AllMusic Loves 1975
Sep. 3, 2010
Smack dab in the middle of the decade, 1975 was the polyester peak of the '70s, the year that captured all the glorious excesses of the Me Decade. Elton John presided over the pop charts -- his pull so powerful he could help give Neil Sedaka, that old pro who last topped the charts in the years before the Beatles, not one but two number ones -- and he ruled a year that saw Morris Albert sing about his feelings, a year where Captain & Tennille preached that "Love Will Keep Us Together," a year where Glen Campbell was a "Rhinestone Cowboy," and a year where everybody was "Kung Fu Fighting." It was such a gaudy, glitzy surface that it seemed like nothing might exist underneath, which is naturally the time that a lot of interesting things are happening. Disco began to edge its way into the mainstream, getting so close that U.K. art-rockers Roxy Music and David Bowie claimed it as their own; proto-punk noises could be heard on both sides of the Atlantic, with the trash-loving Dictators celebrating cars and girls in the U.S. and the miscreants of Dr. Feelgood kicking out malevolent blues-rock in the U.K. But most attention was directed toward the future of rock & roll, one Bruce Springsteen, who released his galvanizing third album Born to Run and wound up on the covers of both Time and Newsweek in the same week, instantly catapulting the once-obscure singer/songwriter toward the ranks of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Paul Simon, who all had banner years in 1975 as well. Some of this was drowned out thanks to Aerosmith, who injected plenty of sleaze into teenage veins thanks to Toys in the Attic, but Led Zeppelin remained the true golden gods of rock & roll, ruling with the mighty Physical Graffiti -- a double album so excessive and glorious it could only have come out in 1975.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Despite having classic albums in abundance, 1975 isn't one of those magical years like 1967 or 1977. It doesn't have a mystique -- it's not the peak of psychedelia or the birth of punk -- but it does have so much great music that it's hard to whittle down favorites into a concise list. And '75 does have many of my favorite albums and singles -- Dylan, Bruce, Roxy, Neil, Elton, sure, but also Dr. Feelgood, Kilburn and the High-Roads, Ducks Deluxe, and "Junior's Farm," plus plenty of guilty pleasures that I have no guilt in loving ("Bad Blood" chief among them). As always when faced with a year as overloaded as this, I try not to have singles from classic albums appear on the singles list -- i.e., no room for the single "Young Americans" because the album Young Americans ranks highly -- but that doesn't mean that I wound up listing everything I loved from '75…but everything here is something I do love.
Bob Dylan & the Band - The Basement Tapes
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night
Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Dr. Feelgood - Malpractice
Dr. Feelgood - Down by the Jetty
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
The Who - The Who by Numbers
Dave Edmunds - Subtle as a Flying Mallet
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
David Bowie - Young Americans
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Nuthin' Fancy
Roxy Music - Siren
Kilburn and the High-Roads - Handsome
Ducks Deluxe - Taxi to the Terminal Zone
Bob Seger - Beautiful Loser
The Band - Northern Lights-Southern Cross
Ian Hunter - Ian Hunter
Dr. Hook - Bankrupt
Allen Toussaint - Southern Nights
Brian Eno - Another Green World
John Fogerty - John Fogerty
Roy Wood - Mustard
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Original Soundtrack - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy!
