After making the best song lists for every decade from the 1980s to the 2010s I decided to go back and finish the last decade of music I'm familiar with. So no, probably won't be making one of these for the 1960s anytime soon, maybe after some time diving deeper into that library of music. The 1970s were an incredible time for music though, as you can see lots of different genres started to peak in terms of quality. There's just something about that decade's music that feels so unique and it's hard to put it into words really. From the blues and soul to disco and rock, there was something for everyone to express themselves in entirely new and unique ways. Some of the greatest and most influential albums of all time were released in this decade, albums that would change the landscape of music forever.
I was not expecting this list to be so hard to make. Out of all the lists I've made this one seemed to give me a lot of trouble because I had so many songs I wanted to include but couldn't because I wanted to keep it to a small number so this wouldn't be too long. Even when I felt like I was getting closer to finishing up, I would remember another song that needed to be on the list. So I managed to narrow it down to 20 songs with a lot of amazing songs being left out. I made a rule to only include one song per artist to help me out and not just fill the list with some of the iconic artists like Fleetwood or Bowie. Even with all the time it took to pick 20 songs I still feel like I'm probably forgetting some classics that should be on here. ANYWAY... here are the top 20 songs of the 1970s! Starting out with a Beatle no less...
George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord" (1970)
When people debate who the greatest Beatle is, they often say Paul or John, when in reality it's George Harrison. Releasing his big album "All Things Must Pass" just a few months after the final Beatles album he showed that he really had something to offer the world with his voice outside of the group (not that anyone doubted that). "My Sweet Lord" was the big song from that album that many people remember fondly. There's something so relaxing about the song it carries this feeling of hope and peace in its music and lyrics that it's hard not to just chill out and enjoy every second of it. The blend of Christianity and Hindu makes for an interesting vibe at the end, almost felt like a twist ending the first time I heard it not expecting that part to come in. It all works well to make one of the most memorable songs of the Beatles singles outside of the band. But if I'm being honest with myself... Paul is the best Beatle.
Talking Heads - "Psycho Killer" (1977)
I'm going to say this about a lot of the artists on this list, but Talking Heads/David Byrne were innovators in music and were a glimpse in the 70s of what was about to come in the 80s music scene. So yeah, they were ahead of the times for sure. Still to this day, I can't say I've ever really heard a song quite like "Psycho Killer" with its interesting music and David's unique vocal style. There are certain people in this world that just "get" music and art and David Byrne is just one of those guys. He understands how to entertain while also creating some unique and spectacular art.
Redbone - "Come and Get Your Love" (1973)
A lot of us have to thank Guardians of the Galaxy for introducing us to this gem of a song. The Native American-led band made some great rock music infused with soul and funk. Their standout song "Come and Get Your Love" is the perfect example of the unique style they brought to music in the early 70s. The great funky bass mixed with the strings and guitar just sounds so good together. That along with some of the catchiest hooks make this one of the more memorable songs of a decade that had tons of amazing rock music. Being able to stand out amongst some of the best songs of all time shows how much talent this group had, and it's great to see a small resurgence thanks to the MCU.
Bob Marley - "Three Little Birds" (1977)
The most famous name in reggae certainly deserves a mention here. With lots of iconic songs in his catalog, it was hard to really pick which one was truly standout. I decided to go with "Three Little Birds" because it's the song that usually pops into my head first when I think of Marley. It's got great lyrics and music and it's just the kind of song you can listen to at any time. You can say that about a lot of his music to be fair, but just my personal choice here. There's just something so joyful about "Three Little Birds" that I think is hard to replicate in other music. You can really feel Marley just smiling through the track as you listen to it even without actually seeing his face. I think that's the perfect image to have of him as an artist.
ELO - "Mr. Blue Sky"
You know, I always imagined listening to ELO back in the 70s wasn't what the cool kids did. ELO is just so out there sometimes with their music and imagery... maybe kind of like the band Rush? But I think that's why I enjoy the music so much, because of how out there it can be. But "Mr. Blue Sky" is a song that I think everyone just likes or lies about not liking. It's just such a likable song and it feels like the band is having a blast playing it as I'm listening to it. It does go a little "out there" in the closing minutes and maybe that's why it's not too high on this list? There's little to complain about here so maybe I'm just trying to justify why it didn't get a higher spot to myself. But if you're not too familiar with Electric Light Orchestra, go check them out.
Led Zeppelin - "Black Dog" (1971)
One of the most beloved albums of all time from another giant of the 70s. Lovers of rock music certainly weren't starving for great music in the 1970s, especially with bands like Led Zeppelin completely changing the game. Imagine making an album with "Stairway to Heaven", "Rock and Roll", and "Black Dog" all included... It's insane. The album really took the band to an iconic status that would continue pretty much until today. Even the band Greta Van Fleet became incredibly popular recently just by doing a decent job at mimicking the Zeppelin style, that's how much people love the band Led Zeppelin. "Black Dog" is the song that always pumps me up with its awesome guitar riffs and solos alongside some of Robert Plant's best vocals.
