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 era of Western rock! Recommended masterpieces and hit songs (’71–’80)
Fly By NightRush
This is a song by Rush, a Canadian three-piece rock band.
The high-pitched vocals gently caress the ears.
It carries a message of encouraging us to try again and again.
It’s the title track from their 1975 album Fly By Night.
Queen BitchDavid Bowie
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?
Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, a London-born act that stood out with literary lyrics and a theatrical sound.
Released in January 1975, this single became a massive hit, reaching No.
1 on the UK charts in February of the same year.
Its brisk, catchy melody has a charm that lifts anyone’s spirits the moment they hear it.
Yet what the song contains is Steve Harley’s biting irony and loneliness toward his former bandmates after experiencing their departure.
Even as he’s been betrayed, the protagonist puts on a brave face and says, “Go ahead, make me laugh,” which only deepens the poignancy.
It’s likely for this very depth that the track has been used in many works, including the film The Full Monty.
If you know the bittersweetness of human relationships, it will surely resonate with your heart.
La GrangeZZ Top
This is a song that has continued to captivate fans around the world as a classic of blues rock.
It appears on ZZ Top’s album Tres Hombres, released in July 1973, and it reached No.
41 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Its popularity endured for decades, and in 2020 it climbed to No.
12 on the U.S.
Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, showing its cross-generational appeal.
The track is characterized by lyrics themed around a famous brothel in Texas and a compelling guitar riff.
While evoking the traditions of the blues, it also shines with ZZ Top’s distinctive sound.
It’s recommended for anyone who wants to fully savor the charm of ’70s rock or who loves powerful guitar-driven music.
Love of My LifeQueen
A gem of a ballad that sings of eternal love and the ache of farewell.
Its earnest wish to reclaim a lost love resounds alongside an elegant melody.
The lyrical vocals, woven with the gentle timbre of the piano, have long captivated music fans worldwide as a facet symbolizing Queen’s musical versatility.
Featured on the album A Night at the Opera, this piece has been beloved since its 1975 release as a staple that creates a sense of unity with audiences on the live stage.
During the 1981 South American tour, the massive crowd sing-alongs became a sensation, and it was portrayed memorably in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.
This is a song to listen to when you want to be close to the feelings for someone dear and convey love from the heart.