250 Greatest Rock Songs of the 1970s
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock 'n' Roll and related sub-genres from the 1970s. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity and on acclaim received from critics and musicians.
Rock Songs 1970s
1. Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin
2. Hotel California
The Eagles
3. Imagine
John Lennon
4. What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
5. Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
6. Superstition
Stevie Wonder
7. Layla
Derek and the Dominos
8. Bohemian Rhapsody
Queen
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel
10. Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Led Zeppelin
2. Hotel California
The Eagles
3. Imagine
John Lennon
4. What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
5. Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
6. Superstition
Stevie Wonder
7. Layla
Derek and the Dominos
8. Bohemian Rhapsody
Queen
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel
10. Let's Stay Together
Al Green
11. Let It Be
The Beatles
12. Maggie May
Rod Stewart
13. American Pie
Don McLean
14. Won't Get Fooled Again
The Who
15. Stayin' Alive
The Bee Gees
16. Free Bird
Lynyrd Skynyrd
17. Brown Sugar
The Rolling Stones
18. Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
19. Go Your Own Way
Fleetwood Mac
20. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
The Temptations
21. Your Song
Elton John
22. Midnight Train to Georgia
Gladys Knight and the Pips
23. More Than a Feeling
Boston
24. Just My Imagination
The Temptations
25. I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor
26. Roxanne
The Police
27. Dream On
Aerosmith
28. Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
Pink Floyd
29. No Woman, No Cry
Bob Marley and the Wailers
30. London Calling
The Clash
31. Family Affair
Sly and the Family Stone
32. Anarchy in the UK
The Sex Pistols
33. Dancing Queen
ABBA
34. We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions
Queen
35. Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
James Brown
36. Living for the City
Stevie Wonder
37. Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
38. Lola
The Kinks
39. Smoke on the Water
Deep Purple
40. Sultans of Swing
Dire Straits
41. Walk This Way
Aerosmith
42. Lean on Me
Bill Withers
43. Who'll Stop the Rain
Creedence Clearwater Revival
44. Kashmir
Led Zeppelin
45. Rapper's Delight
The Sugarhill Gang
46. Heart of Glass
Blondie
47. Theme from "Shaft"
Isaac Hayes
48. Me and Bobby McGee
Janis Joplin
49. Fire and Rain
James Taylor
50. Baba O'Riley
The Who
51. Paranoid
Black Sabbath
52. Heart of Gold
Neil Young
53. Walk on the Wild Side
Lou Reed
54. It's Too Late
Carole King
55. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Stevie Wonder
56. All Right Now
Free
57. Good Times
Chic
58. (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Blue Oyster Cult
59. If You Don't Know Me by Now
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
60. Riders On the Storm
The Doors
61. My Sweet Lord
George Harrison
62. Bang a Gong (Get It On)
T. Rex
63. Black Magic Woman
Santana
64. Tangled Up in Blue
Bob Dylan
65. One Nation Under a Groove
Funkadelic
66. Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
67. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Michael Jackson
68. We Are Family
Sister Sledge
69. Rock and Roll
Led Zeppelin
70. I Wanna Be Sedated
The Ramones
71. Money
Pink Floyd
72. Miss You
The Rolling Stones
73. Piano Man
Billy Joel
74. Tired of Being Alone
Al Green
75. Killing Me Softly with His Song
Roberta Flack
76. Changes
David Bowie
77. Le Freak
Chic
78. Band of Gold
Freda Payne
79. Maybe I'm Amazed (studio version)
Paul McCartney
80. Thunder Road
Bruce Springsteen
81. Comfortably Numb
Pink Floyd
82. Heroes
David Bowie
83. Hot Stuff
Donna Summer
84. War
Edwin Starr
85. Night Moves
Bob Seger
86. Black Dog
Led Zeppelin
87. Brass in Pocket
The Pretenders
88. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
89. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
90. I'll Take You There
The Staple Singers
91. Tumbling Dice
The Rolling Stones
92. Love Train
The O'Jays
93. You're So Vain
Carly Simon
94. Best of My Love
The Emotions
95. God Save the Queen
The Sex Pistols
96. Old Time Rock 'n' Roll
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
97. Blitzkrieg Bop
The Ramones
98. Message in a Bottle
The Police
99. Mercy Mercy Me
Marvin Gaye
100. One of These Nights
The Eagles
The Beatles
12. Maggie May
Rod Stewart
13. American Pie
Don McLean
14. Won't Get Fooled Again
The Who
15. Stayin' Alive
The Bee Gees
16. Free Bird
Lynyrd Skynyrd
17. Brown Sugar
The Rolling Stones
18. Let's Get It On
Marvin Gaye
19. Go Your Own Way
Fleetwood Mac
20. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
The Temptations
21. Your Song
Elton John
22. Midnight Train to Georgia
Gladys Knight and the Pips
