Top 15 Aussie Songs of 1977: Harmony, Disco and Pure Homegrown Joy

1977 sits right in that sweet spot of Australian music history — the moment when local artists weren’t just filling the gaps between overseas hits, they were owning the charts. It was a year of polished soft rock, emerging disco flavours, soulful ballads, and straightforward pub rock that felt unmistakably ours. Countdown was in full swing, radio playlists were packed with homegrown talent, and the nation was dancing, driving, and singing along.

At the very top of my list is Little River Band’s “Help Is On Its Way”. With Glenn Shorrock’s warm lead vocal and those trademark layered harmonies, it spent weeks at number one and became the soft-rock template for a generation. LRB were already making waves overseas, but this track felt like it was written for Australian summer afternoons — uplifting, melodic, and impossible not to hum.

Just behind it, Peter Allen’s “I Go To Rio” turned pure celebration into a chart-topping carnival. Samba rhythms, bright horns, and Allen’s irrepressible energy made it the feel-good anthem of the year. It’s the song you play when you want everyone smiling and moving.

Andy Gibb’s “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” gave us silky disco-pop perfection. Written by brother Barry and produced with that Bee Gees sheen, it dominated the charts longer than almost anything else in 1977 and launched the youngest Gibb as a global heart-throb — while proudly flying the Australian flag.

The Ferrets burst onto the scene with “Don’t Fall In Love”, a jangly, urgent debut that hit number two and announced a new wave of sharp Australian rock-pop. Sherbet kept their winning streak alive with the glossy “Magazine Madonna”, proof they could evolve from teen-pop darlings into sophisticated hit-makers. Marcia Hines brought pure vocal class to “What I Did For Love”, turning a show tune into soulful radio gold, while John Paul Young kept the dance floors full with the Vanda-Young gem “I Wanna Do It With You”.

Further down, Ted Mulry Gang delivered double the fun with “My Little Girl” and “Jamaica Rum” — straightforward, beer-raising pub rock that crowds loved to shout along to. Jeff St John reminded everyone of his gravelly power on “A Fool In Love”, Marty Rhone surprised with the cheeky disco-pop of “Mean Pair Of Jeans”, and Dragon kept building momentum with the swinging “Get That Jive”.

Split Enz scored their first real Australian hit with the quirky bounce of “My Mistake”, Ol’ 55 kept the retro rock’n’roll flame alive with “Stay (While The Night Is Still Young)”, and Renee Geyer closed the list with the smouldering soul of “Stares And Whispers” — classy, deep, and utterly commanding.

Taken together, these fifteen songs paint a picture of a confident, diverse Australian scene. We had harmony kings, disco converts, soul queens, pub rockers, and showmen — all making music that sounded world-class while feeling completely local. 1977 wasn’t just a great year; it was proof that Australian artists could dominate at home and start eyeing the world stage.