Last Updated on 18 September 2023
The following list is the Official Definitive List of the 400 best songs from in the 1970s.
I found 17 different ranked lists online of “best 70s songs” and pulled them all into Excel and merged them all to get this definitive compilation. See my Methodology page for the research process that was used, including links to all 17 lists that were averaged.
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
- Imagine – John Lennon
- Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
- Heroes – David Bowie
- What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
- Hotel California – The Eagles
- Stayin’ Alive – The Bee Gees
- Superstition – Stevie Wonder
- London Calling – The Clash
- Dancing Queen – ABBA
- Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
- Heart of Glass – Blondie
- Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
- Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
- Let It Be – The Beatles
- Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel
- American Pie – Don McLean
- Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
- Layla – Derek and the Dominos
- Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
- Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
- Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed
- Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- God Save the Queen – Sex Pistols
- Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones
- Marquee Moon – Television
- Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
- I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
- I Feel Love – Donna Summer
- (They Long to Be) Close to You – The Carpenters
- Paranoid – Black Sabbath
- Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
- My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
- Maggie May – Rod Stewart
- Y.M.C.A. – Village People
- Heart of Gold – Neil Young
- Jolene – Dolly Parton
- Rapper’s Delight – The Sugarhill Gang
- Family Affair – Sly and the Family Stone
- Le Freak – Chic
- No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley and the Wailers
- My Sharona – The Knack
- American Woman – The Guess Who
- Life on Mars? – David Bowie
- Tiny Dancer – Elton John
- Midnight Train to Georgia – Gladys Knight & The Pips
- Good Times – Chic
- Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine – James Brown
- Dream On – Aerosmith
- Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
- You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
- Your Song – Elton John
- How Deep Is Your Love – The Bee Gees
- The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
- Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
- Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
- Transmission – Joy Division
- Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
- Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
- Piano Man – Billy Joel
- Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
- You Light up My Life – Debby Boone
- It’s Too Late – Carole King
- Lust For Life – Iggy Pop
- Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind & Fire
- I Was Made for Lovin’ You – KISS
- Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
- Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone – The Temptations
- I Just Want to Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb
- I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5
- Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head – B.J. Thomas
- Moonage Daydream – David Bowie
- September – Earth, Wind and Fire
- You’re the One That I Want – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
- Bennie and the Jets – Elton John
- Highway to Hell – AC/DC
- Hooked on a Feeling – Blue Swede
- Roxanne – The Police
- Tangled Up in Blue – Bob Dylan
- Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
- Bang a Gong (Get It On) – T. Rex
- Rocket Man – Elton John
- Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
- Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Rod Stewart
- The Boys Are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy
- Ever Fallen in Love (with Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) – Buzzcocks
- Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) – Pink Floyd
- Band on the Run – Paul McCartney and Wings
- Anarchy in the U.K. – Sex Pistols
- Dance Away – Roxy Music
- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross
- Baba O’Riley – The Who
- Lola – The Kinks
- I Think I Love You – The Partridge Family
- Starman – David Bowie
- I Wanna Be Your Lover – Prince
- Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Tony Orlando and Dawn
- Live and Let Die – Wings
- Fire and Rain – James Taylor
- Caravan – Van Morrison
- Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
- Lean on Me – Bill Withers
- More Than a Feeling – Boston
- Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Walk This Way – Aerosmith
- Rock Lobster – The B-52’s
- Trans Europe Express – Kraftwerk
- Living for the City – Stevie Wonder
- ABC – The Jackson 5
- Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
- Changes – David Bowie
- Crazy Horses – The Osmonds
- Somebody to Love – Queen
- Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
- Shadow Dancing – Andy Gibb
- December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) – The Four Seasons
- Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin
- Redemption Songs – Bob Marley
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
- Ballroom Blitz – The Sweet
- Best of My Love – The Emotions
- Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell
