Best Underrated and Overlooked Songs From the 70’s You’ve Forgotten or Never Heard

Remember when they used to make good music? You may have forgotten, but they actually used to do that very thing. Here’s a list of great songs from the 1970’s that maybe you’ve never heard before, or if you have, your ears will be glad to hear them again.

Not all of these are never-released songs from obscure albums or 20-minute prog rock songs. A lot of them were actually hit singles! And I’m going to say that 70’s music started around 1966, so there will also be some songs here from ’66 through ’69. You also might find a few from 1980.

Not every song here is going to resonate with everyone. But trust me, if you bookmark this page and take the time to explore this list, you’re going to make a lot of new discoveries that you’ll love, as there are a bunch of different genres represented.

Consider buying me a cup of coffee by clicking the donation button below if this epic list provides you with some fun and entertainment:

OK. Ready for some forgotten gems from the 70’s? Let’s Go! Click on any song title to conveniently listen on YouTube… (Jump to the bottom of the list)

Chi Coltrane: Thunder and Lightning
Q: Dancin’ Man
City Boy: 5.7.0.5.
The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver: (I Don’t Wanna Love You But) You Got Me Anyway
Pilot: January
Moon Martin: Rolene
Ambrosia: Holdin’ on to Yesterday
Sniff ‘N the Tears: Driver’s Seat
Sanford Townsend Band: Smoke from a Distant Fire
Gary Wright: Phantom Writer
Starz: Cherry Baby
Mr. Bloe: Groovin’ With Mr. Bloe
Badfinger: Day After Day
Andrew Gold: Lonely Boy
Dave Edmunds: I Hear You Knocking
T Rex: Telegram Sam
New England: Don’t Ever Wanna Lose Ya
Addrisi Brothers: Slow Dancin’
Elton John: Mama Can’t Buy You Love
Melanie: Brand New Key
Starbuck: Moonlight Feels Right
Bonnie Tyler: It’s a Heartache
Pacific Gas and Electric: Are You Ready?
100 Proof: Somebody’s Been Sleeping
Christie: Yellow River
Tee-Set: Ma Belle Amie
Mark Lindsay: Arizona
Brotherhood of Man: United We Stand
The Friends of Distinction: Love or Let Me Be Lonely
The Kinks: Lola
Marmalade: Reflections of My Life
Melanie: Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)
The Five Stairsteps: O-o-h Child
Dawn: Candida
Al Stewart: Lord Grenville
Fairport Convention: Come All Ye
Brian Eno: I’ll Come Running
Wadsworth Mansion: Sweet Mary
Mac and Katie Kissoon: Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends: Never Ending Song of Love
Brewer & Shipley: One Toke Over the Line
Tommy James: Draggin’ the Line
Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart: I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight?
1910 Fruitgum Company: 1, 2, 3 Red Light
The Status Quo: Pictures of Matchstick Men
People!: I Love You
The Box Tops: Soul Deep
Paul Revere & The Raiders: Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon
The Cowsills: Indian Lake
The Turtles: You Showed Me
Tony Joe White: Polk Salad Annie
The Flying Machine: Smile A Little Smile For Me
The Grass Roots: Wait a Million Years
The Detroit Emeralds: Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)
Bill Withers: Use Me
The Alpha Band: Keep It In the Family
Desmond Dekker: The Israelites
Gerry Rafferty: Whatever’s Written In Your Heart
Traffic: Every Mother’s Son
Arlo Guthrie: City of New Orleans
Daniel Boone: Beautiful Sunday
Mouth And MacNeal: How Do You Do
B.W. Stevenson: My Maria
Helen Reddy: Delta Dawn
The Stylistics: Rockin’ Roll Baby
The Spinners: Mighty Love
The Hollies: The Air That I Breathe
The Amazing Rhythm Aces: Third Rate Romance
Dwight Twilley Band: I’m On Fire
Leo Sayer: Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)
Sugarloaf: Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You
Wet Willie: Keep On Smilin’
Lee Michaels: Do You Know What I Mean?
