While certain disco tunes endlessly loop in department stores, many awesome 1970s hits faded away. The decade offered a captivating mix of funk, soul, rock, and early hip-hop influences. These songs shaped a generation’s musical identity. Forgotten gems deserve rediscovery as they reflect evolving cultural sentiments. Get ready to crank the volume and explore these overlooked treasures.
17. Tighter, Tighter – Alive and Kicking
Alive and Kicking soared when most psychedelic bands crashed. Their 1970 hit reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It blended soulful horns with heavy guitar riffs.
The song still evokes nostalgia today. Finding this track is similar to discovering your parents actually had good taste – as shocking as learning Baby Yoda’s real name isn’t actually Baby Yoda. This perfect blend of psychedelia and pop continues making playlists relevant.
16. It Never Rains in Southern California – Albert Hammond
Dreaming of Hollywood stardom but facing harsh realities? Hammond nailed this existential crisis before Instagram influencers made disappointment a business model. Released in 1972, this song delivers melodic, sunny pop with a dark underbelly.
The beautiful melody masks the story’s grim truth. This track reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Listening reminds us that Los Angeles dreams often end up as dashed as MCU fans’ hopes for another decent Thor movie.
15. In the Summertime – Mungo Jerry
Forget blasting bass-heavy summer anthems – this song practically whispers in your ear. Mungo Jerry dominated outside North America with this laid-back jam. The track reached number 1 in the UK while only charting modestly in the US.
Its skiffle arrangement transports listeners to hazy summer days. The song celebrates doing absolutely nothing productive. Despite problematic lyrics nobody noticed until recently, its charm still provides the perfect soundtrack for pretending you don’t have responsibilities.
14. Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks
Nobody pulls heartstrings quite as dramatically as this track. Based on someone else’s melody, Jacks transformed it into the musical equivalent of those ASPCA commercials. He somehow made death sound almost upbeat.
The song chronicles a dying man’s goodbyes. Released in 1974, audiences apparently enjoyed crying while driving. It connected with listeners through raw emotion. The tune reminds you that friendships are temporary, just as your ex’s Netflix access should be.
13. Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) – Edison Lighthouse
When that catchy tune everybody hummed came from a band nobody remembers. Edison Lighthouse materialized solely because session musicians accidentally created gold. Success demanded forming an actual band faster than Netflix cancels sci-fi shows.
The hooky pop-rock sound hypnotized listeners worldwide. Topping UK charts and reaching number 5 in the US proves its magic. This overnight success story demonstrates pop music’s commitment issues better than any dating app conversation.
12. Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
When most disco hits vanished faster than your last diet attempt, this gem stubbornly refused to disappear. The disco era spawned countless forgotten tracks, yet Ward’s creation maintains its sparkle decades later.
Ward’s chorus work remains instantly recognizable. The song transports listeners to an era of platform shoes and dance moves requiring actual coordination. Billboard number 1 status in 1979 confirms what we already know – sometimes the most straightforward approach wins, just ask Wordle players.
11. Wildfire – Michael Martin Murphey
Some songs stick around similar to that one friend who never leaves your couch. This haunting melody lingers in collective memory despite Murphey later pivoting to country success. His genre-hopping career would make Taylor Swift proud.
The arrangements flow smooth as premium tequila. Guitar licks weave throughout with surprising complexity. The warm chorus feels substantive without becoming heavy-handed. Billboard validated its appeal with a number 3 ranking in 1975, proving quality sometimes actually matters.
10. Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest
This track continues jamming despite supermarket playlist overexposure threatening to make it as annoying as self-checkout machines. Drawing from multiple genres, it remains defiantly enjoyable regardless of context.
That keyboard intro hits with the same satisfaction as finding money in old jeans. Critics might dismiss it as background noise. Yet its enduring popularity confirms what we already suspected – sometimes simple pleasures outlast complicated ones.