- Father and Son – Cat Stevens
- Knock Three Times – Tony Orlando & Dawn
- (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
- Killing Me Softly with His Song – Roberta Flack
- Pink Moon – Nick Drake
- Search and Destroy – Iggy and The Stooges
- Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits
- I’m Not in Love – 10cc
- Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
- Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey
- Because the Night – Patti Smith
- Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell
- Roadrunner – The Modern Lovers
- Love and Happiness – Al Green
- Train in Vain – The Clash
- War – Edwin Starr
- Cars – Gary Numan
- Das Model – Kraftwerk
- Baby Come Back – Player
- Riders on the Storm – The Doors
- War Pigs – Black Sabbath
- Teenage Kicks – The Undertones
- September Gurls – Big Star
- If I Can’t Have You – Yvonne Elliman
- Paradise by the Dashboard Light – Meat Loaf
- Up the Junction – Squeeze
- Night Fever – The Bee Gees
- A Fifth of Beethoven – Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band
- Money – Pink Floyd
- We Are Family – Sister Sledge
- Could It Be I’m Falling In Love – The Spinners
- Hanging on the Telephone – Blondie
- Mind Your Own Business – Delta 5
- International Feel – Todd Rundgren
- The Tears of a Clown -Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
- All Right Now – Free
- Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) – John Lennon
- Brass in Pocket – The Pretenders
- Miss You – The Rolling Stones
- Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver
- The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
- Bad Girls – Donna Summer
- Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
- Tumbling Dice – The Rolling Stones
- Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
- Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
- You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
- Oliver’s Army – Elvis Costello
- Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) – The Temptations
- Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes
- Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles
- (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais – The Clash
- One Nation Under a Groove – Funkadelic
- I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King
- Rock with You – Michael Jackson
- How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor
- Without You – Harry Nilsson
- Old Time Rock a Roll – Bob Seger
- You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
- You’re the First, the Last, My Everything – Barry White
- Gloria – Patti Smith
- (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty – KC and the Sunshine Band
- Rock & Roll – The Velvet Underground
- The Way We Were – Barbra Streisand
- Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
- Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty
- Firth of Fifth – Genesis
- You Should Be Dancing – The Bee Gees
- Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
- A Horse with No Name – America
- Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin
- Beast of Burden – Rolling Stones
- Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
- Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney & Wings
- Autobahn – Kraftwerk
- Three Times a Lady – Commodores
- Virginia Plain – Roxy Music
- Burning Love – Elvis Presley
- Got to Give It Up – Marvin Gaye
- A Case of You – Joni Mitchell
- Moondance – Van Morrison
- Silly Love Songs – Wings
- Uptown Top Ranking – Althea & Donna
- I Can’t Stand the Rain – Ann Peebles
- This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us – The Sparks
- Sweet Jane – The Velvet Underground
- (Love Is) Thicker Than Water – Andy Gibb
- Speed King – Deep Purple
- Lady Marmalade – Patti Labelle
- Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
- Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) – Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
- Damaged Goods – Gang of Four
- Take It Easy – The Eagles
- What a Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers
- Who’ll Stop the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
- Police and Thieves – Junior Murvin
- Brick House – Commodores
- The Harder They Come – Jimmy Cliff
- Cherry Bomb – The Runaways
- Man in Black – Johnny Cash
- If You Leave Me Now – Chicago
- Rock and Roll – Led Zeppelin
- If You Don’t Know Me by Now – Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes
- Kiss You All Over – Exile
- Tired of Being Alone – Al Green
- Cat’s in the Cradle – Harry Chapin
- MacArthur Park – Donna Summer
- Jamming – Bob Marley and the Wailers
- The Loco-Motion – Grand Funk Railroad
- I Wanna Be Sedated – Ramones
- Get Down Tonight – KC & The Sunshine Band
- Stay On It – Julius Eastman
- Rock and Roll All Nite – Kiss
- Ghost Rider – Suicide
- Sheena Is a Punkrocker – Ramones
- Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure
- Typical Girls – The Slits
- Young Americans – David Bowie
- Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
- Hong Kong Garden – Siouxsie and The Banshees
- Surrender – Cheap Trick
- Alison – Elvis Costello
- I Want You to Want Me – Cheap Trick
- Mamma Mia – ABBA
- Love Is the Drug – Roxy Music
- Band of Gold – Freda Payne
- The Joker – The Steve Miller Band
- All the Young Dudes – Mott the Hoople
- Night Moves – Bob Seger
- Evergreen – Barbra Streisand
- Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll – Ian Dury
- Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones
- Public Image – Public Image Ltd
- American Girl – Tom Petty & Heartbreakers
- Funkytown – Lipps Inc.
- Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
- That Lady – The Isley Brothers
- Reeling in the Years – Steely Dan
- Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
- Uncle John’s Band – Grateful Dead
- Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band
- Flash Light – Parliament
- Get Up, Stand Up – The Wailers
- Black Magic Woman – Santana
- Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA
- Wild World – Cat Stevens
- Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) – Rod Stewart
- Love Train – The O’Jays
- Making Plans for Nigel – XTC
- We Will Rock You – Queen
- Bitches Brew – Miles Davis
- Thirteen – Big Star
- 20th Century Boy – T Rex
- Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
- Personality Crisis – New York Dolls
- The Eton Rifles – The Jam
- Are ‘Friends’ Electric? – Tubeway Army
- Madman Across the Water – Elton John
- Disco Inferno – The Trammps
- Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
- That’s the Way (I Like It) – KC and the Sunshine Band
- Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’ – The Rolling Stones
- Easy – Commodores
- Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
- When the Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin
- Just What I Needed – The Cars
- School’s Out – Alice Cooper
- Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston
- Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
- Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealers Wheel
- Detroit Rock City – KISS
- Hot Child in the City – Nick Gilder
- Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- Chase – Giorgio Moroder
- Message in a Bottle – The Police
- Another Girl, Another Planet – The Only Ones
- Crocodile Rock – Elton John
- Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – Barry White
- Kiss and Say Goodbye – The Manhattans
- Have You Seen Her – The Chi-Lites
- Lay Down Sally – Eric Clapton
- Back Stabbers – The O’Jays
- Killer Queen – Queen
- Who Are You – The Who
- Always and Forever – Heatwave
- Barracuda – Heart
- I Go Crazy – Paul Davis
- Jailbreak – AC/DC
- Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie
- Rebel Rebel – David Bowie
- Mercy Mercy Me – Marvin Gaye
- Pressure Drop – Toots and the Maytals
- Blank Generation – Richard Hell & The Voidoids
- Don’t Bring Me Down – Electric Light Orchestra
- What Is Life – George Harrison
- Rock & Roll Part 2 – Gary Glitter
- Radio Radio – Elvis Costello
- One Way or Another – Blondie
- Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
- Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – Baccara
- The Logical Song – Supertramp
- Rock Your Baby – George McCrae
- Last Dance – Donna Summer
- Respect Yourself – The Staple Singers
- Bela Lugosi’s Dead – Bauhaus
- Can You Get to That – Funkadelic
- Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder
- Help Me – Joni Mitchell
- Fame – David Bowie
- My Life – Billy Joel
- Oh Bondage Up Yours! – X-Ray Spex
- I Am Woman – Helen Reddy
- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack
- O-o-h Child – Five Stairsteps
- The Payback – James Brown
- Blame It on the Boogie – The Jacksons
- Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – Crystal Gayle
- Is This Love? – Bob Marley & The Wailers
- A Little More Love – Olivia Newton-John
- Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead
- Dream Baby Dream – Suicide
- Daddy Cool – Boney M
- On the Beach – Neil Young
- This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
- Inner City Blues – Marvin Gaye
- Philadelphia Freedom – Elton John
- In the Summertime – Mungo Jerry
- Still – Commodores
- The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron
- You’re My Best Friend – Queen
- I Saw the Light – Todd Rundgren
- Pump It Up – Elvis Costello
- Waterloo – ABBA
- Family Tradition – Hank Williams, Jr.
- Sad Eyes – Robert John
- Up and Around the Bend – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Knowing Me, Knowing You – ABBA
- Stay with Me – Miki Matsubara
- Pop Muzik – M
- Cry Baby – Janis Joplin
- Disco Duck – Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots
- Boogie Nights – Heatwave
- I Write the Songs – Barry Manilow
- I Gotcha – Joe Tex
- The Devil Went Down To Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band
- Kiss Me Again – Dinosaur
- Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ – The Velvet Underground
- Boogie Shoes – KC & The Sunshine Band
- Human Fly – The Cramps
- If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot
- Crazy Love – Van Morrison
- Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook
- You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Leo Sayer
- Black Betty – Ram Jam
- Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
- Zombie – Fela Kuti & Africa 70
- Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
- Pretty Vacant – Sex Pistols
- Superstar – The Carpenters
- Vitamin C – Can
- I Want You Back – The Jackson 5
- Waiting in Vain – Bob Marley and the Wailers
- Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest
- Everybody Dance – Chic
- Reunited – Peaches & Herb
- Delta Dawn -Tanya Tucker
- Get Up Off of That Thing – James Brown
- He’s the Greatest Dancer – Sister Sledge
- You Needed Me – Anne Murray
- Cecilia – Simon and Garfunkel
- Summer Breeze – The Isley Brothers
- Emotion – Samantha Sang
- Journey in Satchidananda – Alice Coltrane
- I’ll Never Love This Way Again – Dionne Warwick
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