I was listening to songs the other day, and what to my wondering ears should appear but a little blast from the past called “The Lords of the Rings” by Styx, from their Pieces of Eight album. As I was listening, I realized with delight just how perfect a song this was for it’s time-disco was kaput, and metal and punk were only ominous clouds on the music horizon for most folks-1978 in other words. This song has it all, soaring vocal harmonies between band members, power guitar chords, dippy synthesizer sections, even a fantasy/oddball theme in the lyrics. It’s truly a song that could only have been recorded in 1978. The only other song that I can think of off the top of my head that has all the same elements is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, and that song has a lot more legs, staying popular across several musical generations. Can anybody think of any other songs that fit that 1978 stadium rock mold, but would never have seen the light of day 2 years earlier or 2 years later??
“More than a feeling.”
End of discussion.
I would say Heart’s ‘Barracuda’ of Boston’s ‘MTAF’. The latter sounds too much like a ‘Louie, Louie’ rip-off IMHO
Do You Feel Like We Do, Peter Frampton
Don’t Stop Believing, Journey
Free Bird, Lynyrd Skynyrd (yeah, I know they’re mainly classified as country rock, but this song is really more of an arena anthem)
Whew…hard question…Kansas’s Dust in the Wind was 1977, and doesn’t quite fit your criteria anyway. None of the prog rock bands released anything noteworthy that year as far as I can remember. That was a couple of years after their heydey.
I’d have to say ELO’s Turn to Stone: Alta Castrata vocals, string orchestra doing those “spinning” licks, 50’s rock style processed into a nice, sanitary machine-like package. Just hook up the laser lights, lower the giant disco ball and have the guys in the rafters drop the glitter. Behold the ELO starship descending onto stage which -SURPRISE!- is actually the body of a souped-up Les Paul. Liberaci and Elvis drool in envy.
Pyromania by Def Leppard.
Light Up by Styx.
Kashmir by Led Zepplin.
Saw all the above in big arena shows and these were the songs that seemed to really pump up the audience.
Whew, tough choice!
I guess I’ll go with Foreigner - Juke Box Hero.
Journey - Stone In Love
Boston - More Than A Feeling
REO Speedwagon - Riding The Storm Out
Are right there, however. 
“Come Sail Away” by Styx.
“Carry On, Wayward Son” by Kansas.
Always liked both of them much more than Journey or Boston.
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society.
How about that Emerson, Lake and Palmer song where they riff around in 2/4 for a while, then the singer yodels?
Personally, I’d say that, of all songs, “Boom Boom–Out Go the Lights” is the poster child for “Free Bic Lighter Night” at the arena, but it doesn’t really fit the OP.
I would suggest “The Final Countdown” by Europe, but Arrested Development has forever claimed that song in my mind.
Wasn’t Juke Box Hero later than 1978? Dusting off my memory of the past, I thought it was off of Foreigner 4 and that was circa '81. I thought the same of Journey’s, Don’t Stop Believing that El_Kabong mentioned above.
I have recollections of both from the summer that I was 16. (Which wasn’t 1978)
We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions - Queen
Renegade - Styx
Head Games - Foreigner
or, if you lived in Canada…
Boys in the Bright White Sports Car - Trooper
plus the aforementioned Boston and Frampton
My bad. I didn’t notice that requirement in the OP. Yes, Juke Box Hero is off 4, which, you are correct, came out in '81.
It’s still a kick ass AOR song, however.
Rush - Xanadu
Best live performance I’ve seen…ever.
Ooooh, yeah! Or Triumph. Or Rush. RUSH! Too many of their songs to narrow it down to one.
Ever listen to Supertramp live in Paris. Takes you right into that 1978 stadium.
Or how about Benny and the Jets ?