20 hours ago, Jaz13music said:

Two brilliant synth classics at the top! Both quite dark and ‘detached’ in their delivery but wonderfully melodic. Very far ahead of their time, so much so that, as you described, it literally took years for the public to catch up to The Model! 

That’s a really fantastic top 10 Jade, I couldn’t argue with any of them.

Aside from the songs and artists you have highlighted I’ve tried to put together a list of 30 others I’d consider for my top 70s songs. I’m afraid I’m nowhere near as disciplined as you so I couldn’t put them in an order! 🫢

Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed

Pop Muzik - M & Robin Scott

All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople

Spirit In the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

Band On the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings

Message In A Bottle - The Police

Killer Queen - Queen

Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones

Anarchy In the U.K. - Sex Pistols

Making Plans for Nigel - XTC

Hot Love - T. Rex

Blockbuster - Sweet

Superstition - Stevie Wonder

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

Come and Get It - Badfinger

Across the Universe - The Beatles

Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees

Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles

It's Too Late - Carole King

I Fought the Law - The Clash

Boys Don't Cry - The Cure

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse

Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello & The Attractions

December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - The Four Seasons

A Case of You - Joni Mitchell

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

That's the Way (I Like It) - KC and the Sunshine Band

Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

I’m Not In Love - 10cc

Uptown Top Ranking - Althea & Donna

Dark and detached is a great way to describe both! I'd say I'm generally quite an upbeat person yet I'm attracted to a lot of dark, miserable synth music (complimentary) so that is interesting psychologically, haha.

Glad you liked my picks and there are sooooo many great ones in your list! You've reminded me that pretty much the whole of Unknown Pleasures should've been an honourable mention, what an album. Although 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' was released as a separate, standalone entity in early 1980 as far as I'm aware? So may still have a shot in the 1980s - we shall see. :o

15 hours ago, Chez Wombat said:

This is another case as with the 60s where I love nine of these and aren't very familiar with one! I remember the Serge Gainsbourg song from the retro song contest sounding quite interesting though.

I thought that would be number 1 but a fantastic one, Kraftwerk are still an act I need to explore deeper with, but all the songs I know are wonderful including that one, shoutout also to the wonderful double a-side that would top the charts next decade, Computer Love which definitely fit in well with the tech anxiety of the later 70s years.

Are Friends Electric is great too, for such an angry, mysterious sounding instrumental and sci-fi lyrics, there's definitely a lot of sadness in there too and indeed makes a lot of sense from an Autistic person. 1979 felt like a year that really ushered the innovative experimentation that would continue into the new decade, as well as being full of classic chart hits. So it's great to see some representation from there like Heart of Glass & Another Brick In The Wall Part 2.

Wuthering Heights is one I associate strongly with my A Levels as I was studying the book at the time, a wonderful song and incredible debut, I prefer the Hounds of Love era, but this is my overall favourite song from her.

I think the one here I don't think I knew you liked as much was Don't Fear The Reaper but a great choice! My rough top 10 is below, most of yours that aren't here would be just outside (I'd have Heroes over Life on Mars but obviously love both):

01. Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights

02. David Bowie - Heroes

03. Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall Part 2

04. Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven

05. Lou Reed - Perfect Day

06. Electric Light Orchestra - Mr Blue Sky

07. Blondie - Heart of Glass

08. The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star

09. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

10. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run

(11. Donna Summer - I Feel Love

12. Goblin - Suspiria

13. Boston - More Than a Feeling

14. The Clash - London Calling

15. Kraftwerk - The Model)

Gosh that was hard to limit to 10, might have to expand going forward x

I'd highly recommend a Kraftwerk deep dive! Maybe starting with Autobahn and going all the way up to Computer World, as all five of those albums are essential. I know how much you also appreciate dark synths and there's a lot more tech anxiety where that came from, so think you'd have a good time with their stuff too.

Ah I didn't know you shared my opinion of liking Hounds of Love the most as a body of work but also consider 'Wuthering Heights' as your #1 Kate Bush song, love that <3

Yeah perhaps I haven't been too vocal about my appreciation of '(Don't Fear) the Reaper' on the forum until now but it's indeed a staple on my Halloween playlist *.*

'Heroes' is of course a great Bowie pick too ❤️ and some other strong choices there as well - particularly Queen, Lou Reed, The Buggles and The Clash.