George Harrison: What Is Life
Roy Wood: Forever
Marshall-Hain: Dancing In the City
Silver: Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang
Elton John: Elderberry Wine
Sweet: Fox On the Run
The Rubettes: Tonight
George Harrison: Crackerbox Palace
Chuck Mangione: Feels So Good
War: Summer
Status Quo: Living On An Island
Hello: New York Groove
Bob James: Angela (Theme from “Taxi”)
Lindisfarne: Meet Me On The Corner
Barry Blue: Dancin’ (On a Saturday Night)
The Move: California Man
Be-Bop Deluxe: Ships In The Night
Paul Nicholas: Dancing With The Captain
The Strawbs: Lay Down
Lindisfarne: Run For Home
Sally Oldfield: Mirrors
Pluto Shervington: Dat
Glen Campbell: Southern Nights
Heatwave: The Groove Line
Jay Ferguson: Thunder Island
Lighthouse: Hats Off To The Stranger
The Pousette-Dart Band: Amnesia
Cockney Rebel: Judy Teen
Nick Lowe: I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass
Pilot: Just A Smile
John Prine: Fish & Whistle
Phil Manzanera: Alma
Wings: Mrs. Vanderbilt
Alan Parsons Project: The Cask Of Amontillado
Big Star: The Ballad Of El Goodo
Billy Joel: Last Of The Big Time Spenders
Brian Eno: Here He Comes
Elton John: Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
Harry Chapin: W.O.L.D.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Lucky Man
Gentle Giant: Wreck
Mott The Hoople: Roll Away The Stone
Eruption Featuring Precious Wilson: I Can’t Stand The Rain
The Motors: Airport
B.A. Robertson: Bang Bang
Smokie: If You Think You Know How To Love Me
Railroad Gin: A Matter Of Time
Al Stewart: If It Doesn’t Come Naturally Leave It
The Moody Blues: Never Comes The Day
Chicago: Poem For The People
T Rex: Monolith
The Spinners: The Rubberband Man
Russell Morris: Sweet Sweet Love
George Harrison: Ding Dong, Ding Dong
The Association: Never My Love
Leo Sayer: How Beautiful You Are
Dean Friedman: Ariel
Television: Guiding Light
Traffic: John Barleycorn (Must Die)
Climax Blues Band: Couldn’t Get It Right
George Harrison: Faster
Kayak: Chance For A Lifetime
George Harrison: Any Road
Sweet: The Six Teens
The Raspberries: Making It Easy
Slade: Gudbuy T’ Jane
The Raspberries: I Wanna Be With You
Duncan Browne: Journey
Bobby Womack: There’s One Thing That Beats Failing
Distractions: Time Goes By So Slow
The Roches: Hammond Song
Buchanan Brothers: Son Of A Lovin’ Man
The Alpha Band: Interviews
Allen Toussaint: Night People
Michael Farneti: The River
Roy Harper: When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease
Bobby Charles: I Must Be In A Good Place Now
Frankie Valli: Grease Is The Word
Al Stewart: Carol
Big Star: Thirteen
Billy Joel: Stop In Nevada
The Moody Blues: Tortoise And The Hare
Phil Manzanera Featuring Brian Eno: Big Day
Nick Drake: Pink Moon
Dion: Only You Know
Derek And The Dominos: I Looked Away
John Cale: Cleo
Dr. John: Such A Night
Swamp Dogg: Synthetic World
Jimmy Campbell: Half Baked
Alessi Brothers: Sea Bird
Dan Fogelberg: There’s A Place In The World For A Gambler
Chicago: In The Country
David Bowie: Always Crashing In The Same Car
Dan Penn: Nobody’s Fool
Elton John: Crazy Water
Harry Chapin: What Made America Famous
Brian Eno: Mother Whale Eyeless
Donovan: Hurdy Gurdy Man
Warren Zevon: Accidentally Like A Martyr
Big Star: Give Me Another Chance
Smokie: For A Few Dollars More
Jackson Browne: The Pretender
Sparks: The Number One Song In Heaven
Fanny: Ain’t That Peculiar
Al Green: Sweet Song
Big Star: September Gurls
Kate Wolf: You’re Not Standing Like You Used To
Chris Spedding: Video Life
NRBQ: Magnet
The Moody Blues: Nice To Be Here
John Prine: Crooked Piece Of Time
Dory Previn: Lady With The Braid
J.J. Cale: Magnolia
The Alpha Band: Wouldn’t You Know