Ace - "How Long"
Todd Rundgren - "Real Man"
Neil Sedaka - "Bad Blood"
Paul McCartney - "Junior's Farm"
Amazing Rhythm Aces - "Third Rate Romance"
Elton John - "Philadelphia Freedom"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Dwight Twilley - "I'm on Fire"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
America - "Sister Golden Hair"
Waylon Jennings - "Bob Wills Is Still the King"
J. Geils Band - "Must of Got Lost"
Pure Prairie League - "Amie"
Sweet - "Ballroom Blitz"
David Allan Coe - "You Never Even Called Me by My Name"
Pilot - "Magic"
Bee Gees - "Nights on Broadway"
10cc - "I'm Not in Love"
Shirley & Company - "Shame Shame Shame"
Carol Douglas - "Doctor's Orders"
Tompall Glaser - "Put Another Log on the Fire (Male Chauvinist National Anthem)"
Jigsaw - "Sky High"
Glen Campbell - "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)"
Brian Protheroe - "Pinball"
Waylon Jennings - "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"
Neil Sedaka - "Laughter in the Rain"
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - "Jackie Blue"
George Jones - "The Door"
Elvis Presley - "T-R-O-U-B-L-E"
Freddy Fender - "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"
Thom Jurek
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Waylon Jennings - Dreaming My Dreams
Smokey Robinson - A Quiet Storm
Patrice Rushen - Before the Dawn
Patti Smith - Horses
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
The Band - Northern Lights-Southern Cross
The Meters - Fire on the Bayou
Emmylou Harris - Pieces of the Sky
Guy Clark - Old No. 1
The Rance Allen Group - A Soulful Experience
Miles Davis - Agharta
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life
George Duke - The Aura Will Prevail
Weldon Irvine - Spirit Man
Leroy Hutson - Hutson
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Arthur Alexander - "Everyday I Have to Cry Some"
Charlie Rich - "Every Time You Touch Me I Get High"
Ohio Players - "Fire"
James Brown - "Sex Machine"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Saturday Night Special"
Waylon Jennings - "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"
David Bowie - "Young Americans"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "Shining Star"
Donna Summer - "Love to Love You Baby"
Roxy Music - "Love Is the Drug"
Electric Light Orchestra - "Can't Get It Out of My Head"
Led Zeppelin - "Trampled Under Foot"
John Fogerty - "Almost Saturday Night"
J. Geils Band - "Must of Got Lost"
Al Green - "L-O-V-E (Love)"
Head East - "Never Been Any Reason"
Hot Chocolate - "Emma"
The Isley Brothers - "For the Love of You, Pts. 1 & 2"
Grover Washington, Jr. - "Mister Magic"
Parliament - "Chocolate City"
Sean Westergaard
I was 10 years old in 1975 and making the transition from Top 40 radio (WLS, Chicago) to AOR radio (WDAI, Chicago), so my singles list consists of stuff I was hearing on the radio and liked at the time. The sole exception was the Gil Scott-Heron tune which I saw on Saturday Night Live (giving me the correct answer to the question "What's the word?" for all time). On the other hand, my album picks are all albums I discovered later, except for Paul McCartney and Wings which I listened to all the time in 1975. Special mention must go to Agharta for ripping the top of my head off and opening up new worlds for me in a way few albums ever have.
Mahmoud Ahmed - Erè Mèla Mèla
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow
David Bowie - Young Americans
Billy Cobham - Shabazz
Miles Davis - Agharta
Miles Davis - Pangaea
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Brian Eno - Discreet Music
Fripp/Eno - Evening Star
Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
Herbie Hancock - Flood
John Handy & Ali Akbar Khan - Karuna Supreme
Wings - Venus and Mars
Parliament - Chocolate City
Dudu Pukwana - Diamond Express
Roxy Music - Siren
Shakti - Shakti with John McLaughlin
Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers - Beware of the Dog
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - One Size Fits All
Frank Zappa & Captain Beefheart - Bongo Fury
Average White Band - "Pick Up the Pieces"
The Beach Boys - "Sail on Sailor"
David Bowie - "Fame"
Jimmy Castor Bunch - "The Bertha Butt Boogie, Pt. 1"
The Doobie Brothers - "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me)"
Carl Douglas - "Kung Fu Fighting"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "Shining Star"
David Geddes - "Run Joey Run"
Dickie Goodman - "Mr. Jaws"
Kiss - "Rock and Roll All Nite"
Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"
Labelle - "Lady Marmalade"
C.W. McCall - "Convoy"
Paul McCartney - "Junior's Farm"
Ohio Players - "Love Rollercoaster"
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - "Johannesburg"
Ringo Starr - "No No Song"
Sweet - "Ballroom Blitz"
War - "Low Rider"
War - "Why Can't We Be Friends?"
