The Best of 70’s Pop Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Check out our blog for a comprehensive list of the best pop songs from the 1970s. You’ll be sure to find some old favorites, as well as some new tunes to add to your playlist.

Introduction

The 1970s was a decade of tremendous change in the pop music world. The Beatles had broken up, and new artists were emerging as the dominant forces in the industry. These new artists were experimenting with different sounds and styles, and they quickly gained popularity with fans around the world.

The 1970s was also a decade of transition for the pop music industry itself. The rise of disco and punk rock led to a decline in the sales of traditional pop music, and many record companies were struggling to keep up with the changing times. As a result, the 1970s saw a major shift in the way that pop music was marketed and distributed.

Despite all of these changes, the 1970s was still a great decade for pop music. Many classic hits were released during this time, and several new genres Gained popularity with listeners. Here are some of the best pop songs from the 1970s:

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band. In the early 1960s, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”, but as the group’s music grew in sophistication, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, they came to be perceived by many fans and cultural observers as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era’s sociocultural revolutions.

David Bowie

David Bowie was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He was a pop icon who changed the face of music and fashion. His music was often experimental and ahead of its time. He was also a master of reinvention, constantly changing his image and sound.

Bowie’s career began in the early 1960s, when he was a member of the band The Konrads. He soon left the band to pursue a solo career. His first album, “David Bowie,” was released in 1967. It was not a success, but Bowie’s career took off with his next album, “The Man Who Sold the World.” The album’s title track became a hit single, and Bowie began to gain international notoriety.

Over the next few years, Bowie released a series of groundbreaking albums that would cement his place in music history. These albums included “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,” “Aladdin Sane,” “Diamond Dogs,” and “Young Americans.” Each album featured a different style or persona, and each was hugely successful. In 1972, Bowie starred in the film “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” The film was not a commercial success, but it further increased Bowie’s cult status.

By the late 1970s, Bowie was one of the biggest stars in the world. He released the albums “Station to Station” and “Low,” which are now considered classics. He also collaborated with Brian Eno on the groundbreaking album “Heroes.” In 1980, he released his biggest hit single, “Ashes to Ashes.” The song was about cocaine addiction, and it helped to break down barriers for other artists who wanted to address similar topics in their music.

In 1983, Bowie starred in the film “Baal.” The film was not successful, but it led to him writing an acclaimed stage musical based on its soundtrack. In 1986, he appeared in another film, this time playing Jareth the Goblin King in Jim Henson’s classic fantasy film “Labyrinth.” The following year, he returned to music with the critically acclaimed album “Never Let Me Down.”

In 1996, Bowie released his twenty-first studio album, “Outside.” The album was met with mixed reviews, but it signaled a creative resurgence for Bowie. He followed up with two more albums: 1997’s “Earthling” and 1999’s “Hours…” Both albums were well-received by fans and critics alike.

After a decade-long break from recording new music, Bowie returned with his twenty-sixth studio album, 2013’s ˈThe Next Dayˈ. The album debuted at number one on charts around the world and received widespread critical acclaim. It was followed by 2016’s ★ (Blackstar), which received even more critical acclaim and is considered by many to be one of Bowie’s best albums ever made. Sadly, just two days after its release, David Bowie passed away from liver cancer at the age of 69.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was one of the most popular and influential rock bands of the 1970s. Formed in 1968, the group consisted of lead singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. They were known for their heavy, guitar-driven sound and for their live performances, which often featured lengthy improvised sections. Led Zeppelin’s first album, Led Zeppelin (1969), was a commercial success and their second album, Led Zeppelin II (1969), featured their best-known song, “Whole Lotta Love.” The band’s third album, Led Zeppelin III (1970), introduced a more acoustic style to their music.Led Zeppelin’s fourth album, Presence (1976), was their last studio album to feature Bonham before his death in 1980. The band continued to tour and release live albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s with occasional reunions featuring Plant and Page. In 2007, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Queen

Queen was a British rock band that rose to prominence in the 1970s. The band members were Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (lead guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals). Queen’s classic line-up was formed in London in 1971. The band had great success in the UK with their debut album, Queen II, and their single “Seven Seas of Rhye” reached the top ten in 1974. In 1975, they released their fourth album, A Night at the Opera, which topped the charts in both the UK and US. The album featured their most successful single, “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Queen’s popularity continued into the 1980s with their album The Game, which featured hits such as “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites the Dust”. The band also toured extensively throughout the decade. In 1985, they recorded the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, which was broadcast to a global audience. In 1991, Mercury died of bronchopneumonia, a complication of AIDS. After Mercury’s death, May and Taylor continued to record and tour with Deacon as Queen + Paul Rodgers from 2005 to 2009. In 2011, Queen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica, and keyboards), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass guitar), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member until his death in 1985. Jones died less than a month after Stewart launched the band’s American Tour in support of their 1971 album Sticky Fingers.

The Stones have released 30 studio albums in the United Kingdom (24 of which reached the top ten), and 23 studio albums in the United States (16 of which reached the top ten).Sticky Fingers (1971) and Some Girls (1978) are generally considered to be among their best albums. Their latest album Blue & Lonesome was released on 2 December 2016.

Conclusion

And that’s a wrap on our list of the best of 70’s pop music! We hope you enjoyed reading and listening to our picks. What are some of your favorite songs from the 70’s? Let us know in the comments below!

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