The 1970s is synonymous with great rock music. It’s also a time with many icons were born. Artists experimented with sound, look, and the whole persona in many powerful ways. In other words, this decade was full of surprises, and it’s not easy to pick the best 70s songs – especially when it comes to rock music.
Bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Santana – all of whom began to pick up steam toward the end of the ’60s – could be found building the framework of their lasting legend in this new decade. But it wasn’t all familiar figures from classic rock’s initial era, either. Let’s take a look at the list.
29. “American Girl” – Tom Petty
“American Girl” wasn’t a hit when it was pulled as the second single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ debut album in 1977, but its stature has grown over the years thanks to its timeless appeal. Nervy with just a hint of nostalgia, the song sparks from the ringing notes that open it to the jammed fadeout.
28. “Barracuda” – Heart
That rolling riff is the force behind one of Heart’s most timeless songs, but the sting doesn’t stop there. Ann Wilson wrote the song after their record company hinted that she and Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson (her sister) were romantically involved. Heart never again sounded so pissed off.
27. “More Than a Feeling” – Boston
Boston’s debut single remains their masterpiece: a monster riff aided by a gargantuan hook, and tightly wrapped in a radio-ready song perfect for air guitar, singalongs, etc. It’s a dazzling intro to a band that stormed the latter half of the ’70s with a style and sound all its own.
26. “Black Magic Woman” – Santana
Carlos Santana’s sinewy riff gets all the notice, but Gregg Rolie’s darkly mysterious keyboard signature, not to mention his raw and emotional vocal, is what whisks this old Fleetwood Mac song to an entirely new place.
25. “God Save the Queen” – Sex Pistols
And when you think about punk, one of the first things that comes to mind is: Sex Pistols.
And not only have they disrupted the music scene with their “God Save The Queen” but they also crashed Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee celebration.
24.“Psycho Killer” – Talking Heads
Many sources claim that the song is a result of lead singer David Byrne trying to write an Alice Cooper song. Released on their 1977 debut studio album Talking Heads: 77, it became one of the band’s signature songs.
23. “Jailbreak” – AC/DC
Sure, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “TNT,” and “Big Balls” are more popular AC/DC songs, but nothing gets to the heart of their reckless aggression like “Jailbreak.”
22. “No More Mr. Nice Guy”– Alice Cooper
A fun sing-along chorus nearly got this collaboration with key band member Michael Bruce into the Billboard Top 20. But listen more closely, and you hear a dark manifesto for Alice Cooper, who is essentially telling everyone questioning his ever-more-controversial persona to stick it.
21. “Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac
It’s tough to pick one Fleetwood Mac song for a best 70s songs list, but we’ll go with “Dreams” due to its recent resurgence on TikTok. The song is also from the Rumours album, which is arguably one of the best rock albums ever.
Singer Stevie Knicks is also highlighted as one of the defining women of rock music.
20. “Detroit Rock City” – KISS
Like it or not, KISS is one of the most iconic bands of the 70s. Their big rock music was some of the best of the decade, and they transformed the concept of a live show.
19. “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’” – The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones solidified their singular brand of blooze rock in the 70s. The druggy, jammy swagger of “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’” is a case in point.
18. “Bitches Brew” – Miles Davis
Okay, not exactly rock. But it’s no secret that Davis has inspired a legion of rock artists and this album was iconic.
One of those things was Miles Davis completely re-inventing jazz (again) with a series of albums like On the Corner, A Tribute to Jack Johnson, and, of course, Bitches Brew.
The title cut from that 1970 album, nearly 30 minutes of heavenly joy, might just re-wire your brain. Its mix of jazz, rock, African, and Indian music is on its own astral plane.
17. “Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen was initially known as “the new Bob Dylan,” but he came into his own on the 1974’s Born to Run. The anthemic track is rightly considered one of the best songs of the 70s. The E Street band is in full force, especially “Big Man” Clarence Clemons and drummer Max Weinberg.
16. “Sweet Emotion” – Aerosmith
In the ’70s, few bands piled on the riffs as relentlessly as Aerosmith. One of their all-time greatest gets support from a talk box, which helps pull things along. Not that the monster riff driving the whole thing needed the assistance.