Andrew Leahey
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Emmylou Harris - Pieces of the Sky
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Emmylou Harris - Elite Hotel
The Louvin Brothers - Live at New River Ranch
Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Zuma
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Tanya Tucker - Tanya Tucker
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
ABBA - ABBA
Head East - "Never Been Any Reason"
Emmylou Harris - "If I Could Only Win Your Love"
Fleetwood Mac - "Rhiannon"
Pure Prairie League - "Amie"
The Doobie Brothers - "Black Water"
Eagles - "One of These Nights"
Aerosmith - "Sweet Emotion"
Linda Ronstadt - "When Will I Be Loved"
Sweet - "Ballroom Blitz"
John Bush
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Jerry Jeff Walker - Ridin' High
Guy Clark - Old No. 1
Big Star - Third/Sister Lovers
Gilberto Gil/Jorge Ben - Gil e Jorge
Gilberto Gil - Refazenda
Hugh Masekela - The Boy's Doin' It
Betty Davis - Nasty Gal
Neu! - Neu! 75
Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Barry Manilow - Tryin' to Get the Feeling
Hector Lavoe - La Voz
Slapp Happy - Desperate Straights
Edgar Froese - Epsilon in Malaysian Pale
Brian Eno - Discreet Music
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Miles Davis - Pangaea
The Tubes - The Tubes
Roy Wood - Mustard
Bee Gees - "Jive Talkin'"
Barry Manilow - "A Nice Boy Like Me"
Pete Wingfield - "A Whole Pot of Jelly (For a Little Slice of Toast)" (YouTube)
ABBA - "S.O.S."
Betty Davis - "Nasty Gal"
Aerosmith - "Sweet Emotion"
The Dictators - "Two Tub Man"
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - "I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train"
Hugh Masekela - "The Boy's Doin' It"
Fela Kuti - "He Miss Road"
The Isley Brothers - "Fight the Power, Pts. 1 & 2"
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - "Bad Luck"
Mark Murphy - "Canteloupe Island"
Kool & the Gang - "Summer Madness"
The O'Jays - "Give the People What They Want"
Ohio Players - "Love Rollercoaster"
Led Zeppelin - "Kashmir"
Pere Ubu - "30 Seconds Over Tokyo"
Kraftwerk - "Radioactivity"
Jerry Jeff Walker - "Pissin' in the Wind"
Heather Phares
David Bowie - Young Americans
Brian Eno - Another Green World
The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy!
Bob Dylan & the Band - The Basement Tapes
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Carole King - Really Rosie
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Neu! - Neu! 75
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Original Soundtrack - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Roxy Music - Siren
Patti Smith - Horses
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
The Who - The Who by Numbers
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night
Ace - "How Long"
Bee Gees - "Jive Talkin'"
David Bowie - "Changes"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)"
George Harrison - "Dark Horse"
J. Geils Band - "Must of Got Lost"
KC & the Sunshine Band - "That's the Way (I Like It)"
Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"
Labelle - "Lady Marmalade"
John Lennon - "Number 9 Dream"
Van McCoy - "The Hustle"
Ohio Players - "Love Rollercoaster"
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - "Jackie Blue"
Pilot - "Magic"
Mike Post - "The Rockford Files"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run"
Sweet - "Ballroom Blitz"
Silver Convention - "Fly, Robin, Fly"
War - "Low Rider"
James Christopher Monger
Gilberto Gil/Jorge Ben - Gil e Jorge
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Symphonion Dream
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Steeleye Span - Commoners Crown
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Original Soundtrack - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
Waylon Jennings - Dreaming My Dreams
Roxy Music - Siren
Electric Light Orchestra - Face the Music
Steeleye Span - All Around My Hat
Justin Hayward & John Lodge - Blue Jays
The Bothy Band - The Bothy Band
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Horslips - Drive the Cold Winter Away
Tom Newman - Fine Old Tom
Alice Cooper - Welcome to My Nightmare
AC/DC - "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"
Bee Gees - "Nights on Broadway"
Nazareth - "Hair of the Dog"
