Until I realized that rock music was my connection to the rest of the human race, I felt like I was dying, for some reason, and I didn't know why.
Bruce Springsteen
A defining decade for music, a wave of American 70s rock bands that would go on to influence generations of musicians. Listing just 35 means we've definitely missed a few, so please let us know your top choices in the comments.
| Band | City/State | Genres | Notable Songs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerosmith | Boston, MA | Hard rock, Blues rock | Dream On, Walk This Way |
| Black Oak Arkansas | Black Oak, AR | Southern rock, Boogie rock | Jim Dandy |
| Blondie | New York, NY | New wave, Punk rock | Heart of Glass, One Way or Another |
| Blue Öyster Cult | Long Island, NY | Hard rock, Heavy metal | Don't Fear the Reaper, Godzilla |
| Boston | Boston, MA | Arena rock | More Than a Feeling, Peace of Mind |
| Brownsville Station | Ann Arbor, MI | Glam rock, Hard rock | Smokin' in the Boys Room |
| Canned Heat | Los Angeles, CA | Blues rock | Going Up the Country, On the Road Again |
| Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band | California | Experimental rock, Blues | Moonlight on Vermont, Electricity |
| Cheap Trick | Rockford, IL | Power pop, Hard rock | Surrender, I Want You to Want Me |
| Chicago | Chicago, IL | Jazz rock, Soft rock | 25 or 6 to 4, Saturday in the Park |
| Grand Funk Railroad | Flint, MI | Hard rock | We're an American Band, Some Kind of Wonderful |
| Heart | Seattle, WA | Hard rock | Barracuda, Crazy on You |
| Journey | San Francisco, CA | Arena rock | Wheel in the Sky, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' |
| Kansas | Topeka, KS | Progressive rock | Carry On Wayward Son, Dust in the Wind |
| Little Feat | Los Angeles, CA | Southern rock, Funk rock | Dixie Chicken, Fat Man in the Bath Tub |
| Lynyrd Skynyrd | Jacksonville, FL | Southern rock | Free Bird, Sweet Home Alabama |
| Mountain | Long Island, NY | Hard rock, Blues rock | Mississippi Queen |
| Patti Smith Group | New York, NY | Punk rock, Art rock | Gloria, Free Money |
| REO Speedwagon | Champaign, IL | Arena rock | Roll with the Changes, Time for Me to Fly |
| Santana | San Francisco, CA | Latin rock, Blues rock | Black Magic Woman, Oye Como Va |
| Steely Dan | New York, NY | Jazz rock, Rock | Reelin' In the Years, Peg |
| Steve Miller Band | San Francisco, CA | Blues rock, Pop rock | The Joker, Fly Like an Eagle |
| Styx | Chicago, IL | Progressive rock, Arena rock | Come Sail Away, Renegade |
| Talking Heads | New York, NY | New wave, Art rock | Psycho Killer, Once in a Lifetime |
| The Allman Brothers Band | Jacksonville, FL | Southern rock, Blues rock | Whipping Post, Jessica |
| The Amboy Dukes | Detroit, MI | Psychedelic rock, Hard rock | Journey to the Center of the Mind |
| The Cars | Boston, MA | New wave, Rock | Just What I Needed, My Best Friend's Girl |
| The Doobie Brothers | San Jose, CA | Rock, R&B, Country rock | Listen to the Music, What a Fool Believes |
| The Eagles | Los Angeles, CA | Country rock, Soft rock | Hotel California, Take It Easy |
| The Ramones | New York, NY | Punk rock | Blitzkrieg Bop, I Wanna Be Sedated |
| The Raspberries | Cleveland, OH | Power pop, Rock | Go All the Way, Let's Pretend |
| The Steve Miller Band | San Francisco, CA | Blues rock, Pop rock | The Joker, Rock'n Me |
| The Stooges | Ann Arbor, MI | Proto-punk, Garage rock | Search and Destroy, I Wanna Be Your Dog |
| The Talking Heads | New York, NY | New wave, Art rock | Psycho Killer, Burning Down the House |
| Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers | Gainesville, FL | Heartland rock, Rock | American Girl, Breakdown |
| ZZ Top | Houston, TX | Blues rock, Southern rock, Boogie | La Grange, Tush, Just Got Paid |
35. ZZ Top
ZZ Top was formed in Houston in the late 1960s and really hit their stride in the 1970s with their distinctive blend of Texas blues, southern rock, and boogie. The music, look, and behavior were all-American and offered a nice juxtaposition to the popular glam and prog rock that dominated the decade.
34. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' sound combined grit, jangly guitars, and no-nonsense songwriting. With a debut album featuring tracks like “Breakdown” and “American Girl”, they were well on their way to becoming huge, hitting their peak in the 1980s, but definitely a band of the 1970s.
33. The Stooges
The Stooges were fronted by Iggy Pop and broke from convention with much of the music they produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s, featuring a sound that helped define the punk music that followed.
From the blues-drenched swagger of Southern rock to the cerebral twists of progressive rock and the no-frills punch of punk, it was a time of experimentation and expression.
The rise of arena shows, FM radio, and evolving recording technology all helped amplify rock’s influence, not just musically, but also culturally and politically.
Their 1973 album Raw Power was produced by David Bowie and featured songs like “Search and Destroy”.
32. The Raspberries
Cleveland, Ohio's The Raspberries broke onto the scene with their hit "Go All the Way" in 1972, a top 5 Billboard hit. Popular for short, hook-driven songs in a time when excess seemed to be more popular, The Raspberries was the band for people after classic rock energy with sharp pop songwriting.
31. The Ramones
The Ramones' fast, loud, and simple sound arrived on the scene in 1976 with a self-titled debut album.
With songs like "Blitzkrieg Pop" and "Judy Is a Punk", The Ramones' look and sound had a profound impact on the genre.
30. The Eagles
The Eagles were formed in Los Angeles by a group of seasoned session musicians. Their sound blended country, folk, and rock seamlessly and for some, became the soundtrack for the whole decade.
The title track of their debut album, Hotel California, is easily their most famous, but other great tracks like "Take It Easy", "One of These Nights", and "Life in the Fast Lane" are recommended listening for those new to the band.
How 70s Rock Differed from 60s Rock
1960s Rock
- Rooted in folk & blues
- Social and anti-war messages
- Shorter, radio-friendly tracks
- British invasion bands
- Psychedelia
1970s Rock
- Increased studio innovation
- Louder, heavier instrumentation
- More concept albums
- Stadium rock and theatricality
- More genre-blending
29. The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers had a unique sound combining rock, R&B, country, and soul. Hits include “Listen to the Music” and “Long Train Runnin'” as well as the Grammy-winning “What a Fool Believes”.
One of the more flexible bands of the 1970s, The Doobie Brothers, were all about fusion, helping them to stand out in a sea of out-and-out rock acts.
28. The Cars
This band formed in 1976 in Boston and hit the ground running with their 1978 self-titled debut album, which featured hits like "Just What I Needed", "My Best Friend's Girl", and "Good Times Roll".
In the late 70s, their clean production and synthesizers were a sign of things to come in the 1980s, where they could have been considered one of the best bands of the 80s, too.
27. The Amboy Dukes
The Amboy Dukes was a Detroit-based band that combined psychedelia, hard rock, and garage. Though formed in the mid-60s, the band reached its creative and cultural peak in the 1970s.
Raw riffs, big solos, and proto-metal energy, The Amboy Dukes are worth exploring if you want to hear the heavier side of 70s rock.
26. The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 and is one of the most revered southern rock bands. In the 1970s, they help define the genre with a combination of blues, jazz, country, and extended rock improvisation.
Their 1971 live album At Fillmore East is considered to be one of the best live rock albums of all time.
