web analytics

1973 Music Hits: Soul, FM Album Rock, Glam, Funk, Singer-Songwriters, AM Pop, and Early-1970s Favorites

1973 music was one of the early 1970s’ richest years, with soul, funk, FM album rock, singer-songwriters, glam, soft rock, and AM pop all pushing in different directions. The radio could move from Marvin Gaye to Pink Floyd, from Tony Orlando & Dawn to Led Zeppelin, and from Stevie Wonder to Grand Funk without stopping to explain itself.

The biggest 1973 music hits included Let’s Get It On, Love Train, Money, Ramblin’ Man, Time in a Bottle, Crocodile Rock, Touch Me in the Morning, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree, and Bad, Bad Leroy Brown. It was a year of warm soul grooves, big album statements, catchy AM singles, and songs that still feel strongly tied to the sound of 1973.

These 1973 music hits are not meant to be a Billboard reprint. The focus is on recognizability, lasting radio appeal, oldies-and-classic-rock durability, sing-along strength, dance-floor usefulness, and the records people still associate with the year.

How People Heard 1973 Music

In 1973, AM radio still drove many of the biggest singles, but FM radio had become essential for album rock, progressive rock, and artists whose songs needed more room to stretch. This was a major moment for albums, and listeners were increasingly willing to follow a full side of music rather than just chasing the next three-minute single.

Record stores, jukeboxes, car radios, college stations, television performances, concerts, and home stereos all shaped the year’s listening habits. A teenager might hear Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree on AM radio, then go home and play The Dark Side of the Moon on headphones. That is quite a mood swing, but 1973 could handle it.

1973’s Biggest Artists and Songs

1973’s Grammy and pop-chart stories reflected the importance of live albums, singer-songwriters, soul, film-connected songs, and rock’s growing album culture.

  • America won Best New Artist for the 1972 Grammy year, presented in 1973. Their acoustic harmonies and soft-rock sound helped define early-1970s radio.
  • Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, George Harrison, Leon Russell, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Eric Clapton, and Klaus Voormann were among the credited artists connected with The Concert for Bangladesh, which won Album of the Year.
  • Roberta Flack won Record of the Year for The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, one of the era’s most elegant and intimate vocal recordings.
  • Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon, which became one of rock’s landmark albums and one of the decade’s best-known album experiences.
  • Led Zeppelin released Houses of the Holy, expanding the band’s sound beyond heavy blues-rock.
  • The Rolling Stones released Goats Head Soup, which included the ballad Angie.
  • The Eagles released Desperado, building their country-rock identity even before their biggest commercial peak.
  • Bruce Springsteen released his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., introducing one of rock’s major future voices.

New Artists and Breakthrough Acts in the 1973 Pop Charts

Several artists broke through or became much more visible in 1973. Some would dominate later in the decade, while others helped define soul, rock, glam, soft rock, country, and funk in the early 1970s.

  • Aerosmith began their long rock career, setting up major 1970s success.
  • Bachman-Turner Overdrive brought sturdy Canadian rock into the American mainstream.
  • Charlie Daniels became a major figure in Southern rock and country crossover.
  • The Pointer Sisters entered the pop and R&B charts with a style that blended soul, jazz, pop, and, later, dance music.
  • Barry White became one of the decade’s most recognizable soul voices.
  • Joe Walsh grew from the James Gang’s success into a major solo artist and, later, an Eagles-connected rock figure.
  • Lou Reed reached wider solo recognition with Walk on the Wild Side.
  • Tavares began building toward major success in R&B, pop, and disco.
  • Smokey Robinson continued as a solo artist after his legendary work with The Miracles.
  • 10cc helped bring smart, witty British pop-rock into the charts.
  • Dottie West remained an important country voice during a period of growing country-pop crossover.
  • Brownsville Station became part of the year’s rock and teen-rebellion sound.

