27 Best Songs From 1978

“Love Is Like Oxygen” by Sweet

The British group Sweet wrote and released “Love is Like Oxygen” in 1978.

Guitarist Andy Scott co-wrote the piece with Trevor Griffith. Previous songs by Sweet had been guitar and vocally heavy. “Love Is Like Oxygen” got people’s attention because of its use of strings and disco techniques.

The eclectic combination worked, and “Love Is Like Oxygen” quickly became one of the best songs of 1978. 

“Baker St.” by Gerry Rafferty

One of the more curious examples of good music from 1978 is Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker St.”

At the time of composition, Rafferty commuted regularly between Glasgow and London on the overnight train. He was battling financial problems and often stayed in a friend’s flat on Baker St. To unwind, they played guitar, and in the process, Rafferty wrote “Baker St.”

It’s notable because of its guitar solo and saxophone riff between verses performed by Raphael Ravenscroft.

“Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” by Johnny Matthias and Deniece Williams

When Matthias collaborated with Williams on “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late,” it was part of a comeback. His last hit had been in 1964, and Matthias wanted to re-energize his career.

It worked, and “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” proved one of the best songs of 1978. Still, with Williams, Matthias released another single later that year called “You’re All I Need to Get By.”

Eventually, buoyed by the singles’ success, they issued a CD of duets called That’s What Friends Are For.

“Slip Slidin’ Away” by Paul Simon

Paul Simon is usually thought of as part of a duo. But by 1978, Simon had released several albums of his own. It appeared on Greatest Hits Etc and was especially popular in Canada and Australia. However, it was also successful in the rest of North America and Britain.

Like many of Simon’s compositions, it effortlessly blended a catchy melody with thoughtful lyrics and a hint of melancholy. The combination worked well, and “Slip Slidin’ Away” became one of the best songs of 1978.

“Take a Chance on Me” by ABBA

Not talking about ABBA in light of good music from 1978 would be a notable omission.

“Take a Chance on Me” was originally called “Billy Boy.” The title didn’t stick, instead taking its title from the lyrics.

As for the lyrics, they came from one of the singer’s routine running rhythms. That gave the song not only its internal rhythm but the repeated phrase “Take a chance.”

The resultant song produced what some people described as a wall of sound. The effect was electric and helped make “Take a Chance on Me” not only one of the best songs of 1978 but one of ABBA’s most successful pieces.

“Still the Same” by Bob Seeger and The Silver Bullet Band

Another of the best songs from 1978 is Bob Seeger’s “Still The Same.” Its combination of upbeat piano and lyrics inspired by the interesting people around Seeger intrigued people.

Contrasting the piano, the vocals have a rhythm-and-blues feel that adds an unexpected texture to the song’s sound and contributed to its success.

“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” by Santa Esmeralda

“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” was originally written for jazz artist Nina Simone in 1964.

However, many other artists made successful recordings of this song, including Santa Esmeralda, who turned it into one of the best songs of 1978.

Esmeralda made it a disco hit, but it has also been done as a blues number, a country rock piece, and a jazz standard.

Top Songs From 1978, Final Thoughts

The best songs from 1978 were heavily influenced by the music of the decade. Disco featured prominently, as did rock, R&B, and pop music.

The upshot is that there’s a 1978 hit for almost every musical taste. Some are whimsical, like “Werewolves of London.” Others are melancholic. What these songs have in common is that they ranked as the best songs of 1978 and are still favorites today.