Flamin’ Groovies: Shake Some Action
Harry Nilsson: Dayton, Ohio 1903
Joan Baez: Diamonds and Rust
Mary Hopkin: Those Were The Days
Elton John: Salvation
Squeeze: Up The Junction
Loudon Wainwright III: The Man Who Couldn’t Cry
Wire: Outdoor Miner
Bill Fay: I Hear You Calling
Blaze Foley: If I Could Only Fly
Randy Newman: Louisiana 1927
Joan Armatrading: Willow
Richard and Linda Thompson: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Fairport Convention: Matty Groves
Ofege: It’s Not Easy
Rodriguez: Cause
Amanaz: Khala My Friend
Odetta: Hit or Miss
Link Wray: Fallin’ Rain
Andy Pratt: Avenging Annie
Bobby Charles: Small Town Talk
Gregg Allman: Please Call Home
Tony Joe White: Saturday Night in Oak Grove, Louisiana
Little Feat: Trouble
Bobby Charles: Long Face
Danny O’Keefe: Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues
Family: My Friend The Sun
Murray Head: Say It Ain’t So Joe
Be-Bop Deluxe: Maid In Heaven
The Motors: Dancing The Night Away
Robert Palmer: How Much Fun
Al Stewart: Not The One
The Alpha Band: Arizona Telegram
Big Star: Try Again
Billy Joel: Somewhere Along The Line
John Cale: Gideon’s Bible
John Prine: Bruised Orange (Chain Of Sorrow)
Elton John: Amoreena
Brinsley Schwarz: Surrender To The Rhythm
Joan Armatrading: Down To Zero
Maria Muldaur: Gringo En Mexico
Wendy Waldman: Mad Mad Me
Linda Lewis: Gladly Give You My Hand
Valerie Carter: Face Of Appalachia
Maria Muldaur: Three Dollar Bill
Richard and Linda Thompson: Dimming Of The Day
The Babys: Every Time I Think Of You
Patrick Hernandez: Born To Be Alive
Chris Norman and Suzi Quatro: Stumblin’ In
The Marshall Tucker Band: Heard It In A Love Song
Family: Burlesque
The Guess Who: Star Baby
XTC: Making Plans For Nigel
Speedy Keen: Old Fashioned Girl
Nina Simone: Baltimore
Shuggie Otis: Inspiration Information
The Troggs: With A Girl Like You
Cream: Badge
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Prodigal’s Return
Boney M.: Rasputin
Al Stewart: Sand In Your Shoes
Spooky Tooth: It’s All About A Roundabout
XTC: Ten Feet Tall
Big Star: The India Song
Elton John: Razor Face
John Prine: That’s The Way The World Goes Round
Bob Welch: Ebony Eyes
Family: Glove
Chris Bell: You And Your Sister
Brian Protheroe: Pinball
Buchanan Brothers: Medicine Man
Billy Joel: The Great Suburban Showdown
John Cale: Charlemagne
Todd Rundgren: Wolfman Jack
Billy Preston: I Wrote A Simple Song
? & The Mysterians: 96 Tears
Uriah Heep: The Wizard
Badfinger: Come And Get It
The Who: Let’s See Action
Brian Eno: On Some Faraway Beach
Neil Diamond: Forever In Blue Jeans
Alicia Bridges: I Love The Nightlife
Small Faces: Itchycoo Park
Andy Kim: Rock Me Gently
Elton John: Part Time Love
Shirley & Company: Shame, Shame, Shame
Lee Jackson: Hey Girl
Eric Clapton: Let It Rain
The Moody Blues: Lovely To See You
Paul McCartney: Teddy Boy
Quicksilver Messenger Service: Pride Of Man
Alan Parsons Project: Breakdown
Thunderclap Newman: Thunder In The Air
Jigsaw: Sky High
Al Stewart: Flying Sorcery
Nick Gilder: Hot Child In The City
Paul Simon: Loves Me Like A Rock
Willie Nile: Vagabond Moon
Ten Years After: Let The Sky Fall
Edison Lighthouse: Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
It’s A Beautiful Day: White Bird
Jesse Winchester: Say What
Diesel: Sausalito Summernight
The Hues Corporation: Rockin’ Soul
Little River Band: Cool Change
John Lennon: Jealous Guy
Bobby Vinton: Sealed With A Kiss
Ian Gomm: Hold On
Billy Joel: Vienna
Smokie: Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone
XTC: When You’re Near Me I Have Difficulty
Climax Blues Band: I Love You
The Guess Who: Old Joe
John Prine: Sweet Revenge
Donnie Iris: Ah! Leah!
