The 9 Most Epic Instrumental Tracks of the 1970s

Looking back at the 70s, this decade was full of new ideas in all kinds of music. Whether it was rock, jazz, R&B, or funk, artists were trying new things and coming up with great music. We’re not just picking popular songs but tracks of high quality that bring all kinds of sounds to those who listen.

“Glad” by Traffic (1970)

We start with “Glad” by the band Traffic. This tune comes from their album “John Barleycorn Must Die” and brings a mix of smooth jazz and rock. The band had split up for a bit but Steve Winwood got them back together, without one member, Dave Mason, to try out new things. People had different thoughts about it, but “Glad” really shows off the band’s fresh style and how great Winwood was at playing the organ.

“Unknown Song” by Pink Floyd (1970)

Next, there’s “Unknown Song” by Pink Floyd. This song took a while to get out to everyone – it didn’t officially come out until 1997. It was made for a movie called “Zabriskie Point” but it never made it to the big screen. Even so, this song is soothing to listen to and shows that Pink Floyd can make more than just rock music.

“Bryter Layter” by Nick Drake (1970)

Then we have “Bryter Layter” by Nick Drake. He made the song for his album with the same name. The tune has a bunch of lovely parts all mixing together. Nick Drake didn’t get much attention while he was alive, but his music has touched a lot of people since then. This song reminds us how talented he was and that he died too soon.

“Outa-Space” by Billy Preston (1971)

Billy Preston’s “Outa-Space” is a real mix of different sounds. It has a bit of that fun funk style and also some soul. Preston uses a cool keyboard called a clavinet, and he does it so well that the song won a Grammy and was high up on music charts. It’s a great example of a song making it big when no one saw it coming.

“Clap” by Yes (1971)

“The Yes Album” by the band Yes has a song called “Clap” and it really stands out. Steve Howe plays the guitar on this track, and you can tell he’s really good at it. He admired other guitar players like Chet Atkins and it shows in his music. This song helped make Howe known as one of the top guitar players of that time.

“Nutrocker” by ELP (1971)

Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, did something special with “Nutrocker.” They took a classic piece by Tchaikovsky, known for “The Nutcracker,” and made it rock. They were one of the first bands to mix classical music with rock and roll, making a sound that was all their own.

“Sylvia” by Focus (1972)

The band Focus has a song called “Sylvia” and it’s different from their other ones which usually have a lot of singing. “Sylvia” focuses on great guitar playing with not too much vocals. People really liked it in the UK and it did well on their music charts. It just goes to show how skilled the band was.

“Hallogallo” by NEU! (1972)

“Hallogallo” by NEU! brings a new beat to the table, one that’s hypnotic and keeps on going, known as motorik. It came from two people who used to be in the band Kraftwerk and shows the kind of wild music called krautrock. They really helped make this genre what it is.

“Jessica” by The Allman Brothers Band (1973)

Lastly, there is “Jessica” by The Allman Brothers Band. Dickey Betts put this song together and named it after his daughter. They made the song at their farm in Georgia, trying to make a warm, family vibe. Betts was inspired by Django Reinhardt, a guitarist who kept playing even after he hurt his hand badly. Betts wanted to do something special, so he made the song in a way that you could play it on the guitar with just two fingers. The song wasn’t the biggest hit of its time, but it’s left a mark, and people know it well as the theme for the show Top Gear.