# What was the greatest song of the 1970s? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968 "2013-01-22T01:27:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/61 "2013-01-28T19:58:23Z")
In my thinking this isn’t just a “best song” of the 1970’s thread, it’s also asking “what is the most quintessential 1970’s song?” and with that in mind I’d like to nominate this song: _Band On The Run_ by Wings. A good, even great song that just oozes “1970’s-ness”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/62 "2013-01-28T20:04:00Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > In my thinking this isn’t just a “best song” of the 1970’s thread, it’s also asking “what is the most quintessential 1970’s song?” and with that in mind _Stayin’ Alive_ plays as John Travolta struts down a crowded Brooklyn street. By definition. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/63 "2013-01-28T20:25:51Z")
I’ve never heard these songs: Joy Division - Transmission Bruce Springsteen - Rosalita Tom Waits - The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) Big Star - Thirteen Television - Venus Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up I liked “Transmission” and “Thirteen.” I can definitely see the 80’s approaching in “Transmission.” But of course the answer is “Muskrat Love.” 😛 I can’t even begin to choose the “greatest” song of the 1970s, you would have to give me some categories or criteria before I could even get started. ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/64 "2013-01-28T22:55:26Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Yup, the poll is about what the OP _thinks_ are the greatest songs of the 1970s. > > I could do without any of the songs on the list. If you’re going to put Springsteen into contention for the “greatest” song, it seems silly not to list “Born To Run”, which was his first real hit (and a terrific song, if not “the greatest”). What does being his first hit matter? Thunder Road is a much better song > [@](#): > > Technically speaking, Creedence’s “Cosmo’s Factory” (released in 1970) has several songs (i.e. “Travelin’ Band”, “Lookin’ Out My Back Door”, “Run Through the Jungle”, “Up Around the Bend” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain”) which beat the pants off anything on the OP’s list. I like CCR but nope. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/65 "2013-01-28T23:10:12Z")
[_You’re the Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al0ecN3biR4) ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/66 "2013-01-29T01:56:04Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > In my thinking this isn’t just a “best song” of the 1970’s thread, it’s also asking “what is the most quintessential 1970’s song?” and with that in > mind I’d like to nominate this song: > > _Band On The Run_ by Wings. > > A good, even great song that just oozes “1970’s-ness”. I agree with your take on the question. But the correct answer is “Afternoon Delight” by I can’t remember. Starlight vocal band? ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/67 "2013-01-29T03:11:24Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > I agree with your take on the question. But the correct answer is “Afternoon Delight” by I can’t remember. Starlight vocal band? If that is the case, man am I glad I was too young to fully experience the decade. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/68 "2013-01-29T04:50:01Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > If that is the case, man am I glad I was too young to fully experience the decade. Yes, you are lucky. Very lucky. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/69 "2013-01-29T15:59:04Z")
Although it wouldn’t win, I’d add Tom Petty’s _American Girl_ to the list for sentimental reasons. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/70 "2013-01-29T16:46:51Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Although it wouldn’t win, I’d add Tom Petty’s _American Girl_ to the list for sentimental reasons. I thought that song was out in the 1980’s and that his only 1970’s hit was “Refugee”? ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/71 "2013-01-29T17:43:45Z")
If only there were some resource to check when Tom Petty’s songs were released. I kid. “American Girl” was '76. ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/72 "2013-01-30T18:18:44Z")
For those of you who suggested the Ramones should have been in poll, what Ramones song do you think was the best song of the 1970’s, well, in the four years they were recording in the 70’s. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968/73 "2013-01-31T08:03:33Z")
I did not realize howbad the music was in the '70’s until I looked back. Santana’s "Black Magic Woman Maggie May Have You Ever Seen the Rain The Thrill Is Gone Steely Dan’s “Do It Again” Disco Inferno Kinks’ “Rock 'n Roll Fantasy” Boulder To Birmingham Linda Ronstadt’s “Long, Long Time” Talking Head’s “Heaven” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-greatest-song-of-the-1970s/647968.md?page=3)