The Best of 1970s Electronic Music

A look at some of the best electronic music to come out of the 1970s. From Kraftwerk to Giorgio Moroder, these artists set the stage for a new era of music.

Introduction

The 1970s were a golden era for electronic music. This was the decade when electronic music really came into its own, with a wide range of new sounds and styles emerging. From the early experiments of artists like Kraftwerk and Tangerine Dream, to the groundbreaking club sounds of Giorgio Moroder and disco Hits like Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”, the 1970s saw electronic music evolve in exciting new ways.

With so many incredible artists and tracks to choose from, it’s impossible to list them all here. But we’ve rounded up 20 of the best examples of 1970s electronic music, so you can explore this amazing era for yourself.

Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk was a German electronic music band founded by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970 in Düsseldorf. The band was fronted by Hütter and Schneider, who wrote all of the band’s music. The group’s style was defined by a sparse, robotic sound that incorporated synthesizers, drum machines, and vocoders. Kraftwerk’s signature sound was a major influence on a number of genres, including new wave, techno, house, and industrial.

“Autobahn”

Autobahn is the seventh studio album by German electronic band Kraftwerk, released in October 1974. Recorded in Düsseldorf, Germany, it features the hit title track and was their first album engineered by Karl Bartos and Ralf Hütter. It saw the group experimenting with longer song forms including the 23-minute “Kometenmelodie 2”. The album peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 29 on the US Billboard 200.

“Trans-Europe Express”

Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” was released in 1977 and was one of the band’s most successful and influential albums. The album explored the then-new genre of electronic music and featured the hit single “Europe Endless.” “Trans-Europe Express” has been cited as a major influence on subsequent electronic music artists and helped to pioneer the techno and hip-hop genres.

Giorgio Moroder

When thinking about the best of 1970s electronic music, one name that comes to mind is Giorgio Moroder. He is a pioneer in the field of electronic dance music, and his influence can still be felt today. Moroder’s style is a blend of disco, funk, and rock, and he is credited with creating the “disco sound.” He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Donna Summer, David Bowie, and Blondie.

“I Feel Love”

“I Feel Love” is a song composed by Giorgio Moroder, recorded and released in 1977 by American disco band Donna Summer. The song reached number one in the United Kingdom, where it became the first single released by an American artist to do so, as well as peaking at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2010, British electronic music group Scissor Sisters released a cover version of the song which peaked at number ten on the UK Singles Chart.

The song was ranked at number five on Pitchfork Media’s “The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s” list. In October 1977, NME magazine published a poll of its readers wich placed “I Feel Love” at number two in “The 100 Greatest Tracks of All Time”. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it at number 436 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. In 2005, Slant Magazine placed it at number 42 on their list of “The 100 Greatest Dance Songs”.

Yellow Magic Orchestra

“Computer World”

Yellow Magic Orchestra’s “Computer World” was released in 1981 and is often hailed as one of the best electronic music albums of all time. The album is a perfect snapshot of the zeitgeist of the early 1980s, with its futuristic themes and soundscapes. “Computer World” was a massive hit in Japan, where it topped the charts for six weeks, and it was also a critical success worldwide.

“Solid State Survivor”

Yellow Magic Orchestra’s “Solid State Survivor” is one of the best examples of 1970s electronic music. The song was released in 1979 and was an instant hit, reaching number one on the Japanese charts. The song is a classic example of the genre, with its catchy melody and innovative use of synthesizers.

Conclusion

The 1970s saw the birth of electronic music, with pioneering artists such as Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and Vangelis creating groundbreaking new sounds and styles. This was a highly creative and experimental period for electronic music, and many of the ideas and techniques developed during this time are still in use today.

Despite the technological advances made during the 1970s, electronic music was still very much in its infancy, and many of the best-known and most influential electronic musicians were working outside the mainstream. This made for a highly diverse and innovative scene, with artists exploring a wide range of genres and styles.

The 1970s were a hugely important period for electronic music, laid the foundations for many of the genres and styles that we enjoy today.