Rick Henry Christopher's Top 3 Picks in 1970s Music

The following is a comprehensive list of my favorite music of the 1970s. It spans various genres and categories. There a little something for everybody. The very first section containing my overall favroites features a video for each entrant. Each successive category features only a video for the numbr one listing. ENJOY!

THE Top 3's!

Top Three Favorite Artists of the 70s Overall

3. Stevie Wonder / Carpenters

2. Donna Summer

1. Pink Floyd

Top Three Favorites Years in Music in the 1970s

3. 1977 / 2. 1979 / 1. 1975

Top Three Favorite Songs of 1977

3. “Way Down” by Elvis Presley

2. “Josie” by Steely Dan

1. “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder

Top Three Favorite Albums of 1977

3 Heroes by David Bowie

2 Hope by Klaatu

1 Aja by Steely Dan

(Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life" was released in 1976)

Top Three Favorite Songs of 1979

3. “DJ” by David Bowie

2. “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer

1. “One Way Or Another” by Blondie

Top Three Favorite Albums of 1979

3. Flex by Lene Lovich

2. Manifesto by Roxy Music

1. Replicas by Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army

Top Three Favorite Songs of 1975

3. “Listen To What the Man Said” by Paul McCartney and Wings

2. “Why Can’t We Be Friends” by War

1. “Philadelphia Freedom” by Elton John

Top Three Favorite Albums of 1975

3. Horizon by Carpenters

2. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

1. Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin

Top Three Favorite Female Vocalists of the 1970s

3. Joni Mitchell

2. Donna Summer

1. Karen Carpenter

Top Three Favorite Male Vocalists of the 1970s

3. Paul Simon / Elton John

2. David Bowie

1. Stevie Wonder

Top Three Favorite Bands of the 1970s

3. Moody Blues

2. Led Zeppelin

1. Pink Floyd

Top Three Favorite Country Singers (Male) of the 1970s

3. Waylon Jennings

2. John Denver

1. Willie Nelson

Top Three Favorite Female Country Singers of the 1970s

3. Barbara Mandrell

2. Crystal Gayle

1. Dolly Parton

Top Three Favorite Male R&B/Soul/Funk Vocalists of the 1970s

3. Bill Withers

2. Al Green

1. Stevie Wonder

Top Three Favorite Female R&B/Soul/Funk Vocalists of the 1970s

3. Gwen Dickey (Rose Royce)

2. Diana Ross

1. Donna Summer

Top Three Favorite R&B/Soul/Funk Bands of the 1970s

3. Rufus featuring Chaka Khan

2. War

1. Earth, Wind and Fire

Top Quiet Storm Female Artists

3. Gwen Dickey (Rose Royce)

2. Roberta Flack

1. Natalie Cole

Top Quiet Storm Male Artists

3. Smokey Robinson

2. Marvin Gaye

1. Barry White

Top Quiet Storm Bands

3. The Dramatics

2. The Temptations

1. The Stylistics

Top Motown Artists

3. Diana Ross

2. The Commodores

1. Stevie Wonder

Top Three Philly Soul Artist

3. The Trammps

2. The O’Jays

1. Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes

Top Three Disco Artists of the 1970s

3. Kool and the Gang

2. Heatwave

1. Donna Summer

Top Three Disco Songs

3. “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Santa Esmeralda

2. “Let’s All Chant” by The Michael Zagar Band

1. “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer

Top Three Adult Contemporary Female Singers

3. Helen Reddy

2. Olivia Newton-John

1. Anne Murray

Top Three Adult Contemporary Male Singers

3. Michael Johnson

2. James Taylor

1. Neil Diamond

Top Three Adult Contemporary Bands

3. America

2. Bread

1. Carpenters

Top Three Jazz Bands

3. Return To Forever

2. Mahavishnu Orchestra

1. Weather Report

Top Jazz Artists Male

3. Ornette Coleman

2. Miles Davis

1. Donald Byrd

Top Jazz Artist Female

3. Carla Bley

2. Roberta Flack

1. Joni Mitchell

Top Three Rock Female Singers

3. Suzy Quatro

2. Linda Ronstadt

1. Debbie Harry

Top Three Rock Male Singers

3. Freddie Mercury

2. David Gilmour

1. Robert Plant

Top Three Rock Bands

3. Blue Oyster Cult

2. Led Zeppelin

1. Pink Floyd

Top Three Favorite Classic Rock Tunes

(That I Keep Coming Back to Year After Year)

3. “Mr. Blue Sky” by ELO

2. “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

1. ”Conquistador” by Procol Harum

Top Three Classic Rock Artists

3. Chicago

2. The Cars

1. Steely Dan

Top Three Progressive Rock Bands

3. Supertramp

2. Pink Floyd

1. Yes

Top Three New Wave/Post Punk/Alternative Artists Female Lead

3. Siouxsie and the Banshees

2. Blondie

1. Lene Lovich

Top Three New Wave/Post Punk/Alternative Artists Male Lead

3. The Police

2. Gary Numan and the Tubeway Army

1. Roxy Music

Top Singer/Songwriter Female

3. Carole King

2. Carly Simon

1. Joni Mitchell

Top Singer/Songwriter Male

3. James Taylor

2. John Lennon

1. Neil Young

Top Three California Sound Artists

3. Jackson Browne

2. Doobie Brothers

1. Beach Boys

Top Three Christian/Gospel Artists of the 70s

3. Larry Norman

2. The Mighty Clouds of Joy

1. Chris Christian

Top Three Guilty Pleasures Male Vocals

3. “Love’s Grown Deep” by Kenny Nolan

2. “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas

1. “Jeans On” by David Dundas

Top Three Guilty Pleasures Female Vocals

3. “Doctor’s Orders” by Carol Douglas

2. “Half Breed” by Cher

1. ”Money, Money, Money” by ABBA

Top Three Novelty Songs

3. “King Tut” by Steve Martin

2. ”Telephone Man” by Meri Wilson

1. “Popsicle Toes” by Michael Franks

Top Three Solo Male Singers from a Band

3. David Gates (Bread)

2. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

1. Justin Hayward (Moody Blues)

Worthy Mention Bands

3. Ambrosia

2. Rush

1. Moody Blues

Worthy Mention Female

3. Phoebe Snow

2. Pat Benatar

1. Jennifer Warnes

Worthy Mention Male

3. Joe Jackson

2. David Byrne

1. Tom Petty

Worthy Mention Jazz

3. Wayne Shorter

2. Antonio Carlos Jobim

1. Santana

Worthy Mention New Wave/Post Punk/Alternative

3. Joy Division

2. B-52s

1. Talking Heads

Worthy Mention Grab Bag

3. “Who Loves You” by The Four Seasons

2. “Song For My Mother” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

1. “Dreadlock Holiday” by 10cc

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I hope you enjoyed this cavalcade of music!!! Cuz, I sure did!!!

With Love, RHC ❤️