Rock Songs From 1975 That Sound Even Cooler Today

The music scene was wild in the mid-1970s. Soul and funk were growing in popularity, disco was taking over dance floors, and artists like Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones were transforming the sound of mainstream music with jazz-inspired production. At the same time, rock was evolving. The Beatles had broken up, progressive rock and heavy metal were beginning to take shape, and a raw, rebellious undercurrent was on the verge of becoming punk.

A lot of that music still sounds new fifty years later. Some songs from 1975 are still good, but they’ve gotten even better with time. Here are five that still get people talking and inspire musicians today.

“Gloria” by Patti Smith
When Patti Smith released her first album, Horses, in 1975, she didn’t merely enter the scene; she broke the door down. The first song on the LP, “Gloria,” is a blazing cover of Them’s 1960s smash that uses one of her early poems. Smith made it apparent from the start that she wasn’t going to follow anyone’s rules when she said, “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine.”

“Gloria” is a mix of a rock song and a manifesto. It had the kind of energy that led to punk and new wave. The song still sounds brave and alive decades later, reminding people why Patti Smith is known as one of rock’s most creative singers.

“Fame” by David Bowie
David Bowie was one of the few artists who changed themselves so dramatically. By 1975, he had already gotten over his Ziggy Stardust phase, tried out glam theatrics, and killed off his other personalities. Then came Young Americans, his so-called “plastic soul” record, which mixed funk and pop in a way that no one saw coming.

Bowie’s first number one song in the U.S. was “Fame,” which he co-wrote with John Lennon. It caught the darker aspect of fame long before it became a pop cliché. The slinky guitar riff, crisp rhythm, and cutting lyrics about the emptiness of fame made it stand out. The song still sounds fresh and groovy today, and it was the start of the smooth, danceable sound that Bowie developed in the 1980s.

“Walk This Way” by Aerosmith
Aerosmith was a rough-and-tumble, bluesy rock band from Boston before they became famous on MTV and for their power ballads. “Walk This Way” was their big break. Released in 1975, the song had an irresistible groove, driven by its snappy guitar riff and quick, witty lyrics. Steven Tyler and Joe Perry led one of the few bands that could pull off a sound both raw and joyful.

Ten years later, Run-D.M.C. and Aerosmith collaborated on a new version of the song, making it even cooler. That 1986 rendition broke down the wall between rock and hip-hop, becoming one of the most important crossover moments in music history. “Walk This Way” still hits with pure energy, even after fifty years. It’s the kind of music that makes people move, no matter their age.

“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen had put out two albums by 1975, but he still wasn’t a superstar. Everything changed when Born to Run came out. The title track was full of drama and urgency, like a movie love letter to escape, dreams, and the hopelessness of tiny towns.

Everything, from Clarence Clemons’ soaring saxophone to the wall of sound that roared, felt huge. “Born to Run” didn’t just start Springsteen’s career; it also changed the sound of arena rock as a whole. The music still sounds like pure freedom, even after years of being played on the radio. It’s impossible not to feel something when that first riff starts.

“Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin
Punk bands were getting ready to take rock back to its roots, but Led Zeppelin went in the opposite direction—large, bold, and majestic. “Kashmir,” from their 1975 double album Physical Graffiti, is one of their most ambitious songs. It blends rock, Eastern influences, and a mystical atmosphere into something monumental, powered by a mesmerizing riff and rich orchestration.

At the time, critics didn’t always understand Led Zeppelin. But “Kashmir” silenced most of the skeptics. It showcased the band’s talent and vision at their peak, proving that rock could be both heavy and intelligent. Robert Plant later said it might be their best moment, calling it the “perfect Zeppelin song.”

Why These Songs Are Still Important

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” was the biggest song of 1975, and it’s easy to say it’s timeless. But “cool” is a different word. Being cool means having power, style, and lasting impact. The five songs above not only defined their era; they also helped shape what came next. Their fingerprints are still all over modern music — from punk’s defiance to funk’s groove to stadium rock’s grandeur. These songs don’t feel like old records; they feel alive. They remind us that great rock music never goes out of style. It evolves, inspires, and continually finds new ways to sound cool.