1. Argent – “Hold Your Head Up”
Argent’s anthem hit in 1972 and, for a time, it was everywhere. The swirling organ solo and uplifting lyrics made it one of those songs that felt empowering no matter where you were in life. It was experimental in the way it leaned so heavily on the Hammond organ, a choice that set it apart from the guitar-heavy sounds dominating the charts. People forget now, but it really pushed the boundaries of what a rock single could sound like.
Today, you don’t hear it nearly as often, even though it once felt like it would live forever on classic rock radio. Its progressive leanings didn’t translate into long-term radio staples, and younger listeners rarely stumble across it. Still, for those who were there, it’s a reminder of how the ’70s gave room for songs that felt both mainstream and adventurous at the same time.
2. Golden Earring – “Radar Love”
If you drove down a highway in the mid-’70s, odds are “Radar Love” was blasting from your radio. Golden Earring, a Dutch band, somehow crafted one of the most quintessential American road songs despite being from across the Atlantic. The pulsing bassline and driving rhythm felt like a car engine revving under your feet. It was part hard rock, part storytelling, and completely hypnotic.
Though the song has been covered countless times, the original has drifted into semi-obscurity outside of deep rock fans. It’s strange considering how innovative it was in capturing the vibe of long-distance travel with music alone. The song’s cinematic pacing was a breakthrough, even if many listeners today might not realize they’re hearing something that paved the way for countless road-trip anthems.
3. Blue Öyster Cult – “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll”
Before “Don’t Fear the Reaper” made them household names, Blue Öyster Cult shook things up with this fiery track from their 1972 debut. It was heavy, riff-driven, and unapologetically loud, helping shape what would later be called metal. The band blended intellectual lyrics with sheer sonic force, something not every rock act was bold enough to do. It felt dangerous in a time when mainstream rock was still pretty clean-cut.
Today, casual fans rarely mention this song, even though it practically announced the band’s arrival. It was groundbreaking because it didn’t just play at being rebellious, it sounded like the rebellion itself. If you revisit it, you can hear how many later bands borrowed its sound without giving much credit.
4. The Edgar Winter Group – “Frankenstein”
When “Frankenstein” hit in 1973, it blew minds simply because it was instrumental and still managed to storm the charts. Edgar Winter’s wild synthesizer and saxophone work gave the song an experimental edge. The title fit perfectly—it felt like a stitched-together monster of riffs, solos, and electronic effects. It proved you didn’t need lyrics to make a rock hit.
Despite its once-massive popularity, “Frankenstein” isn’t talked about much anymore outside of die-hard fans of instrumental rock. But it was revolutionary in giving the synthesizer center stage in a rock song years before it became mainstream. You can hear its influence in later prog and even in electronic rock.
5. Focus – “Hocus Pocus”
Here’s a song that no one who heard it in 1971 could forget: a Dutch prog-rock band mixing heavy riffs with yodeling. Yes, yodeling. It was bizarre, funny, and somehow also brilliant. The fast-paced guitar work paired with unexpected vocals made it unlike anything else on the radio.
“Hocus Pocus” hasn’t exactly held onto mainstream rotation, and maybe that’s because it’s too odd for everyday listening. But its experimental nature was revolutionary—it proved rock could be playful, weird, and still musically tight. Today it survives as one of those deep cuts that makes younger listeners do a double-take.
6. Budgie – “Breadfan”
Budgie never quite hit the heights of their contemporaries, but with “Breadfan” in 1973, they laid down groundwork for what would later become thrash metal. The opening riff is ferocious, and the tempo shifts show a band not afraid to take risks. It wasn’t just fast, it was also smartly structured.
The song largely faded from popular memory, except among metal fans who recognize its influence. Metallica even covered it, which brought it back to life for a new generation. Still, the original deserves more credit—it was one of the first signs that rock was about to splinter into heavier, faster subgenres.
7. Mott the Hoople – “All the Young Dudes”
Written by David Bowie, “All the Young Dudes” became an anthem in 1972, capturing the glam rock movement in one fell swoop. The lyrics, the swagger, and the sheer theatricality made it unforgettable. It gave Mott the Hoople their biggest hit and cemented Bowie’s role as both performer and cultural architect.
Yet, outside of Bowie retrospectives, the song doesn’t get much play today. That’s surprising considering how influential it was for glam and punk scenes. It wasn’t just a hit, it was a manifesto for a generation of kids who didn’t see themselves in traditional rock.
8. Blue Cheer – “Summertime Blues”
Blue Cheer’s blistering version of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” came out in 1968 but had its influence all over the early ’70s. Their take turned a rockabilly classic into one of the first proto-metal tracks. It was loud, distorted, and unapologetically raw. Many credit this single for showing just how heavy rock could get.
By the mid-’70s, though, it was already slipping out of mainstream awareness. The song’s sheer noise level didn’t fit neatly into radio playlists anymore. Still, its revolutionary spirit lingers—you can hear echoes of it in punk, grunge, and metal alike.
9. T. Rex – “20th Century Boy”
T. Rex had plenty of hits, but “20th Century Boy” in 1973 felt particularly bold. With its chugging riff and Marc Bolan’s swaggering vocals, it was pure glam rock attitude. It was less polished than “Bang a Gong (Get It On),” and maybe that’s why it hasn’t been remembered as widely. But at the time, it felt like a rock song that belonged to the future.
Today, it shows up in commercials and movies here and there, but it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Bolan’s ability to blend groove with grit made it revolutionary, even if it’s now overshadowed by other glam anthems. Listening again, it’s easy to hear how much of modern rock swagger started right here.
10. Mountain – “Mississippi Queen”
With its cowbell intro and Leslie West’s raw guitar tone, “Mississippi Queen” was instantly recognizable when it dropped in 1970. It was gritty, bluesy, and loud, qualities that set it apart from the more polished rock of the era. The song wasn’t long, but it packed a punch that made you sit up and pay attention.
These days, it’s more of a trivia answer than a song you hear regularly. Still, it was revolutionary in showing how stripped-down, aggressive blues rock could work on the radio. It was a precursor to the harder rock sounds that dominated later in the decade.
11. Patti Smith – “Gloria”
When Patti Smith released her version of “Gloria” in 1975, she wasn’t just covering a song, she was reinventing it. She infused it with spoken word poetry, punk energy, and raw emotion. It felt dangerous, like you were hearing something you shouldn’t. It blurred the line between art and rock in a way no one else dared.
Today, people remember Smith for her album Horses more broadly, but “Gloria” as a single doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves. It was revolutionary for punk and alternative rock, pointing the way toward what would dominate in the next decade. For a moment, it was a glimpse of rock’s future wrapped inside a familiar form.
12. Joe Walsh – “Rocky Mountain Way”
Released in 1973, “Rocky Mountain Way” showcased Joe Walsh’s unique mix of slide guitar and talk box effects. The song was inspired by his move to Colorado and felt both relaxed and rebellious at the same time. It wasn’t flashy, but it was clever in the way it balanced laid-back grooves with innovative guitar work.
Over time, it’s become overshadowed by Walsh’s work with the Eagles, but as a solo track, it was groundbreaking. It was one of the first times listeners heard the talk box used so prominently in a rock song. Even if people forget it today, its influence can still be felt every time a guitarist plugs one in.
