The allure of 70s glam rock! A host of masterpieces that colored a dazzling chapter of music history

Devil Gate DriveSuzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro – Devil Gate Drive – “The Original B&W Clip”

You can almost picture Suzi Quatro from the United States, clad in a leather jumpsuit and hammering on her bass.

Released in February 1974, this track topped the UK charts for two consecutive weeks and became a massive hit featured on the classic album “Quatro.” It channels that distinctive thrill and rush of young people heading to a dangerous, alluring hangout, riding on a surge of high-velocity rock ’n’ roll.

Its rebellious spirit—rejecting society’s rules and celebrating freedom—seems to liberate the listener’s heart.

Also known for its use in the popular American TV show “Happy Days,” this song is a surefire way to blast through the monotony of everyday life and leave you feeling refreshed whenever you need a lift.

20th Century BoyT-REX

T.Rex – 20th Century Boy (Full Version) [HD]

With its fiercely distorted guitar riff that makes your body move before you know it, this is a signature track by the British glam rock band T.

Rex.

Released as a single in March 1973, it initially didn’t appear on an album yet still reached No.

3 on the UK chart.

Marc Bolan’s confident vocals—almost as if declaring himself the darling of the era—paired with the rough yet catchy sound are irresistibly cool.

The song is also known for being used in a Levi’s commercial in 1991 and for influencing the title of the popular manga “20th Century Boys.” It’s the kind of track that gives you a firm shove forward when you’re facing a big wall, saying, “Your power is far greater than that.”

Hot LoveT-REX

T. Rex – Hot Love (1971)

This is a single released in February 1971 by the British band T.

Rex, emblematic of the dawn of the glam rock era.

It dominated the UK charts for six weeks and helped spark the social phenomenon known as “Bolanmania.” The repetitive, simple guitar riff and Marc Bolan’s sweet, whisper-like vocals are especially memorable.

The lyrics convey irrepressible, passionate love and a sense of exhilaration.

As you listen, your heart can’t help but lift, evoking a sparkle akin to the first rush of romance.

It’s often said that their performance of this song on a music show marked the very beginning of “glam rock,” making it an essential track for anyone interested in the genre.

All The Young DudesMOTT THE HOOPLE

Mott the Hoople – All The Young Dudes

Also known by its striking Japanese title “Subete no Wakaki Yarō-domo,” Mott the Hoople’s 1972 hit “All the Young Dudes”—famously provided by David Bowie—is invariably cited as a quintessential glam rock classic.

Thanks to its success not only in the UK but also in the US, it became the band’s signature song.

The anthemic melody, the distinctive organ tones, and that faintly decadent atmosphere are all irresistibly cool.

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Queen BitchDavid Bowie

David Bowie – Queen Bitch (Live) [Official Video] [HD]

David Bowie, the British artist who kept revolutionizing the music scene with his ever-changing style.

Featured on the December 1971 album Hunky Dory, this track can be called a dazzling prelude to his glam rock era.

As Mick Ronson’s aggressive guitar riff rings out, a perverse world swirling with jealousy and longing unfolds before your eyes.

From his apartment, the protagonist watches the person who dumped him wandering the nighttime streets, his feelings a complex tangle.

You can’t help but be captivated by its decadent beauty.

The song later appeared as the B-side to the single Rebel Rebel and is also known for its use in the film Milk.

Why not give it a listen when you want to feel the precarious air lurking beneath the glitter of the 1970s?