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. I Write The Songs by Barry Manilow
9. Mandy by Barry Manilow
8. More Than A Woman by Bee Gees
7. Night Fever by Bee Gees
6. I Just Want To Be Your Everything by Andy Gibb
5. An Everlasting Love by Andy Gibb
Greatest of Andy Gibb.
4. Dont Throw It All Away (Our Love) by Andy Gibb
Written by the Bee Gees for Andy Gibb..
3. How Deep is Your Love by Bee Gees
Great song!
2. You Should Be Dancing by Bee Gees
1. Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees
Bee Gees ROCKED the 70s! :)

10. Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney
One of the best all-time love songs from the undisputed King of Love (Sorry Barry White). His shear passion for his wife Linda comes out so true and real. Besides 'Jet' and 'Band On The Run', this is perhaps his best work away from Lennon, Ringo and George.
9. Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees
They may not have started the Disco phase in the mid-70's, however, they took it to the stratosphere with this song. Although, the Disco stay was short lived the Bee Gees took dance music further than anyone else.
8. Your Song by Elton John
The beginning of a 30-year reign on the top 40! Although Elton never wrote the lyrics to his songs, he sang them with so much conviction that he made them his own. 'our Song' is timeless and Elton John may have been just as good later on, but never better than his first hit.
7. Piano Man by Billy Joel
The ultimate 'getting drunk sing-along song'! Is it funny how some of the best songs are taken from singer's personal experiences. Billy Joel's 'average down-on-his-luck song' turned him into anything but for the last 30 years.
6. Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who
From the first chord you now right away that you are about to listen to 8 minutes, plus of some of best guitar work that Pete Townsend and The Who had to offer.
5. Maggie May by Rod Stewart
Rod "The Mod" never sounded bettter.
4. Let It Be by The Beatles
In their second-to-last single release as a united band, they struck a chord into the listeners because the name said it all... "Let It Be". The song represented so much and allowed many listeners to come to grips that The Beatles were splitting. Just let it be!
3. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
The best band Southern Rock had to offer. 'Sweet Home Alabama' represents not only good music, but also how music can make a statement. Just ask Neil Young!
2. American Pie by Don McLean
Turned one of rock 'n' roll's saddest days into a tribute to Buddy Holly. It's as popular today as it was when it hit #1 in 1972.
1. Drift Away by Dobie Gray
One of the greatest pop songs of all time!

10. Dream Weaver by Gary Wright
A beautiful and relaxing ballad. Along with 'Sailing' (by Christopher Cross) and 'Southern Cross' (by Crosby, Stills and Nash), this song is best heard out on the water.
9. Chiquitita by ABBA
Say what you like about ABBA, but their songs are fantastic. This particular one is my favourite, mainly due to the amazing piano score... but they had plenty of hits.
8. Reminiscing by Little River Band
Great song, love the lyrics. I remember saying (when I was younger and heard this song) that I wouldn't be doing that. Now look at me, reminiscing about the great songs of the seventies.
7. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
What do you say about this one? It's brilliant and ranks up there with the greatest songs of all time (along with "Stairway To Heaven" and "Hotel California"). Okay, so I said the same about the other two songs as well, but tell me who doesn't sing along to this one when they play it on the radio.
6. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
The added bonus is the incredible instrumental parts.
5. Hotel California by Eagles
4. Escape by Rupert Holmes
Okay, so it's subtitled "The Pina Colada Song" and some sources say it wasn't released until 1980 (it most definitely came out in '79). This is a great song for music and the lyrics match. Although one view could be the song is about deceit, it can also be viewed that the song is about finding the interests that got you together in the first place.
3. I Don't Like Mondays by Boomtown Rats
The piano ..... I'm still dribbling. If you remove the vocals and all the instruments, except the piano, then this is one of the most amazing songs ever. Great song and rather moving lyrics (when you consider what the song is about).
2. Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot
Fantastic melody and interesting lyrics. Not a huge fan of remakes, but Elwood did an okay version. Still have to go with Gordon's original though.
1. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
Brilliant song, with an amazing music score. The saxophone really makes this song. When idiots like "Foo Fighters" remake it, replacing the sax with an electric guitar, all they do is make a classic song into an incoherent mess of noise.

10. Whatcha Gonna Do by Pablo Cruise
9. You're No Good by Linda Ronstadt
8. Sister Golden Hair by America
7. Silly Love Songs by Wings
6. I Go Crazy by Paul Davis
5. Rich Girl by Daryl Hall & John Oates
4. I Like Dreamin' by Kenny Nolan
3. I'm In You by Peter Frampton
2. Heaven On The 7th Floor by Paul Nicholas
1. Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band

10. Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
9. Hotel California by Eagles
8. One Of These Nights by Eagles
7. Hey Jude by Beatles
6. More Than A Feeling by Boston
5. Low Rider by War
4. American Pie by Don McLean
3. Iron Man by Black Sabbath
2. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin

10. Cat's In The Cradle by Harry Chapin
9. Come Sail Away by Styx
8. Benny & The Jets by Elton John
7. Lean On Me by Bill Withers
6. Hotel California by The Eagles
5. My Sharona by The Knack
4. All Right Now by Free
3. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
1. Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

10. Seventeen by Sex Pistols
Sid Vicious is the hottest guy ever.
9. Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad by Meat Loaf
8. Blitzkrieg Bop by Ramones
7. Gabba Gabba Hey by Ramones
6. Life In The Fast Lane by Eagles
5. Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith
4. Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd
3. Bohemian Rapsody by Queen
2. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
1. Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd
The best band, along with Guns 'N' Roses.

