In this blog post, we list some of the best rock songs of the 70s. The 1970s was a decade of remarkable music, especially in the rock genre. It was a time when many of the most influential and enduring rock bands and artists emerged, leaving a lasting impact on the music industry and popular culture.
From Led Zeppelin and Queen to Eagles and Aerosmith, the 70s produced some of the most iconic and timeless rock songs of all time. We’ll take a closer look at 20 of the best rock songs of the 70s that still hold up today. Of course, there were many more fantastic rock songs from the 70s, but these are some of the most iconic and influential.
Best Rock Songs of the 70s
“Stairway to Heaven” – Led Zeppelin
“Stairway to Heaven” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, and it was released in 1971 on their fourth studio album, commonly known as “Led Zeppelin IV.” The song was written by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant, who were the driving creative forces behind the band.
“Stairway to Heaven” is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of all time and has become an enduring classic in the rock canon. It features a mix of acoustic and electric guitar, soaring vocals, and a memorable flute solo, and it’s known for its epic length and dynamic structure.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by the band’s lead vocalist, Freddie Mercury, and released on their fourth studio album, “A Night at the Opera,” in 1975. The song is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most innovative rock songs of all time, and it helped establish Queen as one of the most important bands of the era.
At the time of its release, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a groundbreaking piece of music, blending elements of rock, pop, and opera into a single, cohesive whole. The song features a complex structure, including an a cappella introduction, a ballad section, a guitar solo, and an operatic interlude, all leading up to a thunderous rock finale.
“Hotel California” – Eagles
“Hotel California” is a song by the American rock band The Eagles, released in 1976 as the title track from their fifth studio album of the same name. The song was written by Don Felder, Glenn Frey, and Don Henley, and is considered one of the greatest and most iconic rock songs of all time.
“Dream On” – Aerosmith
“Dream On” is a song by American rock band Aerosmith, released as a single in 1973 and later included on their debut album, also titled “Aerosmith.” The song was written by lead vocalist Steven Tyler when he was just 17 years old, and it remains one of the band’s most iconic and beloved songs.
“Dream On” wasn’t an immediate hit upon its release, but it gradually gained popularity and eventually became a rock classic. The song features a memorable piano riff, powerful vocals from Tyler, and a soaring guitar solo from Joe Perry.
“Smoke on the Water” – Deep Purple
“Smoke on the Water” was released by the British rock band Deep Purple in 1972. The song is known for its instantly recognizable guitar riff, which is often one of the first things that aspiring guitarists learn to play.
“Smoke on the Water” became a massive hit for Deep Purple and helped to establish them as one of the premier hard rock bands of the 1970s. The song has since become a classic rock anthem and is still widely recognized and beloved by music fans around the world.
“Sweet Emotion” – Aerosmith
“Sweet Emotion” is a song by the American rock band Aerosmith, released in 1975 on their album “Toys in the Attic.” The song was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and bassist Tom Hamilton, and it is widely regarded as one of the band’s most iconic and enduring hits.
The song was a commercial success, peaking at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It also received significant airplay on rock radio stations and became a staple of classic rock playlists. The song’s popularity has endured over the years, and it has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and video games.
“Barracuda” – Heart
“Barracuda” is a song by the American rock band Heart, released in 1977. The song was written by the band’s lead singer Ann Wilson, her sister Nancy Wilson, and guitarist Roger Fisher. The song was a part of Heart’s second studio album “Little Queen” and became one of the band’s most popular and recognizable songs.
“Barracuda” was a commercial success and became one of Heart’s signature songs, reaching No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been covered by several artists and has been featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest rock songs of all time and has been included in numerous “best of” lists.
“Carry on Wayward Son” – Kansas
“Carry on Wayward Son” is a song by the American rock band Kansas. It was released in 1976 as part of their album “Leftoverture”. The song was written by the band’s guitarist, Kerry Livgren, and it quickly became one of their biggest hits, reaching number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“Carry on Wayward Son” has been recognized as one of the greatest rock songs of all time, and it has been covered by numerous other artists over the years. The song has also become a cultural icon, featured in popular TV shows like “Supernatural” and used as a motivational anthem by sports teams and individuals alike.
The success of “Carry on Wayward Son” helped to establish Kansas as a major force in the world of rock music. The band continued to release successful albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but “Carry on Wayward Son” remains one of their most beloved and enduring works.
“Black Dog” – Led Zeppelin
“Black Dog” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in 1971 as the lead track on their fourth album, also commonly known as “Led Zeppelin IV.” The song was written by all four members of the band, with lyrics by lead singer Robert Plant. “Black Dog” was released as a single in some countries and was a hit on rock radio, becoming one of the band’s most popular and enduring songs. The song has been covered by many other artists over the years and has appeared in various films, TV shows, and commercials.
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” – The Who
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” is a classic rock song by the British band The Who, released in 1971. The song was written by the band’s guitarist and primary songwriter, Pete Townshend.
The song is considered one of The Who’s signature songs, and it has been performed at virtually every live show the band has played since its release. “Won’t Get Fooled Again” was a commercial success, reaching the top 10 on both the US and UK charts.
The song’s memorable synthesizer riff, played by keyboardist John Entwistle, is one of the most recognizable in rock music, and the song’s climactic ending, featuring lead singer Roger Daltrey’s famous scream, has become legendary. “Won’t Get Fooled Again” has been covered by numerous artists over the years, and its message of resistance and resilience continues to resonate with listeners today.
