Attention!!!
The 70s is most probably an acquired taste for those of us who's childhood was in the 90s which led us to worship the artists and bands of pop and alternative. However, in the 70s we see the ascension of disco and its peak in the latter part of the decade. The decade actually belonged to rock. The mainstream was definitely hard rock as the chart toppers were mostly from the head banging artists and bands. Pop music was also gaining momentum but with slower numbers suited for the dancing of that era. There is mostly original music unlike the 90s and 2000s where artists and bands tend to sample and cover the same old song with different beats and twists.
This list is a compilation of the greatest hits released between 1970-1979 by different artists and bands with the exception of a very few artists having collaborated on songs. I have deliberately excluded other double entries for the sole purpose of providing space for one-hit wonders and to prevent artists or bands such as Elton John, Queen and The Beatles from having double entries. Therefore, painstakingly I have had to research and find out the best song released by these artists and bands. Thus, these are the Ultimate Hits of the 70s based on chart performance as well as accolades received.
- Pink
Floyd – Another brick in the wall Part II
- Olivia
Newton John & John Travolta – You’re the one that I want
- Bee
Gees – Tragedy
- Simon
& Garfunkel – Bridge over troubled water
- Gloria
Gaynor – I will survive
- John
Lennon – Imagine
- Queen
– Bohemian rhapsody
- Blondie
– Heart of glass
- Elton
John & Kiki Dee – Don’t go breaking my heart
- ABBA
– Dancing queen
- The
Beatles – Let it be
- Debby
Boone – You light up my life
- George
Harrison – My sweet lord
- Carl
Douglas – Kung fu fighting
- Anita
Ward – Ring my Bell
- Chicago
– If you leave me now
- Roberta
Flack – Killing me softly with his song
- Glen
Campbell – Rhinestone cowboy
- Ray
Stevens – The Streak
- Boney
M – Rivers of Babylon
- Harry
Nilsson – Without you
- Neil
Diamond – Cracklin’ Rosie
- Elvis
Presley – Burning love
- Chic
– Le freak
- Leo
Sayer – When I need you
- The
Rolling Stones – Angie
- Gilbert
O’ Sullivan – Alone again (naturally)
- Village
People – Y.M.C.A.
- Donny
Osmond – Puppy love
- Wings
– Silly love songs
- Marvin
Gaye – Let’s get it on
- Carole
King – It’s too late
- Barry
White – You’re the first, the last, my everything
- Terry
Jacks – Seasons in the sun
- Van
McCoy – The hustle
- Rod
Stewart – Da ya think I’m sexy
- Don
McClean – American pie
- George
McCrae – Rock your baby
- Michael
Jackson – Don’t stop til you get enough
- Led
Zeppelin – Whole lotta love
- Barbra
Streisand – Evergreen
- BJ
Thomas – Raindrops keep falling on my head
- Elton
John – Crocodile rock
- The
Carpenters – Top of the world
- Chuck
Berry – My ding-a-ling
- KC
and the Sunshine Band – That’s the way (I like it)
- Eagles
– Hotel California
- Jackson
5 – I’ll be there
- Hues
Corporation – Rock the boat
- Stevie
Wonder – Superstition
- A
Taste of Honey – Boogie, oogie, oogie
- Tony
Orlando and Dawn – Knock three times
- The
Knack – My Sharona
- Carly
Simon – You’re so vain
- America
– A horse with no name
- David
Soul – Don’t give up on us
- Smokey
Robinson and The Miracles – The tears of a clown
- Cliff
Richard – We don’t talk anymore
- Al
Green – Let’s stay together
- The
Emotions – Best of my love
- The
Moody Blues – Nights in white satin
- Minnie
Riperton – Lovin’ you
- James
Taylor – You’ve got a friend
- Mud
– Tiger feet
- The
Three Degrees – When will I see you again
- Wild
Cherry – Play that funky music
- The
Buggles – Video killed the radio star
- Andy
Gibb – Shadow dancing
- Diana
Ross – Do you know where you’re going to
- Johnny
Nash – I can see clearly now
- Helen
Reddy – I am woman
- Sonny
and Cher – All I ever need is you
- Barry
Manilow – Mandy
- The
Police – Message in a bottle
- The
Pretenders – Brass in pocket
- Donna
Summer – Hot stuff
- Sly
and the Family Stone – Family affair
- Tammy
Wynette – Stand by your man
- Neil
Diamond and Barbra Streisand – You don’t bring me flowers
- M –
Pop Muzik
- Anne
Murray – You needed me
- Janis
Joplin – Me and Bobby McGee
- Meco
– Star Wars Theme
- Freddie
Fender – Before the next teardrop falls
- David
Bowie – Fame
- T.
