Which Was Your Favorite, Ranking The 18 Best Songs Of The ’70s

The 1970s didn’t just play music – they lived it. Picture bell bottoms swaying under disco lights, vinyl spinning on shag-carpet floors, and the sweet rebellion of electric guitars cutting through the air.

From groovy dance floors to smoky rock clubs, this decade defined what it meant to feel a song. The beats were bold, the lyrics told stories, and the energy? Pure gold. Now, let’s be real – this list is totally subjective, baby. Everyone’s got their own favorite jam that takes them back. So no hard feelings if your top tune didn’t make the cut.

Grab your lava lamp, cue up the turntable, and let’s boogie through the hits that made the ’70s downright unforgettable.

1. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (1975)

Freddie Mercury’s masterpiece changed rock music forever with its operatic drama and wild genre shifts. Running nearly six minutes long, this song refused to follow any rules, blending ballad, opera, and hard rock into one glorious adventure.

Radio stations thought it was too weird and too long, but fans disagreed. It topped charts worldwide and became Queen’s signature anthem, proving that taking creative risks can create something truly immortal.

2. John Lennon – Imagine (1971)

Picture a world without borders, wars, or possessions. That’s exactly what Lennon invited us to envision with this gentle piano ballad that became a peace anthem.

Simple yet powerful, the lyrics ask us to dream of unity and harmony. Though some found the message controversial, millions embraced it as a hopeful vision. Today, it remains one of the most covered and beloved songs ever written.

3. Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven (1971)

Starting with delicate acoustic guitar and building to an explosive finale, this eight-minute epic journey defines progressive rock. Jimmy Page’s guitar solo near the end has been called the greatest in rock history by countless musicians and fans.

Radio stations played it constantly despite its length. The mysterious lyrics about a lady buying a stairway sparked endless debates and interpretations, adding to its legendary status.

4. Eagles – Hotel California (1976)

Welcome to a mysterious hotel where you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. This haunting tale of excess and entrapment in California captured the dark side of the American Dream.

That legendary dual guitar solo by Don Felder and Joe Walsh still gives listeners goosebumps. The song won a Grammy and became one of the most analyzed rock tracks ever, with theories ranging from addiction to devil worship.

5. Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive (1977)

Those falsetto voices and that unmistakable beat defined the disco era and made everyone want to strut like John Travolta. The song dominated the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which became the best-selling album of the decade.

Beyond the dance floor, it found new life as the perfect rhythm for CPR chest compressions. Medical professionals actually teach lifesaving techniques using this funky beat, proving music can literally save lives.

6. Stevie Wonder – Superstition (1972)

Funky, groovy, and absolutely irresistible, this track showcases Wonder’s genius on keyboards and vocals. The clavinet riff he created has been sampled and copied countless times but never quite matched.

Recorded during his incredible creative peak, the song warns against believing in superstitions while making you move your feet. It won multiple Grammys and proved Wonder was a musical force unlike any other in the industry.

7. ABBA – Dancing Queen (1976)

Young and sweet, only seventeen, this Swedish sensation gave the world pure disco joy. The sparkling production and soaring vocals made it impossible not to smile and dance along.

It became ABBA’s only number one hit in America and remains their most famous song worldwide. Decades later, it found new audiences through the Mamma Mia musical and movies, proving timeless pop perfection never goes out of style.

8. Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (1971)

Smooth, soulful, and socially conscious, Gaye tackled war, poverty, and environmental destruction with grace and beauty. The jazzy production and layered vocals created something completely different from typical Motown hits.

Record executives initially rejected it as too political and uncommercial. Boy, were they wrong! It became a massive hit and is now considered one of the greatest albums ever made, influencing generations of artists.

9. Fleetwood Mac – Dreams (1977)

Stevie Nicks wrote this ethereal masterpiece in just ten minutes while the band was falling apart around her. The smooth bassline and dreamy vocals captured the heartbreak and tension within the group during the Rumours album sessions.