25. Black Oak Arkansas
Black Oak Arkansas combined boogie rock, country twang, and glam theatrics into a loose, loud, and backwoods sound. The 1973 live album Raunch 'N' Roll Live set them apart from some of the more polished acts of the time.
24. Talking Heads
Talking Heads combined punk minimalism with funk grooves, world rhythms, and a new wave flair. Formed in New York City in 1975, Talking Heads went on to produce hits like "Psycho Killer", "Life During Wartime", and "Burning Down the House".
23. Styx
Styx is a band from the 1970s that combined progressive rock complexity with arena-ready hooks. Ambitious and accessible, the 1977 album The Grand Illusion featured anthems such as "Come Sail Away" and "Fooling Yourself."
22. Steely Dan
Few bands can blend rock, jazz, and pop like Steely Dan. Albums like Aja (1977) and Pretzel Logic (1974) were more than just commercial successes. They set a high bar for songwriting and production quality.
Hits include “Reelin' In the Years”, “Peg”, and “Rikki Don't Lose That Number” and while other bands were leaning into loud guitars and rock clichés, Steely Dan created songs to challenge norms.
21. Santana
Instantly recognizable, Santana was formed in San Francisco and led by the guitarist Carlos Santana. The group combines Latin rhythms, blues, jazz, and rock, into a fresh sound.
If you haven't heard Santana yet, start with tracks like “Black Magic Woman, “Oye Como Va”, and “Everybody's Everything”.
Though it would sound odd to consider Santana one of the best bands of the 90s, they actually enjoyed a massive comeback and one of the decade's best-selling albums!
20. R.E.O. Speedwagon
R.E.O. Speedwagon was formed in the late 60s, but since they started to build up a head of steam in the 1970s, we can't include them as one of the best American bands of the 1960s.
They found commercial success in the 1980s. Albums from the 1970s, such as R.E.O. (1976) and You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna Fish (1978), featured hits like "Roll with the Changes" and "Time for Me to Fly", helping to build a growing fan base throughout the decade.
19. Patti Smith Group
The Patti Smith Group was another to buck the trend of excess in 1970s American rock music. The landmark debut album, Horses (1975), showed that this wasn't just a band. It was a cultural movement rejecting rock stardom for artistic integrity.
Tracks like “Gloria”, “Free Money”, and “Redondo Beach” are a great place to start.
18. Mountain
Mountain quickly became one of the heaviest American rock bands of the early 70s. Their 1970 signature song, "Mississippi Queen", was an instant classic. Not a band with lots of hits, but the blend of blues, psychedelia, and proto-metal made them a band with a sound that few 70s bands could match.
17. Lynyrd Skynyrd
Synonymous with Southern rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in the late 1960s. In the 1970s, they rose to national fame with their distinctive blend of blues, country, and classic rock.
Songs like “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Simple Man”, and "Free Bird” were anthems before a plane crash in 1977 claimed the lives of several members, changing the band's trajectory.
16. Little Feat
Little Feat was one of the more musically adventurous bands of the 1970s, combining rock, funk, blues, and New Orleans soul into something incredibly American.
Their 1972 album, Dixie Chicken, is essential listening, featuring songs like "Fat Man in the Bath Tub" and the title track, which showcase a laid-back and musically intricate style.
15. Kansas
From Topeka, Kansas, this band's breakout came with the 1976 album Leftoverture, featuring the massive hit "Carry On Wayward Son". Following up with "Dust in the Wind" on 1977's Point of Know Return, Kansas managed to play progressive rock without feeling as pretentious as some of their British counterparts.
14. Journey
Originally an offshoot of Santana, the San Francisco-based band was one of the most successful rock bands of the decade.
With the arrival of Steve Perry, Journey's late-70s tracks like “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'” set the stage for continued success in the 1980s.
While they're not one of the top bands of the 00s, Journey would also enjoy renewed interest in the 2000s after the TV show Glee covered "Don't Stop Believin'".
13. Heart
Heart's 1975 debut album, Dreamboat Annie, featured songs like "Magic Man" and "Crazy on You". More importantly, they added a female perspective in a genre where it was significantly underrepresented.