Neil Young: Alabama
Big Star: For You
Albert Collins: Master Charge
Elkie Brooks: Pearl’s A Singer
Janis Joplin: Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
ABBA: Why Did It Have To Be Me?
Waylon Jennings: Good Ol’ Boys (Theme From “The Dukes Of Hazzard”)
Gallagher & Lyle: Heart On My Sleeve
Neil Sedaka: Bad Blood
The Left Banke: Pretty Ballerina
Procol Harum: Conquistador
The Mixtures: The Pushbike Song
Elton John: We All Fall In Love Sometimes
Harry Chapin: 30,000 Pounds of Bananas
Koko Taylor: I’m A Woman
Blues Image: Ride Captain Ride
Clout: Substitute
Dave Loggins: Please Come To Boston
The Allman Brothers Band: Melissa
Arrival: Friends
Driver 67: Car 67
Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon: (Blame It) On The Pony Express
Jim Croce: I Got A Name
George Baker Selection: Paloma Blanca
Marmalade: I See The Rain
John Cale: Big White Cloud
Paper Lace: Billy, Don’t Be A Hero
Traffic: You Can All Join In
Al Stewart: Midnight Rocks
Uriah Heep: Easy Livin’
Steve Forbert: Romeo’s Tune
Brotherhood of Man: Angelo
Patsy Gallant: From New York To L.A.
String Driven Thing: The Machine That Cried
Rose Royce: I Wanna Get Next To You
Crabby Appleton: To All My Friends
The Lovin’ Spoonful: Darling Be Home Soon
Sopwith Camel: Hello, Hello
Don McLean: Castles In The Air
Ringo Starr: Step Lightly
Joe Simon: Get Down, Get Down
The Kinks: Waterloo Sunset
Rubicon: I’m Gonna Take Care of Everything
Bubble Puppy: Hot Smoke And Sasafrass
The Zombies: This Will Be Our Year
Warren Zevon: Carmelita
Jimmy Ruffin: Hold On To My Love
Elton John: Into The Old Man’s Shoes
Lynsey de Paul: Sugar Me
Neil Diamond: Soolaimon
George Harrison: This Song
The Babys: Isn’t It Time
Con Funk Shun: Ffun
Roxy Music: Beauty Queen
Bobby Hebb: Sunny
Badfinger: Baby Blue
Johnny “Guitar” Watson: A Real Mother For Ya
Max Webster: Let Go The Line
Reunion: Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)
Bobby Bloom: Montego Bay
Typically Tropical: Barbados
Bob Seger: Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
Gary Wright: Love Is Alive
1910 Fruitgum Company: Indian Giver
Crow: Evil Woman Don’t Play Your Games With Me
Dave Edmunds: Queen Of Hearts
The Move: Blackberry Way
Jeremy Spencer: Cool Breeze
Billy Joel: Los Angelenos
Los Bravos: Black Is Black
Dan Hill: Sometimes When We Touch
Thunderclap Newman: The Reason
Cockney Rebel: Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)
Cymarron: Rings
Eddie Floyd: Knock On Wood (1966)
Amii Stewart: Knock On Wood (1979 cover of the above)
The Mojo Men: Sit Down, I Think I Love You
Norma Tanega: Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog
The Troggs: Love Is All Around
The Moody Blues: Minstrel’s Song
Nick Lowe: Cruel To Be Kind
The Left Banke: She May Call You Up Tonight
Goldberg: Cry A Little Bit
Renaissance: Carpet Of The Sun
T Rex: Life’s A Gas
Brian Eno: Backwater
Jesse Winchester: Yankee Lady
Wings: Getting Closer