23. More Than a Feeling
Boston
24. Just My Imagination
The Temptations
25. I Will Survive
Gloria Gaynor
26. Roxanne
The Police
27. Dream On
Aerosmith
28. Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
Pink Floyd
29. No Woman, No Cry
Bob Marley and the Wailers
30. London Calling
The Clash
31. Family Affair
Sly and the Family Stone
32. Anarchy in the UK
The Sex Pistols
33. Dancing Queen
ABBA
34. We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions
Queen
35. Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine
James Brown
36. Living for the City
Stevie Wonder
37. Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
38. Lola
The Kinks
39. Smoke on the Water
Deep Purple
40. Sultans of Swing
Dire Straits
41. Walk This Way
Aerosmith
42. Lean on Me
Bill Withers
43. Who'll Stop the Rain
Creedence Clearwater Revival
44. Kashmir
Led Zeppelin
45. Rapper's Delight
The Sugarhill Gang
46. Heart of Glass
Blondie
47. Theme from "Shaft"
Isaac Hayes
48. Me and Bobby McGee
Janis Joplin
49. Fire and Rain
James Taylor
50. Baba O'Riley
The Who
51. Paranoid
Black Sabbath
52. Heart of Gold
Neil Young
53. Walk on the Wild Side
Lou Reed
54. It's Too Late
Carole King
55. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Stevie Wonder
56. All Right Now
Free
57. Good Times
Chic
58. (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Blue Oyster Cult
59. If You Don't Know Me by Now
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
60. Riders On the Storm
The Doors
61. My Sweet Lord
George Harrison
62. Bang a Gong (Get It On)
T. Rex
63. Black Magic Woman
Santana
64. Tangled Up in Blue
Bob Dylan
65. One Nation Under a Groove
Funkadelic
66. Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
67. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Michael Jackson
68. We Are Family
Sister Sledge
69. Rock and Roll
Led Zeppelin
70. I Wanna Be Sedated
The Ramones
71. Money
Pink Floyd
72. Miss You
The Rolling Stones
73. Piano Man
Billy Joel
74. Tired of Being Alone
Al Green
75. Killing Me Softly with His Song
Roberta Flack
76. Changes
David Bowie
77. Le Freak
Chic
78. Band of Gold
Freda Payne
79. Maybe I'm Amazed (studio version)
Paul McCartney
80. Thunder Road
Bruce Springsteen
81. Comfortably Numb
Pink Floyd
82. Heroes
David Bowie
83. Hot Stuff
Donna Summer
84. War
Edwin Starr
85. Night Moves
Bob Seger
86. Black Dog
Led Zeppelin
87. Brass in Pocket
The Pretenders
88. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
89. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
90. I'll Take You There
The Staple Singers
91. Tumbling Dice
The Rolling Stones
92. Love Train
The O'Jays
93. You're So Vain
Carly Simon
94. Best of My Love
The Emotions
95. God Save the Queen
The Sex Pistols
96. Old Time Rock 'n' Roll
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
97. Blitzkrieg Bop
The Ramones
98. Message in a Bottle
The Police
99. Mercy Mercy Me
Marvin Gaye
100. One of These Nights
The Eagles
101. Oh Girl
The Chi-Lites
102. Train in Vain
The Clash
103. Take It Easy
The Eagles
104. I'll Be Around
The Spinners
105. American Woman
The Guess Who
106. Roundabout
Yes
107. That Lady
The Isley Brothers
108. Angie
The Rolling Stones
109. Rock Lobster
The B-52's
110. Have You Seen Her
The Chi-Lites
111. Reeling in the Years
Steely Dan
112. Bennie and the Jets
Elton John
113. Aqualung
Jethro Tull
114. Low Rider
War
115. I'm Not in Love
10cc
116. Brick House
Commodores
117. Y.M.C.A.
Village People
118. The Boys Are Back in Town
Thin Lizzy
119. Play That Funky Music
Wild Cherry
120. Rocket Man
Elton John
121. The Joker
The Steve Miller Band
122. Dreams
Fleetwood Mac
123. Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Creedence Clearwater Revival
124. Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Meat Loaf
125. School's Out
Alice Cooper
126. Joy to the World
Three Dog Night
127. Highway to Hell
AC/DC
128. Tear the Roof off the Sucker
Parliament
129. Radar Love
Golden Earring
130. The Long and Winding Road
The Beatles
131. I Feel Love
Donna Summer
132. I'll Be There
The Jackson 5
133. Oye Como Va
Santana
134. Jamming
Bob Marley and the Wailers
135. All the Young Dudes
Mott the Hoople
136. Ohio
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
137. Moondance
Van Morrison
138. Drift Away
Dobie Gray
139. Higher Ground
Stevie Wonder
140. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan
141. Rock Your Baby
George McCrae
142. Instant Karma
John Lennon
143. Child in Time
Deep Purple
144. Get Up, Stand Up
The Wailers
145. Lady Marmalade
LaBelle
146. Flash Light
Parliament
147. Rhiannon
Fleetwood Mac
148. Long Cool Woman
The Hollies
149. Ain't No Sunshine
Bill Withers
150. Respect Yourself
The Staple Singers
151. Sweet Emotion
Aerosmith
152. Cars
Gary Numan
153. Takin' Care of Business
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
154. Just What I Needed
The Cars
155. Funkytown
Lipps, Inc.