Also, I totally hear you with the pain of limiting this to just 10 songs a decade. If I wasn't determined to write paragraphs for every song then I probably could've done a top 50 for each decade or something. Alas, at the moment I think I have the right level of hyper focus to actually get this finished with 10 a decade

11 hours ago, Severin said:

Sharing the love for Kraftwerk. A monumental band in my formative listening although strangely The Model isn't among my very top favourites.

Aw fair enough, what would you say your top favourite Kraftwerk songs are? What a catalogue!

9 hours ago, Julian_ said:

I really need to try and get back to my 1970s reviews which stalled in 1972. I’ve already given “Starman” a 10 but “Life On Mars?” is coming up in 1973. I’m don’t know if I can persuade others to cover them with me like with the ‘80s: that decade is of course a much easier sell for group projects.

Until then I don’t feel ready to do any meaningful lists but yours is of course brilliant, and it’s nice that you’ve found room for 1 obscure song. I don’t think “Cargo Culte” is even all that well known within Serge Gainsbourg’s discography, but it is beautiful and I ranked it either 2nd or 3rd in the ‘70s retro contest I think. The Rainbow track got my 12 in that and good to see one of the best heavy rock tracks ever represented here with “Layla”.

I really commend the scale of your projects! I'm thankful there's more of a retro co-hort on the forum these days as I remember it was a struggle to get enough interest for even '80s Now album plug.dj sessions back in the day. Although, as you say, pre-'80s is still a tougher sell. I'll aim to cheerlead 'Life on Mars?' amongst others if it does come back! 'Starman' is a worthy 10 too.

Thank you for the kind words! I remembered 'Cargo culte' just about avoiding the bottom 5, so double checked who gave it points the other day to see if it was anyone commenting along in this thread and you indeed awarded it a silver medal, taste 🤩 the accompanying soundtrack is so innovative in general and deserves more flowers indeed, even if the subject matter is controversial.

---

I shall start the '80s at the weekend! Very excited to get into this decade.

1 hour ago, Jade said:

Glad you liked my picks and there are sooooo many great ones in your list! You've reminded me that pretty much the whole of Unknown Pleasures should've been an honourable mention, what an album. Although 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' was released as a separate, standalone entity in early 1980 as far as I'm aware? So may still have a shot in the 1980s - we shall see. :o

Oops, yes of course you’re right, sorry! 🫢

At least that means I can now find room for

Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl😅

And, in that case, I’ll probably catch up with Joy Division in the 80s then….

11 hours ago, Julian_ said:

Until then I don’t feel ready to do any meaningful lists but yours is of course brilliant, and it’s nice that you’ve found room for 1 obscure song. I don’t think “Cargo Culte” is even all that well known within Serge Gainsbourg’s discography, but it is beautiful and I ranked it either 2nd or 3rd in the ‘70s retro contest I think. The Rainbow track got my 12 in that and good to see one of the best heavy rock tracks ever represented here with “Layla”.

I’m curious now, which Rainbow song got your 12? I’d love to have a go at a 70s retro contest, maybe we’ll revisit it again one day?!

28 minutes ago, Jaz13music said:

I’m curious now, which Rainbow song got your 12? I’d love to have a go at a 70s retro contest, maybe we’ll revisit it again one day?!

“Stargazer”

My favourite Kraftwerk tracks would be - Radioactivity, Trans Europe Express, Europe Endless, Showroom Dummies, The Hall of Mirrors, Kometenmelodie 2. Then we'd get to Antenna, The Model, The Robots and Autobahn.

TEE is my favourite album of theirs and right up there for me

Its a good list you have for 70s. I don't know a massive amount about music from that decade. A big yes for Tubeway Army. I like The Model but Kraftwerk have better songs.

Life on Mars one of Bowie's, best a sad song though.

I would probably have Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough in my top 10 for that decade. Its up there with Wuthering Heights for unique art pop. Metal Guru by T Rex I would probably have top 10 probably too - best #1 of the early 70s.