Richard & Linda Thompson - "Hokey Pokey"
Elton John - "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
Sparks - "Hospitality on Parade"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
The Tubes - "White Punks on Dope"
John Cale - "I Keep a Close Watch"
Rush - "Fly by Night"
Gilberto Gil - "Refazenda"
Pilot - "January"
David Bowie - "Fame"
Gordon Lightfoot - "Cold on the Shoulder"
Willie Nelson - "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"
John Denver - "Calypso"
ZZ Top - "Tush"
Steely Dan - "Black Friday"
Rainbow - "Man on the Silver Mountain"
Foghat - "Slow Ride"
James Wilkinson
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night
Emmylou Harris - Pieces of the Sky
Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Zuma
Brian Eno - Discreet Music
Bob Dylan & the Band - The Basement Tapes
Neu - Neu '75
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Al Green - Al Green Is Love
Richard & Linda Thompson - Pour Down Like Silver
Richard & Linda Thompson - Hokey Pokey
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - The First Minute of a New Day
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Emmylou Harris - Elite Hotel
Renaud - Amoureux de Paname
Smokey Robinson - A Quiet Storm
Kraftwerk - Radio-Activity
Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
The Band - Northern Lights-Southern Cross
Lee Perry & the Upsetters - Revolution Dub
Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers - "Roadrunner"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Augustus Pablo - "King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown"
Eagles - "Lyin' Eyes"
The Beach Boys - "Sail on Sailor"
George Jackson - "Things Are Getting Better"
Starry Eyed & Laughing - "Nobody Home"
10cc - "I'm Not in Love"
Merle Haggard - "Always Wanting You"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run"
Steely Dan - "Do It Again"
Linda Ronstadt - "Love Is a Rose"
Waylon Jennings - "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"
Al Green - "Full of Fire"
Minnie Riperton - "Lovin' You"
The Drifters - "There Goes My First Love"
Glen Campbell - "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in LA)"
Bad Company - "Feel Like Makin' Love"
America - "Sister Golden Hair"
Aneet Nijjar
ABBA - ABBA
Kraftwerk - Radio-Activity
Millie Jackson - Still Caught Up
Neu! - Neu! 75
Roxy Music - Siren
Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner
Robert Wyatt - Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
David Bowie - Young Americans
Can - Landed
Minnie Riperton - Adventures in Paradise
Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby
David Axelrod - Seriously Deep
Split Enz - Mental Notes
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
Popul Vuh - Aguirre
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Cat Stevens - Numbers
Goblin - Profondo Rosso
Todd Rundgren - Initiation
Janis Ian - "At Seventeen"
Sweet - "Fox on the Run"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
Jasper Carrott - "Funky Moped"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run"
Pink Floyd - "Have a Cigar"
Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"
Diana Ross - "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)"
Barbara Streisand - "Shake Me Wake Me (When It's Over)"
Van McCoy - "The Hustle"
KC & the Sunshine Band - "Get Down Tonight"
Joe Bataan - "The Bottle (La Botella)"
Black Blood - "A.I.E. (A Mwana)"
Shuggie Otis - "Inspiration Information"
Juggy Murray Jones - "Inside America"
Bee Gees - "Jive Talkin'"
Bobby Moore - "(Call Me Your) Anything Man"
The Salsoul Orchestra - "Salsoul Hustle"
Captain & Tennille - "Love Will Keep Us Together"
Esther Phillips - "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes"
Hot Chocolate - "You Sexy Thing"
Tim Sendra
As much as I would like to pretend that I knew Roxy Music existed in 1975 (Love Is the Drug, y’all!!) or that disco wasn't nearly as lame as it seemed (thanks, KC & your infernal Sunshine Band), or that power pop and punk were bubbling up all around, I had no clue. I only knew about what got played on Detroit rock radio and what Casey told me about on American Top 40. It meant I had a pretty sheltered view of the musical world for sure, but I still love all these songs today.
AC/DC - "T.N.T."
