AA's Top 400 "Rock" Songs of the 1970s

[AA484]

Halfway; next 20:

200. "Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding" by Elton John (1973)
199. "Who Loves the Sun" by The Velvet Underground (1970)
198. "Since I've Been Loving You" by Led Zeppelin (1970)
197. "Telephone Line" by Electric Light Orchestra (1976)
196. "Up the Junction" by Squeeze (1979)
195. "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" by Billy Joel (1977)
194. "A Message to You Rudy" by The Specials (1979)
193. "Detroit Rock City" by KISS (1976) (Maybe too high on second-thought, but fuck it)
192. "Ventura Highway" by America (1972)
191. "Dreaming" by Blondie (1979)
190. "After the Gold Rush" by Neil Young (1970)
189. "Sheep" by Pink Floyd (1977)
188. "Mother" by John Lennon (1970)
187. "White Riot" by The Clash (1977)
186. "2112" by Rush (1976)
185. "Fame" by David Bowie (1975)
184. "#9 Dream" by John Lennon (1974)
183. "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan (1976)
182. "Rock and Roll" by Led Zeppelin (1971)
181. "What Do I Get?" by Buzzcocks (1978)

 

[Valeyard]

I hope "Are Friends Electric?" pops up eventually.

 

[AA484]

Next 20:

180. "Black Night" by Deep Purple (1970)
179. "You Make Loving Fun" by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
178. "Help Me" by Joni Mitchell (1974)
177. "American Girl" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976)
176. "Metal Guru" by T. Rex (1972)
175. "Moondance" by Van Morrison (1970)
174. "Young Americans" by David Bowie (1975)
173. "Welcome to the Machine" by Pink Floyd (1975)
172. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" by Prince (1979)
171. "One Way or Another" by Blondie (1978)
170. "Satellite of Love" by Lou Reed (1972)
169. "Lost in the Supermarket" by The Clash (1979)
168. "Hello It's Me" by Todd Rundgren (1972)
167. "Golden Years" by David Bowie (1975)
166. "Miss You" by The Rolling Stones (1978)
165. "Breakfast in America" by Supertramp (1979)
164. "Rocks Off" by The Rolling Stones (1972)
163. "All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople (1972)
162. "Pretty Vacant" by Sex Pistols (1977)
161. "Turn to Stone" by Electric Light Orchestra (1977)

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Catching up but "Smoke on the Water" being in the 240s is a bit of a surprise considering it's one of the more iconic riffs in rock history.

Also "What Do I Get?" by the Buzzcocks is criminally low IMO but I adore that song *throws tomato*

 

[AA484]

Catching up but "Smoke on the Water" being in the 240s is a bit of a surprise considering it's one of the more iconic riffs in rock history.

Also "What Do I Get?" by the Buzzcocks is criminally low IMO but I adore that song *throws tomato*

Always felt like "Smoke on the Water" was good but carried by that riff. There are a couple Deep Purple songs that I feel are much better.

 

[AA484]

Next 20:

160. "And You and I" by Yes (1972)
159. "Pump It Up" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions (1978)
158. "Goodbye Stranger" by Supertramp (1979)
157. "Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen" by Santana (1970)
156. "The Ballroom Blitz" by The Sweet (1973)
155. "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" by The Rolling Stones (1971)
154. "Roxanne" by The Police (1978)
153. "Your Song" by Elton John (1970)
152. "Evil Woman" by Electric Light Orchestra (1975)
151. "Achilles Last Stand" by Led Zeppelin (1976)
150. "Stargazer" by Rainbow (1976)
149. "Hey You" by Pink Floyd (1979)
148. "Jungleland" by Bruce Springsteen (1975)
147. "The Great Gig in the Sky" by Pink Floyd (1973)
146. "Like a Hurricane" by Neil Young (1976)
145. "Peg" by Steely Dan (1977)
144. "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" by Pink Floyd (1979)
143. "Run Through the Jungle" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
142. "The Guns of Brixton" by The Clash (1979)
141. "Brain Damage / Eclipse" by Pink Floyd (1973)

 

[AA484]

Next 20:

140. "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who (1971)
139. "Over the Hills and Far Away" by Led Zeppelin (1973)
138. "Suffragette City" by David Bowie (1972)
137. "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney (1970)
136. "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac (1975)
135. "N.I.B." by Black Sabbath (1970)
134. "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie (1972)
133. "No Quarter" by Led Zeppelin (1973)
132. "Teenage Kicks" by The Undertones (1978)
131. "Love Reign O'er Me" by The Who (1973)
130. "Sara" by Fleetwood Mac (1979)
129. "Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart (1976)
128. "Isn't It a Pity" by George Harrison (1970)
127. "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones (1971)
126. "Children of the Grave" by Black Sabbath (1971)
125. "Five Years" by David Bowie (1972)
124. "Dogs" by Pink Floyd (1977)
123. "Love Is the Drug" by Roxy Music (1975)
122. "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions (1979)
121. "Because the Night" by Patti Smith (1978)