9. Mr. Big Stuff – Jean Knight
That bass line introduces itself with the confidence of someone who definitely doesn’t need dating apps. Knight’s vocals deliver attitude with effortless cool. The song peaked at number 2 on Billboard charts in 1971.
Minimalist arrangements amplify its direct impact. This track serves as essential Soul Music education. Featured on countless compilations, it demonstrates how authentic strength creates lasting appeal similar to how Keanu Reeves remains relevant through every decade.
8. Vehicle – The Ides of March
Horn-driven rock exploded onto scenes as dramatically as Gen Z discovering side parts. This track epitomizes the genre perfectly. Jazz-rock emerged as musicians realized brass instruments could do more than collect dust.
Breaking Warner Brothers speed records for sales, it delivered raw energy when competitors sounded overly polished. Jim Peterik’s gritty vocals alongside brassy hooks created something special. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, proving listeners just wanted to crank the volume.
7. Lola – The Kinks
Picture that sketchy bar where unforgettable stories happen. This song emerged from exactly that environment. The Kinks balanced folk and rock elements with the precision of someone who actually separates laundry properly.
Muscular guitar riffs complemented clever lyrics creating something impossible to forget. American radio stations clutched pearls over controversial content. This publicity helped propel it to number 9 on Billboard charts in 1970. The song remains boldly relevant today.
6. What a Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers
When disco threatened to asphyxiate all other music forms in 1979, this track arrived as necessary CPR. The Doobie Brothers provided relief from dance floor monotony with something genuinely different.
The lyrics detail imaginary relationship rekindling. McDonald’s vocal range jumps around more impressively than parkour videos. Its melody lifts spirits regardless of melancholy subject matter. The song reached number 1 on the Billboard charts while people still groove to this smooth track completely missing its depressing message.
5. Le Freak – Chic
Imagine the ultimate party experience. Now add better music. This anthem materialized after Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards got rejected from Studio 54, turning saltiness into pure gold.
This underappreciated masterpiece still sounds fresher than most new releases. With ridiculous sales exceeding 13 million copies worldwide and topping the Billboard charts, it captured disco’s essence perfectly. The track delivers infectious rhythm that makes dancing mandatory, not optional.
4. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
Certain melodies define entire decades. This one claimed its territory effectively. Launching Redbone to stardom in 1973, these hooks embed themselves in brain tissue permanently.
The beat practically forces movement from even the most dance-resistant individuals. Despite chart success, the band remains relatively anonymous. A certain space movie revived interest in 2014. Billboard acknowledged its quality with a number 5 ranking in 1974.
3. Cars – Gary Numan
Synthesizers announced new wave’s arrival about as subtly as Marvel announces upcoming projects. This 1979 technological showcase delivered emotionless lyrics atop mechanical perfection.
Conceived after road rage, the song explores isolation ironically through music that united dance floors. Billboard gave it deserved number 9 recognition in 1979. This pioneering track influenced countless artists. Its unique approach continues inspiring electronic music producers who weren’t even born when it released.
2. Right Place Wrong Time – Dr. John
When everything goes spectacularly wrong but somehow becomes entertaining. Dr. John, New Orleans funk master, captured cosmic bad timing with impeccable musical timing.
The lyrics chronicle absurd misfortunes accumulating throughout a single day. Several music legends contributed wordplay. The doctor prescribed musical medicine for life’s ridiculous moments. Billboard recognized its brilliance with a number 9 position in 1973. It reminds listeners that disaster makes better stories than success.
1. Life on Mars? – David Bowie
Before Bowie, pop music played safer than that friend who never leaves their neighborhood. This song demolished boundaries with surreal imagery and ambitious arrangements that shouldn’t have worked but absolutely did.
String sections build toward emotional peaks. Bowie’s singular talent shines throughout every second. Orchestral elements elevate intensity without becoming bombastic. UK charts placed it at number 3. Critics often crown it his masterpiece. The song transports audiences to alternate realities better than any VR headset.