Bee Gees - "Nights on Broadway"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "That's the Way of the World"
Electric Light Orchestra - "Strange Magic"
Electric Light Orchestra - "Evil Woman"
Foghat - "Fool for the City"
Hot Chocolate - "Emma" (YouTube)
J. Geils Band - "Must of Got Lost"
Kiss - "Strutter" (from Alive!)
Led Zeppelin - "Houses of the Holy"
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - "Jackie Blue" (YouTube)
Queen - "You're My Best Friend"
Bob Seger - "Beautiful Loser"
Bruce Springsteen - "Thunder Road"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run"
Matthew Garbutt
ABBA - ABBA
Al Green - Al Green Is Love
Big Youth - Dreadlocks Dread
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Curtis Mayfield - There's No Place Like America Today
David Bowie - Young Americans
Dr. Feelgood - Down by the Jetty
Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70 - Expensive Shit
Gregory Isaacs - In Person
Keith Hudson - Torch of Freedom
Kraftwerk - Radioactivity
Millie Jackson - Still Caught Up
Neu! - Neu! 75
Patti Smith - Horses
Robert Wyatt - Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
Rod Stewart - Atlantic Crossing
Roxy Music - Siren
Smokey Robinson - A Quiet Storm
Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner
Yabby You - Conquering Lion
Claudia - "Deixa Eu Dizer"
Cornell Campbell - "Natty Dread in a Greenwich Farm"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
I-Roy - "Sidewalk Killer"
Jah Stitch - "Give Jah the Glory"
Jean Plum - "Look at the Boy"
Johnny Clarke - "None Shall Escape the Judgement"
Known Facts - "He's Got It"
Lyn Collins - "You Can't Love Me If You Don't Respect Me"
Minnie Riperton - "Lovin' You"
Prince Far-I - "I and I Are the Chosen One"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Susan Cadogan - "Hurts So Good"
Sweet Charles - "Hang Out and Hustle"
Sylford Walker - "Jah Golden Pen"
The Isley Brothers - "Fight the Power"
Toby Owens - "I Don't Want Nobody Else But My Baby"
Toots & the Maytals - "Funky Kingston"
Veniece - "Trying to Live My Life Without You"
War - "Low Rider"
Andy Kellman
Miles Davis - Agharta
Donald Byrd - Places and Spaces
The Isley Brothers - The Heat Is On
Earth, Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World
Parliament - Mothership Connection
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Minnie Riperton - Adventures in Paradise
Harmonia - Deluxe
Grover Washington, Jr. - Feels So Good
John Abercrombie - Timeless
Eddie Henderson - Sunburst
Patrice Rushen - Before the Dawn
Roxy Music - Siren
Leroy Hutson - Hutson
Johnny Hammond - Gears
Weldon Irvine - Spirit Man
Gary Bartz - The Shadow Do!
Neu! - Neu! 75
Gilberto Gil - Refazenda
Pere Ubu - "Heart of Darkness"
The Isley Brothers - "Fight the Power"
Roxy Music - "Love Is the Drug"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "That's the Way of the World"
Donna Summer - "Love to Love You Baby"
David Bowie - "Fame"
Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes - "Expansions"
Kraftwerk - "Radioactivity"
Kool & the Gang - "Summer Madness"
Hot Chocolate - "Emma"
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - "Bad Luck"
Donald Byrd - "Think Twice"
Burning Spear - "Marcus Garvey"
The Pointer Sisters - "How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)"
Minnie Riperton - "Inside My Love"
LaBelle - "Messin' with My Mind"
Led Zeppelin - "Trampled Under Foot"
Television - "Little Johnny Jewel"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Saturday Night Special"
Louisa Mark - "Caught You in a Lie"
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Despite having classic albums in abundance, 1975 isn't one of those magical years like 1967 or 1977. It doesn't have a mystique -- it's not the peak of psychedelia or the birth of punk -- but it does have so much great music that it's hard to whittle down favorites into a concise list. And '75 does have many of my favorite albums and singles -- Dylan, Bruce, Roxy, Neil, Elton, sure, but also Dr. Feelgood, Kilburn and the High-Roads, Ducks Deluxe, and "Junior's Farm," plus plenty of guilty pleasures that I have no guilt in loving ("Bad Blood" chief among them). As always when faced with a year as overloaded as this, I try not to have singles from classic albums appear on the singles list -- i.e., no room for the single "Young Americans" because the album Young Americans ranks highly -- but that doesn't mean that I wound up listing everything I loved from '75…but everything here is something I do love.
