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!
The 70s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended masterpieces and hit songs (1–10)
Bohemian RhapsodyQueen
It’s no exaggeration to say this is one of the most famous rock bands in Japan—Queen, the legendary British rock band the world is proud of—released this masterpiece in 1975! It’s still fresh in our memories that the film of the same title sparked a wave of young music fans discovering Queen’s appeal.
The background and historical context behind this song aren’t something we can fully recount here, but it’s safe to say that even people who aren’t interested in Queen’s music have heard it at least once; the song’s recognition easily transcends the confines of rock.
In the context of rock, it’s a historic classic that showcases Queen’s creativity to the fullest: the multi-layered choral opening; the A section sung as a piano-and-vocal performance by Freddie Mercury, who wrote the lyrics and composed the music; the development into a rock ballad as the band sound kicks in; the sudden introduction of an operatic section; a dynamic hard rock surge in the latter half; and, finally, a return to balladry.
Even past the 2020s, this progression continues to inspire countless artists and bands.
If you’re about to listen to the track, start with a completely open mind, then explore the lyrics’ meaning and the song’s background afterward!
Stairway to HeavenLed Zeppelin
Among the best-selling rock bands of the 1970s and an iconic presence with enormous influence is Led Zeppelin, who debuted in 1968.
The innovative hard rock created by its four members—each a musician of remarkable talent and individuality—can fairly be said to have reached the realm of art.
Transcending the confines of mere hard rock, their masterpiece Stairway to Heaven—built around an acoustic guitar that plays the now-legendary arpeggiated intro and unfolds with a gradually intensifying, dramatic progression—is stunningly beautiful and epitomizes the artistic depth of their music.
Spanning eight minutes, it is undeniably a monumental work in rock history, born of the band’s unparalleled creativity, and it’s easy to see why it is praised even by musicians from the classical world.
Hotel CaliforniaThe Eagles
The Eagles have set sales records in music history and continue to be respected by music fans around the world as a band hailing from the U.
S.
West Coast.
From the perspective of 1970s Western rock bands, they are one of the era’s iconic acts, and here we introduce their signature and timeless classic, Hotel California.
Chances are, the moment you hear that haunting, memorable chorus melody, you’ll feel like you’ve heard it at least once before.
Released in 1976, this masterpiece album—also titled Hotel California—has been cited as the third best-selling album in U.
S.
history, and its title track remains a legendary song whose exceptional creativity is still talked about in the 2020s.
Lyrically rich with suggestion and storytelling, breathtakingly dramatic in its structure, and featuring a guitar solo etched into rock history—every element is top-tier.
You might understand why 1970s Western rock is called a golden age just by listening to this one track.
Highway to HellAC/DC
AC/DC’s signature song! Fresh in our memories is how their new album Power Up, released in November 2020 after overcoming various hardships, debuted at No.
1 on charts around the world.
This track is the title song from their 1979 masterpiece Highway to Hell, which became a global hit and introduced AC/DC’s brand of hard rock to the world.
It’s a staple that’s always played live.
With its stripped-to-the-limit simple guitar riff, a blazing solo steeped in the spirit of the blues, an ultra-tight rhythm section, and irresistibly catchy melodies, it’s an essential number when talking about ’70s hard rock—and a perfect encapsulation of the band’s core appeal.
If you like this song, you’ll basically enjoy any AC/DC album, so be sure to check out their other releases!
ParanoidBlack Sabbath
Black Sabbath is a globally renowned British hard rock band and a seminal presence in the birth of heavy metal.
They continue to be respected across genres by countless artists, from metal subgenres like stoner and black metal all the way to alternative rock.
While one hallmark of the band is how their musical style shifts depending on the era and the vocalist—beginning with beloved rock icon Ozzy Osbourne—the track we’re focusing on here, Paranoid, is one of their signature songs.
It’s the title track of their second album, Paranoid, released in 1970, which reached No.
1 in the UK.
Within Black Sabbath’s often heavy and ominous sound, this song offers an exceptional sense of speed; Tony Iommi’s inventive opening riff and chugging guitar work, combined with Ozzy’s incantatory vocals, even lend it a touch of pop appeal.
It just might become a favorite even for those listening to Black Sabbath for the first time.
Ziggy StardustDavid Bowie
Always keeping an eye on the times and transforming his musicality and even his persona like a chameleon, David Bowie will forever be remembered not just as a musician, but as the most famous cult hero Britain ever produced.
Let me introduce the title track from his 1972 masterpiece concept album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, released during the period when he was at the height of his popularity as the leading figure of glam rock—the image of Bowie most people know best.
Also known in Japan by the title “Kussetsu suru Hoshikuzu” (“Ziggy Stardust,” literally “Refracting Stardust”), this song is one of the finest classics of 1970s British music, featuring a performance by guitarist Mick Ronson—Bowie’s right-hand man at the time—that truly deserves to be called a masterclass.
Of course, understanding the lyrics and the background of the track deepens its appeal, but I personally feel that it became a timeless classic because its sheer musical brilliance stands out on its own.
You can’t help but be enamored with Bowie’s talent as a songwriter!
Another Brick in the WallPink Floyd
Pink Floyd, a quintessential product of British progressive rock and a massive stadium band that epitomized the 1970s, achieved tremendous commercial success.
Their “Another Brick In The Wall,” memorable for its children’s chorus, is a rare case of them releasing a single—despite being fundamentally an album-oriented act skeptical of singles—and it became a huge hit in 1979.
It serves as the lead track from the 1979 album The Wall, a conceptual rock opera that posted record-breaking sales, with bassist and vocalist Roger Waters—who drove the album—handling both lyrics and composition.
The heavy disco-inflected beat, the catchy melody, and the meticulously crafted structure are all absolutely top-tier.
The music video, aligned with the song’s lyrical worldview, is also fascinating as a visual work—be sure to check it out alongside the track!