Al Green - "Let's Stay Together" (1972)
Possibly the most beloved R&B singer of the 1970s (and maybe all time) in Al Green. So many classics to pick from in Al Green's catalog, but it's hard not to stick with the always classic "Let's Stay Together". A showcase of Al's smooth voice just totally kills it for nearly three and a half minutes. Simple lyrics are elevated by amazing vocals and some great funky soul music to back him. It's timeless romance music that is still honestly better than a lot of what's being put out there these days.
Michael Jackson - "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" (1979)
Michael Jackson was already a well-known name in music before his 1979 album, but this was where he really came into his own as a solo artist. One of the most memorable songs of the decade in "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough", was just a small preview of just how big he would become in the 80s and 90s. Almost every part of this song has become so iconic with Michael starting the song by talking, the horns that kick in right after, and the perfect verses and chorus. Not a single negative thing to say here... okay, maybe the song is slightly too long. BUT THAT'S IT!
Lou Reed - "Walk on the Wild Side" (1972)
Lou Reed had already found success with The Velvet Underground before working on his own solo project. He created his own groundbreaking album in 1972 with "Transformer". The album is fantastic from start to finish, but also has the song that really defined his solo career in "Walk on the Wild Side". The song was inspired by Andy Warhol's Superstars, which were his friends who were well-known actors and models most of whom. The cool thing is the people he talks about people who were not the kind you would really hear about in a lot of other mainstream songs at the time, as the song talks about trans women and drag queens. The song would later be sampled in one of the more iconic hip-hop songs "Can I Kick It?" by A Tribe Called Quest.
The Clash - London Calling (1979)
The most iconic punk group of all time changed music forever with their 1979 album "London Calling". Not only one of the best albums of all time but one that influenced an entire generation of music. The song reflects on how life was for the band members in the late 70s in the city of London. The problems with debt, fear of nuclear chaos, police brutality, and the river flooding their homes were all issues mentioned in the song. It's a song that's often used in movies and shows when introducing the location of London. It's a song that became synonymous with the city itself and is even the song for London football team Fulham, which plays right next to the river Thames the song is referring to. From the lyrics to the music this song is perfection. How awesome is that cover art by the way? It was a reference to Elvis Presley's first album that had the same font and colors.
Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On" (1971)
This is arguably one of the most important songs of all time and by an artist who no doubt changed the world of music forever. "What's Going On" was originally inspired by the unrest and protests of the Vietnam War and the police brutality that was happening in a lot of the protests. The song was also inspired by the Watts Riot of 1965, which was another even involving police brutality. The song itself is a call to put peace over violence, to talk to each other and understand each other better. Featuring Marvin's amazing vocals along with some amazing soul music to back him. A song that still feels incredibly timeless (in some ways that's unfortunate).
David Bowie - "Moonage Daydream" (1972)
It's hard to find an artist who was as consistently great through the entire 70s as David Bowie. From "The Man Who Sold the World" to "Low" it was all pretty much great. There are arguments for most of his albums in the 70s being the best of the decade and possibly his entire career. For me, I'll always love "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust..." as it's just an awesome rock album with banger after banger from start to finish. The first song that always comes to mind when I think of Bowie is "Moonage Daydream", probably because he starts it by calling himself an alligator. There's so much to love in this song from the spacy lyrics to the great instrumentation and of course Bowie himself. There are very few songs that just give me a special feeling when listening to like this song, it's hard to describe but if you love this song you might know what I mean... maybe it's just a Bowie thing.
ABBA - "Dancing Queen" (1976)
The hit machine known as Abba dominated the late 70s with their insanely catchy hooks that must have been a blast to dance to at the disco. Surprised it took this long on the list to get to some disco-inspired music, though ABBA put more of a pop/rock twist into it to create their own brand of music. When people think of Sweden there are usually two things that come to mind and one of those things is ABBA.. along with some furniture-making company. Being the most famous thing to come from a country is a pretty big feat. The music they created instantly transports you back in time to the late 70s and how the world was partying back then. "Dancing Queen" is a song that most people, even younger people, are at least aware of probably more than any of the other songs on the list so far. It certainly has the most views/streams on all the music services out of all these songs. It's a song that from start to finish is burned into my brain and I get excited when it comes on even after hearing it countless times. There's just nothing quite like ABBA in music today.