Bob Dylan & the Band - The Basement Tapes
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night
Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Dr. Feelgood - Malpractice
Dr. Feelgood - Down by the Jetty
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
The Who - The Who by Numbers
Dave Edmunds - Subtle as a Flying Mallet
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
David Bowie - Young Americans
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Nuthin' Fancy
Roxy Music - Siren
Kilburn and the High-Roads - Handsome
Ducks Deluxe - Taxi to the Terminal Zone
Bob Seger - Beautiful Loser
The Band - Northern Lights-Southern Cross
Ian Hunter - Ian Hunter
Dr. Hook - Bankrupt
Allen Toussaint - Southern Nights
Brian Eno - Another Green World
John Fogerty - John Fogerty
Roy Wood - Mustard
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Original Soundtrack - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy!
Ace - "How Long"
Todd Rundgren - "Real Man"
Neil Sedaka - "Bad Blood"
Paul McCartney - "Junior's Farm"
Amazing Rhythm Aces - "Third Rate Romance"
Elton John - "Philadelphia Freedom"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Dwight Twilley - "I'm on Fire"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
America - "Sister Golden Hair"
Waylon Jennings - "Bob Wills Is Still the King"
J. Geils Band - "Must of Got Lost"
Pure Prairie League - "Amie"
Sweet - "Ballroom Blitz"
David Allan Coe - "You Never Even Called Me by My Name"
Pilot - "Magic"
Bee Gees - "Nights on Broadway"
10cc - "I'm Not in Love"
Shirley & Company - "Shame Shame Shame"
Carol Douglas - "Doctor's Orders"
Tompall Glaser - "Put Another Log on the Fire (Male Chauvinist National Anthem)"
Jigsaw - "Sky High"
Glen Campbell - "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)"
Brian Protheroe - "Pinball"
Waylon Jennings - "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"
Neil Sedaka - "Laughter in the Rain"
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - "Jackie Blue"
George Jones - "The Door"
Elvis Presley - "T-R-O-U-B-L-E"
Freddy Fender - "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights"
Thom Jurek
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Waylon Jennings - Dreaming My Dreams
Smokey Robinson - A Quiet Storm
Patrice Rushen - Before the Dawn
Patti Smith - Horses
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
The Band - Northern Lights-Southern Cross
The Meters - Fire on the Bayou
Emmylou Harris - Pieces of the Sky
Guy Clark - Old No. 1
The Rance Allen Group - A Soulful Experience
Miles Davis - Agharta
Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life
George Duke - The Aura Will Prevail
Weldon Irvine - Spirit Man
Leroy Hutson - Hutson
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Arthur Alexander - "Everyday I Have to Cry Some"
Charlie Rich - "Every Time You Touch Me I Get High"
Ohio Players - "Fire"
James Brown - "Sex Machine"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Saturday Night Special"
Waylon Jennings - "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"
David Bowie - "Young Americans"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "Shining Star"
Donna Summer - "Love to Love You Baby"
Roxy Music - "Love Is the Drug"
Electric Light Orchestra - "Can't Get It Out of My Head"
Led Zeppelin - "Trampled Under Foot"
John Fogerty - "Almost Saturday Night"
J. Geils Band - "Must of Got Lost"
Al Green - "L-O-V-E (Love)"
Head East - "Never Been Any Reason"
Hot Chocolate - "Emma"
The Isley Brothers - "For the Love of You, Pts. 1 & 2"
Grover Washington, Jr. - "Mister Magic"
Parliament - "Chocolate City"
Sean Westergaard
I was 10 years old in 1975 and making the transition from Top 40 radio (WLS, Chicago) to AOR radio (WDAI, Chicago), so my singles list consists of stuff I was hearing on the radio and liked at the time. The sole exception was the Gil Scott-Heron tune which I saw on Saturday Night Live (giving me the correct answer to the question "What's the word?" for all time). On the other hand, my album picks are all albums I discovered later, except for Paul McCartney and Wings which I listened to all the time in 1975. Special mention must go to Agharta for ripping the top of my head off and opening up new worlds for me in a way few albums ever have.
