Best Rock and Roll Artists of the 1970's
84 items ranked
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1.
Led Zeppelin
Killer albums. Unmistakable influence.
249 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
2.
Davis Bowie
215 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
3.
Elton John
No one had more hits or better songs in the decade.
214 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
4.
Fleetwood Mac
212 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
5.
The Eagles
No denying their dominance in the 1970's.
208 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
6.
The Who
202 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
7.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
A true band of the '70, gaining a world wide audience in the decade, then having three key members die in a plane crash in '77. "Free Bird", Sweet Home Alabama", "Give Me Three Steps", "Simple Man", "Tuesdays Gone"
201 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
8.
Bad Company
Driving bass & drums, screaming guitars and the wonderful voice of Paul Rodgers.
191 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
9.
Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR's peak was 69/70, but their music was so good that it still gets a lot of play today.
176 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
10.
Eric Clapton
As a member of the Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends and Derek and the Dominos, Clapton became a premier guitarist with a very recognizable voice. His solo career has continued to present.
167 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
11.
The Rolling Stones
152 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
12.
Pink Floyd
Gilmour is the single most underappreciated musician on the planet. Waters wrote some great songs.
152 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
13.
AC/DC
Pioneers of heavy metal w/ the highest selling album by any band: Back in Black.
151 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
14.
The Grateful Dead
No band has ever had such a cult following, with Dead Heads literally following them around the country. In concert, songs could morph into marathons, with fans lost in time & space... and not just because of the music.
151 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
15.
The Allman Brothers Band
Although founding members Duane Almond & Berry Oakley died tragically in motorcycle accident in the early '70, their influence as the principal architects of Southern rock assured their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
150 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
16.
Chicago
149 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill - 1 comment
Comments:
Proved that horns can make great Rock music.
Added 13 years ago by Javalation, 1 point
17.
John Lennon
141 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
18.
Black Sabbath
141 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
19.
The Bee Gees
138 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill - 1 comment
Comments:
Had several pop favorites in the '60s, then dominated the late '70s disco era.
Added 13 years ago by Javalation, 0 points
20.
ZZ Top
A lot of hard rockin' music from three guys and two beards.
137 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
21.
Steely Dan
Their rock music has blended influences of jazz, funk, R&B, and pop yielding a distinctive sound that is their own.
129 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
22.
Stevie Wonder
Maybe the decades most important artist.
129 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
23.
Deep Purple
124 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
24.
Yes
"Roundabout", "Long Distance Runaround"
119 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
25.
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
First hit in the '60s but best music in the '70. "Old Time Rock & Roll" is the most played single rock song.
118 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
26.
Marvin Gaye
115 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
27.
Queen
112 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
28.
Boston
Boston self titled debut album in 1976 is one of the best albums in rock.
111 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
29.
The Doobie Brothers
One of the top bands of the 70s, with a variety of sounds and musicians.
111 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
30.
Kansas
Great musicians with the vocals by Steve Walsh: "Carry On Wayward Son", "Dust in the Wind".
103 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation - 1 comment
Comments:
An absolutely fantastic and underrated band created by one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters of all time Kerry Livgren with hits that include Carry on Wayward Son, Dust in the Wind, Point of Know Return, People of the South Wind, Hold On, Play the Game Tonight, Fight Fire with Fire, and All I Wanted.
Added 8 years ago by guest, 1 point
31.
Styx
"Lady", "Grand Illusion", "Come Sail Away", "Crystal Ball" "Babe" among their best.
89 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
32.
Foreigner
Has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide since their first in '77.
85 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
33.
Neil Young
81 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
34.
Rod Stewart
Was w/ Jeff Beck in the late '60, but became enormously successful solo in the '70. 31 of his tunes reached the top 10, & he hooked up with some of the most beautiful women of the time.
80 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
35.
Robin Trower
Lead guitar in Procol Harem, Trower started his own band in the '70s and wrote & played some great music: "Bridge of Sighs", "Long Misty Days", "Daydream".
68 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
36.
Blue Oyster Cult
"Don't Fear The Reaper", "Burnin' for You", "Godzilla"
65 points - added 12 years ago by guest -
37.
Grand Funk Railroad
Some powerful rock music from an American Band.
64 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
38.
Cat Stevens
An important artist from the '70s
61 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
39.
Three Dog Night
13 gold albums
59 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
40.
Badfinger
A great 70s band with a tragic story. Best tunes: "Hold On", "Day After Day", "Name of the Game", "Come And Get It", "No Matter What".
44 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
41.
Billy Joel
Iconic entertainer w/ roots in his 70s rock: classics "Captain Jack", "Piano Man".
42 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
42.
The Alan Parsons Project
Most of the music is written by the duo of Parsons and Woolfson, but plugs in a wide variety of artists to play it. Albums tend to have themes, but a few tunes emerge as memorable like: "Time", "Eye In The Sky" and "So Far Away".
41 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
43.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer
Not only wrote, played and sang wonderful rock music in the period, they were instrumental in creating a new genre: Progressive Rock.
40 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
44.
America
Great songs with tight harmonies: Ventura Highway, Tin Man & Sister Golden Hair.
