[Golden Age of Rock] Debut Songs by Western Rock Bands of the 1970s
The rock scene of the ’70s was a golden era in which guitar riffs and psychedelic sounds evolved, vastly expanding the possibilities of music.
It was a tumultuous time that saw the birth of new genres one after another, including hard rock, progressive rock, and glam rock.
So, with what debut tracks did the bands that etched their names into the world’s rock history in that brilliant decade take their first steps? Here, we present a selection of debut songs that fired up rock fans of the time and remain as vibrant as ever today.
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- [Western Music] A roundup of debut songs by female artists from the 1970s
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- [80s Western Music] A roundup of debut songs by girl bands
- [80s Western Music] Debut Songs by Male Artists
- Classic and hit Western pop songs from the 1970s
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- Love songs in Western music that were hits in the 1970s. World-famous classics and popular tracks.
- Debut songs by female Western artists from the 1980s
[Golden Age of Rock] Debut Songs by 1970s Western Rock Bands (11–20)
Arnold LaynePink Floyd
Pink Floyd, who achieved record-breaking success in the 1970s and etched their name in music history, actually began in the late 1960s as a band led by the eccentric genius Syd Barrett—at a time when David Gilmour wasn’t even a member.
Their starting point was their debut single Arnold Layne, released in 1967.
Written and composed by Syd Barrett, it’s a psychedelic pop track that fully showcases his distinctive style, and it might come as a surprise if you’ve only listened to their albums from the 1970s onward.
The Silent SunGenesis
Included on the 1969 album From Genesis to Revelation.
A five-piece rock band from the UK formed in 1967.
This is their debut single, and although the melody line is fairly pop, the overall feel of the track carries a certain weight.
The Court of the Crimson KingKing Crimson
Included on the 1969 album “The Court of the Crimson King.” An eight-member rock band from London formed in 1968.
They are a leading presence in the progressive rock genre.
Their career, including periods of hiatus, spans 50 years and has had a wide-ranging influence on the scene.
From their debut single, their progressive rock approach was in full force.
Keep Yourself AliveQueen
Known in Japan by the title “Honō no Rock ’n’ Roll,” Queen’s debut single released in 1973 is “Keep Yourself Alive.” Written and composed by Brian May, it has a glamorous yet hard rock feel, with plenty of spotlight moments for each member—like May’s instantly recognizable guitar and Roger Taylor’s drum solo.
Listening back now, it’s clear that Queen’s signature style was already fully present at this stage.
Still, at the time the song drew mixed reviews and failed to achieve commercial success—one of those quirks that makes music history so interesting.
Anarchy In The U.KSEX PISTOLS
Included on the 1977 album “Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols.” This is their debut single, and as the founders of London punk, their names will likely be recorded in history.
The song, rough to the extreme and charging forward on pure anger and impulse, is one that anyone who listens to Western music has probably heard at least once.
Make ItAerosmith
Included on the 1973 album “Aerosmith.” A five-piece rock band from Boston formed in 1970.
This is the first single from their debut album, and the band has remained at the forefront since the 1970s.
The edgy guitar sound and powerful vocals, characteristic of a hard rock band, really give it a great flavor.
[Golden Age of Rock] Debut Songs by 1970s Western Rock Bands (21–30)
Place Of My OwnNEW!Caravan
Like Soft Machine, Caravan—also born from The Wilde Flowers—is a band that represents Canterbury rock.
Their hallmark is a lyrically rich sound blending jazz and folk.
Their landmark debut song is a warm yet somehow wistful piece.
Pye Hastings’s innocent-sounding vocals and Dave Sinclair’s distinctive organ delicately depict the feelings of a protagonist in search of “a place of one’s own.” It brims with the unique charm of their early period, where pop sensibilities coexist with the seeds of later progressive developments.
Opening their debut album, Caravan, released in January 1969, and also known as a single, the track had already been performed on a BBC program in December 1968, prior to their debut.
It’s a classic you’ll want to hear when you wish to step away from the everyday and quietly drift into thought.