Patto: Time To Die
Paul Simon: Mother And Child Reunion
Smokie: Needles And Pins
Chuck Berry: Tulane
Bread: Mother Freedom
Marc Jordan: Marina Del Rey
Elvis Costello: Less Than Zero
Honeybus: I Can’t Let Maggie Go
John Prine: Donald And Lydia
Gallagher & Lyle: Breakaway
Michel Pagliaro: Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy
Dan Penn: Tearjoint
Big Star: Thank You Friends
Camille Yarbrough: Take Yo’ Praise
David Bowie: Starman
Fogg: Water In My Wine
The Hollies: Don’t Let Me Down
Billy Preston: Outa Space
Neil Young: Are You Ready For The Country?
M: Pop Muzik
Gerry Rafferty: Home And Dry
Ambrosia: And… Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled
Dr. Hook: Sharing The Night Together
Freda Payne: Band Of Gold
La Bionda: One For You, One For Me
Rainbow: Temple Of The King
Lindisfarne: Fog On The Tyne
The Staple Singers: If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)
Toto: I’ll Supply The Love
Little Feat: Long Distance Love
Gil Scott-Heron: Home Is Where The Hatred Is
Fleetwood Mac: Bare Trees
Marmalade: Rainbow
Jackson Browne: Here Come Those Tears Again
Bob Welch: Sentimental Lady
Jimmy Cliff: Vietnam
Mud: Tiger Feet
The Radiators: Let’s Talk About The Weather
Queen: Seven Seas Of Rhye
Cat Stevens: Matthew & Son
Frederick Knight: I’ve Been Lonely For So Long
R.B. Greaves: Take A Letter Maria
The Undisputed Truth: Smiling Faces Sometimes
Dave & Ansell Collins: Double Barrel
Joan Armatrading: Love And Affection
Television Personalities: Part Time Punks
Elton John: Shine On Through
Lulu: Me, The Peaceful Heart
The Jam: To Be Someone (Didn’t We Have A Nice Time)
The Original Caste: One Tin Soldier
Starz: Sing It, Shout It
Fairport Convention: Reynardine
Bobby Sherman: Cried Like A Baby
Dr. Hook: Sylvia’s Mother
Blue Swede: Silly Milly
Redbone: Come And Get Your Love
The Soulful Dynamics: Mademoiselle Ninette
Pop Tops: Mammy Blue
Steve Forbert: Say Goodbye To Little Jo
Atomic Rooster: Tomorrow Night
Jen Rog: Sunday Morning
Jackie Moore: Precious, Precious
Steeleye Span: All Around My Hat
John Miles: Music
Randy Newman: Rider In The Rain
The Fun And Games: The Grooviest Girl In The World
The Only Ones: Another Girl, Another Planet
10cc: I’m Mandy Fly Me
Goldberg: Say Your Name Out Loud
Boston: A Man I’ll Never Be
Brotherhood Of Man: Save Your Kisses For Me
The Zombies: A Rose For Emily
Harry Chapin: Dreams Go By
Burton Cummings: Stand Tall
Alive ‘N Kickin’: Tighter, Tighter
Sweet: Wig-Wam Bam
David Bowie: Watch That Man
Sammy Johns: Chevy Van
John Lennon: (Just Like) Starting Over
Robin McNamara: Lay A Little Lovin’ On Me
Cockney Rebel: Mr. Raffles (Man, It Was Mean)
Jefferson Starship: Miracles
Small Faces: Lazy Sunday
The Kinks: Victoria
Ohio Express: Chewy Chewy
Clout: Save Me
Badfinger: No Matter What
Max Webster: Diamonds, Diamonds
Lou Christie: I’m Gonna Make You Mine
Honeybus: Julie In My Heart
The Buggles: The Plastic Age