156. My Sharona
The Knack
157. Rock with You
Michael Jackson
158. The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff
159. Back Stabbers
The O-Jays
160. I Can See Clearly Now
Johnny Nash
161. Without You
Nilsson
162. Tiny Dancer
Elton John
163. Because the Night
Patti Smith
164. Ramblin' Man
The Allman Brothers
165. Wonderful Tonight
Eric Clapton
166. Just the Way You Are
Billy Joel
167. Rock and Roll All Nite
KISS
168. That's the Way (I Like It)
KC & the Sunshine Band
169. Autobahn
Kraftwerk
170. Help Me
Joni Mitchell
171. Fame
David Bowie
172. Love to Love You Baby
Donna Summer
173. Kiss and Say Goodbye
The Manhattans
174. Time
Pink Floyd
175. Burning Love
Elvis Presley
176. I'm Still in Love with You
Al Green
177. Lust for Life
Iggy Pop
178. Werewolves of London
Warren Zevon
179. Disco Inferno
The Trammps
180. Cruisin'
Smokey Robinson
181. Refugee
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
182. Tonight's the Night
Rod Stewart
183. Smiling Faces Sometimes
The Undisputed Truth
184. Behind Blue Eyes
The Who
185. Always and Forever
Heatwave
186. We're an American Band
Grand Funk
187. Band on the Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
188. Listen to the Music
The Doobie Brothers
189. September
Earth, Wind and Fire
190. Runnin' with the Devil
Van Halen
191. Who Are You
The Who
192. Waterloo
ABBA
193. Got to Give It Up
Marvin Gaye
194. Fly Like an Eagle
The Steve Miller Band
195. I Wish
Stevie Wonder
196. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
Barry White
197. Carry On Wayward Son
Kansas
198. Surrender
Cheap Trick
199. Ball of Confusion
The Temptations
200. Cocaine
Eric Clapton
The Chi-Lites
102. Train in Vain
The Clash
103. Take It Easy
The Eagles
104. I'll Be Around
The Spinners
105. American Woman
The Guess Who
106. Roundabout
Yes
107. That Lady
The Isley Brothers
108. Angie
The Rolling Stones
109. Rock Lobster
The B-52's
110. Have You Seen Her
The Chi-Lites
111. Reeling in the Years
Steely Dan
112. Bennie and the Jets
Elton John
113. Aqualung
Jethro Tull
114. Low Rider
War
115. I'm Not in Love
10cc
116. Brick House
Commodores
117. Y.M.C.A.
Village People
118. The Boys Are Back in Town
Thin Lizzy
119. Play That Funky Music
Wild Cherry
120. Rocket Man
Elton John
121. The Joker
The Steve Miller Band
122. Dreams
Fleetwood Mac
123. Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Creedence Clearwater Revival
124. Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Meat Loaf
125. School's Out
Alice Cooper
126. Joy to the World
Three Dog Night
127. Highway to Hell
AC/DC
128. Tear the Roof off the Sucker
Parliament
129. Radar Love
Golden Earring
130. The Long and Winding Road
The Beatles
131. I Feel Love
Donna Summer
132. I'll Be There
The Jackson 5
133. Oye Como Va
Santana
134. Jamming
Bob Marley and the Wailers
135. All the Young Dudes
Mott the Hoople
136. Ohio
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
137. Moondance
Van Morrison
138. Drift Away
Dobie Gray
139. Higher Ground
Stevie Wonder
140. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan
