4 Underrated 1970s Rock Songs That Deserve a Spot in Your Regular Rotation

When we think of great 1970s rock songs, bands like Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and the Eagles typically dominate the musical zeitgeist. But we’d humbly argue that there are plenty of other tracks from this decade that still hit all these years later. Some of these songs got the credit they deserved when they first came out, breaking into the U.S. Billboard Top 10 and gaining widespread critical acclaim.

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Other tracks flew under the radar, solidifying their status as hidden gems of one of the most prolific and inventive decades of rock ‘n’ roll history. Here are some of our favorite underrated 1970s rock songs that deserve a spot in your regular rotation.

“Green-Eyed Lady” by Sugarloaf

“Green-Eyed Lady” is the opening track to Sugarloaf’s eponymous debut album from August 1970. The track peaked at an impressive No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. However, because the band failed to reach the same level of popularity as their contemporaries, this song is often buried in ‘70s compilations and film soundtracks. But with its distinct bass lines and ripping organ solos, this underrated 1970s rock song holds its own in the distinct transition from 1960s to ‘70s rock ‘n’ roll. Despite not being the most memorable of household names, Sugarloaf managed to bridge the gap between groups like the Zombies and the Doors.

“Black Betty” by Ram Jam

Ram Jam’s 1977 cover of “Black Betty” is one of those tracks that is so memorable that its ubiquity almost turns it into a parody of itself. Most people recognize the song’s distinct refrain, Woah, Black Betty, bam a lam. But that’s generally where the appreciation for this raucous track stops, and frankly, we think that’s a shame. From its fat guitar tones to the frenzied jam section in the middle of the track, this song is more than the few lines everyone can vaguely sing along to. Although the song made it into the Billboard Hot 100, it failed to break into the top ten, peaking at No. 18.

“Let Me Swim” by Cactus

You might not recognize the name Cactus, but you likely recognize some of its founding members. Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge formed Cactus with Jim McCarty and Rusty Day in late 1969. They released three albums before disbanding, with Appice and Bogert moving on to the equally short-lived musical group Beck, Bogert & Appice. In the original lineup’s brief time together, they released an eponymous album with a track called “Let Me Swim” tucked in the middle. This hidden gem of a 1970s rock song would go on to inspire bands that would dominate the latter half of the decade, like Van Halen.

“Life Is A Minestrone” by 10cc

English rock band 10cc might not be the most memorable name of the 1970s, but they produced some killer melodies and hooks prior to their initial split in 1976. One such track is “Life Is A Minestrone,” a divisive but inarguably fun and lighthearted ode to the complex mixture that is life. 10cc were masters of changing grooves mid-song with rousing harmonies, cutting synth features, and percussion leading the way through every transition. “Life is a Minestrone” was the lead single from their third album, The Original Soundtrack. Although the song performed relatively well in the U.K., it just missed breaking into the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with its No. 104 placement.

Photo by David Warner Ellis/Redferns