 

[Valeyard]

Never thought I'd see "Brown Sugar" or "Oliver's Army" on a list of positives ever again.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Next 20:

140. "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who (1971)
139. "Over the Hills and Far Away" by Led Zeppelin (1973)
138. "Suffragette City" by David Bowie (1972)
137. "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney (1970)
136. "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac (1975)
135. "N.I.B." by Black Sabbath (1970)
134. "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie (1972)
133. "No Quarter" by Led Zeppelin (1973)
132. "Teenage Kicks" by The Undertones (1978)
131. "Love Reign O'er Me" by The Who (1973)
130. "Sara" by Fleetwood Mac (1979)
129. "Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart (1976)
128. "Isn't It a Pity" by George Harrison (1970)
127. "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones (1971)
126. "Children of the Grave" by Black Sabbath (1971)
125. "Five Years" by David Bowie (1972)
124. "Dogs" by Pink Floyd (1977)
123. "Love Is the Drug" by Roxy Music (1975)
122. "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions (1979)
121. "Because the Night" by Patti Smith (1978)

Children of the Grave may be a Top 3 favorite Sabbath song for me but I get why it's this low. Pleasantly surprised it beat out N.I.B. though.

Fun Fact: "Teenage Kicks" was John Peel's favorite song. I feel like this is one of those songs where there are better cover versions which kind of overshadow the original and how good it is.

 

[AA484]

Next 20. Next edition will start the top 100:

120. "Reelin' in the Years" by Steely Dan (1972)
119. "Somebody to Love" by Queen (1976)
118. "New Rose" by The Damned (1977)
117. "Dream On" by Aerosmith (1973)
116. "L.A. Woman" by The Doors (1971)
115. "Livin' Thing" by Electric Light Orchestra (1976)
114. "I Saw the Light" by Todd Rundgren (1972)
113. "Deacon Blues" by Steely Dan (1977)
112. "Alison" by Elvis Costello (1977)
111. "Gloria" by Patti Smith (1975)
110. "Hanging on the Telephone" by Blondie (1978)
109. "20th Century Boy" by T. Rex (1973)
108. "Lookin' Out My Back Door" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
107. "Across the Universe" by The Beatles (1970) [Okay, unbeknownst to me, this song actually appeared on a December 1969 various artists compilation, but I'm keeping it here, anyway]
106. "Roadrunner" by The Modern Lovers (1976)
105. "More Than a Feeling" by Boston (1976)
104. "Virginia Plain" by Roxy Music (1972)
103. "Southern Man" by Neil Young (1970)
102. "Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath (1970)
101. "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen (1978)

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Legit thought the Sabbath title track would crack like the Top 70 so now I'm curious how the rest of the list shakes out especially with some other big songs (Blondie, Aerosmith, Boston, T. Rex) not cracking the Top 100.

 

[Valeyard]

I just hope "Street Hassle" and "Are Friends Electric?" rank high.

 

[cobainwasmurdered]

I don't think I've ever seen so much Steely Dan in a list but it's really good so far.

 

[AA484]

I don't think I've ever seen so much Steely Dan in a list but it's really good so far.

I was kind of surprised at the amount of songs they ended up having but they made some really good music.

I will confess that the last 100 is gonna be boring as I was too puss to list stuff like "Free Bird" outside the top 100, but that may just me being extra self-critical. I also got lazy when it came to separating artists so you'll get some Floyd or Bowie or Elton John lumped together with three songs in a stretch of ten or whatever

 

[AA484]

Bonus next 40 (since I didn't do one on Friday):

