There was a time when you didn’t need anywhere to go to have a good Saturday night. You just needed a car, a few dollars for gas, your friends beside you, and a radio loud enough to hear with the windows down.
In the 1970s, cruising through town was practically a weekend tradition. You passed the same cars again and again, pulled into the local burger place, waved at people you knew, and secretly hoped you’d spot the person you had a crush on.
And, of course, there was always music.
Here are 10 songs that will put you right back behind the wheel on a 1970s Saturday night.
1. “Go Your Own Way” — Fleetwood Mac (1976)
The opening guitar alone can bring back the feeling of a radio turned up far too loud. By the time the chorus arrived, everyone in the car knew exactly what to do.
2. “Listen to the Music” — The Doobie Brothers (1972)
Easygoing, warm, and impossible not to sing along with, this was exactly the kind of song that belonged on a drive with nowhere in particular to go.
3. “Take It Easy” — Eagles (1972)
Few songs capture the open-road feeling of the decade quite like this one. It made even an ordinary drive through town feel like the beginning of an adventure.
4. “Dreams” — Fleetwood Mac (1977)
That unmistakable rhythm could completely change the mood inside the car. It was smooth, slightly mysterious, and perfect for driving after the sun went down.
5. “Long Train Runnin'” — The Doobie Brothers (1973)
Once that guitar riff came through the speakers, the volume was going up. It had exactly the kind of energy that made you want to keep driving for another hour.
6. “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” — Looking Glass (1972)
A radio favorite that seemed made for summer nights. Even decades later, hearing it can bring back memories of warm air coming through an open car window.
7. “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” — The Four Seasons (1975)
This was the kind of song that could get an entire car singing. It was upbeat, instantly recognizable, and practically demanded that someone turn the radio louder.
8. “More Than a Feeling” — Boston (1976)
The opening notes still have an incredible ability to stop you in your tracks. In the 1970s, hearing this come on while driving was reason enough to take the long way home.
9. “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” — Elvin Bishop (1975)
Every night out seemed to have a little romance attached to it, even if nothing actually happened. This song captured that feeling perfectly.
10. “Night Moves” — Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (1976)
Few songs fit this memory better. Young, restless, staying out late and believing those nights would last forever, “Night Moves” feels like an entire era packed into one song.
Cruising wasn’t really about getting somewhere. It was about seeing who was out, hearing your favorite songs, laughing with your friends and stretching a Saturday night for as long as possible.
Which song takes you back to cruising around town in the 1970s?
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