15. “Slow Ride” – Foghat
Sparked by a jam session with new bassist Nick Jameson, “Slow Ride” was pieced together musically from several different segments, with lyrics added later by Dave Peverett. However they got there, it worked, giving Foghat their highest-ever charting song at No. 20.
14. “Take the Money and Run” – Steve Miller Band
Like fellow Texas-based outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, Miller’s protagonists (named Billy Joe and Bobby Sue) are on the run from the law – with detective Billie Mack hot on their trail as they race “down to old El Paso.” Unlike Bonnie and Clyde, however, these bandits apparently got away clean.
13. “Layla” – Derek and the Dominos
What was the number-one rock and roll song in 1970? That’d be “Layla” from Derek and the Dominos, the supergroup that featured Eric Clapton and Duane Allman.
12. “Hotel California” – The Eagles
The Eagles began as a country rock band. Think “Take it Easy,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling.” They became more of a standard rock band by the late ’70s. “Hotel California” is the ultimate song from that era of the group. Joe Walsh made a huge difference in their transition. His epic guitar solo at the end makes the song.
11. “Man in Black” – Johnny Cash
Let’s give the 70s country its due as well, shall we? And what better way than to include Johnny Cash with his signature song?
10. “Stairway to Heaven” – Led Zeppelin
“Stairway to Heaven” is a team effort from Zeppelin. Robert Plant’s vocal is tender than wild, Jimmy Page’s guitar work is perfect, and John Bonham’s drumming at the end is just heavy.
It’s also a feat songwriting-wise. Listen to it with fresh ears and you’ll understand why it’s so legendary. Led Zeppelin actually had many iconic songs in the 70s. Listen to the entire list here.
9. “Marquee Moon” – Television
“Marquee Moon” belongs on this list of best 70s songs simply because it checks so many boxes: it’s rock, it’s punk, it’s new wave, it’s even a bit prog.
8. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” – Simon and Garfunkel
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are one of the most legendary duos in rock history. Gorgeous “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is practically a hymn. Initially, Paul Simon thought this was a minor song, and it took his producer’s prodding to get him to write the B part (“sail on, silver girl…”) and finish it. Crazy to think that’s true.
7. “London Calling” – The Clash
“London Calling” is the pinnacle of punk: it’s reckless, it has an attitude, and it just rocks. It’s easy to understand why it’s one of the best 70s songs out there.
6. “Free Bird” – Lynyrd Skynyrd
“Free Bird” is one of those 70s songs everyone knows. Taken from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1973 debut album, the epic track that always gets requested at concerts only reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100.
5. “Wish You Were Here” – Pink Floyd
Many Pink Floyd classics come to mind when you think of the best 70s songs: “Time,” “Money,” “Careful With That Axe, Eugene,” and so many others. “Wish You Were Here,” the band’s loving tribute to their founder Syd Barrett, is their most beautiful song.
David Gilmour’s acoustic guitar riff on this is essential for any beginning guitar player, and Roger Waters provides one of his most affecting sets of lyrics. It is forever on the list of best 70s rock songs.
4. “Father and Son” – Cat Stevens
As far as best 70s songs with a message go, it’s hard to beat “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens. The hit single from his 1970 album Tea for the Tillerman. Rolling Stone put it at #408 on its recent 500 Best Songs of All Time list. Glad it made the list, but it should be higher.
3. “Heroes” – David Bowie
It’d be criminal to have a best 70s songs list and not include David Bowie. He had so many iterations in the 1970s, from the glam rock Ziggy Stardust to the coke-ed-out Thin White Duke that it makes it especially difficult to choose just one of his songs.
We’re going with his Berlin period, where he branched out into a more experimental direction with famous collaborator Brian Eno.
2. “Let It Be” – The Beatles
Perhaps the defining moment of the 1970s happened at the beginning of the decade: the breakup of the Beatles. Poetically, they left us with “Let It Be,” from their 1970 swansong album of the same name. It is arguably not only one of the best 70s rock songs but one of the best songs ever…period.
Paul McCartney gives us one of his best vocal performances on “Let It Be,” perfectly balancing tenderness and toughness. Billy Preston’s organ is also a highlight.
1. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
When you think of the best 70s rock songs, one choice immediately comes to mind: Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” What can be said about it? It’s beyond iconic. It’s beyond legendary. It’s its own world and its own universe.
