The Best of 1973 Rock Music

A look at some of the best rock music from 1973.

Classic rock hits from 1973

As the 1970s progressed, rock music became increasingly diverse and experimental. By 1973, a number of different subgenres had gained popularity, including hard rock, glam rock, progressive rock, and soul-influenced rock. This diversity is reflected in the classic hits of 1973, which include Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust,” Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” and the Rolling Stones’ “Angie.” These and other classic rock songs from 1973 continue to be popular today, thanks to their enduring quality and appeal.

The best of British rock from 1973

Although glam rock had started in 1969, it reached its peak in 1973 with bands such as Slade, Gary Glitter, Sweet, David Bowie, and Roxy Music. Hard rock also became popular in 1973 with the release of albums such as Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy and Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. Prog rock bands such as Genesis, ELP, and Yes continued to be popular in 1973.

American rock hits from 1973

As the Vietnam War raged on and the Watergate scandal unfolded, the nation was in turmoil. The rock music of 1973 provided a welcome distraction for many Americans. Here are some of the biggest hits from that year.

“Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin
Although “Stairway to Heaven” is usually cited as Led Zeppelin’s best song, many fans consider “Ramble On” to be underrated. This hard-rocking track from Led Zeppelin’s classic album “Houses of the Holy” features some of Robert Plant’s best vocal work.

“Bad Company” by Bad Company
This eponymous debut single from British supergroup Bad Company topped the charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The song features a catchy riff and Paul Rodgers’ powerful vocals.

“Angie” by The Rolling Stones
This haunting ballad from The Rolling Stones’ 1973 album “Goats Head Soup” was a huge hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Angie” features some of Mick Jagger’s most emotive lyrics and Keith Richards’ signature guitar work.

The best of hard rock from 1973

In a year when vinyl albums were still the primary format for consuming music, there was no shortage of great hard rock releases. Here are some of the best from 1973.

-The Who – “Quadrophenia”
-Led Zeppelin – “Houses of the Holy”
-Deep Purple – “Who Do We Think We Are?”
-Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”
-Uriah Heep – “Demons and Wizards”
-Thin Lizzy – “Vagabonds of the Western World”

The best of progressive rock from 1973

All across the world, progressive rock bands were creating innovative and diverse sounds that would come to define a genre. From the United Kingdom to the United States, musicians were pushing the boundaries of what rock music could be. These are some of the best progressive rock albums from 1973.

1. Pink Floyd – “Dark Side of the Moon”
2. Genesis – “Selling England by the Pound”
3. King Crimson – “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic”
4. Yes – “Close to the Edge”
5. Emerson, Lake & Palmer – “Brain Salad Surgery”
6. Rush – “Fly by Night”
7. Jethro Tull – “A Passion Play”
8. David Bowie – “Aladdin Sane”
9. 10cc – “Sheet Music”
10. Supertramp – “Crime of the Century”

The best of glam rock from 1973

Glam rock was a type of rock music that emerged in the early 1970s in Britain. The genre was characterized by a highly theatrical stage show featuring glittery costumes, makeup, and hair. Glam rock performers often used pronounced gender-bending imagery and came to be associated with the gay community.

The best of glam rock from 1973 includes:

-David Bowie: “Ziggy Stardust”
-Roxy Music: “Stranded”
-Queen: “Killer Queen”
-T. Rex: “Bang a Gong (Get It On)”
-Mott the Hoople: “All the Young Dudes”
-Alice Cooper: “School’s Out”

The best of folk rock from 1973

The best of folk rock from 1973 includes many great songs that were released that year. Some of the most popular and well-known folk rock songs from 1973 include “The Times They Are A-Changin'” by Bob Dylan, “American Pie” by Don McLean, and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee. These are just a few of the many excellent folk rock songs from 1973.

The best of country rock from 1973

From the genre’s beginnings in the late 1960s, country rock has been known for its blend of country music and rock & roll. In 1973, this sound reached its commercial and creative height, as demonstrated by these 10 essential country-rock albums.

The best of jazz rock from 1973

1973 saw the release of some of the best jazz rock albums of all time. Miles Davis released “On the Corner”, a groundbreaking album that would go on to influence a generation of musicians. Weather Report released “Mysterious Traveller”, an album that combined elements of jazz, rock and funk to create a truly unique sound. And return to Forever released “Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy”, an album that combined Jazz and rock to create a truly progressive sound.

The best of experimental rock from 1973

In 1973, a number of experimental rock bands released groundbreaking albums that would go on to shape the sound of rock music for years to come. Here are some of the best experimental rock albums from 1973.

King Crimson – Larks’ Tongues in Aspic

Genesis – Selling England by the Pound

Yes – Close to the Edge

Queen – Queen II

ELP – Brain Salad Surgery