Notable 1973 Music Highlights

Several major album releases helped make 1973 more than just a singles year. Rock fans especially had a lot to absorb, from progressive studio work to rootsy songwriting and heavier FM radio tracks.

  • Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon, one of the most famous and enduring albums in rock history.
  • Led Zeppelin released Houses of the Holy, featuring songs such as D’yer Mak’er and The Ocean.
  • The Rolling Stones released Goats Head Soup, which included Angie.
  • The Eagles released Desperado, which included Tequila Sunrise.
  • Bruce Springsteen released Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., beginning one of American rock’s most important careers.

1973’s Retro Top 10 Hits

These 1973 retro hits capture the year’s mix of AM pop, soul, soft rock, funk, novelty, story songs, and easygoing early-’70s radio appeal. Some were huge chart records, while others grew into lasting favorites through oldies radio and repeated “wait, I know this one” moments.

  1. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
  2. Oh Babe, What Would You Say? – Hurricane Smith
  3. Love’s Theme – Love Unlimited Orchestra
  4. Drift Away – Dobie Gray
  5. Bongo Rock – Incredible Bongo Band
  6. Right Place, Wrong Time – Dr. John
  7. The Morning After – Maureen McGovern
  8. Summer Breeze – Seals & Crofts
  9. The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia – Vicki Lawrence
  10. The Most Beautiful Girl – Charlie Rich

1973’s One-Hit Wonders

1973 had one-hit wonders and near-one-hit wonders from movie themes, glam rock, pop storytelling, reggae, novelty records, and FM-friendly rock. Some were brief chart moments, while others became heavily replayed pieces of early-’70s pop culture.

  1. Dueling Banjos – Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
  2. Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) – Deodato
  3. Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest
  4. Hocus Pocus – Focus
  5. Playground in My Mind – Clint Holmes
  6. Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed
  7. Show and Tell – Al Wilson
  8. Wildflower – Skylark
  9. Daisy a Day – Jud Strunk
  10. Pressure Drop – Toots & The Maytals

1973 Motown and Soul Top 10 Hit List

Soul music in 1973 was deep, romantic, funky, and bold. Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, The Isley Brothers, Billy Preston, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and Curtis Mayfield all helped make the year one of the strongest soul years of the decade.

  1. Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
  2. I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby – Barry White
  3. That Lady – The Isley Brothers
  4. Keep On Truckin’ – Eddie Kendricks
  5. Will It Go Round in Circles – Billy Preston
  6. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
  7. I Got Ants in My Pants (And I Want to Dance) – James Brown
  8. Superfly – Curtis Mayfield
  9. Higher Ground – Stevie Wonder
  10. The Love I Lost – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

More 1973 R&B and Soul Song Hits

These additional soul and R&B songs help show how strong the year was beyond the biggest crossover records.

  • One of a Kind (Love Affair) – The Spinners
  • I Believe in You (You Believe in Me) – Johnnie Taylor
  • Here I Am (Come and Take Me) – Al Green

1973 Pop Dance Top 10 Hit List

Pop dance in 1973 had soul, rock, glam, brass, and good-time AM-radio hooks. Disco had not fully taken over yet, but the rhythm was getting stronger, and the dance floor was getting more crowded.

  1. Love Train – The O’Jays
  2. Crocodile Rock – Elton John
  3. Little Willy – Sweet
  4. I’ll Always Love My Mama – The Intruders
  5. Your Mama Don’t Dance – Loggins & Messina
  6. Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Blues – Johnny Rivers
  7. Brother Louie – Stories
  8. The Cisco Kid – War
  9. I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band) – The Moody Blues
  10. Shambala – Three Dog Night

1973 Pop Rock Top 10 Hit List

Pop rock in 1973 was full of characters, hooks, and personality. Rock was becoming more album-focused, but plenty of sharp, radio-friendly songs still worked beautifully as singles.

