Top 10 Greatest 70s Songs You've Never Heard Of

#10: Fallin Rain (1971)

Link Wray

The legendary Link Wray is known best for the seminal 1958 hit Rumble, the first instrumental song to ever get banned from radio in the United States. But in 71, Wray found a second-wind, releasing the self-titled album Link Wray. And though some critics felt like he was modernising his sound a little too much, the results speak for themselves. While songs like Fire and Brimstone and La De Da are well worth your time, for our money, Fallin Rain is the underrated gem of the pack. Its a far cry from Rumble, but its one hell of a track from this veteran guitarist!

#9: Forget About (1973)

Sibylle Baier

Its crazy to think about how much great music has never seen the light of day. And for Sibylle Baiers son Robby, when he began circulating old CDs of his mothers recordings from the 1970s, little did he know that he would end up causing the album to get a proper release. Baiers debut album Colour Green would finally be released over three decades after it was originally taped. Her voice, lyrics, and minimalist style were an instant hit with folk fans - and the stand-out track Forget About is as sincere and earnest as any piece of songwriting youll hear all year.

#8: Blind Alley (1972)

Fanny

Looking for the perfect driving song? Well, 70s rock band Fanny might just surprise you with their 1972 release Blind Alley. This all-female rock group rejected taking the usual path for so-called girl-bands - opting instead to inject their performances with a heavy dose of aggression and bluesy energy. This song was a track from their album Fanny Hill, which contained original material as well as covers of Marvin Gaye and The Beatles. Listen to Blind Alley and youll hear the blueprint for the type of rock n roll that would be built upon by the likes of The Runaways and The Bangles.

#7: Home Is Where The Hatred Is (1971)

Gil Scott-Heron

He was a jazz-poet, a singer, an instrumentalist, a socially-conscious speaker, and many more things. Gil Scott-Heron was a master at many different skills, but when he wasnt delivering colorful soliloquies in poetic form, he was creating some of the best and most vividly lyrical funk music of the 1970s. From the instantly memorable The Revolution Will Not Be Televised to the foot-stomping momentum of The Bottle, theres a lot to love in Herons catalogue. But for our money, 1971s Home Is Where The Hatred Is captures him at his very finest. Catchy melodies, a powerful message, excellent singing, and an exceptionally tight band behind him, this track is just too good to ignore. Trust us, Gil Scott Heron is well worth a deep-dive.

#6: Can You Get To That (1971)

Funkadelic

No matter which lineup was standing behind him, Funkadelic front-man George Clinton dropped classic after classic during his prime run in the 1970s. But out of all of his releases, no album has stood the test of time quite like 1971s Maggot Brain. The iconic cover is just the tip of the iceberg, this LP is jam-packed with classic after classic. And though the title-track that opens the album is the most famous song here, Can You Get To That has a feel-good energy that most funk bands would kill to even come close to. The interweaving vocal lines are the star of the show here - and its the type of track that makes you feel like you are in the room with the band.

#5: Hello In There (1971)

John Prine

The best way to describe the music of John Prine? Honest. Frank. Plain and simple. You could take any track off of his 1971 debut and put it on this list, but if we do have to narrow it down, the understated beauty of a song like Hello In There is hard to top. Prine tugs at the heartstrings as he talks about the realities of growing older and how distant and isolated that can make someone feel. But heres the thing, he wrote this song when he was just 22-years-old. Its rare to find a songwriter who can instil that much wisdom into his words at such a young age, but thats what makes John Prine one of the greats!

#4: Solid Air - John Martyn

If youre one of the many people who have never indulged their senses with the music of John Martyn, theres a good chance youll have your mind blown. With an otherworldly voice and a mastery of finger-plucked acoustic guitar, Martyn hit his first career peak with 1973s album Solid Air - a jazz folk odyssey that saw him team up with the legendary double-bassist Danny Thompson. The resulting album has a little bit of everything - sadness, joy, longing, desperation. The title track is the stand-out, though, a song that Martyn wrote for his friend, Nick Drake, the troubled musician who was going through hell with mental illness at the time. Solid Air is the type of song you cannot believe isnt more famous than it is.

#3: Magnolia (1971)

J.J. Cale

Has there ever been a musician who was more laid-back than J.J. Cale? This legendary guitarist and songwriter wrote some of the best rock songs of his era, but most of them were hits for other artists. Cale was so laid-back that he seemed to have zero interest in pursuing fame - even though it was right there for the taking. On his 1971 debut album Naturally, he shows us exactly why he is regarded as a guitarists guitarist. His subtlety and masterful control of the instrument are on full display on the beautifully-written Magnolia, an ode to a woman he knew that is as simple and effective as any love song youll ever hear. The whole album is a perfect piece of sublimely-produced ear-candy.

#2: Crucify Your Mind (1971)

Rodriguez

The story of how Rodriguez found his way to international fame is too complex and convoluted to describe here - but after the success of the documentary Searching For Sugar Man, this forgotten hero of the 1970s found a new global audience. His debut album Cold Fact is so polished and poignant that its almost impossible to imagine that he was virtually unknown to most people for decades. Front-to-back, its a near-perfect listen - but Crucify Your Mind has all of Rodriguezs best elements rolled into one package. The lyrics, the instrumentation, the beautifully sung chorus - its just a shame that he only reaped the rewards of his songwriting genius when he was a much older man!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Frightened (1978), The Fall

One Of The Deepest Band Rabbit-Holes Youll Ever Fall Down

Synthetic World (1970), Swamp Dogg

Your New Favorite Feel-Good Song

Khala My Friend (1975), Amanaz

The Perfect Song For A Sunny Afternoon

This Town Aint Big Enough For The Both Of Us (1974), Sparks

Rock Perfection

Cherry Red (1971), The Groundhog

The Punchiest Song Youll Hear All Week

#1: Blue Crystal Fire (1978)

Robbie Basho

To those of you who have never heard Robbie Basho sing Blue Crystal Fire before, all we can really say is were jealous you get to hear it for the first time. Basho was a guitarist by trade, but whenever he took the mic, the resulting music was nearly always a thing of beauty. Footage of him performing is very rare, but his deep interest in the music of Japan, India, and Iran, among others, is always present. Hearing Basho sing is like stepping into another world - and to this day, youd be hard pressed to find an artist who seamlessly mixes global music styles quite like him. Its one of the most underrated folk songs ever recorded.

If you had to recommend 5 songs to someone that they had likely never heard before, what would your choices be? Let us know in the comments below.