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: The Golden Age of Western Rock! Recommended Classics and Hit Songs (21–30)
BarracudaHeart
A song that can be called a landmark of ’70s rock was born in 1977.
Sparked by conflicts between Heart and their record label, the track is known as a hard rock number with a strikingly powerful guitar riff.
Boasting a level of craftsmanship that leaves others in the dust—including the use of unconventional time signatures—it stands out for its technical excellence.
Its reputation is unshakable, having ranked 34th on VH1’s “Greatest Hard Rock Songs.” Reaching No.
11 on the Billboard Hot 100, this track is packed with the spirit of American rock.
Highly recommended for those who want to be swept away by powerful performances and vocals.
Mama Weer All Crazee NowSlade
This is a song by Slade, a rock band from the West Midlands in the United Kingdom.
It’s included on their 1972 album “Slayed?”.
The upbeat sound is enough to make you feel good just by listening to it.
RoundaboutYES
The bass riff is awesome! It’s included on the album “Fragile,” released in 1971 by the British progressive band YES.
The ever-engaging song structure and catchy choral work are captivating.
In Japan, it gained attention when it was used as the ending theme for the 2012 anime “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.”
20th Century BoyT-REX
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it one of the most famous songs in the genre known as glam rock.
With its truly “glamorous,” hard-edged guitar sound, memorable riffs, pop melodies, and thick female backing vocals, it’s a quintessential 1970s killer tune that grabs listeners and won’t let go.
It’s a classic released in 1973 by T.
Rex, led by the legendary rocker Marc Bolan, who died young.
The song has maintained enduring popularity, covered by countless musicians and bands worldwide and used in commercials and film themes.
In fact, there’s a backstory: the track was recorded in 1972 at Toshiba EMI’s studio in Akasaka, Tokyo, when T.
Rex made their first visit to Japan.
Their popularity in Japan was phenomenal—strong enough to sell out the Nippon Budokan—so it’s a nice bit of history that a masterpiece etched into rock history was born in a country that so dearly loved the band.
Walk This WayAerosmith
This is a song by Aerosmith, known as a rock band from the East Coast of the United States.
Even if you don’t know the title, many people have probably heard the guitar riff in the intro.
It was included on the 1975 album “Toys in the Attic.” The lyrics depict the actions and words of a playboy protagonist.