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. Baba O'reilly by The Who
9. You Really Got Me by Van Halen
8. American Pie by Don McLean
7. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
6. Hey Jude by The Beatles
5. Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd
This song is really country-ish, and I'm a big country fan.
4. Dream On by Aerosmith
I luv this song.
3. We Are The Champions by Queen
Anything by Queen is cool.
2. Turn The Page by Bob Seger
My brother and I both love this song.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
This song rocks!!!!!

10. All Night Long by Rainbow
80's rockers owed a lot to these guys - head banging at it's earliest.
9. Ballroom Blitz by Sweet
Heeeeyyyyyy yeah - then rock till you drop - energy packed pop.
8. Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
Sorry Queen - this is THE ultimate 70's anthem.
7. Deborah by T Rex
Marc on acid - but now that I've written it down I can't get it out of my head again - bless you, Bolan.
6. Tiger Feet by Mud
Stay on your backside while this song plays - go on - make my day.
5. Jilted John by Jilted John
Novelty from '78 - but I loved it - still do - someone pinched me bird ...
4. This Flight Tonight by Nazareth
"Look out the left the captain said" - rock classic.
3. Denis by Blondie
As a 17 year-old this record (and Debbie) blew my mind AND she spoke French - down boy ...
2. See My Baby Jive by Wizzard
Can't believe I haven't seen this on anyone's list yet - Roy Wood was amazing.
1. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
Simply the best - still listen to it if I'm sad.

10. Brazil by Ritchie Family
According to Billboard, this was a #2 hit for Xavier Cugat in the 1940's. Another great tune sung by the Ritchie Family is "Life Is Music": the lyrics are cheesily naïve and hopelessly optimistic ("Music is the cure for the ills of the world", "Music is the sound when a baby cries", et cetera), but the vocal harmonies are gorgeous. Even "Best Disco in Town" is an infectious, beautifully produced record. The Ritchie Family underwent a personnel change early in 1978, and their music was never the same since.
9. Farewell Song & Ballet from the Montréal Olympics by Salsoul Orchestra
The Salsoul Orchestra gives a sensitive interpretation of André Mathieu and Vic Vogel's score, but at a length of five minutes, it's far too short. I can only hope that the original soundtrack LP to the Games of the XXI Olympiad (which was issued on the Polydor label) will be reissued some time in the near future. I rarely get to hear André Mathieu's music, but it never fails to knock my socks off.
8. More, More, More by Andrea True Connection
Perhaps it's a quirky choice, but I like the syncopation and the solo breaks with the trumpet and piano. There's a fresh feel to the arrangement, and although Andrea True's voice sounds somewhat wispy, it's perfect for the track. I think that the chemistry among the musicians more than compensates for any flaws in craftsmanship.
7. Love to Love You Baby by Donna Summer
Forget the abridged versions of this song, and go for the seventeen-minute E.P. Though "Love to Love You Baby" raised eyebrows for Donna Summer's ample oohs and ahs througout the record, the chemistry between voice and orchestration never fails to impress me. I love Summer's vocal harmonies shortly before the coda. My favorite moment, however, comes nine minutes into the track, with a breathy, hustle-inspired flute solo. Donna Summer made many good records after "Love to Love You", but none of them quite captured the magic of this one.
6. Don't Take Away The Music by Tavares
Tavares seems to have improvised on the O'Jays "Backstabbers" to create this track, but they sing with sensitivity and make the song uniquely theirs. Another great track is "It Only Takes a Minute". The Bee Gees covered "More Than a Woman", and both versions appear on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever.
5. For The Love Of Money by O' Jays
It takes a lot of funk to get me to listen to a Christian record. Other great songs are "Love Train" and "Backstabbers", but none have quite the same passion as "For The Love Of Money".
4. Ecstasy When You Lay Down next to Me by Barry White
This song has just about the smoothest orchestral accompaniment I've ever heard to anyone's voice in any genre; it just so happens that the voice is Barry White's. Barry White, moreover, was a disco pioneer with his Love Unlimited Orchestra. "Love's Theme" paved the way for other instrumental hits such as MFSB's "TSOP", Van McCoy's "The Hustle", the Silver Convention's "Fly, Robin, Fly", and B.T. Express' "Express".
3. Got To Give It Up by Marvin Gaye
I don't think that Marvin Gaye recorded a single bad song throughout his career. His life was cut tragically short in 1984, but his career was long. The word "prodigy" comes to mind.
2. Dazz by Brick
I was in fifth grade when I first heard this track, and it made me want to learn to play the saxophone. Also, there is a very cool flutter-tongued alto flute solo on the long version of "Dazz"; it's available on the "Millennium Funk Party" compilation, and it's proof positive that disco was much more than gimmicky, soulless robotics.
1. Make It Funky by James Brown
James Brown is the godfather of soul. I think that there is a version that runs fifteen minutes or longer; I, however, have heard only "Make It Funky Part I". My loss, no doubt. Saxes, horns and the godfather's voice: the great records they've made are far too numerous to list here. ("Get on the Good Foot", "Sex Machine", ad infinitum!)

