tonight by Elton John
Now we know why Elton was uncomfortable with marriage.
2. Taxi by Harry Chapin
This song is not too long!
1. Rosalita by Bruce Springsteen
I have a feeling Bruce dated someone against her Daddy's wishes.

10. Dancing Queen by ABBA
Ok, ok, it is a pop, disco song. Has no true reason to be here, but think, when this song comes on the radio, do you not feel the need to just dance. ABBA was one of the most successful bands of the 70's. No one sold more albums than they did in the 70's.
9. Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind & Fire
Funk, disco, horns, this song has it all. EW&F is one of the true giants in the music business.
8. All By Myself by Eric Carmen
True, he stole the music from a classical piece. But who has not felt that way after a break-up.
7. Seasons In The Sun by Terry Jacks
One of the few songs that deals with death and leaving all your friends behind.
6. Hotel California by Eagles
One of the greatest lines in rock history. "They stabbed it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast".
5. Ohio by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
I live in Ohio, I remember that day. Makes me angry everytime I hear it.
4. American Pie by Don McLean
The first political song I truly enjoyed.
3. Layla by Derek & The Dominoes
Classic love song, the piano concerto at the end always gets me.
2. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
If not for 'Stairway', this song would be #1. Clever mixture of blues, rock, and opera.
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Greatest rock song ever, period! No ifs, ands, or buts!

10. Time For Me To Fly by REO Speedwagon
Song of my first major break up. How can you forget something like that?
9. Closing Time by Tom Waits
Great bluesy/soft rock sound. Does anyone but me remember him?
8. Magnet And Steel by Walter Egan
Just a really good song.
7. Dream Weaver by Gary Wright
Drugs, drugs, and more drugs. Hey, it was the 70's!
6. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
EVERYONE'S Favorite.
5. Slow Ride by Foghat
Good one.
4. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Who doesn't want to be free?
3. Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas
The anthem of my senior year in high school. It went to every party with me.
2. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
Everyone one thought 'Born to Run' was the best on this album. If you didn't go deeper than that and didn't listen to this one, you really missed out.
1. Wouldn't Let Me Leave This by Blank
There's no way I can pick an absolute #1 of the 70's. There were soooooo many good songs. Good old rock and roll, the best bands, the best times, the best of everything! Long live the words of the 70's "Sex, drugs and rock and roll"!!! Oh to live those days again for just one day! What a trip that would be..........

10. John Lennon by Working Class Hero
Just John and his guitar. Nothing more pure than that. This song resonates powerfully every time it's played.
9. Inner City Blues by Marvin Gaye
Amazing artist through and through. This is a personal favorite for a kid from the streets. A great song even today. If you don't have it already, also find his cover of the Beatles' "Yesterday"...it's one of the best covers of all time.
8. Who'll Stop The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival
How can you not like CCR? You might not always understand what the hell they're saying, but you still gotta love it. Just one of their great tunes.
7. Space Oddity by David Bowie
Better known as "Ground Control To Major Tom." I think this one was actually released originally in 1969, but it didn't really find popularity until the 70's. What a great song, sounds simple enough yet dynamic at the same time.
6. You Don't Have To Go by Led Zepplin
They had more meaningful songs, harder rocking songs, but of all the classics Zep' pumped out in the 70's this one just appeals to me the most.
5. Chicago by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
Supergroup. They released nothing but amazing stuff. Get your hands on some live material because they were great. Plenty of songs I could have picked, but "Chicago" was a deep song, and damn it's funky.
4. Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney
Some people criticized McCartney's solo albums, but they're great stuff as far as I'm concerned. Songs like "Too Many People", "Uncle Albert", "Mrs. Vandebilt" and "Too Many People" are classics too.
3. Machine Gun by Jimi Hendrix
I remember some people actually didn't like the Band of Gypsys. Hard for me to understand. The whole thing is great, but 'Machine Gun' stands out. Lots of great guitarists have played some great songs, but nothing drips with emotion quite like this one.
2. Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan
Dylan and Lennon are my heroes, and I could pick dozens of Dylan songs for this list, but I think this may have been his best of the 70's. "Like a Rolling Stone" is hard to ignore though.
1. Imagine by John Lennon
Not a rockin' tune, but a brilliant one. John Lennon was the greatest communicator of our time. This is his masterpiece.