Despite the personal chaos, it became their only number one single in America. Decades later, a viral TikTok video sent it back up the charts, introducing new generations to its timeless magic.

10. Blondie – Heart of Glass (1979)

Punk meets disco in this shimmering hit that proved Blondie could conquer any genre. Debbie Harry’s cool vocals glided over a dance beat that initially confused their punk rock fans but won over the mainstream.

The song topped charts worldwide and became their biggest commercial success. Its fusion of new wave attitude with disco grooves helped bridge musical worlds and showed that experimentation pays off in spectacular fashion.

11. Lou Reed – Walk on the Wild Side (1972)

Reed’s laid-back tale of New York’s underground scene introduced mainstream audiences to characters they’d never encountered before. The jazzy bass line and conversational vocals made controversial subject matter sound perfectly casual.

Amazingly, radio stations played it constantly without fully grasping the lyrics’ meaning. It became Reed’s biggest solo hit and remains a cultural touchstone, celebrating individuality and the colorful misfits who make cities interesting.

12. Bob Marley & The Wailers – No Woman, No Cry (Live) (1975)

Recorded live at London’s Lyceum Theatre, this version transformed a studio track into reggae’s most beloved anthem. Marley’s comforting message about remembering good times through hardship resonated with audiences worldwide.

The gentle rhythm and heartfelt lyrics created something universally touching. Though the title confuses some, it means everything will be alright. This performance showcased reggae’s power to heal and unite people across all backgrounds and cultures.

13. Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the U.K. (1976)

Loud, angry, and absolutely explosive, this track announced punk rock’s arrival with a sonic middle finger to the establishment. Johnny Rotten’s snarling vocals and the raw, aggressive sound shocked polite British society.

Record stores refused to stock it, and radio banned it, which only made it more popular. The Pistols proved you didn’t need perfect musicianship to create something powerful and culturally significant that would inspire countless bands.

14. The Clash – London Calling (1979)

Punk rock grew up with this apocalyptic anthem about political and social collapse. The driving bass line and urgent vocals captured the anxiety of late-’70s Britain, where economic crisis and Cold War fears loomed large.

The iconic album cover homaged Elvis, showing punk’s connection to rock history. Rolling Stone later named it one of the greatest songs ever, proving The Clash successfully blended rebellion with musical sophistication and lasting importance.

15. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run (1975)

Springsteen’s desperate escape anthem captured working-class dreams with cinematic scope and raw emotion. The wall-of-sound production and urgent lyrics made you feel every ounce of longing to break free from small-town limitations.

It launched him to superstardom and landed him simultaneously on Time and Newsweek covers. The song became America’s unofficial anthem for dreamers everywhere, proving The Boss understood the hunger for something more beyond ordinary life.

16. Earth, Wind & Fire – September (1978)

Pure joy compressed into three and a half minutes, this funk masterpiece makes it physically impossible to sit still. The horns, the groove, and those nonsensical but perfect “ba-dee-ya” vocals create instant happiness.

Interestingly, the 21st night of September was chosen simply because it sounded good, not for any special reason. The song has become a wedding and party staple, guaranteeing packed dance floors and smiling faces for generations.

17. The Police – Roxanne (1978)

Sting’s plea to a woman working the streets combined reggae rhythms with new wave energy in an unforgettable way. The raw emotion in his voice and the stripped-down arrangement made it feel urgent and real.

Record labels initially rejected it as too controversial. However, it became The Police’s breakthrough hit and launched them toward superstardom. The distinctive opening riff and passionate vocals still grab listeners’ attention immediately after all these years.

18. Al Green – Let’s Stay Together (1971)

Silky smooth and dripping with soul, Green’s falsetto made this love song absolutely irresistible. The gentle groove and romantic lyrics created the perfect slow-dance soundtrack that has soundtracked countless weddings and anniversaries.

It became his signature song and biggest hit, showcasing his incredible vocal range. President Barack Obama even sang it at the Apollo Theater decades later, proving its timeless appeal and Al Green’s lasting influence on soul music.