Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Eagles – This quintessential '70s band gave us classics like "Hotel California," "Take It Easy" and "Desperado." The band's success has placed it on such lists as Rolling Stone's 500 Best Albums of All Time and the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Donna Summer – Summer's racy "Love to Love You Baby" was a few minutes of singalong with a few more minutes of something else entirely. The single catapulted her into stardom and sex-symbol status, making her the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Ramones – Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy: four guys from New York City who introduced garage punk to the masses with "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna Be Sedated." Their belligerent, in-your-face sound and their long-haired, dressed-down look made them instant punk archetypes, placing them among the most influential bands of the decade.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Led Zeppelin – In the early '70s, this English quartet was arguably the biggest band on Earth, selling out stadiums, dressing in flamboyant clothes, flying in private jets and, if the legends are true, indulging in wild, hedonistic habits excessive even by rock-star standards. They also turned out a series of chart-topping albums, including their untitled fourth that featured their immortal "Stairway to Heaven."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Jackson 5 – This born-and-bred Motown family made history by being the first recording act whose initial four singles hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list: "I Want You Back," "The Love You Save," "ABC" and "I'll Be There." Their crossover success spawned Jackson mania and a worldwide love affair with the charming little front man, Michael Jackson.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Lou Reed – After The Velvet Underground broke up in the early '70s, Reed transitioned to a successful solo career. He crafted songs about life on the street with the junkies and outcasts, as exemplified by tracks like "Walk on the Wild Side," "Perfect Day," and "Caroline Says II." Reed offered rock with an art-school sensibility, punk sentiment at an unhurried tempo.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Rolling Stones – One of the biggest bands of the '60s, the Rolling Stones continued their success in the new decade, beginning with their "Sticky Fingers" album in 1971 and followed by their critically acclaimed "Exile on Main St." in 1972. The band recorded Exile's songs while hiding out in a villa in southern France to avoid financial trouble. The album is considered by many to be the Stones' greatest.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Elton John – John's pop triumph came from a series of hits in the early '70s, including "Tiny Dancer," "Your Song" and "Bennie and the Jets," the bar-room singalong that, somehow, no one knows the words to. He's best known for his stadium tours, playing to sold out crowds in extravagant, glittering costumes and his signature tinted sunglasses.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Stevie Wonder – A prodigy of the '60s, Wonder became a musical powerhouse in the '70s with his boundless creativity and vibrant vision for the future of soul. His streak of genius gave us a string of masterpiece albums: "Music of my Mind," "Talking Book," "Innervisions," "Fulfillingness' First Finale" and "Songs in the Key of Life."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
John Lennon – The '70s began with the "death" of the Beatles, enabling the rebirth of Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as individual artists. While McCartney found pop success with his wife in their new band, Wings, Lennon took a more personal and political approach with songs like the charged "Working Class Hero," "Instant Karma" and "Imagine."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Kinks – This English rock band had a string of hits in the '60s, but one of its most memorable -- and controversial -- songs, "Lola," came at the dawn of the '70s. The song's gender-bending narrative was an atypical subject for the Kinks but speaks to the fluidity of sex and gender that was becoming more common in the popular music of the decade.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Cat Stevens – Folk singer Cat Stevens, who later changed his name to Yusef Islam, had a knack for quiet, catchy songs with messages of peace. Among his notable hits of the era: "Morning has Broken," "Wild World" and "Peace Train," an anti-war song that offered optimism instead of protest.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Isaac Hayes – The original "Soul Man," Isaac Hayes was the embodiment of '60s and '70s R&B. Hayes was many things: record producer, singer, songwriter, actor and humanitarian, but perhaps he is best remembered for his composition of the "Theme from Shaft," which helped define the sound of '70s blaxploitation movies and earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Carole King – Formerly part of a 60's songwriting duo with Gerry Goffin, King stepped into the spotlight with her 1972 Grammy-winning Album of the Year, "Tapestry." King's intimate and emotive lyrics on love lost and self-love made her a beacon of feminine energy in an era dominated by male rock stars.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Bruce Springsteen – Hits "Born to Run and "Thunder Road" breathed new life into the rock scene in the 1970s, with some critics quick to label Springsteen as the "new Dylan." His songs told stories of everyday life and youthful rebellion, imbuing them with a sense of splendor, urgency, and importance.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Bob Dylan – Dylan's work in the '70s proved that the "voice of a generation" could evolve, even thrive, after '60s success. His most popular song of the decade, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," is one of the most-covered Dylan songs of all time. Dylan became a born-again Christian in 1978, releasing the gospel-influenced album "Slow Train Coming" the following year. It featured "Gotta Serve Somebody," his last hit single of the decade.