100. "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed (1972)
99. "It's Too Late" by Carole King (1971)
98. "Life During Wartime" by Talking Heads (1979)
97. "I Wanna Be Sedated" by Ramones (1978)
96. "Surrender" by Cheap Trick (1978)
95. "What Is Life" by George Harrison (1970)
94. "Aqualung" by Jethro Tull (1971)
93. "Close to the Edge" by Yes (1972)
92. "Killer Queen" by Queen (1974)
91. "Tumbling Dice" by The Rolling Stones (1972)
90. "Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie (1974)
89. "Highway Star" by Deep Purple (1972)
88. "The Boys Are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy (1976)
87. "Rhiannon (Will You Ever Win)" by Fleetwood Mac (1975)
86. "Atomic" by Blondie (1979)
85. "Money" by Pink Floyd (1973)
84. "Message in a Bottle" by The Police (1979)
83. "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)" by John Lennon (1970)
82. "Changes" by David Bowie (1971)
81. "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin (1971)
80. "Ziggy Stardust" by David Bowie (1972)
79. "What a Fool Believes" by The Doobie Brothers (1979)
78. "Making Plans for Nigel" by XTC (1979)
77. "The Logical Song" by Supertramp (1979)
76. "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" by Paul and Linda McCartney (1971)
75. "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John (1971)
74. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John (1973)
73. "Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)" by Neil Young (1979)
72. "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" by Ramones (1977)
71. "Damaged Goods" by Gang of Four (1979)
70. "Anarchy in the U.K." by Sex Pistols (1976)
69. "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" by Sparks (1974)
68. "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970)
67. "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart (1971)
66. "Get It On" by T. Rex (1971)
65. "Rocket Man" by Elton John (1972)
64. "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin (1971)
63. "God Save the Queen" by Sex Pistols (1977)
62. "Us and Them" by Pink Floyd (1973)
61. "Sweet Jane" by The Velvet Underground (1970)

 

[AA484]

Next 20:

60. "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel (1977)
59. "Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop (1977)
58. "Do It Again" by Steely Dan (1972)
57. "September Gurls" by Big Star (1974)
56. "Band on the Run" by Paul McCartney and Wings (1973)
55. "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin (1970)
54. "Sound and Vision" by David Bowie (1977)
53. "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
52. "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen (1975)
51. "Up Around the Bend" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
50. "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath (1970)
49. "Wild Horses" by The Rolling Stones (1971)
48. "Search and Destroy" by The Stooges (1973)
47. "Cars" by Gary Numan (1979)
46. "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra (1977)
45. "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits (1978)
44. "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd (1979)
43. "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd (1973)
42. "Old Man" by Neil Young (1972)
41. "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who (1971)

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Immigrant Song not cracking the Top 50... bold choice(?). And "Cars" beating it out... bolder move.

*holds up lighter* BUMP FREEBIRD!

 

[AA484]

Next 20:

40. "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop (1977)
39. "The Hurricane" by Bob Dylan (1976)
38. "Starman" by David Bowie (1972)
37. "Blitzkrieg Bop" by Ramones (1976)
36. "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath (1970)
35. "Let It Be" by The Beatles (1970)
34. "I'm Not in Love" by 10cc (1975)
33. "Lola" by The Kinks (1970)
32. "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
31. "Roundabout" by Yes (1971)
30. "Life on Mars?" by David Bowie (1971)
29. "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young (1972)
28. "Just What I Needed" by The Cars (1978)
27. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
26. "Marquee Moon" by Television (1977)
25. "Who'll Stop the Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
24. "Rock Lobster" by The B-52's (1978)
23. "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've?)" by Buzzcocks (1978)
22. "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos (1970)
21. "Riders on the Storm" by the Doors (1971)

 

[Valeyard]

I think the only actual disagreement I've got is "Rock Lobster" being 500 spots too high. But I do not care for the B-52s. VERY glad to see "Ever Fallen In Love" there though.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Next 20:

40. "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop (1977)
39. "The Hurricane" by Bob Dylan (1976)
38. "Starman" by David Bowie (1972)
37. "Blitzkrieg Bop" by Ramones (1976)
36. "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath (1970)
35. "Let It Be" by The Beatles (1970)
34. "I'm Not in Love" by 10cc (1975)
33. "Lola" by The Kinks (1970)
32. "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
31. "Roundabout" by Yes (1971)
30. "Life on Mars?" by David Bowie (1971)
29. "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young (1972)
28. "Just What I Needed" by The Cars (1978)
27. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
26. "Marquee Moon" by Television (1977)
25. "Who'll Stop the Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)
24. "Rock Lobster" by The B-52's (1978)
23. "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've?)" by Buzzcocks (1978)
22. "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos (1970)
21. "Riders on the Storm" by the Doors (1971)

I literally only know #21 because it's the ringtone on my Dad's phone so I associate that song strongly with him.

 

[AA484]

I figure the top 20 each deserve their own post. I'll post ten today and five each on Thursday and Friday:

20. "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac (1976)

 

[AA484]

19. "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin (1975)

 

[AA484]

18. "Time" by Pink Floyd (1973)

 

[AA484]

17. "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd (1975)

 

[AA484]

16. "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison (1970)

 

[AA484]

15. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V)" by Pink Floyd (1975)

 

[AA484]

14. "Tangled Up in Blue" by Bob Dylan (1975)

 

[AA484]

13. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult (1976)

 

[AA484]

12. "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads (1977)

 

[AA484]

11. "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen (1975)