Remember jumping in the family car to head on over to school back in 1970? For many a 70s kid, that was a special period of time in which you got to hang with your parents before being let loose. And it was also a time when many young music fans got exposed to the songs that would shape their music tastes for life. Let’s take a look at a few songs from 1970 that you definitely heard on the radio on the way to school!
“Let It Be” by The Beatles from ‘Let It Be’
There was no avoiding this one. “Let It Be” might as well be The Beatles’ swan song, considering it’s the title track of their final album together. It’s an uplifting, anthemic tune written by Paul McCartney, and few people alive today have never heard it. “Let It Be” peaked at No. 1 across the board in 1970, and it was a go-to radio favorite for years.
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“Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum from ‘Spirit In The Sky’
This song technically dropped at the tail end of 1969. However, that just allowed it plenty of time to be all over the radio throughout 1970. This is easily one of the best songs of the era. It’s shocking to me that it’s more or less Norman Greenbaum’s only hit. “Spirit In The Sky” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that year and also reached the Top 5 almost globally.
“American Woman” by The Guess Who from ‘American Woman’
Can you hear this song without trying to belt out that chorus? I doubt it. I know I certainly can’t. “American Woman” by The Guess Who was one of the most popular songs on rock radio in 1970. And it remains one of the band’s biggest career hits. This bluesy psych-rock number peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100 and No. 19 in the UK.
“War” by Edwin Starr from ‘War & Peace’
Considering the time period, it wasn’t really possible to avoid protest songs in some form on the radio. Edwin Starr’s hit “War” managed to have meaning while also being insanely catchy. This entry on our list of 1970 songs you heard on the way to school is one of Starr’s most famous and era-defining funk songs. It peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Photo by Gems/Redferns
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CIRCA 1955: Musician Little Richard poses for a portrait wearing a straw hat in circa 1955. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 27: Photo of HUMBLE PIE and Steve MARRIOTT; with Humble Pie, performing live onstage (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) -
English musician Brian Jones (1942-1969) of The Rolling Stones plays a sitar during a performance by the band on the set of the Associated Rediffusion Television pop music television show Ready Steady Go! at Wembley Television Studios in London on 27th May 1966. The group would perform three tracks on this edition of the show, 'I Am Waiting', 'Under My Thumb' and 'Paint It Black'. (Photo by Ivan Keeman/Redferns) -
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IN CONCERT – Airdate: March 29, 1974. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) REDBONE -
Wayne Fontana (white shirt) with his backing group The Mindbenders consisting of left to right: Eric Stewart, Bob Lang and Rick Rothwell, photographed before recording the ABC television show "Thank Your Lucky Stars". 3rd May 1964. (Photo by MSI/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images) -
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – Megan Moroney performs onstage for the Capital One JamFest during the 2026 NCAA March Madness Music Festival on April 05, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for TNT Sports)