  1. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce
  2. Your Mama Don’t Dance – Loggins & Messina
  3. We’re an American Band – Grand Funk
  4. Hocus Pocus – Focus
  5. Do It Again – Steely Dan
  6. Stuck in the Middle with You – Stealers Wheel
  7. Kodachrome – Paul Simon
  8. Angie – The Rolling Stones
  9. I Wanna Be with You – Raspberries
  10. Photograph – Ringo Starr

1973 Album Rock Top 10 Hit List

FM album rock in 1973 was becoming a major culture of its own. Listeners were paying closer attention to full albums, longer songs, and artists who wanted more space than the AM single format allowed.

  1. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The Rolling Stones
  2. Space Oddity – David Bowie
  3. D’yer Mak’er – Led Zeppelin
  4. Money – Pink Floyd
  5. Sugar Magnolia – Grateful Dead
  6. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
  7. Jesus Is Just Alright – The Doobie Brothers
  8. Bell Bottom Blues – Derek and The Dominos
  9. Mind Games – John Lennon
  10. Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed

You Can’t Always Get What You Want, and Bell Bottom Blues came from earlier recordings, but both fit the early-1970s FM-rock and album-radio environment. These were the kinds of songs that lived beyond one chart year.

More 1973 FM Album Rock Hits

These additional 1973 FM album-rock favorites help round out the year’s deeper rock identity, from Wings and Jethro Tull to Frank Zappa, Jackson Browne, and Cheech & Chong.

  • Live and Let Die – Wings
  • Give It to Me – The J. Geils Band
  • Living in the Past – Jethro Tull
  • Redneck Friend – Jackson Browne
  • Basketball Jones – Cheech & Chong
  • Montana – Frank Zappa

1973 Bubblegum Pop Top 10 Hit List

Bubblegum pop in 1973 mixed teen idols, soft AM singles, novelty songs, sitcom-friendly hooks, and light pop records. It was cheerful, catchy, and not always shy about being a little ridiculous.

  1. Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree – Tony Orlando & Dawn
  2. Sing – The Carpenters
  3. Get Down – Gilbert O’Sullivan
  4. Young Love – Donny Osmond
  5. Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
  6. Daisy a Day – Jud Strunk
  7. Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Blues – Johnny Rivers
  8. Rockin’ Roll Baby – The Stylistics
  9. Just You ’n’ Me – Chicago
  10. Heartbeat — It’s a Lovebeat – The DeFranco Family

Glam, Proto-Disco, and Funky 1973 Radio

1973 had plenty of movement. Glam rock gave the year flash, soul was getting smoother and more rhythmic, and early disco clues were beginning to appear in Philadelphia soul, orchestral grooves, and dance-friendly records.

  • Love’s Theme – Love Unlimited Orchestra
  • The Love I Lost – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
  • Keep On Truckin’ – Eddie Kendricks
  • Hocus Pocus – Focus
  • Little Willy – Sweet
  • Ballroom Blitz – Sweet
  • Walk on the Wild Side – Lou Reed
  • Rock On – David Essex

Singer-Songwriters and Story Songs in 1973

Storytelling was a major part of 1973. Some songs were funny, some were sad, some were strange, and some became permanent fixtures on oldies and soft-rock radio.

  • Time in a Bottle – Jim Croce
  • Bad, Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce
  • Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels) – Jim Croce
  • Kodachrome – Paul Simon
  • Loves Me Like a Rock – Paul Simon
  • Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight – James Taylor
  • Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
  • The Cover of “Rolling Stone” – Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show

Artist Spotlight: Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On became one of 1973’s defining soul records. The song moved away from the social focus of What’s Going On and into a smoother, more intimate sound.

Gaye’s voice gave the record warmth, confidence, and emotional control. Plenty of soul records are romantic; Let’s Get It On practically dimmed the lights itself.

Artist Spotlight: Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon made 1973 one of the most important album-rock years of the decade. Money gave the album a major radio entry point, but the full record became much bigger than one song.