141. Rock Your Baby
George McCrae
142. Instant Karma
John Lennon
143. Child in Time
Deep Purple
144. Get Up, Stand Up
The Wailers
145. Lady Marmalade
LaBelle
146. Flash Light
Parliament
147. Rhiannon
Fleetwood Mac
148. Long Cool Woman
The Hollies
149. Ain't No Sunshine
Bill Withers
150. Respect Yourself
The Staple Singers
151. Sweet Emotion
Aerosmith
152. Cars
Gary Numan
153. Takin' Care of Business
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
154. Just What I Needed
The Cars
155. Funkytown
Lipps, Inc.
156. My Sharona
The Knack
157. Rock with You
Michael Jackson
158. The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff
159. Back Stabbers
The O-Jays
160. I Can See Clearly Now
Johnny Nash
161. Without You
Nilsson
162. Tiny Dancer
Elton John
163. Because the Night
Patti Smith
164. Ramblin' Man
The Allman Brothers
165. Wonderful Tonight
Eric Clapton
166. Just the Way You Are
Billy Joel
167. Rock and Roll All Nite
KISS
168. That's the Way (I Like It)
KC & the Sunshine Band
169. Autobahn
Kraftwerk
170. Help Me
Joni Mitchell
171. Fame
David Bowie
172. Love to Love You Baby
Donna Summer
173. Kiss and Say Goodbye
The Manhattans
174. Time
Pink Floyd
175. Burning Love
Elvis Presley
176. I'm Still in Love with You
Al Green
177. Lust for Life
Iggy Pop
178. Werewolves of London
Warren Zevon
179. Disco Inferno
The Trammps
180. Cruisin'
Smokey Robinson
181. Refugee
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
182. Tonight's the Night
Rod Stewart
183. Smiling Faces Sometimes
The Undisputed Truth
184. Behind Blue Eyes
The Who
185. Always and Forever
Heatwave
186. We're an American Band
Grand Funk
187. Band on the Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
188. Listen to the Music
The Doobie Brothers
189. September
Earth, Wind and Fire
190. Runnin' with the Devil
Van Halen
191. Who Are You
The Who
192. Waterloo
ABBA
193. Got to Give It Up
Marvin Gaye
194. Fly Like an Eagle
The Steve Miller Band
195. I Wish
Stevie Wonder
196. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
Barry White
197. Carry On Wayward Son
Kansas
198. Surrender
Cheap Trick
199. Ball of Confusion
The Temptations
200. Cocaine
Eric Clapton
201. Alone Again (Naturally)
Gilbert O'Sullivan
202. Crocodile Rock
Elton John
203. Love Is the Drug
Roxy Music
204. LA Woman
The Doors
205. Stuck in the Middle with You
Stealers Wheel
206. Mr. Big Stuff
Jean Knight
207. The Logical Song
Supertramp
208. Tell Me Something Good
Rufus
209. Oliver's Army
Elvis Costello
210. 25 or 6 to 4
Chicago
211. What I Like About You
The Romantics
212. Shame
Evelyn "Champagne" King
213. Inner City Blues
Marvin Gaye
214. Life in the Fast Lane
The Eagles
215. A Horse with No Name
America
216. Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)
Neil Young
217. Natural High
Bloodstone
218. One Way or Another
Blondie
219. O-o-h Child
The Five Stairsteps
220. I Saw the Light
Todd Rundgren
221. Night Fever
The Bee Gees
222. Truckin'
The Grateful Dead
223. Rock and Roll, Part 2
Gary Glitter
