Wondering what is the song that puts you right back there in the 1970’s. Try to think beyond disco, though I won’t fault you if you can’t.
For me, it’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” It’s haunting and moving, but more than that, it’s very 70’s. In what other decade could you have a ballad about a sinking ship charting at #1 and #2 in the major North American charts?
what is Stairway to Heaven?
That is an excellent answer but you are wrong.
“There’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford…”
Think ephemeral, not something that every college freshman with a 6-string picks up at the guitar shop.
It is Stairway to Heaven but since this is not Jeopardy you were required to answer in a non-question form. Sorry you do not win the million dollars.
What do you mean by “Think ephemeral”? It’s a strange thing to say. Don’t you mean the opposite?
I’m trying to figure out what the opposite song is of Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, cause that must be it.
Anything by Heino.
“Hotel California”?
“Can’t Smile Without You.”
“American Pie”
What immediately popped into my head was “What’s that ridiculous song with the cake in the rain? The only good to come of that was the Weird Al cover.”
MacArthur Park. Which actually came out in the late 60’s. But in my defense, there were covers all the way through the 70’s as well (including disco). According to the Wiki page, WJW-TV City Camera News used it as its theme song from 1970-77.
So I’m sticking with my answer. In fact, I think it set the stage for everything musically gross about that decade.
“American Pie”
“Hotel California”
“Stairway To Heaven”
“Carry On Wayward Son”
…as a side note we watched Guardians Of The Galaxy last night and I could sing every single song on the soundtrack by heart – all 70s stuff. My husband looked at me and remarked, “You love advertising your age, don’t you?”
All four of those songs got very heavy airplay IIRC. That’s why I chose them.
Some Gerry Rafferty songs
“Miracles” by Jefferson Starship
“Chevy Van”
“The Night Chicago Died”
Depends on what direction you want to go:
Sedated, The Ramones
Eruption, Van Halen featuring Eddie
Superstition, Stevie Wonder
Get Up, Stand Up, Bob Marley
Roxanne, The Police
…
But yeah, Stairway.
Muskrat love.
Rocky (by Austin Roberts, not the theme to the movie)
Run Joey Run
Seasons in the Sun
Last Kiss
Detroit Rock City
YTF were there so many songs about dying horribly in the 70’s? 
Have you heard the Gwar cover?
Some of the songs I listen to when I’m in a '70s mood:
Love’s Theme
Operator
Taxi
Time in a Bottle
I’ve Got a Name*
Year of the Cat
Sand in Your Shoes
Baker Street
Feels So Good
Glen Miller Is Missing
Biba Nova
Dance with Me
Annie’s Song
I’m Sorry
Back Home Again
Brandy
Dancing Queen
Fernando
Oh, Babe, What Would You Say?
Cold Kentucky Rain
The Gambler
Top of the World
Only Yesterday
Last Farewell**
*I prefer the Gordon Lightfoot version.
**One of the worst songs ever written, but I have a soft spot for it. :o
Take Me Home, Country Roads
If not that, then I second Hotel California.