The Best Pop Music of the 1970s

Discover the greatest pop hits of the 1970s. From disco to soft rock, these are the tracks that defined the decade.

Introduction

The 1970s was a decade of huge changes in popular music. The decade saw the rise of punk rock, disco, and and new wave, as well as the decline of stripped-down rock music that had defined the 1960s.

There were a number of important pop singles released in the 1970s, but this list is intended to focus on the best album tracks of the decade. These are the songs that truly defined what pop music was in the 1970s.

The Beatles – “Let It Be”

The Beatles – “Let It Be”

By the time The Beatles released their final album, Let It Be, in 1970, the band had been through a lot. They were tired, they were fighting, and they were ready to move on. But despite all that, they still managed to produce some of their best work.

“Let It Be” is a perfect example of that. It’s a beautiful song, with Paul McCartney’s gorgeous melody and Lennon’s wistful lyrics. It’s a testament to the strength of The Beatles’ songwriting that they could still produce such an incredible song amidst all the turmoil.

The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations”

Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” was released in October 1966 as a single from the album Pet Sounds. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December that year and is widely considered one of the band’s signature songs. The track features complex instrumentation, including Theremin, cello, and conga, and was produced using studio techniques that were innovative for its time.

Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”

Released in January 1983 on Thriller, “Billie Jean” was the second single from what would become the best-selling album of all time. It also became MJ’s first #1 on the Hot 100 as a solo artist, and spent seven weeks there. “Billie Jean” is one of those rare songs that perfectly captures both the sound and the spirit of its era, while also transcending it.

ABBA – “Dancing Queen”

There are a lot of contenders for the best pop song of the 1970s, but few can touch “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. The Swedish group’s 1976 smash hit has it all – a great melody, catchy lyrics, and a disco beat that will get anyone out on the dance floor. “Dancing Queen” spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is still a staple of radio stations and wedding receptions across the globe.

Led Zeppelin – “Stairway to Heaven”

“Stairway to Heaven” is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in late 1971. It was composed by guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant for the band’s untitled fourth studio album (often called Led Zeppelin IV). The song is often considered to be one of the greatest ever recorded.

Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Released in 1975, “Bohemian Rhapsody” was an instant classic and a huge hit for the British rock band Queen. The song was a daring, epic six-minute opus that defied radio conventions with its operatic section, classical influences, and disparate song structures. It went on to become one of the defining tracks of the 1970s, and remains one of Queen’s most popular songs to this day.

The Rolling Stones – “Brown Sugar”

“Brown Sugar” is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. It appeared as the opening track and lead single from their 1971 album Sticky Fingers. It was written by Mick Jagger with Marsha Hunt in mind and was originally titled “Black Pussy”. The lyrics tell of someone who is addicted to a black woman’s love, and compares her to brown sugar.

The song caused controversy upon its release due to its suggestive lyrics. It was banned from many radio stations due to claims of racism and sexism. Nevertheless, it became one of the band’s most popular songs, reaching number one in several countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it at number495 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

David Bowie – “Heroes”

“Heroes” is a song by English musician David Bowie, released in 1977. It was included on his thirteenth studio album, also named “Heroes”. The song was written by Bowie and Brian Eno, produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti, and recorded at Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin.

A product of Bowie’s “Berlin” era, the track was not a huge hit in the United Kingdom or North America upon its release, but has gone on to become one of Bowie’s best-known songs. In January 2016, following Bowie’s death, the song reached a new peak of number 12 in the UK Singles Chart. It was also ranked as the seventh greatest song of all time by NME magazine and appeared on several lists ranking the best songs of the 1970s.

Pink Floyd – “Another Brick in the Wall”

This song is from the album The Wall, which was released in 1979. “Another Brick in the Wall” is a protest song that talks about the struggles of growing up, and the ways that adults can make life difficult for children. The song became Pink Floyd’s only number one hit single in the United States.

Conclusion

The 1970s were a great decade for pop music, with dozens of fantastic artists releasing classic hits. It was hard to narrow it down to just ten, but here are our picks for the best pop songs of the 1970s:

1. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
2. “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey
3. “We Are the Champions” by Queen
4. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
5. “Hotel California” by The Eagles
6. “Imagine” by John Lennon
7. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
8. “Le freak” by Chic
9. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult
10. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin