Last Updated on 18 September 2023

The following list is the Official Definitive List of the 400 best songs from in the 1970s.

I found 17 different ranked lists online of “best 70s songs” and pulled them all into Excel and merged them all to get this definitive compilation.  See my Methodology page for the research process that was used, including links to all 17 lists that were averaged.

1. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
2. Imagine – John Lennon
3. Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
4. Heroes – David Bowie
5. What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
6. Hotel California – The Eagles
7. Stayin’ Alive – The Bee Gees
8. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
9. London Calling – The Clash
10. Dancing Queen – ABBA
11. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
12. Heart of Glass – Blondie
13. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
14. Let’s Stay Together – Al Green
15. Let It Be – The Beatles
16. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel
17. American Pie – Don McLean
18. Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones
19. Layla – Derek and the Dominos
20. Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
21. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
22. Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed
23. Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
24. God Save the Queen – Sex Pistols
25. Blitzkrieg Bop – The Ramones
26. Marquee Moon – Television
27. Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
28. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
29. I Feel Love – Donna Summer
30. (They Long to Be) Close to You – The Carpenters
31. Paranoid – Black Sabbath
32. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
33. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
34. Maggie May – Rod Stewart
35. Y.M.C.A. – Village People
36. Heart of Gold – Neil Young
37. Jolene – Dolly Parton
38. Rapper’s Delight – The Sugarhill Gang
39. Family Affair – Sly and the Family Stone
40. Le Freak – Chic
41. No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley and the Wailers
42. My Sharona – The Knack
43. American Woman – The Guess Who
44. Life on Mars? – David Bowie
45. Tiny Dancer – Elton John
46. Midnight Train to Georgia – Gladys Knight & The Pips
47. Good Times – Chic
48. Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine – James Brown
49. Dream On – Aerosmith
50. Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
51. You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
52. Your Song – Elton John
53. How Deep Is Your Love – The Bee Gees
54. The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
55. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
56. Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
57. Transmission – Joy Division
58. Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
59. Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
60. Piano Man – Billy Joel
61. Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
62. You Light up My Life – Debby Boone
63. It’s Too Late – Carole King
64. Lust For Life – Iggy Pop
65. Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind & Fire
66. I Was Made for Lovin’ You – KISS
67. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
68. Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone – The Temptations
69. I Just Want to Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb
70. I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5
71. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head – B.J. Thomas
72. Moonage Daydream – David Bowie
73. September – Earth, Wind and Fire
74. You’re the One That I Want – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John
75. Bennie and the Jets – Elton John
76. Highway to Hell – AC/DC
77. Hooked on a Feeling – Blue Swede
78. Roxanne – The Police
79. Tangled Up in Blue – Bob Dylan
80. Move On Up – Curtis Mayfield
81. Bang a Gong (Get It On) – T. Rex
82. Rocket Man – Elton John
83. Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
84. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Rod Stewart
85. The Boys Are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy
86. Ever Fallen in Love (with Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) – Buzzcocks
87. Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) – Pink Floyd
88. Band on the Run – Paul McCartney and Wings
89. Anarchy in the U.K. – Sex Pistols
90. Dance Away – Roxy Music
91. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Diana Ross
92. Baba O’Riley – The Who
93. Lola – The Kinks
94. I Think I Love You – The Partridge Family
95. Starman – David Bowie
96. I Wanna Be Your Lover – Prince
97. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Tony Orlando and Dawn
98. Live and Let Die – Wings
99. Fire and Rain – James Taylor
100. Caravan – Van Morrison
101. Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
102. Lean on Me – Bill Withers
103. More Than a Feeling – Boston
104. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
105. Walk This Way – Aerosmith
