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The Top 20 Most Iconic Rock Songs of the 70s

The Top 20 Iconic Rock Songs of the 70s. These are the songs that make you think, "Ahh, yes... the 70s." The songs that remind you immediately of the decade, the songs that encapsulate what 70s rock meant. We have excluded disco songs, as there is a separate list for those (see below), and they did devour the latter part of the decade for many radio station. These are the most recognizable iconic ROCK songs of the 70s.


1 - Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin is possible the most recognizable song from the 70s.

1/tie - Aqualung by Jethro Tull, an unforgettable opening... this song ties with Stairway as the most iconic song of the 70s.

2 - Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.  Also: We Will Rock You is pretty iconic.

3 - Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd. Also: Wish You Were Here, but each bands only get one entry.

4 - Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas from the monster masterpiece album Leftoverture


5 - More Than a Feeling by Boston, from their hugely popular debut album that spawned 4 Top-20 singles.



6 - Fox on the Run by Sweet from the iconic Desolation Boulevard

7 - Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac (along with any other song from Rumours, the biggest selling album of the 70s)

8 - I'm Eighteen by Alice Cooper

9 - Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd (Live version)

10 - Come Sail Away by Styx. It dominated the airwaves from The Grand Illusion.

11 - Young Americans by David Bowie

12 - Baby I Love Your Way by Peter Frampton from Frampton Comes Alive, one of the biggest albums of the 70s.

13 - Bang a Gong (Get it on) by T. Rex 

14 - Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John, along with Bennie and the Jets

15 - My Sweet Lord by George Harrison


Also check out:




16 - Band on the Run by Wings

17 - Rock and Roll All Night by Kiss (and be sure to party ev-er-y day)

18 - Roundabout by Yes

19 - Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

20 - We're An American Band by Grand Funk Railroad


Honorable Mentions go to: 

Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas ... only in the 70s could this song be a #1 hit!

Smokin in the Boys Room by Brownsville Station

The Joker by the Steve Miller Band

Telephone Line by ELO

Hold On by Triumph

My Sharona by The Knack (although this had more of a 1980s feel and came out right at the tail end of 1979)

There were so many good songs in the 1970s, but these are the songs that come first to mind when someone says the 70s. 45" singles and vinyl LP's. Good stuff.

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