The album’s themes, production, sound effects, and seamless sequencing made it a favorite for headphone listening and FM radio. It helped prove that rock albums could be immersive experiences, not just collections of songs.

Artist Spotlight: Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder was in one of the greatest creative runs in popular music during 1973. Superstition, Higher Ground, and You Are the Sunshine of My Life showed his range across funk, soul, pop, and romantic songwriting.

Wonder’s records from this period still sound alive because they combine groove, melody, intelligence, and joy. That is a pretty good formula, no calculator required.

Artist Spotlight: Jim Croce

Jim Croce gave 1973 some of its strongest story songs. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown and Time in a Bottle showed two very different sides of his writing: humorous character sketch and tender reflection.

Croce’s death in 1973 gave his music added emotional weight, but the songs already had the craft to last. He was one of the decade’s most natural storytellers.

Artist Spotlight: Barry White

Barry White became one of 1973’s key new soul voices. “ I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby” introduced his deep vocal style, orchestral arrangements, and a slow-groove romantic sound.

White’s records did not rush. They arrived, settled in, and made the room feel like it needed softer lighting.

Artist Spotlight: The Eagles

The Eagles’ Desperado era helped deepen their country-rock identity. Tequila Sunrise became one of the album’s most recognizable songs, and the band was clearly building toward larger success.

They were not yet the stadium-dominating Eagles of later years, but the harmonies, songwriting, and California country-rock mood were already in place.

PCM’s 1973 Top 10 Hit List

These 1973 songs best represent the year’s lasting appeal, soul strength, album-rock importance, AM-radio power, and early-1970s identity.

  1. Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye
  2. I’ll Always Love My Mama – The Intruders
  3. Love Train – The O’Jays
  4. Money – Pink Floyd
  5. Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band
  6. Friends – Bette Midler
  7. Time in a Bottle – Jim Croce
  8. Touch Me in the Morning – Diana Ross
  9. Crocodile Rock – Elton John
  10. You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder

More Must-Have 1973 Songs

These additional 1973 songs help round out the year’s soul, rock, singer-songwriter, glam, soft rock, country, funk, and AM pop identity. Some were major hits, some became FM staples, and some simply sound like 1973 through a wood-paneled stereo.

  • Angie – The Rolling Stones
  • D’yer Mak’er – Led Zeppelin
  • The Ocean – Led Zeppelin
  • Live and Let Die – Wings
  • Frankenstein – The Edgar Winter Group
  • Free Ride – The Edgar Winter Group
  • Reelin’ in the Years – Steely Dan
  • Do It Again – Steely Dan
  • Diamond Girl – Seals & Crofts
  • Long Train Runnin’ – The Doobie Brothers
  • China Grove – The Doobie Brothers
  • Midnight Train to Georgia – Gladys Knight & The Pips
  • Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye) – Gladys Knight & The Pips
  • Could It Be I’m Falling in Love – The Spinners
  • Yes We Can Can – The Pointer Sisters
  • Why Can’t We Live Together – Timmy Thomas
  • Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
  • Behind Closed Doors – Charlie Rich
  • Uneasy Rider – Charlie Daniels
  • Smokin’ in the Boys Room – Brownsville Station

Why 1973 Music Still Matters

1973 music still matters because it showed how wide the early 1970s had become. Soul was rich and confident, FM album rock was expanding, singer-songwriters were telling sharper stories, glam rock was adding flash, and AM radio still delivered huge sing-along records.

The year’s range was remarkable. Let’s Get It On, Money, Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree, Dueling Banjos, Superstition, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, Hocus Pocus, and Love Train all belonged to the same musical year. That is not just a playlist; that is 1973 changing stations and somehow landing on another classic every time.

1973 was soulful, funky, thoughtful, theatrical, and album-minded. It gave the decade some of its most recognizable records while helping define the full early-’70s sound: warm, weird, serious, playful, and built to last.