The Top Pop Music Artists of the 1970s

A look at the top pop music artists of the 1970s, including ABBA, Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, and more.

Introduction

The 1970s was a decade of great change in the music industry. With the rise of disco and punk music, and the popularity of performers like Michael Jackson and Madonna, the landscape of pop music was forever changed. Here is a list of the top pop music artists of the 1970s.

1. Michael Jackson
2. Madonna
3. Led Zeppelin
4. Pink Floyd
5. The Beatles
6. David Bowie
7. ABBA
8. Fleetwood Mac
9. Queen

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 of the 20th century. They were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways; the band later explored music styles ranging from ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionised many aspects of the music industry and popular culture.

The group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, with all four main members being inducted individually between 1994 and 2015. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked the Beatles at number one on its list of “The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. In 2012, Billboard named them the “Greatest Artist of All Time”. Estimates of the group’s record sales generally range from 178 million to 600 million units worldwide.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin was a British rock band that formed in 1968. The group consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. The band’s heavy, guitar-driven sound has led them to be cited as one of the originators of heavy metal music. Their style drew from a wide variety of influences, including blues, psychedelia, and folk music.

Led Zeppelin’s first album, “Led Zeppelin” (1969), was an instant success and their popularity only grew with each subsequent release. They achieved international success with their following albums: “Led Zeppelin II” (1969), “Led Zeppelin III” (1970), “Untitled” (1971), and “Houses of the Holy” (1973). The band also undertook a number of highly successful concert tours, including their 1973 North American tour which was documented on the live album “The Song Remains the Same” (1976).

In 1980, John Bonham died after suffocating from vomit while drunk. The death of their drummer led Led Zeppelin to disband. Since then, the band has been honoured with a number of prestigious awards, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and entry into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2012, Led Zeppelin was ranked number one on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “Greatest Artists of All Time”.

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is right up there with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones as one of the most popular and influential bands of all time. Although they only had one number one hit single in the US, “Another Brick in the Wall Part II,” their albums The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall are two of the best selling albums ever. Pink Floyd is known for their extended jams, innovative use of multi-track recording, and their elaborate stage shows.

Queen

Queen is a British rock band that formed in London in 1970. The band members were Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), John Deacon (bass guitar), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals). Queen’s earliest works were influenced by progressive rock, hard rock, and heavy metal, but the band gradually ventured into more conventional pop territory.

By the early 1980s, Queen had become one of the biggest bands in the world. Their 1981 album “Hot Space” contained the hits “Under Pressure” (a duet with David Bowie) and “Body Language”. The band’s next album, 1984’s “The Works”, was an even bigger success, spawning the hits “Radio Ga Ga”, “I Want to Break Free”, and “Hammer to Fall”.

In 1985, Queen performed at Live Aid, a massive international benefit concert for Ethiopian famine relief. Their set – which included a powerful rendition of “We Are the Champions” – was considered one of the highlights of the event.

In 1991, Mercury died of bronchopneumonia brought on by AIDS. Despite his passing, Queen continued to record and perform with great success. In 2005, they were inducted into the United Kingdom Music Hall of Fame and in 2018 they were presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

David Bowie

David Bowie was one of the most successful and influential musicians of the 1970s. His string of hits included “Space Oddity,” “Changes,” “Ziggy Stardust,” and “Fame.” Bowie was also known for his theatrical stage shows and outlandish costumes. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Elton John

British musician Elton John was one of the most popular artists of the 1970s. He released his debut album in 1969, and his career took off from there. John has sold more than 300 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Some of his most popular songs include “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Candle in the Wind.”

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums). The band’s primary songwriters, Jagger and Richards, assumed leadership after Andrew Loog Oldham became the group’s manager. Jones left the band less than a month prior to his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and continues on guitar in tandem with Richards. Since Wyman’s retirement in 1993, Darryl Jones has served as the Rolling Stones’ bassist.

The Stones were in their early twenties when they began recording some of their most memorable tracks like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, “Paint It Black”, “As Tears Go By” and “Got Live If You Want It!”. Throughout the 1970s, they released eight studio albums including classics such as Sticky Fingers (1971) and Some Girls (1978). In 1989, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame andcontinue to tour and release music to this day.

ABBA

ABBA was a Swedish pop music group formed in Stockholm in 1972, consisting of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Agnetha Fältskog. 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 victory in the competition. They are the most successful group to have taken part in the contest. ABBA are also notable for being the first pop group from Scandinavia to enjoy consistent commercial success in both Europe and North America.

ABBA’s record sales figures have been estimated at 140 million units worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. They have also sold over 380 million records worldwide as a digital download, with “Dancing Queen” being their best-selling single. In 2010, Fortune magazine ranked them as epoch-changing cultural icons who helped shape popular music as we know it today.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the top pop music artists of the 1970s were a varied and talented bunch. From disco divas to soft rock crooners, there was something for everyone in this decade. Whether you were a fan of ABBA or Jim Croce, there was an artist out there that could speak to your soul. So put on your dancing shoes or pour yourself a stiff drink, because it’s time to take a trip down memory lane with the top pop music artists of the 1970s.