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 70s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended masterpieces and hit songs (1–10)
DreamsFleetwood Mac
Here’s an introduction to a signature song by Fleetwood Mac that had a major impact on the 1970s rock scene.
Depicting a journey through lost love and self-discovery, the track was born against the backdrop of complex relationships within the band.
It features a soothing sound that incorporates soft rock elements and Stevie Nicks’s enchanting vocals.
Released in March 1977, it reached No.
1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Included on the album Rumours, the record spent 31 consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the U.
S.
charts.
With lyrics about the end of a romance and the transience of human relationships, the song resonates with many listeners.
It’s a recommended listen for anyone who has experienced heartbreak or wants to take a closer look at themselves.
Smoke on the WaterDeep Purple
If you play guitar, even if you’re not particularly into hard rock, chances are you’ve tried copying the guitar riff from the intro of this song at least once, right? Smoke on the Water is a signature track by Deep Purple—one of the greatest hard rock bands to come out of the UK and a massive influence on later heavy metal bands—and it’s an incredibly famous classic of 70s hard rock.
Included on the landmark 1972 album Machine Head, it was released as a single in 1973 and even broke into the U.
S.
Top 10, cementing the band’s worldwide popularity.
The riff by the legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore is nothing short of iconic—stripped down to the extreme yet supremely heavy and cool—hardly something that needs saying at this point.
The organ tone from keyboardist Jon Lord is equally cool, and from the standpoint of band ensemble, you could call this a perfect song.
Dream OnAerosmith
Since their 1973 debut, Aerosmith has interpreted the rootsy American influences behind their hard rock foundation in their own unique way, remaining beloved by rock fans around the world for decades.
Among Western-music fans in Japan, they are often mentioned alongside Queen and KISS as one of the “Big Three” bands of the late 1970s, enjoying tremendous popularity.
Of the countless classics in Aerosmith’s discography, the focus here is Dream On, the wistful rock ballad included on their debut album, Aerosmith.
While the album itself didn’t sell particularly well at first, the song was released as a single, generated buzz, and a few years later, in 1976, climbed as high as No.
6 on the U.
S.
charts.
The impassioned vocals by Steven Tyler—who wrote both the lyrics and music—never fail to tighten the heart whenever you listen.
In 2018, the song appeared in a Tiffany commercial, which must have surprised many fans.
The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended classic and hit songs (11–20)
More Than a FeelingBoston
Known in Japan by the title “Gensō Hikō” (Fantasy Flight), Boston’s 1976 debut album Boston shot straight to No.
3 on the U.
S.
charts and achieved an astonishing worldwide sales total of over 25 million, establishing the band as a titan of American progressive hard rock.
Opening the album, More Than a Feeling is one of Boston’s signature songs—a timeless masterpiece whose overwhelming perfection never fails to impress.
Guided by beautiful acoustic guitar arpeggios that transition into a dynamic hard rock sound, the song’s melody—woven from exquisitely high, crystalline vocals and rich, layered harmonies—will never lose its luster.
The band’s mastermind, Tom Scholz, who handled nearly all parts except the lead vocals, is an intellectual who graduated at the top of his class from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Originally a classical music fan who later became interested in pop and rock, he reportedly began playing guitar at the age of 21.
Perhaps it’s precisely because of Scholz’s unique background that he was able to create music that remains as brilliant and unfaded as ever, even after so many years.
LolaThe Kinks
When you hear “the most quintessentially British band,” which group comes to mind? Among music fans who love UK rock, there are actually many who consider The Kinks—the band featured in this piece—to be “the most British rock band” of all.
They’re sometimes called “the most underrated band in UK rock history,” and it’s true that, in terms of name recognition, they unfortunately trail behind contemporaries like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
But plenty of artists admire The Kinks for crafting numerous classics with a distinctly British, delightfully off-kilter sensibility—true to their name.
Bands from the Britpop era, such as Oasis’s Gallagher brothers (fellow sibling band) and Blur, are also diehard Kinks fans.
The Kinks’ enduring appeal even spans seemingly different genres like punk and metal; I’d love for you to see and hear for yourselves just how remarkable they are.
Since this is a feature on classic ‘70s rock songs, let’s spotlight “Lola,” The Kinks’ 1970 masterpiece.
It became one of their signature tracks, reaching No.
9 on the charts not only in Europe but in the United States as well.
The song is catchy and poppy, built on a lively blend of acoustic guitar and electric guitar, and its lyrics—depicting a meeting in a club between a man and a cross-dressed man—are quintessential Ray Davies.
Because their songs place such importance on lyrics, if you like the track, be sure to check out the words—ideally with a good translation.
LaylaDerek and the Dominos
Also famous in Japan under the title “Itoshi no Layla,” this is one of the most passionately emotional love songs of the ’70s! It’s a signature track for Eric Clapton—one of the world’s three great guitarists and a globally renowned songwriter from the UK—and a classic with high name recognition in Japan.
In fact, it’s the title track from Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, the only album released in 1970 by Derek and the Dominos, the band Clapton formed with American musicians.
Many people will recognize it as soon as they hear the iconic, weeping guitar phrase in the intro.
On the other hand, the original version actually runs over seven minutes, so there may be many who aren’t familiar with the mellow, piano-led instrumental section in the latter half.
Guest guitarist Duane Allman’s fluid slide guitar is also superb—this is a masterpiece that reveals new discoveries the more you listen.
Heart of GlassBlondie
When it comes to masterpieces of 1970s rock that fuse shimmering disco sounds with the cutting-edge sensibilities of new wave, this song is indispensable.
Becoming one of Blondie’s signature tracks, it was released in January 1979 and became a massive hit, reaching number one on the charts in multiple countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
While singing about the pain of heartbreak, the lyrics view romance with a somewhat cool, detached eye, creating a sophisticated, urban mood.
Released at the height of the disco boom, it was also an innovative attempt by a rock band to take on disco, bringing a fresh breeze to the music scene.