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 1970s: The Golden Age of Western Rock! Recommended Classics and Hit Songs (21–30)
Mama Weer All Crazee NowSlade
This is a song by Slade, a rock band from the West Midlands in the United Kingdom.
It’s included on their 1972 album “Slayed?”.
The upbeat sound is enough to make you feel good just by listening to it.
ViciousLou Reed
Lou Reed, who emerged from New York’s underground scene.
Opening his 1972 album Transformer, this track has long been celebrated as a seductive, glamorous piece that resonated with the UK’s glam rock boom.
The famous anecdote traces back to Andy Warhol’s idea of “malice that hits like a bouquet of flowers.” When the aggressive guitar riff intertwines with Reed’s sardonic vocals, a decadent, dangerous world unfolds—like donning leather and eyeshadow.
Its use in the TV drama Billions is still fresh in memory.
When you crave a jolt to the everyday, why not surrender to the track’s dazzling, provocative sound?
The 1970s were the golden age of Western rock! Recommended classics and hit songs (31–40)
RoundaboutYES
The bass riff is awesome! It’s included on the album “Fragile,” released in 1971 by the British progressive band YES.
The ever-engaging song structure and catchy choral work are captivating.
In Japan, it gained attention when it was used as the ending theme for the 2012 anime “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.”
Walk This WayAerosmith
This is a song by Aerosmith, known as a rock band from the East Coast of the United States.
Even if you don’t know the title, many people have probably heard the guitar riff in the intro.
It was included on the 1975 album “Toys in the Attic.” The lyrics depict the actions and words of a playboy protagonist.
StarlessKing Crimson
Its dramatic song structure and poetic lyrics seize the listener’s heart.
It’s a track by the English progressive band King Crimson, included on the 1974 album Red.
Listening to this song will give you a sense of King Crimson’s musical identity.
It’s an epic piece running over 12 minutes.
Beauty QueenRoxy Music
Roxy Music, the English band that fused art and fashion and revolutionized 70s glam rock.
This piece is a gem of a song included on the celebrated album For Your Pleasure, released in March 1973 and certified Gold.
The album is also known as the last work featuring the maverick Brian Eno.
Bryan Ferry’s theatrical, resonant baritone is striking as he sings of parting from a beautiful woman with eyes like a swimming pool.
His voice conveys not only sorrow but also a romance and sincerity, as if proposing marriage, that tightens the chest.
Why not immerse yourself in the bittersweet yet beautiful story hidden behind the glittering sound?
Queen BitchDavid Bowie
David Bowie, the British artist who kept revolutionizing the music scene with his ever-changing style.
Featured on the December 1971 album Hunky Dory, this track can be called a dazzling prelude to his glam rock era.
As Mick Ronson’s aggressive guitar riff rings out, a perverse world swirling with jealousy and longing unfolds before your eyes.
From his apartment, the protagonist watches the person who dumped him wandering the nighttime streets, his feelings a complex tangle.
You can’t help but be captivated by its decadent beauty.
The song later appeared as the B-side to the single Rebel Rebel and is also known for its use in the film Milk.
Why not give it a listen when you want to feel the precarious air lurking beneath the glitter of the 1970s?