31 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
45.
Ten Yearws After
A variety of important 70s music: "I'd Love To Change The World", "Religion", "Positive Vibrations"
30 points - added 12 years ago by guest -
46.
Electric Light Orchestra
ELO had a distinctive orchestra sound that set them apart from other bands. They have been loved by some and reviled by others ever since.
30 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
47.
Paul McCartney
One of the most successful artists of all time . His Band On the Run album is one of the soundtrack of the 70s Ram is one of the best"ageing well "albums of any post- Beatles work.
28 points - added 10 years ago by guest -
48.
The J. Geils Band
28 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
49.
War
"Spill The Wine", "Low Rider", "The Cisco Kid", "Slipping into Darkness", "Why Can't We Be Friends?", "The World Is A Ghetto"
25 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
50.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
BTO Canadian band w/ straightforward simple rock: "Takin' Care of Business", "Let It Ride", "Roll On Down the Highway", You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet"
24 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
51.
UFO
A British band with international success from the '70s through now.
20 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
52.
Joni Mitchell
17 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
53.
Bob Marley
17 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
54.
Toto
Started in '78 but made a lot of music in the '80s & 90s. A few of their best: "Hold The Line", "I'll Be Over You", "Africa", "I Won't Hold You Back" & "99"
16 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
55.
Molly Hatchet
Southern Rock best remembered for "Flirtin' with Disaster" and their version of "Dreams I'll Never See".
16 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation - 2 comments
Comments:
This band blew right by me 40 years ago - only heard a few songs back then - just purchased 5 cd's > Molly Hatchet is now my all time favorite Rock band - JR
Added 4 years ago by guest, 2 points
This band blew right by me apx. 40 years ago - just purchased 5 cd's> Molly Hatchet is now my all time favorite band - JR
Added 4 years ago by guest, 1 point
56.
Supertramp
"The Logical Song"
16 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
57.
The Clash
16 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
58.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
15 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
59.
Status Quo
British rock: "Down, Down", "Ice in the Sun", "Whatever You Want", Caroline"
15 points - added 12 years ago by guest -
60.
Aerosmith
14 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
61.
Poco
Pop rock W/ a country influence: "Crazy Love", "Keep on Trying", "Follow Your Dreams"
14 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
62.
Loggins and Messina
Rock with a tinge of country. Best album: Sittin' In.
12 points - added 12 years ago by guest -
63.
Jackson Browne
11 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
64.
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy was an Irish hard rock band led by Phil Lynott. "The Boys Are Back in Town", "Jailbreak", The Cowboy Song"
11 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
65.
James Brown
11 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
66.
Aretha Franklin
11 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
67.
The Marshall Tucker Band
Southern country rock with a touch of jazz at its best. "Can't You See", "Take The Highway", "Virginia" & "Fire on the Mountain" just to name a few.
9 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
68.
KISS
9 points - added 13 years ago by BradHemphill -
69.
Uriah Heep
With a few lineup changes has continued as a band, selling over 30 million albums and packing arenas.
7 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
70.
Nazareth
"Love Hurts", "Hair of the Dog", "Morning Dew"
7 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
71.
Edgar Winter Group
Over 20 albums, but most recognized singles: "Frankenstein", Free Ride", "They Only Come Out at Night"
6 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
72.
Big Star
Wrote That 70s Show theme "In The Street" + a bunch of other good music: "September Gurls", "Thirteen", "Blue Moon"...
6 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
73.
Wishbone Ash
Great live concert band. "Blowin' Free", "Time Was", "Warrior"
6 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
74.
Spooky Tooth
"Sunlight Of My Mind", "The Mirror", "Society's Child", "Tobacco Road", "The Last Puff"
5 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
75.
Orleans
Pop-rock band: "Still the One", "Dance with Me", "If I Don't Have You", "Love Takes Time". One of the only rockers to make it in politics, John Hall served a couple of terms in congress.
5 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
76.
Rare Earth
A string of hits in the early '70s: "Get Ready", "I Just Wanna Celebrate", "Born To Wander", "I'm Losing You".
4 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
77.
Terry Reid
A super talent who rejected superstardom.
3 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
78.
Linda Ronstadt
2 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
79.
Little Feat
Lowell George was fired by Zappa from the Mothers either because he was writing music too good to just be a member of the band or because "of the drug references in "Willin'".
1 point - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
80.
Rory Gallagher
0 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
81.
Black Oak Arkansas
0 points - added 11 years ago by guest -
82.
Moxy
A rockin' south Texas band that never got the national attention it deserved. "Sail On, Sail Away".
0 points - added 12 years ago by Javalation -
83.
April Wine
Canadian band hits since the 70s: Just Between You and Me"You Could Have Been a Lady", "Just Between You and Me"
0 points - added 13 years ago by Javalation -
84.
Slade
Glowing success in Europe, but never really cracked the American market.
"Far, Far Away" and "Everyday" are probably their best.
-1 point - added 12 years ago by Javalation - 1 comment
Comments:
"*** On Feel the Noize" was written by Noddy & Jim & first performed by Slade in '73
Added 12 years ago by guest, 0 points
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