Tune into the king’s very surprising playlist
From disco and new wave to soul and soft rock, the 1970s were a time when artists truly started to experiment with their sound, look, and persona. Whether looking at the London punk scene or the New York disco era, the '70s truly saw icons emerge. Many of these artists would impact the culture of the time and open doors for generations to come, with jams that live on to this day.
Care to rediscover the biggest hit songs from the '70s? Then click through this gallery.
Looking back at his impoverished past and telling his girlfriend not to cry because things were going to get better, ‘No Woman, No Cry’ is to this day one of Marley's most loved songs.
Released in 1977 as the second single from the 'Saturday Night Fever' soundtrack, this disco classic topped the charts for several weeks in the late '70s.
Considered one of the most beloved songs by the Beatles, the 1970 hit 'Let It Be' earned the highest opening chart position of a single ever on the Billboard Hot 100 up to that point.
The punk rock classic 'London Calling' is a politically charged rant that reflects on the concerns about world events of the time. It was the band's first song to top charts around the world.
With lyrics by Elton John's longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, 'Tiny Dancer' was featured on his fourth album, 'Madman Across the Water' (1972).
Written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album 'A Night at the Opera,' 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is an all-time classic that revolutionized progressive rock.
Released in 1970,'Bridge Over Troubled Water' is one of the most moving songs of the decade. At nearly five minutes, the hit exceeded the airplay length allowed for most radio singles, but that didn't stop it from becoming one of the most played songs of the year.
Played for years now at weddings, karaoke nights, and hen parties alike, ‘Dancing Queen’ became a worldwide hit when released in 1976. In 2015, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
A pure addictive pop rush, ‘One Way or Another’ is a new wave classic. The song was actually inspired by front woman Debbie Harry's experience with a stalker in the early 1970s.
Prince's first major hit single in the US, ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ gave audiences a taste of what was to come in the decade that followed.
Released in the summer of 1979, 'Bad Girls' became a worldwide success, going platinum and topping the charts. The jam of a true disco queen!
Released as a single in 1979 by Australian band AC/DC, ‘Highway to Hell’ is a hard rock anthem, which included a guitar riff that became an instant classic.
Written thanks to Rod Stewart's own experience, this '70s classic expresses the ambivalence and contradictory emotions of a young man romantically involved with an older woman.
Produced by the legendary Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson, this 1979 single was Jackson's first solo recording over which he had creative control.
The title track off The Who's 1978 album of the same name, the song was one of the British band's biggest hits around the world. Many actually know it better as the theme song to 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.'
‘My Sweet Lord’ was George Harrison's first single as a solo artist. The 1971 tune topped charts worldwide and became the most popular composition from his post-Beatles career.
Considered one of the most sexually charged songs ever recorded, 'Let’s Get It On’ was Marvin Gaye's first venture into the funk genre, and it's safe to say it became a breakthrough success.
Released in 1972, as the lead single from Stevie Wonder's 15th studio album, 'Talking Book,' the catchy song describes popular superstitions and their negative effects.
A successful 1967 hit single by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, it became a hit again in 1970 when recorded by Diana Ross. It launched her post-Supremes solo career and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
A true funk anthem, everyone was moving their bodies to this James Brown hit. Released in 1970, it's often considered one of the greatest songs of all time.
Composed by the band's guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant, this 1971 smash hit is often regarded as one of the greatest and most iconic rock songs of all time.
The best-selling single of John Lennon's solo career, ‘Imagine’ encourages listeners to envision a world of peace, something that continues to resonate to this day.
Originally recorded by Richard Chamberlain in 1963, '(They Long to Be) Close to You' is best known for its 1970 version by the brother-sister duo The Carpenters.
Dolly Parton’s signature smash was released in 1973, and became one of her biggest hits. In 2018, Parton revealed that she wrote 'Jolene' on the same day that she wrote 'I Will Always Love You.' Pretty impressive!
The decade’s ultimate hippie song, Joni Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi’ takes us on a journey across Hawaii where she gets devastated by all the concrete buildings and parking lots.
Co-written by David Bowie and Brian Eno, this 1977 hit became one of Bowie's signature songs, and his second-most covered song after 'Rebel Rebel.'
Al Green’s persuasive soul tune reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released in 1971. It has been covered by numerous other artists, most notably Tina Turner.
Written and recorded by Carole King, 'I Feel the Earth Move' peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks in 1971.
Released in 1978 by the Village People, 'Y.M.C.A.' became the disco group's biggest hit, selling over 10 million physical copies worldwide.
Featuring one of the hottest guitar solos of the disco era, 'Boogie Oogie Oogie' earned the band A Taste of Honey a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1979.
Sources: (Rolling Stone) (Parade) (NME)
See also: Rare vintage photos of artists backstage
The biggest hit songs from the ‘70s
These were the hits that defined the decade
MUSIC Tunes
From disco and new wave to soul and soft rock, the 1970s were a time when artists truly started to experiment with their sound, look, and persona. Whether looking at the London punk scene or the New York disco era, the '70s truly saw icons emerge. Many of these artists would impact the culture of the time and open doors for generations to come, with jams that live on to this day.
Care to rediscover the biggest hit songs from the '70s? Then click through this gallery.