The Best Pop 70s Music to Listen to Right Now
Looking for the best pop 70s music to listen to right now? Look no further! This blog post has a great selection of tunes that will have you grooving all night long.
Introduction
In the 1960s, pop music became more experimental, departing from traditional pop conventions and incorporating elements of rock, folk, and soul. By the end of the decade, the Beatles were the biggest band in the world, and their success paved the way for dozens of other British Invasion groups. In the United States, Motown Records ruled the charts with a string of hits by artists like Diana Ross and Smokey Robinson. By the end of the 1960s, music was changing rapidly, and the stage was set for a new decade of pop music.
The 1970s was a watershed decade for pop music. Album-oriented rock (AOR) dominated the airwaves, with bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Queen releasing numerous classic albums. At the same time, disco emerged as a major force on both sides of the Atlantic. In America, disco reached its commercial peak with hits like “Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees and “Love Rollercoaster” by Ohio Players. Meanwhile in Europe, groups like Abba and Boney M. were topping the charts with their catchy brand of Eurodisco.
With so much great music to choose from, it can be tough to narrow down the best pop tunes from the 1970s. Here are 20 essential songs that capture the spirit of this fascinating decade in music.
The Best Pop 70s Music
The pop music of the 70s was some of the best ever made. The decade saw the advent of disco, which took the world by storm. But there were also great pop songs that were not disco. This playlist will take you on a trip down memory lane with some of the best pop songs of the 70s.
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group’s name is an acronym of the first letters of their first names. They became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of popular music, topping the charts worldwide from 1974 to 1982. ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 at The Dome in Brighton, UK, giving Sweden its first triumph in the contest. They are the most successful group to have taken part in the competition.
The group’s record sales figure is uncertain and various estimates range from over 140 million to over 500 million records sold worldwide. ABBA’s singles ” Waterloo”, “Fernando”and “Dancing Queen” topped charts worldwide. Nine of their studio albums topped the UK Albums Chart, with seven consecutively between 1976 and 1982. They also received a number of prestigious awards throughout their active years. In 1999, ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after having been voted in by a public online poll and a letter campaign from fans. In 2001, Polar Music International AB and Universal Music Group (UMG) acquired ABBA’s back catalogue following UMG’s purchase of PolyGram earlier that year; both companies manage different parts of this catalogue outside Scandinavia jointly as ABBA: The Official Site notes that “no other artist has achieved such international ubiquity at such high levels for so long.”
Bee Gees
One of the most commercially successful bands of all time, the Bee Gees were a pop music phenomenon of the late ‘60s and ‘70s. The Brothers Gibb — Maurice, Barry, and Robin — were born on the Isle of Man to English parents, and they grew up in Australia before moving back to England in 1967. There they found fame with a string of infectious pop hits that often featured multi-part harmonies and lush string arrangements. The Bee Gees continued to score hits throughout the ‘70s with songs like “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” and “Stayin’ Alive,” eventually becoming one of the best-selling groups of all time. Tragedy struck in 2003 when Maurice Gibb died suddenly at the age of 53; brother Robin Gibb passed away in 2012 after a long battle with cancer. Barry Gibb is the only surviving member of the Bee Gees.
Donna Summer
Donna Summer, born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Boston on December 31, 1948, to Mary and John Gaines, was one of seven children. Growing up in a devoutly Christian household, LaDonna and her siblings were not allowed to listen to popular music. In fact, it wasn’t until she was a teenager and snuck out to see a James Brown concert that she heard popular music for the first time.
LaDonna began singing in her church choir and then in local clubs around Boston. It wasn’t long before she was noticed by producer Giorgio Moroder who brought her to Germany where she recorded her first album Lady of the Night which included the hit single “Love to Love You Baby.”
Summer became one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s with a string of hits including “I Feel Love,” “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff,” “Bad Girls,” and “She Works Hard for the Money.” She won five Grammy Awards and is credited with helping to pioneer electronic dance music. Donna Summer died on May 17, 2012, at the age of 63.
Michael Jackson
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958. The youngest of nine children, he made his professional debut with his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1964. In the early 1970s, Jackson began his solo career while still a member of the group. He released his first solo album, Got to Be There (1971), followed by Ben (1972). These were followed by four albums with The Jacksons: Forever, Michael (1975), Triumph (1981), Victory (1984), and 2300 Jackson Street (1989).
Conclusion
70s pop music was a time when artists were able to experiment with their sound and create something truly unique. From disco to soft rock, there was a little bit of something for everyone in the 70s. The best pop 70s music is still just as popular today as it was when it was first released. If you’re looking for some good old fashioned Funkytown, we’ve got you covered.