Queen - "Somebody to Love" (1976)
Here's another artist that's never been able to be replicated in style and popularity. The power of Freddie Mercury's vocals is something that will never be replicated again, he's just one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of talents. That along with the brilliant music that backs him up with the rest of the signature backing vocals put Queen on the map and pushed them into legendary status. Choosing a song as my favorite of the decade wasn't easy with all the great choices there are to pick as a best Queen song. I think I chose "Somebody to Love" because it has everything I love about the band in one song. The music is also just fantastic with the great bass lines, piano, and memorable guitar solos. It also has that great build-up in the bridge that never fails to pump me up.
Elton John - "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973)
The thing a lot of these artists have in common on this list is how they were able to captivate live audiences by doing stellar performances and just being really creative with their presentations. Elton John was and is a one-of-a-kind performer who just got music and performance like so few did. He's the kind of artist who put his soul into every show and was heartbroken when he couldn't live up to his own standards. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is a timeless song from one of the best albums of the decade. It's got everything I love from Elton John with the piano-focused music alongside his memorable vocals and the lyrics by Bernie Taupin (Elton's lifelong songwriting partner).
Blondie - "Heart of Glass" (1978)
One of the most innovative bands of the 70s and an important part of punk and new wave history released one of the catchiest songs of the decade in "Heart of Glass". Debbie Harry was a star and the rest of the band were great at creating some of the most memorable songs of an entire decade and beyond. "Heart of Glass" feels like the song I personally love the most, but arguably not their biggest hit with songs like "Call Me" and "One Way or Another" also having a good argument. The thing about "Heart of Glass" that always draws me in is the music, with its iconic bass and guitar that are instantly recognizable from the first second. Debbie herself is fantastic in this song not missing a single note... not that she ever did from what I imagine. Being a crucial part of creating what would be the future of music in the coming decade is impressive enough, but making a song that stands the test of time is even better.
Patti Smith - "Because the Night" (1978)
1978 was a great year for punk artists it seems. Here we have Patti Smith, another innovative force of music in the 70s, with her big hit "Because the Night". It was Patti going in a slightly new direction from her previous work as she teamed with Bruce Springsteen to create this classic song. Patti Smith is a name that is often said with the likes of Lou Reed, Nico, and the New York Dolls as innovators of music in the 60s/70s, and rightfully so. She has so many classic albums and songs that really pushed boundaries in those decades. The best artists can go beyond the genres in that they made a name for themselves in and I think that's what Patti did here with "Because the Night". Not that it's extremely out of her more punk sound, but it's certainly different. Two great creative minds create an amazing song, who would have thought?
Stevie Wonder - "Sir Duke" (1976)
Usually, when I think of amazing albums of the 70s there are two that come to mind as perfect works. I'll get to the one that comes to mind first, but the second is definitely Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life". Even more impressive is the fact that it was a double album with 21 tracks altogether. Just going through and listening to it, it's crazy how good it all is. "Sir Duke" is my favorite big hit from Stevie Wonder because it's got so much going for it. The amazing bass line is the first thing that really drew me in, but it's just a small part of so many amazing layers. The horns, percussion, guitars, keys and vocals are all just perfect here. Everything from the melodies to the lyrics just pushes this song into legendary status. I mean, it's Stevie Wonder, one of the best and most influential musicians of all time. What would the 70s and beyond be without this guy? Certainly not the same.
Earth, Wind, & Fire - "September (1978)
One of the greatest choruses of all time. The rest of the song is pretty much perfect too to be fair. I mean this has to be the catchiest song of all time, right? Or at least the most fun song of all time? I mean I can certainly say it's a song that will never get old no matter how many times I hear it. Earth, Wind, and also Fire made tons of great tracks back in the day and most of them hold up to this day. I mean if you're looking for a good time just throw on some of their music and you won't be disappointed in the slightest. Did you know that the water element wasn't included in the band name because it's based on the astrological sign Sagittarius? I'm sure that information just changed your life...
Fleetwood Mac - "The Chain" (1977)
The first album that comes to my mind when I think of the 70s is easily "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac. An album that had no right being as perfect as it ended up being. Most people know the stories behind the creation of this album and the tension that all the members had with each other when making it. From partying way too much, tons of drugs, affairs, and divorce, it's truly a miracle this album even came out at all. Not only did it come out, but it's considered by many to be one of the best albums of all time. You can pretty much pick any song from this album and argue that it's the best one. I personally choose "The Chain" as my favorite song here and it's mostly for one reason... the ending. Even after 100+ listens, when that bass line kicks in at three minutes it gives me goosebumps every time. The build-up to that moment is so masterful that it's honestly probably my favorite moment in all of music ever. That alongside Stevie and Lindsey's vocals (and Christine's) and how well they work together and harmonize. I mean it's just perfection through and through.
So that's it... the 1970s are done. I'm currently trying to finish my WORST SONGS OF THE 90s list. The amount of novelty songs in that decade is pretty exhausting, to be honest.