Obviously Elvis was the biggest musical act in the 1950s Rock & Rock era, and the Beatles were the biggest act of the 1960s.

What band/duo/solo artist was the biggest musical act in the 1970s? It's not so clear cut.

I thought of a few that might be contenders: Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Chicago, Bread, Abba, Pink Floyd, Zeppelin.
Even the Rolling Stones might be considered, as well as Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, E.L.O

Myself I see the decade split into 2, with Elton John dominating the first half, the Bee Gees dominating the 2nd half.

Any thoughts?

Wings should be up there.



Cat

A question like this would most likely have different answers as some bands/artists were bigger in other parts of the world ...

In the Netherlands, Golden Earring had 14 hits between 1970 - 1979.  In that time, they had 2 chart enteries in North America
In the UK, Status Quo had 16 hits between 1970 - 1979.  They had zero hits in North America
In Canada, April Wine had 21 hits between 1971 - 1979.  In that time, they had 2 hits in the US

To Britain's eternal shame, our biggest selling singles act of 1974 was...






...this lot!

http://cdn.mos.musicradar.com//images/artist-news/wombles/The%20Wombles%20Abbey%20Road-460-85.jpg

If we're speaking global success over most of the decade... 

I don't include bands who had all time huge albums like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin as I don't consider they had decade long success

ABBA
The Eagles
The Bee Gees
Elton John
Billy Joel
Fleetwood Mac
Pink Floyd (not a huge fan though)
Queen (maybe)

To Britain's eternal shame, our biggest selling singles act of 1974 was...






...this lot!

http://cdn.mos.musicradar.com//images/artist-news/wombles/The%20Wombles%20Abbey%20Road-460-85.jpg


Haha ... hard to believe they beat Status Quo or Sweet.

The Carpenters had a huge span of number 1s in the early/mid 70s.

I'd say The Jacksons too, but they weren't consistent enough and their hits seemed to chart higher in the UK than the US.

The Osmonds?  ???

Wings should be up there.

Cat


Yes they could. Agreed.


The Carpenters had a huge span of number 1s in the early/mid 70s.

I'd say The Jacksons too, but they weren't consistent enough and their hits seemed to chart higher in the UK than the US.


Yes, the Carpenters were popular in the early 70s. The "Jackson 5" weren't as popular as the Carpenters here (In Canada) and I agree, while they produced some nice songs, they weren't consistent enough to make a short list of "Most popular 70s acts"

I'm going to say ABBA because I see them as being most 70s-centric. Elton John was huge in the 70s but he was also huge in the 80s and 90s.

Sly And The Family Stone for the most part of the 1970's.

Sly And The Family Stone for the most part of the 1970's.


They were popular, but not one of the top bands/acts of the 70s.

Could I say The Jackson 5 /Jacksons era?

Starland Vocal Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NUkhMq_iRo

There are two I look at one is  The Eagles, they have the largest selling album on all time above Thriller and Then Fleetwood Mac.

Starland Vocal Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NUkhMq_iRo


I don't think they would be considered a big hit.  ???

I don't think they would be considered a big hit.  ???


Max was being funny , Howard.

I don't think they would be considered a big hit.  ???


However, that song WAS a big hit!  But, I can't think of another song from that group... :-\\

However, that song WAS a big hit!  But, I can't think of another song from that group... :-\\


76 "Afternoon Delight" 1 Starland Vocal Band
"California Day" 66 — 22
1977 "Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll!" 71
"Liberated Woman" — — — Rear View Mirror
"The Light of My Life" — — 36
1978 "Mr. Wrong" — — 33
"Love, I Thought I Would Never Find Love" — — — Late Nite Radio
1979 "Loving You With My Eyes"

As you can see they rose to #71 on the charts, they broke up in 1981.

On a worldwide scale, probably Elton John. Billboard named him the #1 artist of the '70s. The 1972-76 period in particular is dominating, and his "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album is right up there with the big prog rock albums and Rumours/Hotel California. Second would be the Bee Gees, since even though they dominated the second half of the decade more, they had quite a few high charting hits at the beginning of the decade (sort of the inverse of Elton John). The Eagles and Wings probably come next, as Fleetwood Mac really didn't become popular until around 1976.