Top 100 Songs of the 1970s, #20 - 11

Another countdown will come to its end tomorrow, but we still have the penultimate edition to get through. Today, we take a look at some songs that narrowly missed out on making the top ten, but can still lay claim to being the best that the 1970s had to offer. Let's listen to some awesome music!

#20 - Barracuda (1973)

by Heart

You'd have me down, down,

Down, down on my knees...

Now won't you... Barracuda? It shouldn't make sense, but it does and has built itself quite the reputation as a must-have party song. Why do I love it? Because of that scene in the first Charlie's Angels movie, where Lucy Liu goes all dominatrix/lecturer... but I didn't tell you that.

#19 - One Way or Another (1979)

by Blondie

And if the lights are all down,

I'll see who's around...

Hey, look at that; another Blondie song featuring our favourite woman of rock, Debbie Harry. Two songs in the top 30, not too shabby for this pioneering female-fronted rock (punkish) band we all know and love.

#18 - Anarchy In The UK (1976)

by The Sex Pistols

Don't know what I want,

But I know how to get it...

Punk music is essentially synonymous with The Sex Pistols, so it should come as no surprise that they place with the highest charting punk song on the countdown. 'Anarchy In The UK' is so well regarded, it ranks at #53 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. 

#17 - Dream On (1973)

by Aerosmith

Sing with me, sing for the year,

Sing for the laughter and sing for the tear...

So, Aerosmith released 'Dream On' and it was awesome. Then not much happened for a long time and along with Run D.M.C they had a comeback with 'Walk This Way' in the 80s. Then not much happened for a long time and they had a comeback in the 90s with 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing.' Then not much happened for a long time and Steven Tyler made a comeback as a judge on American Idol. You know that song 'Circle of Life' from the Lion King? It was all about Aerosmith's career. But not really. But it could have been.

#16 - Because The Night (1978)

by Patti Smith Group

Come on now try and understand,

The way I feel when I'm in your hands...

One of music's unsung heroes, and she is a true hero, Patti Smith released some powerful music toward the end of the decade and hasn't looked back since. If you like PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple or Bjork, you owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid to Pattie Smith.

#15 - Here Comes the Flood (1977)

by Peter Gabriel

I took the old track,

The hollow shoulder, across the waters...

If you're a regular reader you'll understand how much I enjoy a depressing song. And I don't mean like, 'Short Stack just released a new song and that makes me sad' kind of depressing. I mean a song that will make you feel so sad, you pass the point of sadness and actually end up happy by the time it's over. 'Here Comes the Flood' is one of those songs. 

#14 - Ballroom Blitz (1973)

by Sweet

It was like lightning,

Everybody was frightening...

Thank you Wayne's World for reminding me just how awesome 'Ballroom Blitz' is. When you think of songs that should be played more, this should be right at the top of your list. 

#13 - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (1972)

by Roberta Flack

To the dark and the empty skies, my love...

Words won't do it justice, so just listen. 

#12 - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

by Elton John

Oh I've finally decided my future lies,

Beyond the yellow brick road...

This is John's fourth song to make the Top 100... will there be a fifth?

#11 - Go Your Own Way (1976)

by Fleetwood Mac

Loving you isn't the right thing to do...

One behind in total, but one in front (at least for now), it's Fleetwood Mac with the ultimate break-up song. Lindsey Buckingham wrote it after the end of his relationship with Stevie Nicks... as in Stevie Nicks, bandmate who would have to sing parts of the song. Nice.