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 classic and hit songs (11–20)
Bad BloodNEW!Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka, a quintessential American singer-songwriter who made a dramatic comeback in the mid-1970s.
The track I’d recommend as a work where he embraced rock elements and broke new ground is “Bad Blood.” Its appeal lies in the sound where the groove created by pounding piano lines interlocks with his energetic vocals.
It’s also known for featuring his close friend Elton John on backing vocals.
The hook in the chorus, where their voices blend, is unforgettable after just one listen.
Released as a single in September 1975, it achieved overwhelming success, including three consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the U.S.
Billboard chart.
It’s also included on the U.S.
edition of the album The Hungry Years.
Perfect for when you want to lift your spirits or savor classic pop-rock.
LolaThe Kinks
When you hear “the most quintessentially British band,” which group comes to mind? Among music fans who love UK rock, there are actually many who consider The Kinks—the band featured in this piece—to be “the most British rock band” of all.
They’re sometimes called “the most underrated band in UK rock history,” and it’s true that, in terms of name recognition, they unfortunately trail behind contemporaries like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
But plenty of artists admire The Kinks for crafting numerous classics with a distinctly British, delightfully off-kilter sensibility—true to their name.
Bands from the Britpop era, such as Oasis’s Gallagher brothers (fellow sibling band) and Blur, are also diehard Kinks fans.
The Kinks’ enduring appeal even spans seemingly different genres like punk and metal; I’d love for you to see and hear for yourselves just how remarkable they are.
Since this is a feature on classic ‘70s rock songs, let’s spotlight “Lola,” The Kinks’ 1970 masterpiece.
It became one of their signature tracks, reaching No.
9 on the charts not only in Europe but in the United States as well.
The song is catchy and poppy, built on a lively blend of acoustic guitar and electric guitar, and its lyrics—depicting a meeting in a club between a man and a cross-dressed man—are quintessential Ray Davies.
Because their songs place such importance on lyrics, if you like the track, be sure to check out the words—ideally with a good translation.
More Than a FeelingBoston
Known in Japan by the title “Gensō Hikō” (Fantasy Flight), Boston’s 1976 debut album Boston shot straight to No.
3 on the U.S.
charts and achieved an astonishing worldwide sales total of over 25 million, establishing the band as a titan of American progressive hard rock.
Opening the album, More Than a Feeling is one of Boston’s signature songs—a timeless masterpiece whose overwhelming perfection never fails to impress.
Guided by beautiful acoustic guitar arpeggios that transition into a dynamic hard rock sound, the song’s melody—woven from exquisitely high, crystalline vocals and rich, layered harmonies—will never lose its luster.
The band’s mastermind, Tom Scholz, who handled nearly all parts except the lead vocals, is an intellectual who graduated at the top of his class from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Originally a classical music fan who later became interested in pop and rock, he reportedly began playing guitar at the age of 21.
Perhaps it’s precisely because of Scholz’s unique background that he was able to create music that remains as brilliant and unfaded as ever, even after so many years.
Heart of GlassBlondie
When it comes to masterpieces of 1970s rock that fuse shimmering disco sounds with the cutting-edge sensibilities of new wave, this song is indispensable.
Becoming one of Blondie’s signature tracks, it was released in January 1979 and became a massive hit, reaching number one on the charts in multiple countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
While singing about the pain of heartbreak, the lyrics view romance with a somewhat cool, detached eye, creating a sophisticated, urban mood.
Released at the height of the disco boom, it was also an innovative attempt by a rock band to take on disco, bringing a fresh breeze to the music scene.
Brown SugarThe Rolling Stones
In the 1970s, a heavy weight bore down on the Rolling Stones: their contemporaries and rivals the Beatles had broken up, and by the end of the 1960s their original leader, Brian Jones, had passed away.
Even as they explored new paths—such as launching their own label—they went on to release many masterpieces that left their mark on rock history.
Kicking off the Stones’ 1970s was the lead single “Brown Sugar,” the opening track of their smash 1971 album Sticky Fingers: a quintessential Stones tune and an irresistibly feel-good rock number.
The languid, rough-edged guitar riff, the light, dancing piano, and Bobby Keys’ sax solo by the American musician all come together to create a wonderfully funky vibe.
Guitarist Mick Taylor, who joined the Stones with this album, also shines throughout.
It’s a classic I highly recommend—even as a first song for newcomers to the Stones!