10. The Walk by The Inmates
A cover of Jimmy McCracklin's 1957 oldie which, like Dollar's 'I Wanna Hold Yoyr Hand', makes the original article seem pale somehow. Pete Gunn's guitar break towards the end is EXCITEMENT personified but not to be defeated 'Big' Bill Hurley simply yells the song out at the very end. I once had their first, (and only?) album 'First Offence', but by some brainstorm I gave it away. Is there anybody out there who knows where I could get a copy? Please!!!
9. 60 Minutes Of Your Love by Dr. Feelgood
Once again we are in album track territory here (off the album 'Be Seeing You'). This is a cover of the original by Homer Banks, which is the c/w on the other side from 'A Lot Of Love'. I just HAD to have some Dr. Feelgood in there since the group INVENTED the new wave of Brit Blues in the late seventies and this is as good an excuse as any!
8. Shake And Shout by Secret Affair
Not the group's 1979 'show pony', anthemic single, 'Time For Action', but a track off their first album, 'Glory Boys'. It's got the same great riff as Homer Banks' 'A Lot Of Love', a Northern Soul classic and 'Gimme Some Lovin'' by the Spencer Davis Group. If you are a Mod or a Soul fan you WILL dance to this, no problem.
7. Win Or Lose by Lew Lewis Reformer
I first heard this record back in the Summer of '79 when I was getting myself something to eat in the kitchen and happened to have the radio on at the time. I have never got up with such a start in all my life as Lew Lewis lets rip with his blues harp right from the word 'go'. What a way to discover a band.
6. OK Fred (instrumental version) by Errol Dunkley
The words to the song are a bit 'naff' so I like to get them out of the way by playing the b/w instrumental version. When you do it's an irresistible dance record and will have you soon 'skanking' away.
5. Buzz Buzz A Diddle It by Matchbox
Well, here's a change of mood if ever there was any! Wild, driving, raw and primitive Rockabilly. Every now and again this Mod likes to be a Rocker and this band, having accompanied Bo Diddley on tour, an artiste beloved of both camps, is about as good an excuse to do that.
4. I Wanna Hold Your Hand by Dollar
This just about fits into the seventies, first charting in the UK in November 1979. Having squeezed Dollar into the 'special mention' section on the 'In The 80's' chart I thought I'd better get this one in the 'Top Ten' proper. I've actually read that this version comfortably trumps the Beatles' original. Either way - almost surreal, minimalist instrumental accompaniment and a great promo video with Thereza Bazar looking pretty as a picture in a two-tone Mod dress. I can't tell you what effect that had on an eighteen-year-old Mod like I was at the time. This might be a family audience!
3. It's Too Bad by The Jam
This wasn't one of The Jam's singles but it's a great straight pop song with an updated sixties sensibility off the album 'All Mod Cons'. Dig the guitar riffs between the verses that nod in the direction of the 'yeah, yeah, yeah' bit in 'She Loves You'.
2. Get It by Darts
This band were so unfortunate it was untrue. I wonder if theirs is a record for the number of times any one band reached No. 2 in the UK charts. I blame variously 'Saturday Night Fever' and 'Grease' and the no. 1's they churned out at the height of Darts' career. I could have picked any one of their no. 2's, but 'Get It' is about as good as any other since I'm a bit of a Motown man. A great one for gliding across the floor.
1. Theme From The Water Margin by Pete Mac Junior
This was one of my favourite programmes on TV in the seventies and probably the coolest disc to come out on the 'legendary' BBC Records and Tapes label, others probably being mostly sound effects etc. It brings back so many happy memories of derring-do by the gallant knights of the Water Margin of Liang Shiang-Po (just think 'Crouching Tiger - Hidden Dragon' goes medieval China) and the lovely Sanae Tushida playing Hu Sang Yiang.

10. Fly Like An Eagle by Steve Miller Band
9. American Pie by Don McLean
8. Boogie Shoes by KC & The Sunshine Band
7. Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas
6. I Can't Get No Satisfaction by Rolling Stones
5. Night Fever by Bee Gees
4. War by Edwin Starr
3. Who Are You by The Who
2. Low Rider by War
1. Old Time Rock 'n' Roll by Bob Seger

10. Change Of The Guard by Steely Dan
A great song with a singable "na-na" chorus.
9. Dancin' Fool by Frank Zappa
He makes fun of disco.
8. Hungry For Love by Todd Rundgren
Yeah, yeah, most of you don't know this one, but it's on his '73 album 'A Wizard A True Star'. As a matter of fact, that whole album is amazing.
7. Moondance by Van Morrison
It was a toss up between this one and "Jackie Wilson Said." Either one is good, and in my opinion, they make the rest of Van's compositional output look flimsy.
6. Breakfast In America by Supertramp
Gotta love that klezmer-style clarinet solo!
5. I Want You by Marvin Gaye
I can't believe Robert Palmer ever got his dirty paws on this classic tune-- the original is the BEST!!!!
4. September by Earth, Wind & Fire
3. Superstition by Stevie Wonder
2. My Old School by Steely Dan
1. Couldn't I Just Tell You by Todd Rundgren
Satisfying Beatlesque rock with great lyrics.