21. Jackson Browne - The Pretender

Found on: The Pretender (1976)
Picked by: SB, JG, EV

To me The Pretender is about growing up. Specifically it's about those who abandoned the hippie dream of the '60s to answer the siren call of financial security. The name itself - The Pretender - almost seems to be a condemnation, inferring that the ideals of free love and anti-commercialism were never fully embraced by those who left them behind. The song conveys a definite sense of sadness and regret about this, but at the same time there's an affection for the more conventional life of job, home and family, as shown in the fine lyrical details of everyday life.

22. Pure Prairie League - Aime

Found on: Bustin' Out (1972)

Great acoustic country ditty with gorgeous harmonies. But, wow, could the narrator be more wishy-washy? As it starts, it seems he thinks his girl is too clingy, but then we learn she's seeing someone else, and then he says he thinks they should be together, but that it's up to her because he can't make a decision. And dammit, there's no resolution, either.

23. Ace - How Long?

Found on: Five-A-Side (1974)

Let's give it up for Paul Carrack! Most people don't know him, but he played for Roxy Music, The Pretenders, and The Smiths. He joined two other bands and gave them huge hits (Squeeze's Tempted and Mike + the Mechanics' Silent Running and The Living Years). Plus, he had his own smash hit in the late '80s with Don't Shed a Tear. It all started with Ace. How Long? is a heartsick ballad that appears to address a cheating lover, but is really about a bandmate who left to join a different band.

24. Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster

Found on: Honey (1975)

Great funky track with an undeniable rhythm and horn hook. There's a persistent urban legend that the scream in the middle of the song is the girl on the cover. The tale says she was disfigured by the fake honey used in the photo, attacked the band members in a fit of rage and was killed in self defense. Never mind that recording probably would have been stopped had this grisly scene played out as rumored, and never mind that very few bands have cover art completed before they finish recording an album! Oh, plus, she's still alive.

25. The Carpenters - (They Long To Be) Close To You

Found on: Close To You (1970)
Picked by: WA, SB, KT

I don't think dating someone who could actually attract both birds and celestial bodies to their person would be all that fun, but that's just me. The best part of this song, besides Karen's hot-tea-with-honey voice, is by far the "waaaaah-ah-ah-ah-ah" ending.

26. Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive

Found on: Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Picked by: WA, RN

Like several other artists on the list, The Bee Gees were absolute '70s champs, but Stayin' Alive is their best struttin' song. Bonus for including both strings and horns.

27. Carole King - It's Too Late

Found on: Tapestry (1971)
Picked by: PA, WA

All the songs on this amazing record make me feel like it's a spring Saturday morning with the windows open and a coolish breeze blowing through the house while your mom cleans. Is that just me?

28. Stevie Wonder - I Wish

Found on: Songs In the Key of Life (1976)
Picked by: PA, WA

It's impossible to pick one song to represent Stevie Wonder's prodigious and ridiculously high-quality '70s output. But we'll try anyway, with a bouncy, affectionate and enlightening remembrance of his childhood days hanging out with friends, playing doctor, using church offering money to buy candy, and tagging walls. Who knew little Stevie was such a rapscallion?

29. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)

Found on: Who Loves You (1975)
Picked by: WA, EV

I think many people are under the impression that this song is actually from 1963. Alas, it's not. Instead, it's a nostalgic reminiscence of the night our high-voiced narrator lost his virginity ("and as I recall it ended much too soon"). And seriously, what's up with that album cover?

30. Earth, Wind & Fire - September

Found on: The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol.1 (1978)
Picked by: PA, RN

One of the few bands to successfully incorporate the comma into their band name. Joy just radiates off this major chord tale of a fateful first meeting.

31. The Clash - Train In Vain (Stand By Me)

Found on: London Calling (1979)
Picked by: PA, RN

Would you believe Train In Vain wasn't even listed on original pressings of London Calling? That pretty much makes it the best bonus track ever, even if that is kind of like being the sanest person in the asylum. Still, a great song with a classic pop melody.

32. Billy Joel - She's Always a Woman

Found on: The Stranger (1977)
Picked by: SB, EV

By rights, Billy Joel could have about 1/7 of this list to himself (6 songs alone from The Stranger are worthy), but She's Always a Woman won the most votes. The song comes on like a love ballad, but is really an unflattering portrait of a frustrating lady (she steals, lies, is never satisfied, etc.). Is the title phrase an indication of misogyny (i.e all women are like this), or is he saying he loves her despite her faults? You decide.

33. Led Zeppelin - Black Dog & Stairway To Heaven (tie)

Found on: Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
Picked by: WA, EV, RN, JG

Black Dog is as earthbound and sexy as Stairway to Heaven is airy and mystical. My opinion on which is ultimately better depends on the day. But we all remember Damone's advice in Fast Times At Ridgemont High ("When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV") so I guess you need a little of both.

34. Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run

Found on: Born to Run (1975)
Picked by: PA, RN

Can you believe this was '75?! We've come to think of Springsteen as such an '80s phenomenon, but consider that disco and punk hadn't even come along yet when Born To Run was released! It's weird to me. Anyway, even though this is a song written to a Wendy (my soon-to-be wife), Born To Run is really all about the music, especially Clarance Clemons' sax and David Sancious' piano.

35. Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Found on: Look Sharp! (1979)
Picked by: PA, JG

Even when I was chronically single, I still felt like I was a pretty good catch. The girls I liked rarely agreed; instead it seems like they'd always be interested in total jackanapes. When confronted with these situations, without fail I'd sing this in my head and get my smile back.

36. John Denver - Thank God I'm A Country Boy (live)

Found on: An Evening with John Denver (1975)
Picked by: PA, WA

Have you always found John Denver a little bit strange? Did you know he was born in Roswell, New Mexico? Something to think about. Anyway, even though he didn't write it, the live version of Thank God I'm A Country Boy sums up Henry Deutschendorf's appeal better than any of his other tunes (save maybe Rocky Mountain High, which just isn't as fun).

37. America - Tin Man

Found on: Holiday (1974)
Picked by: WA, EV

There was a definite obsession with the Wizard of Oz mythos in the '70s, wasn't there? From The Wiz to Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to the cover or Electric Light Orchestra's Eldorado album to Dark Side of the Moon. Anyway, can anyone tell me what this song is about? I'm serious, I have no idea.

38. Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4

Found on: Chicago (1970)
Picked by: PA, JG

Several Chicago songs were nominated, but after ending up in traffic behind a van with the license plates 25OR64, I decided this one deserved the nod. Anyway, this really is the best representative of the band as it started out, strangely ambitious and unclassifiable. It's also kind of a meta-listening experience since the song is about trying to write a song! I guess it worked.

39. Talking Heads - Psycho Killer

Found on: Talking Heads '77
Picked by: PA, JG

David, Jerry, Chris and Tina's nerd dance music appeal is summed up in Psycho Killer: strange French phrases, squeamish subject matter, yelped vocals, undeniable rhythm. If you didn't like this song, chances were you wouldn't like anything the band did in its next 11 years of existence.

40. Carly Simon - You're So Vain

Found on: No Secrets (1972)
Picked by: PA, SB

Carly was pretty clever on this one, making either a denial or admission of guilt incriminating. She also set off a decades-spanning guessing game that still hasn't been given a final answer. If it really is about Mick Jagger, then she deserves even more props for getting him to provide back-up vocals!