Top Songs from 1970-1979

First posted 3/4/2011; last updated 10/26/2020.

Top 100 Songs of the Decade: 1970-1979

These are the top 100 songs from the 1970s according to Dave’s Music Database. Rankings are figured by combining sales figures, chart data, radio airplay, video airplay, streaming figures, awards, and appearances on best-of lists. Check out other “songs of the decade” lists here. 1. Bohemian Rhapsody…Queen (1975) 2. Imagine…John Lennon (1971) 3. Bridge Over Troubled Water…Simon & Garfunkel (1970) 4. Hotel California…Eagles (1976) 5. Stayin’ Alive…Bee Gees (1977) 6. Stairway to Heaven…Led Zeppelin (1971) 7. American Pie…Don McLean (1971) 8. Let It Be…The Beatles (1970) 9. Layla…Derek & the Dominos (1970) 10. Dancing Queen…Abba (1976) 11. Born to Run…Bruce Springsteen (1975) 12. I Will Survive…Gloria Gaynor (1978) 13. What’s Going On…Marvin Gaye (1971) 14. Superstition…Stevie Wonder (1972) 15. Another Brick in the Wall Part II…Pink Floyd (1979) 16. Maggie May…Rod Stewart (1971) 17. Your Song…Elton John (1970) 18. Le Freak…Chic (1978) 19. My Sweet Lord…George Harrison (1970) 20. You Light Up My Life…Debby Boone (1977) 21. Heart of Glass…Blondie (1979) 22. Let’s Stay Together…Al Green (1971) 23. Killing Me Softly with His Song…Roberta Flack (1973) 24. Y.M.C.A….Village People (1978) 25. “Night Fever” Bee Gees (1978) 26. Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree…Tony Orlando & Dawn (1973) 27. “How Deep Is Your Love” Bee Gees (1977) 28. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face…Roberta Flack (1972) 29. The Way We Were…Barbra Streisand (1973) 30. “You’re the One That I Want” Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta (1978) 31. London Calling…The Clash (1979) 32. Sweet Home Alabama…Lynyrd Skynyrd (1974) 33. No Woman, No Cry…Bob Marley & the Wailers (1975) 34. My Sharona…The Knack (1979) 35. Let’s Get It On…Marvin Gaye (1973) 36. Without You…Harry Nilsson (1971) 37. Free Bird…Lynyrd Skynrd (1973) 38. Seasons in the Sun…Terry Jacks (1974) 39. Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)…Rod Stewart (1976) 40. Anarchy in the U.K….Sex Pistols (1976) 41. Won’t Get Fooled Again…The Who (1971) 42. Go Your Own Way…Fleetwood Mac (1977) 43. Sultans of Swing…Dire Straits (1979) 44. Joy to the World…Three Dog Night (1971) 45. Love Will Keep Us Together…Captain & Tennille (1975) 46. Walk on the Wild Side…Lou Reed (1972) 47. Three Times a Lady…Commodores (1978) 48. You’re So Vain…Carly Simon (1972) 49. It’s Too Late…Carole King (1971) 50. Fire and Rain…James Taylor (1970) 51. I’ll Be There…The Jackson 5 (1970) 52. Theme from Shaft…Isaac Hayes (1971) 53. Heroes…David Bowie (1977) 54. Brown Sugar…The Rolling Stones (1971) 55. We Are Family…Sister Sledge (1979) 56. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough…Michael Jackson (1979) 57. Piano Man…Billy Joel (1974) 58. Alone Again (Naturally)…Gilbert O’Sullivan (1972) 59. God Save the Queen…Sex Pistols (1977) 60. Play That Funky Music…Wild Cherry (1976) 61. Rapper’s Delight…The Sugarhill Gang (1979) 62. Paranoid…Black Sabbath (1970) 63. “I Honestly Love You” Olivia Newton-John (1974) 64. You Are the Sunshine of My Life…Stevie Wonder (1973) 65. Baker Street…Gerry Rafferty (1978) 66. Just the Way You Are…Billy Joel (1977) 67. Dreams…Fleetwood Mac (1977) 68. “Shadow Dancing” Andy Gibb (1978) 69. Good Times…Chic (1979) 70. Comfortably Numb…Pink Floyd (1979) 71. Midnight Train to Georgia…Gladys Knight & the Pips (1973) 72. Angie…The Rolling Stones (1973) 73. They Long to Be Close to You…Carpenters (1970) 74. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart…Elton John & Kiki Dee (1976) 75. We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions…Queen (1977) 76. Dream On…Aerosmith (1973) 77. Old Time Rock and Roll…Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band (1978) 78. In the Summertime…Mungo Jerry (1970) 79. More Than a Feeling…Boston (1976) 80. Smoke on the Water…Deep Purple (1973) 81. Crazy Little Thing Called Love…Queen (1979) 82. Hot Stuff…Donna Summer (1979) 83. Just My Imagination Running Away with Me…The Temptations (1971) 84. “Baba O’Riley” The Who (1971) 85. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?...Rod Stewart (1978) 86. “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” The Temptations (1972) 87. Lola…The Kinks (1970) 88. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road…Elton John (1973) 89. All Right Now…Free (1970) 90. Changes…David Bowie (1971) 91. Brass in Pocket (I’m Special)…Pretenders (1979) 92. Rhinestone Cowboy…Glen Campbell (1975) 93. Bennie and the Jets…Elton John (1974) 94. Crocodile Rock…Elton John (1972) 95. If You Leave Me Now…Chicago (1976) 96. I’m Not in Love…10cc (1975) 97. The Hustle…Van McCoy (1975) 98. Kung Fu Fighting…Carl Douglas (1974) 99. Best of My Love…The Emotions (1977) 100. Heart of Gold…Neil Young (1972)