Genre Deep Dive: So You Wanna Get Into 70s Rock?
- Chiara Guastella
- Feb 27
- 8 min read
What we now dismiss as "dad music" was once the soundtrack of rebellion. In the 1970s, rock wasn’t just about soaring guitar solos—it was a medium for artists to voice their anxieties about a rapidly changing world, critique society, and carry forward the countercultural spirit ignited in the previous decade. Gritty and rebellious, the rock genre of the 70s underwent a transformative era during this decade, branching out into a multitude of subgenres that changed people's perception of music to this day.
The distinction of soft and hard rock, the introduction to metal, progressive, and folk rock opened doors for many of the iconic bands and artists we recognize today as legendary. The 70s gave us Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven", Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, and much more. Artists in the 70s revolutionized the way both musicians and the public viewed the approach to creating music.
1970: The Rise of Heavy Metal, Shocking Blue's "Venus", and Derek and the Dominos
The early 70s saw a switch from the mellow Motown and folksy sounds of the previous decade. The release of UK band Black Sabbath's self-titled debut in February of 1970 and Paranoid that September marks the birth of the heavy metal genre. Paranoid lets go of the mellower tones from the previous album, adopting thunderous guitar riffs as well as singing in a higher range, contrasting demonic images of death and the underworld, which, until then, had been unheard of in the music world.
If you're not into heavy metal's aggressive tones, don't worry, many staples of the 70s were also born this year. Dutch band Shocking Blue released their hit "Venus," which skyrocketed them to fame. However, the band was not a one-hit wonder, with their superb storytelling skills in their lyrics and groovy beats that carried over from the previous decade-- but heightened. Lead singer Mariska Veres' hypnotic vocals invite her listeners into a world of the band's creation with songs like "Never Marry a Railroad Man" and "Send Me a Postcard". One of rock's greatest songs was born in November of 1970 with Eric Clapton's band, Derek and the Dominos, releasing their hit song "Layla". The galloping, upbeat tune with blistering guitars and pleading vocals became the backdrop of how we perceive the 70s today. The song portrays Clapton's emotional turmoil towards George Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd, and was inspired by a Persian poem of unrequited love (The Story of Layla and Manjun). It's still a milestone of rock to this day.
1971: "The Greatest Year for Rock Music," Sticky Fingers, The Doors, and Led Zeppelin
1971 was considered by many "The Greatest Year for Rock Music," because, from a creative standpoint, many artists were in their prime. The Rolling Stones released their ninth studio album Sticky Fingers, considered by many to be the group's most successful album. Blistering opening riffs—some of the greatest ever recorded—themes of burnout, liberation in all its forms, and loss set the stage for a masterful fusion of blues, rock, and country
Along came Led Zeppelin with their fourth album, IV, an ensemble of eight songs, each one its own moment, its own beat. Many consider IV one of their best albums, as Zeppelin finally takes the big step over into hard rock, allowing them to become one of the staple bands of the genre with songs like "Stairway to Heaven", "When the Levee Breaks", and "Black Dog", which became instant radio classics.
Despite Zeppelin and the Stones' establishment as rock veterans, 1971 was also a great year for emerging band Alice Cooper, with the release of their debut album Killer. From the first punch of "Under My Wheels," the album is pure, unrelenting adrenaline, demanding to be played from start to finish. Captivating Dorian-scale guitar riffs and masterful drum breaks in "Halo of Flies" and "Dead Babies" only deepen its grip, making every moment impossible to ignore.
1973: Concept Albums, Pink Floyd's Politics, and Steely Dan
1973 brought with it new, emergent talent such as the Los Angeles- based Steely Dan, who debuted in November of 1972, but only gained traction in the months that followed, with their album Can't Buy a Thrill, which appeared in Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the greatest albums of all time. In a blend of percussive, poignant jazz-rock, melancholic and introspective lyrics, accompanied by suave guitar riffs and tight harmonies, this is an underrated gem of the soft rock genre. The following year Steely Dan released their second album, Countdown to Ecstasy, a jazz-rock extravaganza ranging from breezy, feel-good songs like "Your Gold Teeth", to the self-aware, yet creepy, "Show Biz Kids". The album is proof of the band's prowess in blending smooth jazz keys with precise guitar riffs, fueling the album with raw energy.
The rise of progressive rock gave way for a return to a more classical approach in music, with lengthy tracks containing soulful piano instrumentals. With the release of Pink Floyd's iconic Dark Side of the Moon, we see a dramatic switch in the band's artistic style, with its elaborate, yet mellow instrumentals evoking an uneasy feeling of being stuck between time and space, a theme that is very evident within the record. Pink Floyd's very first concept album opened the doors for many artists to do the same, creating a record with a cohesive theme and story that one could listen from start to finish. Pink Floyd would proceed to do it again in 1979 with the disturbingly psychological album The Wall. Its political undertones became the backdrop of many of society's happenings, like the demolition of the Berlin Wall. Its anti-war, anti-fascist ideals and overall criticism of big world powers in its most radical and raw form encourages the listeners to question the forces that are in power and whether they actually have the former's best interests in mind.
