The Best 1970s Dance Songs For Your Wedding Reception

You’ve put so much work into planning your wedding day, and now it’s time to start thinking about the reception. You’ve spent months (possibly years) deciding on the perfect venue, the best caterer in town and carefully selecting your dress. Now you need to decide what music will be playing during dinner! 

Are you planning to use 1970s songs for your wedding? There are so many great genres and hits to choose from, and I’d be happy to share some of the most popular songs from the decade with you. But first, here are some of the popular musical genres in the 70s.

Different Genres Of Music That Were Popular In The 1970s

Disco

If ever a musical style was to define a decade, Disco was the complete definition of the 1970s. Although its popularity was somewhat short-lived, the genre hosted a great deal of songs and artists that people are still dancing to today and had a large influence on the fashions of the decade, too.

Musicians in this genre were:

• The Bee Gees
• Van Mccoy
• ABBA
• The Jacksons
• K.C. and The Sunshine Band
• Donna Summer
• Chic
• Diana Ross

Progressive Rock

Progressive rock was another popular genre during the 1970s. This type of music was usually characterized by rock music combined with another genre, such as classical or opera, to create a hybrid genre. Songs from this genre were often longer, and bands tended to be more experimental while they were playing live.

Musicians in this genre were:

• Pink Floyd
• Kansas
• Rush
• Queen
• Electric Light Orchestra
• Grand Funk Road

Punk Rock and New Wave

The punk rock genre also emerged in the 1970s. This was a style that continued the legacy of the 1960s but with a more upbeat and harder style.

Musicians in this genre were:

• The Ramones
• The Sex Pistols
• The Clash 
• David Bowie
• Blondie 
• Generation X

Funk and Soul 

Funk music emerged from the R&B, Jazz, and Soul music of the late 1960s after artists added more beats and freaky tones to their songs. Funk was known for its danceable beats, strange costumes, outrageous personalities, and often socially conscious lyrics.

Musicians in this genre were:

• James Brown
• Rufus 
• Chaka Khan
• Earth, WInd and Fire
• Kool and The Gang
• Sly and The Family Sto

Here are some of favorite 1970s dance songs that will make excellent background music at any wedding reception:

Top Ten 1970s Dance Songs

• “You Light Up My Life” by Debby Boone
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
• “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
• “Dancing Queen” by ABBA
• “Hotel California” by Eagles
• “Dream On” by Aerosmith
• “Barracuda” by Heart
• “Imagine” by John Lennon
• “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd
• “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor

Though it may seem like a strange choice for your wedding reception, “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor is the perfect song to have played at your reception. Released in 1978, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart without any promotional singles. It also reached number one in the UK and Australia.

Other Classics by Strong Females from the 1970s

• “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Diana Ross
• “Band of Gold” by Freda Payne
• “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer
• “He Loves Me All the Way” by Tammy Wynette
• “Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire and The Emotions
• “Tomorrow Is Forever” by Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton
• “I Want to Take You Higher” by Ike and Tina Turner
• “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire

A Family Favorite – “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge

“We Are Family” was a hit in 1979 and it’s become an anthem for sisterhood ever since. The song is about love and acceptance and how family means never having to be alone. It’s also a great reminder that we’re all connected, no matter what we look like, how old we are or what our interests are.

More Family Favorites from the 1970s

• “I Want You Back” by Jackson 5
• “Macho Man” by Village People
• “I Wanna Be Your Lover” by Prince
• “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow
• “Jungle Boogie” by Kool & The Gang
• “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder
• “Car Wash” by Rose Royce
• “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas
• “Just You ‘N’ Me” by Chicago
• “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton

“Boogie Oogie Oogie” by A Taste of Honey

This song was a hit in the 1970s and is about disco dancing. It’s about getting together with your friends and dancing to disco music at a club or party. The lyrics are fun and upbeat and the beat makes you want to get up and dance.

Best Dance Songs for Couples to Slow Dance to from the 1970s

• “You Needed Me” by Anne Murray
• “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
• “Always On My Mind” by Elvis Presley
• “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow
• “Your Song” by Elton John
• “Wedding Song (There Is Love)” by Noel Paul Stookey
• “Hopelessly Devoted to You” by Olivia Newton-John
• “Just You n’ Me” by Chicago
• “Best of My Love” by Eagles
• “Three Times a Lady” by The Commodores
• “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” by The Temptations

A Classic from the 1970’s – “You Should Be Dancing” by The Bee Gees

The song “You Should Be Dancing” was released in 1975 and became the Bee Gees’ seventh Top 10 hit. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it their first single to do so since 1975’s “Jive Talking.” The song also ranked number one on the soul singles and dance charts.

The song features a horn section and has been described as having an upbeat disco sound with Latin influences. 

Best Parent Dance Songs for a 1970’s Vibe

• “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” by Natalie Cole
• “Your Mama Don’t Dance” by Loggins & Messina
• “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder
• “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” by Stevie Wonder
• “I’ll Be There” by Jackson 5

Classic Rock Songs from the 1970s For Your Funky Wedding

• “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones
• “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John
• “Walk This Way” by Aerosmith
• “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
• “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” by Bachman Turner Overdrive 
• “Barracuda” by Heart
• “Just What I Needed” by The Cars
• “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith
• “Truckin” by Grateful Dead
• “Slow Ride” by Foghat
• “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
• “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “You Really Got Me” by Van Halen
• “American Woman” by The Guess Who

The Best 1970s Party Songs to Get Everyone Dancing

• “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars
• “Hotel California” by Eagles
• “Thank You For Being A Friend” by Andrew Gold
• “Baby Come Back” by Player
• “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright
• “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille
• “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen
• “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers
• “American Pie” by Don McLean
• “Rocket Man” by Elton John
• “Lowdown” by Boz Scaggs
• “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family
• “Keep It Comin’ Love” by K.C. and the Sunshine Band
• “We Will Rock You” by Queen
• “Grease” by Frankie Valli
• “Get Down Tonight” by K.C. and the Sunshine Band
• “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees
• “YMCA.” by Village People
• “Rock the Boat” by The Hues Corporation
• “Funkytown” by Lipps, Inc.
• “Lady Marmalade” by Patti LaBelle
• “In the Navy” by Village People
• “Love Rollercoaster” by Ohio Players
• “Flash Light” by Parliament
• “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer
• “Macho Man” by Village People
• “You’re the One That I Want” by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

1970s Classic Country Tunes

• “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver
• “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers
• “Jolene” by Dolly Parton
• “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
• “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band

The 1970s Will Make Any Reception Groovy

Thanks to these upbeat tunes, you will have so much fun at your reception. These songs are perfect for couples who love dancing and want to get out on the dance floor right away.

If you’re looking to make a bold statement, throwing in some disco or funk can be a great way to do it.

The best part about these great songs is that they can be played for any type of event. You don’t have to have a wedding reception to enjoy them! 

They make great music for any party or gathering, so check out our list and start planning your next night out. We hope this helped you find some new favorites as well as gave you some inspiration on how to make your next event even better than before!

Our other favorite hits to get everyone dancing on your wedding:

• 1980s Dance Songs For Your Wedding
• Wedding Dance Songs from the 2000s
• Pop Punk Wedding Songs You Need To Play