With Little Queen in 1977 and the hit "Barracuda", Heart was clearly a force to be reckoned with in American rock.
12. Grand Funk Railroad
Formed in 1969 and hailing from Flint, Michigan, Grand Funk Railroad became famous for its raw sound, relentless touring, and blue-collar appeal. They had to sell out arenas across the country before they earned critical respect.
They hit their stride with 70s albums like Closer to Home, E Pluribus Funk, and We're an American Band, with the title track from the latter being a great starting point for new fans.
11. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
Fronted by Don Van Vliet, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band combined blues, free jazz, surreal poetry, and angular rock into something unique and incomprehensible in a good way.
Albums from the 1970s, such as Lick My Decals Off, Baby and Clear Spot, featured a raw, off-kilter sound characterized by elements ranging from howling to flanging, with disjointed rhythms and a sense of chaos.
10. Chicago
Formed in 1967 as Chicago Transit Authority (vehicles were all the rage for bands in the 1970s, it seems), Chicago became a key act in the 1970s. With brass-heavy arrangements and guitar-forward rock, tracks like “25 or 6 to 4”, “Saturday in the Park”, and “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day” were popular with fans of rock and soft-rock.
By the mid-1970s, their sound had become more radio-friendly, making them one of the best-selling and longest-lasting American rock bands of the decade.
9. Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick walked the line between power pop and hard rock with an infectious and explosive sound. Tracks like “Surrender”, “I Want You to Want Me”, and “Ain't That a Shame” are everything you need to become a fan.
8. Canned Heat
Canned Heat formed in the mid-60s in Los Angeles but peaked in the early 70s after several hits made them a fixture of the festival circuit. They're a great band to bridge the gap between blues tradition and more modern rock sensibilities, with tracks like "Let's Work Together" helping to revive the blues sound.
7. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band were more than a band. They were a movement. Songs about working-class struggle and small-town dreams made millions of Americans feel seen during a time of arena rock.
There are plenty of songs for new listeners to check out, but the obvious starting point is “Born to Run”.
6. Brownsville Station
Brownsville Station's biggest hit, "Smokin' in the Boys Room" (1973), was an instant classic, with other songs like "Kings of the Party" and "Let Your Yeah Be Year" also recommended for initiates.
5. Boston
Boston's self-titled debut album was one of the best-selling debut albums in rock history, with polished production, stacked harmonies, and incredible guitar work.
Hits like “More Than a Feeling”, “Peace of Mind”, and Foreplay/Long Time” combined great music with impeccable production that 70s audiophiles just loved.
4. Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult added intellectual depth and theatrical flair to 1970s American rock. From Long Island, New York, the band gained fame for its unique blend of hard rock, proto-metal, and literary references.
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is easily their biggest hit, but songs like "Godzilla", "Burnin' for You", and "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" are great ways to experience their sound.
3. Blondie
Blondie, from New York City, combined punk, new wave, pop, and disco into a genre-defying American sound.
Led by Debbie Harry, Blondie's music was smart, stylish, and catchy, with hits like “Heart of Glass”, “One Way or Another”, “Hanging on the Telephone”, and “Sunday Girl” examples of how they helped American rock evolve with new influences while still dominating the charts.
2. Aerosmith
Formed in Boston in 1970, Aerosmith is the embodiment of American rock excess and swagger. Blues roots with hard rock grit resulted in a loud, dirty, and instantly recognizable sound.
Rather than make hits, Aerosmith made rock anthems like “Sweet Emotion”, “Walk This Way”, “Back in the Saddle”, and “Dream On”.
1. Steve Miller Band
The Steve Miller Band's slick blend of blues, rock, pop hooks, and spacey vibes made them radio staples during the 1970s. The 1973 album "The Joker" marked a breakout moment for the band, and the title track became a #1 hit.
Smooth guitar work, laid-back vocals, and synth flourishes. What more could you want?
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