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What can you say about the best songs of 1977? It was a year where punk really broke through. It was also a year where Bob Marley continued their incredible streak of iconic singles. Kraftwerk built electronic music railways. The Bee Gees obtained Saturday night fever. Parliament triggered the timeless “Flash Light”. It was, in short, one of the most incredible years for pop music. So dive in, revisit an old favorite, or discover something you’ve never heard before. Either way, there are tons of great 1977 songs here to enjoy.
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65: Barry White – It’s ecstasy when you lie next to me
With the smoothest baritone in the game, Barry always delivered the goods, especially on tracks like “It’s Ecstacy When You Lay Down Next To Me.”
64: Gary Wilson – 6.4 = Embrace
One of the weirdest acts in pop music history, Gary Wilson’s style and crazy performances were one of a kind.
63: Millie Jackson – Constant Lover
One of the forerunners of today’s most sexually explicit artists, Millie Jackson sang about satisfaction and desire from a woman’s perspective.
62: Peter Gabriel – Behold the Flood
An artist ahead of his time, Peter Gabriel created fantastically futuristic pop music on his debut album. The best of the bunch is “Here Comes the Flood”.
61: Richard Hell and the Voidoids – Virgin Generation
In 1977, punk was on the rise and Richard Hell and the Voidoids delivered one of the culture’s first anthems with “Blank Generation”.
60: Donna Summer – Now I Need You
The queen of disco had another hit with “Now I Need You,” an addictive addition to her chart-topping catalog.
59: Billy Joel – Just As You Are
Billy Joel’s laid-back ode to the sweet pleasures of the laid-back life was a perfect fit for soft rock radio.
58: Earth, Wind and Fire – Runnin’
An amazing band at the top of their game, Earth, Wind & Fire combined jazz, soul and elements of Latin music to create the monster track “Runnin”.
57: Electric Light Orchestra – Mr. Blue Eyes
ELO were prog-pop giants of the late ’70s, and the hit “Mr. Blue Eyes” was among their finest hours.
56: Stranger – It feels like the first time
The hard rockers reveled in youthful sexuality on arguably their greatest song, “Feels Like the First Time,” which is as memorable as it is seductive.
55: Giorgio Moroder – From Here to Eternity
Producer Giorgio Moroder created a futuristic world of shimmering synthesizers that galvanized dance floors around the world on “From Here To Eternity.”
54: Glen Campbell – Southern Nights
The golden sounds of the guitarist Glenn Campbell filled the airwaves in 1977 with songs like “Southern Nights,” an ode to the sweet feel of warm nostalgia.
53: Grace Jones – La Vie En Rose
Prove once again that Grace Jones can’t be wrong, the iconic singer struts her stuff to “La Vie En Rose.”
52: James Taylor – Your Smiling Face
An optimistic and full-bodied sound of the often folk James Taylor“Your Smiling Face” retains the singer’s usual easygoing temperament regardless of the musical accompaniment.
51: Kenny Rogers – Daytime Friends
In 1977 Kenny Rogers was at the top of his game on hits like “Daytime Friends.”
50: Natalie Cole – Love Is On My Mind
Singer Natalie Cole had one of his biggest hits with this R&B/soul number.
49: Labyrinth with Frankie Beverly – Happy Feelin’s
A funky ode to feel-good, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly struck gold with this soulful track.
48: Hortence Ellis – I’m still in love with you boy
One of the greatest vocalists in the Jamaican soul movement, Hortence Ellis’ “I’m Still In Love With You Boy” is an absolute joy of a torch song.
47: Iggy Pop – The Passenger
Iggy found fame and success in the 70s with favorites like “The Passenger”, from his thirst for life album.
46: Jackson Browne – Stay
A romantic ode to a lover, Jackson Browne channels the charm and innocence of bygone days on his classic hit “Stay.”
45: Loretta Lynn – Crazy
Loretta Lynn takes on Patsy Cline’s “Crazy,” proving her skills as she makes the monumental tune her own.
44: Ted Nugent – Cat Scratch Fever
The Nuge’s over-the-top personality and guitar style saturates this signature track from his 1977 album of the same name.
43: The Clash – I miss the USA so much
The Clash’s debut album was full of angsty anthems, but few as good as “I’m So Bored By The USA”
42: The Congos – Congoman
Produced by legend Lee Perry, In the heart of the Congo is a masterpiece of Jamaican music. “Congoman” is an excellent example of Congo’s unique style.
41: Jam – In the city
A mod classic, “In the City” might be the unofficial theme song for the stylistic movement.
40: Junior Murvin – Police and robbers
With his enchanting falsetto voice, Junior Murvin was unique among the giants of reggae music. His biggest song was “Police & Thieves”.
39: The Isley Brothers – Footsteps in the Dark, Part 1
This very funky track was sampled by Ice Cube and is one of the Isley’s most beloved tracks.
38: Brian Eno – By This River
A man of many talents, Brian Eno delivers a magnificent ballad on the piano that fits perfectly with his best recorded moments.
37: Bryan Ferry – Rock of Ages
The Roxy Music frontman has had plenty of great solo moments, but this one might just be his finest.