224. Baker Street
Gerry Rafferty
225. Psycho Killer
Talking Heads
226. What a Fool Believes
The Doobie Brothers
227. Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffet
228. Dust in the Wind
Kansas
229. When Will I See You Again
The Three Degrees
230. Black Water
The Doobie Brothers
231. Me and Mrs. Jones
Billy Paul
232. Running on Empty
Jackson Browne
233. Turn the Page
Bob Seger
234. Roadhouse Blues
The Doors
235. The Payback
James Brown
236. Rebel Rebel
David Bowie
237. Killer Queen
Queen
238. Pick Up the Pieces
Average White Band
239. Can't Get Enough
Bad Company
240. Fantasy
Earth, Wind and Fire
241. Long Time
Boston
242. Until You Come Back to Me
Aretha Franklin
243. Long Train Running
The Doobie Brothers
244. Over the Hills and Far Away
Led Zeppelin
245. Locomotive Breath
Jethro Tull
246. That's the Way of the World
Earth, Wind and Fire
247. December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
The Four Seasons
248. Question
The Moody Blues
249. Go All the Way
The Raspberries
250. You Make Me Feel Brand New
The Stylistics
Gilbert O'Sullivan
202. Crocodile Rock
Elton John
203. Love Is the Drug
Roxy Music
204. LA Woman
The Doors
205. Stuck in the Middle with You
Stealers Wheel
206. Mr. Big Stuff
Jean Knight
207. The Logical Song
Supertramp
208. Tell Me Something Good
Rufus
209. Oliver's Army
Elvis Costello
210. 25 or 6 to 4
Chicago
211. What I Like About You
The Romantics
212. Shame
Evelyn "Champagne" King
213. Inner City Blues
Marvin Gaye
214. Life in the Fast Lane
The Eagles
215. A Horse with No Name
America
216. Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)
Neil Young
217. Natural High
Bloodstone
218. One Way or Another
Blondie
219. O-o-h Child
The Five Stairsteps
220. I Saw the Light
Todd Rundgren
221. Night Fever
The Bee Gees
222. Truckin'
The Grateful Dead
223. Rock and Roll, Part 2
Gary Glitter
224. Baker Street
Gerry Rafferty
225. Psycho Killer
Talking Heads
226. What a Fool Believes
The Doobie Brothers
227. Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffet
228. Dust in the Wind
Kansas
229. When Will I See You Again
The Three Degrees
230. Black Water
The Doobie Brothers
231. Me and Mrs. Jones
Billy Paul
232. Running on Empty
Jackson Browne
233. Turn the Page
Bob Seger
234. Roadhouse Blues
The Doors
235. The Payback
James Brown
236. Rebel Rebel
David Bowie
237. Killer Queen
Queen
238. Pick Up the Pieces
Average White Band
239. Can't Get Enough
Bad Company
240. Fantasy
Earth, Wind and Fire
241. Long Time
Boston
242. Until You Come Back to Me
Aretha Franklin
243. Long Train Running
The Doobie Brothers
244. Over the Hills and Far Away
Led Zeppelin
245. Locomotive Breath
Jethro Tull
246. That's the Way of the World
Earth, Wind and Fire
247. December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
The Four Seasons
248. Question
The Moody Blues
249. Go All the Way
The Raspberries
250. You Make Me Feel Brand New
The Stylistics
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Edited By: Brian
Last Updated: 2010-07-30Newly added names are in Red