Rex – Get it on
- The
Temptations – Just my imagination (running away with me)
- The
Manhattans – Kiss and say goodbye
- Olivia
Newton John – I honestly love you
- Styx
– Babe
- Bill
Withers – Lean on me
- Peaches
& Herb – Reunited
- Yvonne
Elliman – If I can’t have you
- Melanie
Safka – Brand new key
- The
Osmonds – One bad apple
- Starland
Vocal Band – Afternoon delight
- Gladys
Knight & the Pips – Midnight train to Georgia
- Silver
Connection – Fly Robin Fly
- The
Partridge Family – I think I love you
- Earth,
Wind & Fire – Shining star
- Eric
Clapton – I shot the sheriff
- Commodores
– Three times a lady
- Rose
Royce – Car wash
- Fleetwood
Mac – Dreams
- Kate
Bush – Wuthering heights
- Ringo
Starr – You’re sixteen
- Middle
of the Road – Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
- Tina
Charles – I love to love (but my baby loves to dance)
- The
Stylistics – You make me feel brand new
- Edison
Lighthouse – Love grows (where my Rosemary goes)
- Andy
Kim – Rock me gently
- Bay
City Rollers – Bye bye baby
- The
New Seekers – I’d like to teach the world to sing
- The
Four Seasons – December, 1963 (Oh what a night)
- Art
Garfunkel – I only have eyes for you
- Neil
Young – Heart of gold
- Mary
MacGregor – Torn between two lovers
- Brotherhood
of Man – Save your kisses for me
- Tubeway
Army – Are ‘friends’ electric?
- MFSB
& The Three Degrees – TSOP (The sound of Philadelphia)
- Herb
Albert – Rise
- Jim
Croce – Time in a bottle
- David
Cassidy – How I can I be sure
- Mac
Davis – Baby don’t get hooked on me
- The
Rubettes – Sugar baby love
- Dr.
Hook – When you’re in love with a beautiful woman
- Cher
– Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves
- Billy
Paul – Me & Mrs. Jones
- Ohio
Players – Love rollercoaster
- Gary
Glitter – I love you love me love
- The
Guess Who – American woman
- Dionne
Warwick & The Spinners – Then came you
- Neil
Sedaka – Bad blood
- Billy
Preston – Nothing from nothing
- Rupert
Holmes – Escape (The Pina Colada Song)
- Slade
– Mama weer all crazee now
- Shaun
Cassidy – Da doo ron ron
- Bread
– Make it with you
- Dave
Edmunds – I hear you knocking
- Pussycat
– Mississipi
- Suzi
Quatro – Can the can
- Gary
Numan – Cars
- Lena
Martell – One day at a time
- Eric
Weissberg & Steve Mandell – Dueling banjos
- The
Boomtown Rats – I don’t like Mondays
- Windsor
Davies and Don Estelle – Whispering grass
- 10cc
– I’m not in love
- David
Essex – Hold me close
- Sweet
– Fox on the run
- Earth,
Wind & Fire & The Emotions – Boogie wonderland
- The
Spinners – Working my way back to you/Forgive me girl
- Ken
Boothe – Everything I own
- The
Manhattan Transfer – Chanson d’amour
- Player
– Baby come back
- Paper
Lace – Billy don’t be a hero
- Jean
Knight – Mr. Big stuff
- Johnnie
Taylor – Disco lady
- Three
Dog Night – Joy to the world
- Showaddywaddy
– Under the moon of love
- Vicky
Lawrence – The night the lights went out in Georgia
- The
Chi-Lites – Oh girl
- Linda
Ronstadt – Blue bayou
- Rick
Dees – Disco duck
- Creedance
Clearwater Revival – Travelin’ band
- The
Supremes – Stoned love
- Tom
Jones – She’s a lady
- Status
Quo – Down down
- Lieutenant
Pigeon – Mouldy old dough
- Exile
– Kiss you all over
- Johnny
Mathis & Deniece Williams – Too much, too little, too late
- Smokie
– Living next door to Alice
- Ian
Dury and the Blockheads – Hit me with your rhythm stick
- Bob
Marley – No woman no cry
- The
Sylvers – Boogie fever
- Aretha
Franklin – Spanish harlem
- Sammy
Davis Jr. – The candy man
- Bob
Dylan – Knockin’ on heaven’s door
- Pilot
– January
- Freda
Payne – Band of gold
- Boston
– More than a feeling
- Paul
Anka & Odia Coates – (You’re) having my baby
- Wizzard
– See my baby jive
- Aerosmith
– Dream on
- Jimmy
Osmond – Long haired lover from Liverpool
- Hot
Chocolate – You sexy thing
- Sex
Pistols – God save the Queen
- Julie
Covington – Don’t cry for me Argentina
- Lynyrd
Skynyrd – Sweet home Alabama
- Stories
– Brother Louie
- James
Brown – Get up (I feel like being a) sex machine
- Frankie
Valli – Grease
- Black
Sabbath – Paranoid
- Peters
and Lee – Welcome home
- Deep
Purple – Smoke on the water
- Five
Stairsteps – O-o-h child
- Alvin
Stardust – My coo ca choo
- Seals
and Crofts – Get closer
- Roxy
Music – Love is the drug
- Barry
Biggs – Sideshow
- Cheap
Trick – I want you to want me
Til the next beat…
At Ease!!!