36: Commodores – Brick House
This funk hit still resonates today: it’s a staple at weddings and celebrations everywhere.
35: Steve Miller Tape – Jungle Love
Steve Miller’s funky “Jungle Love” was the biggest hit of his excellent dream book album.
34: Pink Floyd – Dogs
Pink Floyd stretches their musical muscles on ‘Dogs,’ a nearly 20-minute track from their epic 1977 album Animals.
33: Ramones – Sheena is a punk rocker
As addictive as a soda with added sugar, the Ramones remain beloved today thanks to unapologetic classics like “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker.”
32: Rose Royce – Wish on a Star
This sweet soulful ballad was a big hit and a quietly intense lament for a lost love.
31: Rufus & Chaka Khan – Eternal Love
The silky grooves and powerful vocals of “Everlasting Love” proved why Rufus and Chaka were such a powerful musical combination.
30: Lynrd Skynrd – Again
This introspective mid-tempo rocker has extended guitar work, a confident vocals, and endless southern charm.
29: Meatloaf – Heaven in Dash Light
This mega-hit propelled Meatloaf to superstardom and became a classic rock radio staple.
28: Kiss – Love Gun
Among the band’s less subtle innuendoes, “Love Gun” was a stadium-sized hit for emerging hard rock superheroes.
27: Kansas – Dust in the Wind
In 1977, Kansas was already a mainstay of progressive rock. “Dust In The Wind” took them to another level.
26: Jonathan Richman and Modern Lovers – Egyptian Reggae
A wonderfully fun instrumental piece by Modern Lovers, “Egyptian Reggae” sounds remarkably like its title, thanks to this band’s subtle stylistic changes.
25: The Saints – (I’m) Failed
Australia’s finest punk export, the Saints were among the movement’s most aggressive and fleshed-out outfits.
24: The Stranglers – Peaches
A sexually tinged funeral dirge, “Peaches” is a punk staple that relies on attitude and repetition, while exuding a laid-back freshness.
23: Waylon Jennings – Luckenback Texas
“Luckenback Texas” is the kind of song that Waylon Jennings could deliver like few others, an authentic American country ballad.
22: Weather report – Birdland
1977 was the heyday of jazz fusion, and Weather Report was among the genre’s most successful acts. “Birdland” was among their best.
21: Wire – 12XU
This post-punk quartet married sharp rhythms with clever songwriting to create an indelible sound.
20: Supertramp – Give a little
The gloriously upbeat “Give A Little Bit” became an enduring hit for Supertramp, with its gleaming acoustic guitars and soaring vocals.
19: Suicide – Cheree
“Cheree” conjures up the dark, dystopian world of downtown New York using just a few sounds.
18: Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight
Eric Clapton sounds calm and relaxed in this mid-tempo love song, a delightful ode to romantic family life.
17: The Johnson Brothers – Strawberry Letter 23
This dancefloor behemoth features the smooth vocals of the Johnson Brothers navigating a funk-heavy bassline.
16: Styx – Come sailing
With a huge anthemic chorus, Styx made one of the best progressive singles of all time with “Come Sail Away”, an unforgettable track.
15: Queen – We are the champions
“We Are The Champions” is such an epic song that it has become synonymous with victory everywhere.
14: Elvis Costello – Alison
One of the most beloved new wave ballads, Elvis Costello shows he’s a romantic at heart on “Alison” from his 1977 debut album.
13: Jimmy Buffett – Margaritaville
The holidays never end in Jimmy Buffet’s single “Margaritaville,” a song that still echoes in resort bars to this day.
12: Parliament – Flash Light
George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and the crew showcased a bold technotronic take on noir futurism on tracks like “Flash Light” from their album Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome.
11: Television – See No Evil
The most overtly literary of the New York punk crowd, Television has reclaimed the guitar solo with its incredible melodic interplay on tracks like “See No Evil.”
10: Bee Gees – Night Fever
One of the most instantly recognizable hits of the disco era, the Bee Gees’ “Night Fever” was a once-in-a-generation hit.
9: Cheap Tip – I want you to want me
Power pop was an emerging sound in 1977, and Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me” is a prime example.
8: Rush – Closer to Heart
This progressive ballad helped cement Rush’s stadium status.
7: Fleetwood Mac – Dreams
The easy delivery of “Dreams” contrasts with the fiery tension that ran through the recording of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors.
6: Kraftwerk – Trans Europe Express
One of Germany’s great contributions to modern music, Kraftwerk laid the foundations of electronic music on tracks like “Trans Europa Express”.
5: Steely Dan – Deacon Blues
Employing only the best session players, Steely Dan’s sophisticated funk is on full display on “Deacon Blues.”
4: David Bowie – Hero
David Bowie brings out the best in his existential anthem “Heroes,” one of the standout tracks in his mid-period catalog.
3: Talking Heads – Psycho Killer
David Byrne led this crew of art school weirdos to daring heights on the addictive favorite “Psycho Killer.”
2: Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the UK
‘Anarchy In the UK’ delivered all the nastiness and vitriol of 1977’s English working class.
1: Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
A song of pure joy, “Three Little Birds” is a truly universal hit from the singular Bob Marley.
Build your collection of 70s classics in the uDiscover Music store.
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