The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended classics and hit songs
Western music of the 1970s, which began with the symbolic event that signaled the end of the 1960s—the breakup of The Beatles—saw a wide variety of genres flourish alongside traditional rock, including hard rock, progressive rock, and glam rock, with many stadium bands achieving record-breaking hits.
As a counter-movement, punk rock emerged, making it undeniable that this was a pivotal era in rock history.
In this feature, we present a lineup centered on classic, definitive numbers—masterpieces and hit songs that colored the golden age of Western rock in the ’70s.
It’s a recommended guide for young music fans who are interested in ’70s Western rock but aren’t sure where to start listening!
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The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended masterpieces and hit songs (61–70)
ViciousLou Reed
Lou Reed, who emerged from New York’s underground scene.
Opening his 1972 album Transformer, this track has long been celebrated as a seductive, glamorous piece that resonated with the UK’s glam rock boom.
The famous anecdote traces back to Andy Warhol’s idea of “malice that hits like a bouquet of flowers.” When the aggressive guitar riff intertwines with Reed’s sardonic vocals, a decadent, dangerous world unfolds—like donning leather and eyeshadow.
Its use in the TV drama Billions is still fresh in memory.
When you crave a jolt to the everyday, why not surrender to the track’s dazzling, provocative sound?
TrashNew York Dolls
Formed in New York City and hugely influential on the later punk scene, the New York Dolls left an indelible mark.
This work, released in July 1973 as a double A-side single with “Personality Crisis,” stands as a milestone of glam punk.
Set against a decadent city backdrop, the song belts out a tale of fleeting love and a way of life, its sweet, aching melody shining through the raw performance.
It was also showcased on NBC’s television program The Midnight Special.
Have you ever felt the urge to be yourself, unbound by conventional values? On a night when you feel compelled to rebel against something, why not immerse yourself in this sound where danger and purity coexist?
We’re An American BandGrand Funk Railroad
As the title suggests, it’s a song that proclaims, “We’re an American band.” It’s the title track from the American hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad’s album released in 1973.
Since it’s also the first track on the album, it’s a perfect introduction to who they are as a band.
Baby Hold OnEddie Money
A song that opens with a wistful guitar riff and builds as a powerful drum beat kicks in, making for a striking intro.
It carries a universal message about facing life’s uncertainties without losing hope and choosing to move forward.
Released in December 1977, the track was issued as the lead single from Eddie Money’s debut album, “Eddie Money,” and became a major hit, reaching No.
11 on the Billboard charts.
It has been featured in various films, TV shows, and video games, remaining beloved across generations.
It’s a song that can lift your spirits and give you courage when you’re feeling down or unsure.
Rock and Roll All NiteKISS
Kiss is an American hard rock band that, even in the 2020s, remains beloved around the world for their unmistakable white face paint, flamboyant costumes and stage production, and straightforward rock numbers—imagery everyone’s seen at least once.
If there’s one signature song of theirs, it has to be “Rock and Roll All Nite.” It’s famous as a set-closer at concerts, and its endlessly accessible, brisk guitar riff and irresistibly singalong melody have a way of putting a smile on every listener’s face—a true classic touched by rock’s magic.
Incidentally, the song first appeared on their third album, Dressed to Kill, released in 1975, and it didn’t make a huge splash upon its initial release.
Taking into account that it became a hit when it was re-released later in 1975 as a single from the acclaimed live album Alive!, the story also speaks to just how highly regarded their live shows were.