10. Band On The Run by Paul McCartney & Wings
Though never as good as with his first band, McCartney resurfaced as top performance with this album.
9. I Was Made For Loving You by KISS
The theatrical, flamboyant stiles of the early decade culminated in this band.
8. Go Your Own Way by Fletwood Mac
One piece from one of the greatest albums of the decade: Rumours
7. Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd
A band that developed a very particular style and permeated the music of the times.
6. Imagine by John Lennon
The 60's conscience and optimism were still alive.
5. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Very influential. Nobody has played the drums like Bonzo.
4. Stayin' Alive by Bee Gees
This is the 70's, man...
3. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
The second greatest guitar solo of all times.
2. Bohemian Rapsody by Queen
A song like no other. Its artistic innovation is comparable with "A Day In The Life" by that one group in the 60's.
1. Hotel California by Eagles
The greatest guitar solo of all times. The lyrics are haunting, the vocals superb...a masterpiece.

10. I'm The One by Van Halen
This song starts off fast and never stops. It really pumps me up.
9. Of A Lifetime by Journey
Even though this was before Steve Perry joined the group, it's great. I like it more than any other Journey song.
8. Highway Star by Deep Purple
7. Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd
6. Old Man by Neil Young
5. Barracuda by Heart
A lot of people I know don't care for Heart that much, but I think they're pretty talented.
4. L.A. Woman by The Doors
3. That's The Way by Led Zeppelin
Robert Plant's voice is just so perfect in this song. I love hearing it, it's so peaceful.
2. Baba O'Reily by The Who
Beautifully made. This song is very solid and is one of my personal favorites.
1. The Ocean by Led Zeppelin
When I hear John Bonham's count in to the song I just get really excited. It is one of the most hard-rocking songs ever.

10. Welcome To The Machine by Pink Floyd
9. Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd
8. Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
7. Knockin' On Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan
6. Money by Pink Floyd
5. What Is And What Should Never Be by Led Zeppelin
4. While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles
3. Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
1. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Nothing compares to the great sound that 'Floyd' made with this great song.

10. What Is And Never Should Be by Led Zeppelin
Yeah, it's good.
9. Houses Of The Holy by Led Zeppelin
We will watch the white dogs.
8. Vera by Pink Floyd
Impressive.
7. Dazed And Confused by Led Zeppelin
So good.
6. Instant Karma by John Lennon
Great song.
5. The Wall by Pink Floyd
We don't need no education.
4. Hey You by Pink Floyd
Don't mess with it.
3. Imagine by John Lennon
A lot of meaning.
2. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin
So good.
1. Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
Simply the best.

10. If I Can Dream by Elvis Presley
9. Children Of The Revolution by T Rex
8. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
7. Crazy Horses by The Osmonds
6. In A Broken Dream by Python Lee Jackson
5. Yesterday by The Beatles
4. Lola by The Kinks
3. Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
2. Stuck In The Middle With You by Stealers Wheel
1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

10. Renegade by Styx
9. The Joker by The Steve Miller Band
8. Dream On by Aerosmith
7. Bat Out Of Hell by Meat Loaf
6. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
5. Layla by Derek & The Dominos
4. More Than A Feeling by Boston
3. Hotel California by The Eagles
2. Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
1. Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin

10. Easy Money by King Crimson
Anything from this band is worthwhile, but as the center of 1973's "Lark's Tongues in Aspic" this redefined and raised the bar for all progressive music that followed.
9. Shot By Both Sides by Magazine
Howard Devoto sang like Johnny Rotten and wrote like Samuel Beckett. More intense and angry art-punk.
8. Reuters by Wire
Brutal, cryptic art punk. These guys showed everyone else how to do it.
7. In A Glass House by Gentle Giant
Breakneck prog meets up with one of the great heavy guitar licks of all time. Totally dust whatever Yes or Genesis were up to at the time.
6. Julia by Pavlov's Dog
David Surkamp, a singer who made Geddy Lee sound like Johnny Cash, wrote this devastating song of obsession and longing; oddly, his vocals add incredible poignancy to his yearning.
5. Sing To Me by 1999
Karen Lawrence had pipes that easily surpassed Pat Benatar or the Wilson sisters, and it'a wonder that she wasn't more widely noticed. "Sing To Me", from the first 1999 album, also feature's Eric Troyer's helium vocals (he did the high harmonies on Aerosmith's "Last Child") and is a gorgeous tour de force.
4. Calvary Cross by Richard and Linda Thompson
Richard's brutal barbed wire guitar solo drives this 5 chord powerhouse
3. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
Poppy as hell, with a sax line both triumphant and infinitely sad.
2. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo by Pere Ubu
Bad, bad trip...
1. She's A Dancer by Crack The Sky
Amazing overlooked band from Pittsburgh that wrote songs like Steely Dan and played them like a funky Wishbone Ash. Best song about sexual anbivalence I've ever heard.