The 1970s overflowed with amazing music from the California rock of the Eagles to the outlaw country of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings and of course, the birth of disco. This decade was filled to the brim with culture. Music, though, was arguably at the heart of the 70s. Some of the greatest female singers and songwriters also came from this decade. So here are seven 70s songstresses we should all still be listening to today.
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt moved to Los Angeles shortly before her eighteenth birthday and formed the band “The Stone Poneys” with some friends from her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. It wasn’t this band that made her a star, though. When the Stone Poneys broke up in the late ‘60s, Ronstadt went solo, and with “a voice as big as a house” according to manager John Boylan, Ronstadt was destined to be a star. And a star she was. Ronstadt has been billed as the most successful female singer of the ‘70s as well as “the most durable and most gifted woman Rock singer of her era” by author Andrew Greely.
Song Recommendation: It’s So Easy / “People tell me love’s for fools, here I go, breaking all the rules.”
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, much like Linda Ronstadt, is relatively overlooked when discussed in this era. Mitchell is to 70s folk what Ronstadt is to Southern California rock, one of the best and underrated. Rolling Stone magazine once described her as “one of the greatest songwriters ever.” Her lyrics flow from poetic to political, or very well both. As time progressed, Mitchell’s music became more rocked out, a little jazzy, and even electronic, but was still folk at heart.
Song Recommendation: California / “Oh make me feel good, rock and roll band. I’m your biggest fan.”
Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks is one of those artists everybody kind of vaguely knows of, but only a few really know her and listen to her music. Nicks got her start in the duo Buckingham Nicks alongside singer Lindsey Buckingham. The two later joined Fleetwood Mac (featuring fellow phenomenal singer-songwriter Christine McVie) and in ’75 hit it big with the record “Rumours.” Nicks became the sort of face and voice of the band. Her style, both musically and in fashion, is very boho. Not quite pop, not quite rock, Fleetwood Mac is the kind of band you want to listen to while you watch the stars. Nicks also had a very lucrative solo career, which she’s still producing great tunes with.
Song Recommendation: Storms (Fleetwood Mac) / “I’d like to leave you with something warm, but never have I been a calm blue sea. I have always been a storm.”
Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn is, without a doubt, the queen of country in the ‘70s, if not throughout time. While Lynn got her start in the ‘60s and had her first hit in ’67, it was the ‘70s where she really shined. Lynn had several hits; she even published her autobiography in ’76, aptly titled "Coal Miner’s Daughter," after her chart-topping single of 1970.
Song Recommendation: Blue Kentucky Girl / “Remember when those city lights shine down that big old moon shines on your Kentucky girl.”
Jessi Colter
Jessi Colter was one of the few women active in the outlaw country genre. Her first hit, “I’m Not Lisa,” came in 1975 and peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Country chart, and four on the Billboard Hot 100. Colter continued her success throughout the 1970s, producing four more incredibly successful records and touring.
Song Recommendation: I’m Not Lisa / “My eyes are not blue, but mine won’t leave you till the sunlight has touched your face.”
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight came to be known as the “Empress of Soul” achieving great success in the ‘70s alongside the Pips, and is still going strong today. Knight and the Pips began their career at Motown Records but left in 1973 to join Buddah Records after, according to Knight, they were kicked off a tour for overshadowing Diana Ross. It was after this move, however, that Knight found her greatest success with several charting (and chart topping) hits.
Song Recommendation: Midnight Train to Georgie / “Bought a one way ticket back to the life he once knew, oh yes he did, he said he would.”
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan is more than just an eliminated-too-soon Dancing with the Stars contestant. Khan is a Grammy Award winning singer known not only for her solo work, but also for her contributions to the ‘70s funk band Rufus. It was in the 1970s that Rufus found their success with Khan as their star. She was known for her big voice, and her eye catching fashion.
Song Recommendation: Tell Me Something Good / “Your problem is you ain't been loved like you should. What I got to give will sure enough do you good.”
