The 1970s were a period of significant musical invention and experimentation – Top 100 songs of 1970. The decade saw the rise of a diverse spectrum of genres, including classic rock, disco, funk, and soul. In this background, establishing a list of the Top 100 Greatest Songs of 1970 is no easy task.
Nonetheless, it is an essential project that offers us with a glimpse into the most popular and influential music of the time.
The songs on this list are timeless masterpieces that have endured the test of time and continue to captivate listeners today.
From renowned groups like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to emerging acts like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, the songs on this list represent the pinnacle of 1970s music. So, whether you’re a die-hard music fan or just want to extend your horizons, this list will provide you a thorough overview of the best songs from one of the most significant decades in musical history.
1. RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN’ ON MY HEAD by B.J. Thomas
2. LET IT BE by The Beatles
3. (THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU by The Carpenters
4. I WANT YOU BACK by The Jackson 5
5. BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER by Simon & Garfunkel
6. WAR by Edwin Starr
7. BAND OF GOLD by Freda Payne
8. AMERICAN WOMAN / NO SUGAR TONIGHT by The Guess Who
9. MAMA TOLD ME (NOT TO COME) by Three Dog Night
10. MAKE IT WITH YOU by Bread
11. AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH by Diana Ross
12. ABC by The Jackson 5
13. SPIRIT IN THE SKY by Norman Greenbaum
14. GET READY by Rare Earth
15. THE LOVE YOU SAVE / I FOUND THAT GIRL by The Jackson 5
16. VENUS by Shocking Blue
17. SOMEDAY WE’LL BE TOGETHER by Diana Ross & the Supremes
18. BALL OF CONFUSION (THAT’S WHAT THE WORLD IS TODAY) by The Temptations
19. I’LL BE THERE by The Jackson 5
20. CRACKLIN’ ROSIE by Neil Diamond
21. CANDIDA by Dawn
22. LEAVING ON A JET PLANE by Peter, Paul and Mary
23. INSTANT KARMA! by John Lennon
24. WHOLE LOTTA LOVE / LIVING LOVING MAID by Led Zeppelin
25. LOVE ON A TWO-WAY STREET by The Moments
26. EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL by Ray Stevens
27. ALL RIGHT NOW by Free
28. THANK YOU (FALETTINME BE MICE ELF AGIN) by Sly & the Family Stone
29. LOOKIN’ OUT MY BACK DOOR / LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT by Creedence Clearwater Revival
30. LOVE GROWS (WHERE MY ROSEMARY GOES) by Edison Lighthouse
31. SPILL THE WINE by Eric Burdon & War
32. SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED I’M YOURS by Stevie Wonder
33. PATCHES by Clarence Carter
34. GREEN-EYED LADY by Sugarloaf
35. LAY DOWN (CANDLES IN THE RAIN) by Melanie
36. THE RAPPER by The Jaggerz
37. HITCHIN’ A RIDE by Vanity Fare
38. JULIE, DO YA LOVE ME by Bobby Sherman
39. WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN by The Carpenters
40. WHICH WAY YOU GOIN’ BILLY? by The Poppy Family
41. RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE by Blues Image
42. HEY THERE LONELY GIRL by Eddie Holman
43. RAINY NIGHT IN GEORGIA by Brook Benton
44. THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD / FOR YOU BLUE by The Beatles
45. IN THE SUMMERTIME by Mungo Jerry
46. INDIANA WANTS ME by R. Dean Taylor
47. CECILIA by Simon & Garfunkel
48. TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME by Tyrone Davis
49. GIVE ME JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME by Chairmen of the Board
50. FIRE AND RAIN by James Taylor
51. NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE by Steam
52. DOWN ON THE CORNER / FORTUNATE SON by Creedence Clearwater Revival
53. UP AROUND THE BEND / RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE by Creedence Clearwater Revival
54. THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN by Frijid Pink
55. 25 OR 6 TO 4 by Chicago
56. TRAVELIN’ BAND / WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN by Creedence Clearwater Revival
57. TIGHTER, TIGHTER by Alive N Kickin’
58. DON’T CRY DADDY / RUBBERNECKIN’ by Elvis Presley
59. LOVE OR LET ME BE LONELY by The Friends of Distinction
60. O-O-H CHILD / DEAR PRUDENCE by Five Stairsteps
61. REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE by Marmalade
62. COME AND GET IT by Badfinger
63. VEHICLE by The Ides of March
64. HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER by The Hollies
65. MA BELLE AMIE by Tee Set
66. WITHOUT LOVE (THERE IS NOTHING) by Tom Jones
67. MIDNIGHT COWBOY by Ferrante and Teicher
68. EASY COME, EASY GO by Bobby Sherman
69. COME TOGETHER / SOMETHING * by The Beatles
70. PSYCHEDELIC SHACK by The Temptations
71. SNOWBIRD by Anne Murray
72. HOLLY HOLY by Neil Diamond
73. NO TIME by The Guess Who
74. THE WONDER OF YOU / MAMA LIKED THE ROSES by Elvis Presley
75. ARIZONA by Mark Lindsay
76. I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN by Dionne Warwick
77. LOLA by The Kinks
78. JAM UP AND JELLY TIGHT by Tommy Roe
79. SOMETHING’S BURNING by Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
80. (I KNOW) I’M LOSING YOU by Rare Earth
81. JINGLE JANGLE by the Archies
82. THE LETTER by Joe Cocker
83. UP THE LADDER TO THE ROOF by The Supremes
84. I JUST CAN’T HELP BELIEVING by B.J. Thomas
85. MY BABY LOVES LOVIN’ by White Plains
86. EVIL WAYS by Santana
87. MAKE ME SMILE by Chicago
88. DIDN’T I (BLOW YOUR MIND THIS TIME) by The Delfonics
89. (IF YOU LET ME MAKE LOVE TO YOU THEN) WHY CAN’T I TOUCH YOU? by Ronnie Dyson
90. WOODSTOCK by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
91. STILL WATER (LOVE) by The Four Tops
92. EXPRESS YOURSELF by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
93. ELI’S COMING by Three Dog Night
94. FOR THE LOVE OF HIM by Bobbi Martin
95. LA LA LA (IF I HAD YOU) by Bobby Sherman
96. SOMEBODY’S BEEN SLEEPING by 100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
97. DON’T PLAY THAT SONG (YOU LIED) by Aretha Franklin with the Dixie Flyers
98. UNITED WE STAND by The Brotherhood of Man
99. TAKE A LETTER MARIA by R.B. Greaves
100. GIMME DAT DING by The Pipkins