1974- 1975: Golden Earring's "Radar Love", Electric Light Orchestra's Symphonic Prowess, and Fleetwood Mac's Lyrical Genius
By many considered a one-hit wonder, Dutch band Golden Earring gained attention with their bass-heavy, exciting single "Radar Love", which ranked at number eight on the global charts. The song tells the bizarre story of a man who telepathically communicates with his girlfriend while racing to reach her—only to crash and meet his untimely end. It’s an eerie, almost surreal narrative that pushes the boundaries of storytelling in rock music. The instrumentals aid this sloping storyline, looking at a tragic death in a spirited light through the intense use of cymbals and quickening rhythms.
Orchestral rock joined the mainstream in 1974, when the English band Electric Light Orchestra gained the attention of the American public with their song "Can't Get It Out of my Head" from their album Eldorado. Their symphonic arrangements blended rock aspects like intense guitar riffs and loud drum breaks, with soft strings and fantastical storytelling, pushing the rock aspect further to truly show the creative freedoms many took when it came to the rock genre, aiding the storytelling aspect of their songs further through catchy vocals and memorable orchestral breaks.
The addition of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks into the English-American band Fleetwood Mac was what skyrocketed them to great heights. The release of their self-titled album, containing the hit songs "Landslide" and "Rhiannon," showed both Buckingham and Nicks's songwriting abilities, with their penchant for storytelling used as escapism. Their blend of folk aspects to the rock genre added something mystical to what the band was doing. Later on, when the band released their hit album Rumours, it only established them as lyrical powerhouses with songs like "Gold Dust Woman," "Go Your Own Way," "Dreams," and "The Chain," many of which were written as a way to cope with the band's growing internal turmoils.
1976: The Rise of Punk Rock, Women in Hard Rock, and AC/DC's Impact
1976 was considered the last great year for rock music, but also the year punk rock was born. All hard edges and fast paces, the New York native band the Ramones were spearheading the new punk rock movement. In February of 1976, the band released their self-titled debut album, a back to basics record, focused on minimalism as a way to clap back at the now established household bands only concerned with making more money. It's a call to fight against authorities, with loud chants and anthemic lyrics, that in a sardonic way make fun of how the media began perceiving punk culture.
Along with the Ramones, Australian breakthrough band AC/DC started to gain traction with the release of their album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, an album that profuses pure, young freedom, accompanied by punchy guitars and thunderous vocals. They didn't know it back then, but they would have gone to become one of the staple rock bands of that time. With high-energy songs like "Rocker" and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", it expresses an unbridled sense of freedom.
With aggressive, crashing riffs and vocals that seem to be inspired by the ever- growing metal culture of the time, Aerosmith's release of their fourth studio album Rocks, is nothing short of anthemic, a combination of punchy arena singles, and mellow, blues-rock tracks that make the album both high-energy and easy to listen less as an album, but more as an experience.
Paving the way for women as lead singers in heavy rock bands, Heart was nothing short of a pioneer. Despite releasing their most famous album a year later, with "Barracuda" becoming their most famous song, 1976 was the year Heart gained its commercial success through their 1975 album, the underrated Dreamboat Annie. Less heavy vocals, but powerful nonetheless, switching between airy, mystical ballads, and powerhouse belts. Heart dipped into folk, blues, and jazz to be able to find their sound, which is very evident through their storytelling style of lyrics, making Dreamboat Annie a multi-genre experience.
1977- 1979: Rock Switches Gears, Punk Music With The Clash, The Turn of the Decade
It is easy to distinguish the genre differences between 1975 and 1976 and the end of the decade, as we see the emergence of British punk band The Clash, with their rebellious and chanty self-titled album. They would go on to release one of their most famous albums in 1979, London Calling, and it is evident that with each album the group creates more and more of their own genre, including elements of ska, new wave, and reggae. Dominating the British punk scene along with the Sex Pistols, many of the themes across their albums are anti-war messages, climate issues, and the hardships of war.
In 1978, London-based band Dire Straits debuted with their twangy, folk-blues, self-titled album. The group itself has defined their genre as "pub music," making them easy to listen to while nodding your head along. The song that immediately catches your ear is "Sultans of Swing," a looping, danceable track, with repeated guitar riffs and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Other songs that stand out are "Down to the Waterline" for its snappy rhythm and how each instrument seems so in sync with each other, or the bass-heavy "In the Gallery," for its slowed down, bluesy, almost seductive feel.
The concept of arena rock begins to become a reality as the band Van Halen hits the scene, with their self-titled album debuting in 1978, immediately gaining attention. It's shouty, it's full of grit, it's all that rock winds up being in the following decade. The band's guitarist, standout Eddie Van Halen, writes his own rules with his inventive, fast-paced guitar riffs. The band takes inspiration from all over as they dip into heavy metal and glam metal with ease. Songs like "Atomic Punk," "Runnin' With the Devil," and "On Fire" are punchy, their guitar tones lightning-fast, and the vocals are energetic, showing incredible showmanship from lead singer David Lee Roth.
As music begins to spill into the 80's, the arena rock band Journey releases Evolution in 1979, and within it hits like "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'," and "Just the Same Way," immediately reach the public's approval for this new way of making music. Their album becomes the biggest they'd sold, setting them up to become the next big rock stars of the following decade. Their music is loud, anthemic, their lyrics are full of feelings, and you can truly feel the unity and cohesiveness of both the band and the tracks right as the album's playing.
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