“Layla” – Derek and the Dominos
“Layla” is a classic rock song that was released in 1970 by the band Derek and the Dominos. The band was formed by guitarist Eric Clapton, who was already famous for his work with bands like Cream and the Yardbirds. He formed Derek and the Dominos as a way to explore a new sound and collaborate with other musicians.
The song “Layla” was written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, a drummer who played with the band. The song was inspired by Clapton’s unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend George Harrison. Clapton was deeply in love with Boyd and wrote the song as a way to express his feelings for her.
“Rock and Roll” – Led Zeppelin
“Rock and Roll” was released by Led Zeppelin in 1971 as part of their fourth album, commonly referred to as “Led Zeppelin IV”. The song was written by the band’s guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant, and it quickly became one of their most beloved and enduring hits.
The song was recorded in 1971 during sessions for the “Led Zeppelin IV” album at Headley Grange, a remote recording studio in Hampshire, England. According to band lore, “Rock and Roll” was written and recorded in a single day, and its high-energy performance was a result of the band’s desire to capture the excitement and spontaneity of their live shows in the studio.
“Don’t Stop Believin'” – Journey
“Don’t Stop Believin'” was written by Journey band members Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry, and Neal Schon, and released as a single in 1981. It was included on their album “Escape,” which became one of the band’s most successful albums, with several hit singles.
The song’s popularity grew in the years that followed its release, and it has since become one of the most well-known and beloved rock songs of all time. It has been featured in numerous movies, TV shows, and commercials, and has been covered by countless artists.
“Go Your Own Way” – Fleetwood Mac
“Go Your Own Way” is a classic rock song by the British-American band Fleetwood Mac. It was written by the band’s guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham and released as a single in December 1976, as part of their critically acclaimed album “Rumours”. The song became a major hit, peaking at No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 38 on the UK Singles Chart.
“Paranoid” – Black Sabbath
“Paranoid” is a song by the English rock band Black Sabbath, released in 1970 as the second single from their second album of the same name. The song is widely regarded as one of the band’s most iconic and recognizable tracks, and has been credited with helping to establish the heavy metal genre.
The song was written by Black Sabbath’s guitarist Tony Iommi, who reportedly came up with the famous riff while the band was rehearsing for their first album. According to Iommi, the riff was inspired by the music of the Kinks and the Beatles, but he added a heavier, darker sound to it that would come to define the sound of Black Sabbath.
“All Right Now” – Free
“All Right Now” was released by the English rock band Free in 1970 as a single from their album “Fire and Water”. The song was written by the band’s guitarist, Paul Kossoff, and its vocalist, Paul Rodgers, and it quickly became a massive hit, reaching the top 5 on the UK singles chart and the top 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The song’s success helped to establish Free as a major force in the rock music scene, and it has since become one of the band’s most famous and enduring hits. The song’s memorable guitar riff and catchy chorus have made it a staple of classic rock radio and a popular choice for movie and TV soundtracks.
“Somebody to Love” – Jefferson Airplane
“Somebody to Love” was written by the American musician Darby Slick and originally recorded by his band, The Great Society, in 1966. However, it was Jefferson Airplane’s version of the song, released the following year, that became the more popular and enduring one.
The song was a product of the counterculture movement of the 1960s, which was characterized by its rejection of traditional values and emphasis on personal freedom, social justice, and the exploration of altered states of consciousness. “Somebody to Love” encapsulated many of these ideals, with its message of love and unity.
“Ramble On” – Led Zeppelin
“Ramble On” is a song by the British rock band Led Zeppelin, released on their 1969 album “Led Zeppelin II.” The song was written by the band’s guitarist, Jimmy Page, and vocalist, Robert Plant.
Musically, “Ramble On” is a mix of hard rock and folk, with acoustic guitar and mandolin interludes between the heavier electric sections. The song’s memorable chorus and catchy melody have made it a favorite among Led Zeppelin fans, and it continues to be a staple of classic rock radio to this day.
“American Woman” – The Guess Who
“American Woman” is a rock song by the Canadian band The Guess Who, which was released in 1970 as a single and later included on the album of the same name. The song was written by the band’s guitarist, Randy Bachman, and was inspired by an experience he had while touring in the United States.
The band was performing at a curling rink in Kitchener, Ontario when Bachman accidentally broke a string on his guitar. As he was tuning his instrument, he played a riff that caught the attention of the audience. After the show, a fan approached him and suggested that he turn the riff into a song. Bachman took the advice and began working on the song, with the help of his bandmates.
“More Than a Feeling” – Boston
“More Than a Feeling” is a classic rock song by the American rock band Boston, which was written by Tom Scholz, the band’s guitarist and primary songwriter. It was released in 1976 as the lead single from their debut album, also titled “Boston”.
The song was a massive commercial success, reaching No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and staying on the charts for over a year. It also became an international hit, charting in several other countries including Canada, the UK, and Australia.
Conclusion
The 70s may have been a few decades ago, but the rock songs produced during that time remain some of the most influential and timeless in music history. From the guitar riffs and soaring vocals of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” to the epic anthem of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” these songs are still enjoyed by new generations of music fans. They stand as a testament to the creativity and artistry of the musicians who created them, and their impact can still be felt in the music industry today.