Michael Nesmith: Joanne
Roxy Music: Just Another High
Ralph McTell: Streets Of London
Hoyt Axton: When The Morning Comes
Bobbie Gentry: Fancy
Eric Burdon & The Animals: Sky Pilot
The Classics IV: Stormy
Brenton Wood: Gimme Little Sign
The Raspberries: Let’s Pretend
Daddy Dewdrop: Chick-a-Boom
Wallace Collection: Fly Me To The Earth
Blood, Sweat & Tears: Hi-De-Ho
Sherbet: Howzat
Jim Stafford: Swamp Witch
Billy Joel: Weekend Song
John Paul Young: Yesterday’s Hero
La Costa Tucker: Get On My Love Train
Poco: Keep On Tryin’
The J. Geils Band: Make Up Your Mind
UFO: High Flyer
Jefferson Starship: Jane
Ambrosia: Angola
Caravan: Stuck In A Hole
Humble Pie: Natural Born Bugie
Gene Chandler: Groovy Situation
The Millennium: 5 a.m.
Kalapana: When The Morning Comes
Brian Eno: The True Wheel
Tee-Set: She Likes Weeds
Gallery: I Believe In Music
Cymande: The Message
Paul Wingfield: Eighteen With A Bullet
Michel Pagliaro: Rainshowers
Rick Springfield: Speak To The Sky
Trooper: We’re Here For A Good Time (Not A Long Time)
David Dundas: Jeans On
Jackie Lee: The Duck
Al Wilson: The Snake
Big Star: My Life Is Right
Punch: Fallin’ Lady
Betty Wright: Clean Up Woman
Frankie Miller: The Doodle Song
Wishbone Ash: Ballad Of The Beacon
O.C. Smith: La La Peace Song
The Statler Brothers: Flowers On The Wall
Phil Ochs: Chords Of Fame
Renaissance: Let It Grow
McGuinness Flint: When I`m Dead And Gone
Beverly Bremers: Don’t Say You Don’t Remember
The Rubettes: Juke Box Jive
Lambert and Nuttycombe: Morning
American Flyer: Let Me Down Easy
Emitt Rhodes: Pardon Me
The Records: Starry Eyes
Tommy James and the Shondells: Sweet Cherry Wine
The Left Banke: Walk Away Renee
George Harrison: Blow Away
The Knickerbockers: Lies
Tomorrow: Hallucinations
Lobo: Rock And Roll Days
Billy Swan: Everything’s The Same (Ain’t Nothing Changed)
Lighthouse: Sunny Days
Charlie Daniels: Uneasy Rider
Sagittarius: My World Fell Down
The Pousette-Dart Band: I Don’t Know Why
Keith West: On A Saturday
Crabby Appleton: Go Back
Raydio: Jack And Jill
Simon & Garfunkel: My Little Town
Enchantment: If You’re Ready (Here It Comes)
The Pretty Things: Don’t Bring Me Down
Bill Fay: Omega Day
Bob Kuben And The In-Men: The Cheater
The Shades of Blue: Oh How Happy
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66: Mas Que Nada
Family: Coronation
The Merry-Go-Round: Live
Traffic: Empty Pages
Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons: The Night
Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces: Searching For My Love
The New Vaudeville Band: Winchester Cathedral
J.J. Jackson: But It’s Alright
The Mojo Men: Sit Down I Think I Love You
P.J. Proby: Niki Hoeky

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(Total: 566 songs as of last count on August 8th, 2023)

Do you have any favorites that are not on my list? Feel free to let me know your picks via the comment box below.

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