I have collected my share of music over the ears. For 26 years old, I have a reasonably open mind as far as the different types of music I like to listen to. I have my reasons, methods, and favorites. But let me tell you how it all started. If you stay up late watching the tube, I’m sure you’ve seen them – those long, boring info-mercials selling collections of music from certain eras on TV? Well, I saw one offering a collection of the 1970s.
I noticed that it was pretty cool. They were offering close to 200 songs on 10 to 20 CDs. But I also noticed that they weren’t including music from such great, popular bands such as The Cars or even the lesser known but equally great Steve Miller Band. This seemed wrong to me. Why discount Fleetwood Mac when their music touched millions? I’m not paying $100 for a collection of ’70s music if they’re not going to include the rhymthic tones of Foreigner.
Granted, the 1970s didn’t have the head-banging heavy metal grind of Marilyn Manson or the speaker throbbing bass of Snoop Dog. But, these were some of the all time best sing-along songs every produced. After a time of great cultural distress as a result of the Vietnam War, the 1970s offered people rock ‘n roll that would transcend, the folk music that would bring them together, and dance music – however “gay” it may sound – that left people sweating to some great beats. Don’t sell such great artists as The Bee Gees short.
If you’ve ever wanted to collect music from the 1970s – if you’ve ever wanted to relive or be transported back to the ’70s, the following list of songs and all of the bands that made them happen is an essential archive for you.
As these lists come to an end, I wanted to take a moment to reflect. I’m glad I could share these lists of the greatest songs from the 1970s with my readers. As you may know, every list before now has had 100 songs to choose from. I’ve advertised that there are 500 songs in this collection. As you can see, I couldn’t find any more great songs than 461. But, I hope you can add the remaining 39 and take pride in your great collection of music.
401) Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers
402) Autobahn by Kraftwerk
403) Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty
404) Ball of Confusion by The Temptations
405) Because the Night by Patti Smith
406) Blitzkrieg Bop by The Ramones
407) Brass in Pocket by The Pretenders
408) Brick House by Commodores
409) Cruisin’ by Smokey Robinson
410) Fantasy by Earth, Wind and Fire
411) God Save The Queen by The Six Pistols
412) Heart of Gold by Neil Young
413) Hey Hey My My (Into the Black) by Neil Young
414) I’ll Be Around by The Spinners
415) Inner City Blues
416) Killing Me Softly with His Song by Roberta Flack
417) Kiss and Say Goodbye by The Manhattans
418) Locomotive Breath by Jethro Tull
419) Lola by The Kinks
420) Love is The Drug by Roxy Music
421) Love to Love You Baby by Donna Summer
422) Low Rider by War
423) Lust for Life by Iggy Pop
424) Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin
425) Mr. Big Stuff by Jean Knight
426) Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
427) Natural High by Bloodstone
428) Oliver’s Army by Elvis Costello
429) One Way or Another by Blondie
430) Paranoid by Black Sabbath
431) Piano Man by Billy Joel
432) Pressure Drop by Toots and the Maytals
433) Question by The Moody Blues
434) Running on Empty by Jackson Browne
435) Shame by Evelyn King
436) Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum
437) Stuck in the Middle with You by Stealers Wheel
438) Tear the Roof off the Sucker by Parliament
439) Tell Me Something Good by Rufus
440) The Boys Are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy
441) The Harder They Come by Jimmy Cliff
442) The Payback by James Brown
443) Turn the Page by Bob Seger
444) Until You Come Back to Me by Aretha Franklin
445) What a Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers
446) When Will I See You Again by The Three Degrees
447) Woman From Tokyo by Deep Purple
448) Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
449) Won’t Get Fooled Again by The Who
450) Y.M.C.A by Village People
451) You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
452) You Better Think Twice by Poco
453) You Should Be Dancin’ by The Bee Gees
454) You Wear It Well by Rod Stewart
455) Young Americans by David Bowie
456) Your Mama Don’t Dance by Loggins & Messina
457) Your Song by Elton John
458) You’re All I’ve Got Tonight by The Cars
459) You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) by Rod Stewart
460) You’re Only Lonely by J. D. Souther
461) You’re So Vain by Carly Simon