106. Rock Lobster – The B-52’s
107. Trans Europe Express – Kraftwerk
108. Living for the City – Stevie Wonder
109. ABC – The Jackson 5
110. Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
111. Changes – David Bowie
112. Crazy Horses – The Osmonds
113. Somebody to Love – Queen
114. Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
115. Shadow Dancing – Andy Gibb
116. December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) – The Four Seasons
117. Me and Bobby McGee – Janis Joplin
118. Redemption Songs – Bob Marley
119. Signed, Sealed, Delivered – Stevie Wonder
120. Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
121. Ballroom Blitz – The Sweet
122. Best of My Love – The Emotions
123. Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell
124. Father and Son – Cat Stevens
125. Knock Three Times – Tony Orlando & Dawn
126. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
127. Killing Me Softly with His Song – Roberta Flack
128. Pink Moon – Nick Drake
129. Search and Destroy – Iggy and The Stooges
130. Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits
131. I’m Not in Love – 10cc
132. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
133. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
134. Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey
135. Because the Night – Patti Smith
136. Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell
137. Roadrunner – The Modern Lovers
138. Love and Happiness – Al Green
139. Train in Vain – The Clash
140. War – Edwin Starr
141. Cars – Gary Numan
142. Das Model – Kraftwerk
143. Baby Come Back – Player
144. Riders on the Storm – The Doors
145. War Pigs – Black Sabbath
146. Teenage Kicks – The Undertones
147. September Gurls – Big Star
148. If I Can’t Have You – Yvonne Elliman
149. Paradise by the Dashboard Light – Meat Loaf
150. Up the Junction – Squeeze
151. Night Fever – The Bee Gees
152. A Fifth of Beethoven – Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band
153. Money – Pink Floyd
154. We Are Family – Sister Sledge
155. Could It Be I’m Falling In Love – The Spinners
156. Hanging on the Telephone – Blondie
157. Mind Your Own Business – Delta 5
158. International Feel – Todd Rundgren
159. The Tears of a Clown -Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
160. All Right Now – Free
161. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) – John Lennon
162. Brass in Pocket – The Pretenders
163. Miss You – The Rolling Stones
164. Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver
165. The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
166. Bad Girls – Donna Summer
167. Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
168. Tumbling Dice – The Rolling Stones
169. Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
170. Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
171. You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
172. Oliver’s Army – Elvis Costello
173. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) – The Temptations
174. Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes
175. Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles
176. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais – The Clash
177. One Nation Under a Groove – Funkadelic
178. I Feel the Earth Move – Carole King
179. Rock with You – Michael Jackson
180. How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved By You) – James Taylor
181. Without You – Harry Nilsson
182. Old Time Rock a Roll – Bob Seger
183. You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
184. You’re the First, the Last, My Everything – Barry White
185. Gloria – Patti Smith
186. (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty – KC and the Sunshine Band
187. Rock & Roll – The Velvet Underground
188. The Way We Were – Barbra Streisand
189. Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
190. Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty
191. Firth of Fifth – Genesis
192. You Should Be Dancing – The Bee Gees
193. Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
194. A Horse with No Name – America
195. Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin
196. Beast of Burden – Rolling Stones
197. Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
198. Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney & Wings
199. Autobahn – Kraftwerk
200. Three Times a Lady – Commodores
201. Virginia Plain – Roxy Music
202. Burning Love – Elvis Presley
203. Got to Give It Up – Marvin Gaye
204. A Case of You – Joni Mitchell
205. Moondance – Van Morrison
206. Silly Love Songs – Wings
207. Uptown Top Ranking – Althea & Donna
208. I Can’t Stand the Rain – Ann Peebles
209. This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us – The Sparks
210. Sweet Jane – The Velvet Underground
211. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water – Andy Gibb
212. Speed King – Deep Purple
213. Lady Marmalade – Patti Labelle
214. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
215. Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) – Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel
216. Damaged Goods – Gang of Four
217. Take It Easy – The Eagles
218. What a Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers
219. Who’ll Stop the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival
220. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
221. Police and Thieves – Junior Murvin
222. Brick House – Commodores
223. The Harder They Come – Jimmy Cliff
224. Cherry Bomb – The Runaways
225. Man in Black – Johnny Cash
226. If You Leave Me Now – Chicago
227. Rock and Roll – Led Zeppelin
228. If You Don’t Know Me by Now – Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes
229. Kiss You All Over – Exile
230. Tired of Being Alone – Al Green
231. Cat’s in the Cradle – Harry Chapin
232. MacArthur Park – Donna Summer
233. Jamming – Bob Marley and the Wailers
234. The Loco-Motion – Grand Funk Railroad
235. I Wanna Be Sedated – Ramones
236. Get Down Tonight – KC & The Sunshine Band
237. Stay On It – Julius Eastman
238. Rock and Roll All Nite – Kiss
239. Ghost Rider – Suicide
240. Sheena Is a Punkrocker – Ramones
241. Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure
242. Typical Girls – The Slits
243. Young Americans – David Bowie
244. Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
245. Hong Kong Garden – Siouxsie and The Banshees
246. Surrender – Cheap Trick
247. Alison – Elvis Costello
248. I Want You to Want Me – Cheap Trick
249. Mamma Mia – ABBA
250. Love Is the Drug – Roxy Music
251. Band of Gold – Freda Payne
252. The Joker – The Steve Miller Band
253. All the Young Dudes – Mott the Hoople
254. Night Moves – Bob Seger
255. Evergreen – Barbra Streisand
256. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll – Ian Dury
257. Wild Horses – The Rolling Stones
258. Public Image – Public Image Ltd
259. American Girl – Tom Petty & Heartbreakers
260. Funkytown – Lipps Inc.
261. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
262. That Lady – The Isley Brothers
263. Reeling in the Years – Steely Dan
264. Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
265. Uncle John’s Band – Grateful Dead
266. Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band
267. Flash Light – Parliament
268. Get Up, Stand Up – The Wailers
269. Black Magic Woman – Santana
270. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA
271. Wild World – Cat Stevens
272. Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) – Rod Stewart
273. Love Train – The O’Jays
274. Making Plans for Nigel – XTC
275. We Will Rock You – Queen
276. Bitches Brew – Miles Davis
277. Thirteen – Big Star
278. 20th Century Boy – T Rex
279. Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
280. Personality Crisis – New York Dolls
281. The Eton Rifles – The Jam
282. Are ‘Friends’ Electric? – Tubeway Army
283. Madman Across the Water – Elton John
284. Disco Inferno – The Trammps
285. Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
286. That’s the Way (I Like It) – KC and the Sunshine Band
287. Can’t You Hear Me Knockin’ – The Rolling Stones
288. Easy – Commodores
289. Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
290. When the Levee Breaks – Led Zeppelin
291. Just What I Needed – The Cars
292. School’s Out – Alice Cooper
293. Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston
294. Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffett
295. Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealers Wheel
296. Detroit Rock City – KISS
297. Hot Child in the City – Nick Gilder
298. Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
299. Ohio – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
300. Chase – Giorgio Moroder
301. Message in a Bottle – The Police
302. Another Girl, Another Planet – The Only Ones
303. Crocodile Rock – Elton John
304. Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe – Barry White
305. Kiss and Say Goodbye – The Manhattans
306. Have You Seen Her – The Chi-Lites
307. Lay Down Sally – Eric Clapton
308. Back Stabbers – The O’Jays
309. Killer Queen – Queen
310. Who Are You – The Who
311. Always and Forever – Heatwave
312. Barracuda – Heart
313. I Go Crazy – Paul Davis
314. Jailbreak – AC/DC
315. Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie
316. Rebel Rebel – David Bowie
317. Mercy Mercy Me – Marvin Gaye
318. Pressure Drop – Toots and the Maytals
319. Blank Generation – Richard Hell & The Voidoids
320. Don’t Bring Me Down – Electric Light Orchestra
321. What Is Life – George Harrison
322. Rock & Roll Part 2 – Gary Glitter
323. Radio Radio – Elvis Costello
324. One Way or Another – Blondie
325. Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
326. Yes Sir, I Can Boogie – Baccara
327. The Logical Song – Supertramp
328. Rock Your Baby – George McCrae
329. Last Dance – Donna Summer
330. Respect Yourself – The Staple Singers
331. Bela Lugosi’s Dead – Bauhaus
332. Can You Get to That – Funkadelic
333. Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder
334. Help Me – Joni Mitchell
335. Fame – David Bowie
336. My Life – Billy Joel
337. Oh Bondage Up Yours! – X-Ray Spex
338. I Am Woman – Helen Reddy
339. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack
340. O-o-h Child – Five Stairsteps
341. The Payback – James Brown
342. Blame It on the Boogie – The Jacksons
343. Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue – Crystal Gayle
344. Is This Love? – Bob Marley & The Wailers
345. A Little More Love – Olivia Newton-John
346. Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead
347. Dream Baby Dream – Suicide
348. Daddy Cool – Boney M
349. On the Beach – Neil Young
350. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) – Natalie Cole
351. Inner City Blues – Marvin Gaye
352. Philadelphia Freedom – Elton John
353. In the Summertime – Mungo Jerry
354. Still – Commodores
355. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron
356. You’re My Best Friend – Queen
357. I Saw the Light – Todd Rundgren
358. Pump It Up – Elvis Costello
359. Waterloo – ABBA
360. Family Tradition – Hank Williams, Jr.
361. Sad Eyes – Robert John
362. Up and Around the Bend – Creedence Clearwater Revival
363. Knowing Me, Knowing You – ABBA
364. Stay with Me – Miki Matsubara
365. Pop Muzik – M
366. Cry Baby – Janis Joplin
367. Disco Duck – Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots
368. Boogie Nights – Heatwave
369. I Write the Songs – Barry Manilow
370. I Gotcha – Joe Tex
371. The Devil Went Down To Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band
372. Kiss Me Again – Dinosaur
373. Oh! Sweet Nuthin’ – The Velvet Underground
374. Boogie Shoes – KC & The Sunshine Band
375. Human Fly – The Cramps
376. If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot
377. Crazy Love – Van Morrison
378. Sylvia’s Mother – Dr. Hook
379. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Leo Sayer
380. Black Betty – Ram Jam
381. Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
382. Zombie – Fela Kuti & Africa 70
383. Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
384. Pretty Vacant – Sex Pistols
385. Superstar – The Carpenters
386. Vitamin C – Can
387. I Want You Back – The Jackson 5
388. Waiting in Vain – Bob Marley and the Wailers
389. Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest
390. Everybody Dance – Chic
391. Reunited – Peaches & Herb
392. Delta Dawn -Tanya Tucker
393. Get Up Off of That Thing – James Brown
394. He’s the Greatest Dancer – Sister Sledge
395. You Needed Me – Anne Murray
396. Cecilia – Simon and Garfunkel
397. Summer Breeze – The Isley Brothers
398. Emotion – Samantha Sang
399. Journey in Satchidananda – Alice Coltrane
400. I’ll Never Love This Way Again – Dionne Warwick