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Fleetwood Mac – This British-American group's inter-relational drama became the fuel for its biggest hit record, "Rumours," which follows the emotive lifespan of a love affair with songs like "Dreams," "Go Your Own Way," "The Chain" and "Don't Stop."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Marvin Gaye – Marvin Gaye's soulful query, "What's Going On," rings with a genuine skepticism on issues like war, poverty and racial tensions. The song was monumental for its combination of soul and protest. It has transcended its time and place to become a universal cry for answers and hope in difficult times. Rolling Stone ranked it No. 4 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Joni Mitchell – Mitchell's acoustic-folk style took elements of the '60s hippie movement and gave them new life in the '70s by incorporating influences from pop and jazz. "A Case of You," "California," and "River" offer Mitchell's heartfelt intimations on love, loss and wanderlust.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Neil Young – Young's solo career in the '70s presented a successful mix of acoustic and electric folk rock. His signature voice and personal lyrics give emotional weight to songs, like the existential anxiety in "Old Man" and the aimless longing in "Heart of Gold."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Al Green – Known as the Reverend, Green is considered one of the most gifted soul singers of all time. His smooth, sultry sound filled the airwaves with hits like "Tired of Being Alone," "I'm Still In Love With You" and his signature song "Let's Stay Together."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Sex Pistols – This British punk-rock band burst onto the scene in 1977 with declarations of "Anarchy in the U.K." and "no future in England's dreaming." Its anti-establishment antics paved the way for bands like The Clash, The Runaways and the Dead Kennedys.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Bee Gees – These three brothers first saw success in the '60s with a sound many compared to the Beatles. With the hit "Jive Talkin'" in 1975 and significant contributions to the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack in 1977, the Bee Gees helped popularize disco, pulling the genre out of clubs like Studio 54 and into the mainstream.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Iggy Pop – This former frontman of the Stooges is recognized as a major influence on the early punk scene. In the '70s, his collaboration with David Bowie fueled his biggest commercial success, 1977's "Lust for Life." The unforgettable opening drumbeat has infiltrated the sonic landscape through widespread reuse in commercials, film, and songs like Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Queen – Queen is best known for its operatic performances and for singer Freddy Mercury's emotionality and whimsy on stage. The band pushed the limits of the rock genre with chart-toppers like "We Will Rock You," "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Somebody to Love."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Carpenters – The sweet, some say saccharine sibling duo saw huge commercial success with hits that exemplified the soft sound of '70s pop music -- songs like "Top of the World," "Close to You" and "Rainy Days and Mondays."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
ABBA – If you hear an ABBA song in the morning, chances are it'll be stuck in your head all day. This Swedish quartet was the embodiment of mainstream '70s pop with hit singles like "Honey, Honey," "Dancing Queen," and "Waterloo." The group's hyper-catchy sound catapulted it to lasting popularity, with more than 300 million records sold worldwide.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Kiss – Kiss' iconic makeup and hyperbolic pyrotechnic performances bred a new kind of rock where theatrics were just as important -- or even more important -- than music. For fans, there was no boundary between the band and its comic-book personas: Gene Simmons as the tongue-flicking demon, Paul Stanley as the dreamy star child, Ace Frehley as the far-out spaceman and Peter Criss as the catman.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Sugarhill Gang – Wonder Mike, Master Gee and Big Bank Hank were brought together to create "Rapper's Delight," the 14-minute rap odyssey recorded in just one take. This collaboration, meant to save a record studio from bankruptcy, became the song that brought hip-hop to the mainstream.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Blondie – A mainstay of New York's vibrant punk and new-wave scenes in the mid '70s, Blondie broke out in 1978 with the reggae- and disco-infused "Heart of Glass" off its third album, "Parallel Lines." Lead singer Debbie Harry used her powerful voice, punk attitude and unapologetically glamorous personal style to create a new archetype for women in rock.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Clash – The Clash was one of the few punk bands to experience mainstream, commercial success in the '70s. "London Calling," the band's third album and its first to hit big in the United States, presented songs influenced by the social, political and economic turmoil of the times.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Diana Ross – She found fame in the '60s with the Supremes, but American soul singer Diana Ross had a string of solo pop hits in the '70s, from "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" to "Love Hangover."
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
The Grateful Dead – Founded in 1965, the Grateful Dead kept chugging through the 1970s with near-nonstop touring. The original jam band, seen here in 1970, featured (clockwise from top left): Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Mickey Hart and Jerry Garcia.
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Dolly Parton – Dolly Parton, seen here in 1978, was a respected country queen before finding mainstream success in the '70s with hits like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" (famously covered later by Whitney Houston).
Sounds of 'The Seventies'
Pink Floyd – Progressive British rockers Pink Floyd, here on their "Animals" tour in 1978, were one of the most acclaimed and influential bands of the decade. Their classic 1973 album, "Dark Side of the Moon," lingered on the Billboard chart for more than 14 years.