Mahmoud Ahmed - Erè Mèla Mèla
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow
David Bowie - Young Americans
Billy Cobham - Shabazz
Miles Davis - Agharta
Miles Davis - Pangaea
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Brian Eno - Discreet Music
Fripp/Eno - Evening Star
Funkadelic - Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
Herbie Hancock - Flood
John Handy & Ali Akbar Khan - Karuna Supreme
Wings - Venus and Mars
Parliament - Chocolate City
Dudu Pukwana - Diamond Express
Roxy Music - Siren
Shakti - Shakti with John McLaughlin
Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers - Beware of the Dog
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - One Size Fits All
Frank Zappa & Captain Beefheart - Bongo Fury
Average White Band - "Pick Up the Pieces"
The Beach Boys - "Sail on Sailor"
David Bowie - "Fame"
Jimmy Castor Bunch - "The Bertha Butt Boogie, Pt. 1"
The Doobie Brothers - "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me)"
Carl Douglas - "Kung Fu Fighting"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "Shining Star"
David Geddes - "Run Joey Run"
Dickie Goodman - "Mr. Jaws"
Kiss - "Rock and Roll All Nite"
Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"
Labelle - "Lady Marmalade"
C.W. McCall - "Convoy"
Paul McCartney - "Junior's Farm"
Ohio Players - "Love Rollercoaster"
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - "Johannesburg"
Ringo Starr - "No No Song"
Sweet - "Ballroom Blitz"
War - "Low Rider"
War - "Why Can't We Be Friends?"
Andrew Leahey
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Emmylou Harris - Pieces of the Sky
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Emmylou Harris - Elite Hotel
The Louvin Brothers - Live at New River Ranch
Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Zuma
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Tanya Tucker - Tanya Tucker
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
ABBA - ABBA
Head East - "Never Been Any Reason"
Emmylou Harris - "If I Could Only Win Your Love"
Fleetwood Mac - "Rhiannon"
Pure Prairie League - "Amie"
The Doobie Brothers - "Black Water"
Eagles - "One of These Nights"
Aerosmith - "Sweet Emotion"
Linda Ronstadt - "When Will I Be Loved"
Sweet - "Ballroom Blitz"
John Bush
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Jerry Jeff Walker - Ridin' High
Guy Clark - Old No. 1
Big Star - Third/Sister Lovers
Gilberto Gil/Jorge Ben - Gil e Jorge
Gilberto Gil - Refazenda
Hugh Masekela - The Boy's Doin' It
Betty Davis - Nasty Gal
Neu! - Neu! 75
Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Barry Manilow - Tryin' to Get the Feeling
Hector Lavoe - La Voz
Slapp Happy - Desperate Straights
Edgar Froese - Epsilon in Malaysian Pale
Brian Eno - Discreet Music
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Miles Davis - Pangaea
The Tubes - The Tubes
Roy Wood - Mustard
Bee Gees - "Jive Talkin'"
Barry Manilow - "A Nice Boy Like Me"
Pete Wingfield - "A Whole Pot of Jelly (For a Little Slice of Toast)" (YouTube)
ABBA - "S.O.S."
Betty Davis - "Nasty Gal"
Aerosmith - "Sweet Emotion"
The Dictators - "Two Tub Man"
Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - "I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train"
Hugh Masekela - "The Boy's Doin' It"
Fela Kuti - "He Miss Road"
The Isley Brothers - "Fight the Power, Pts. 1 & 2"
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - "Bad Luck"
Mark Murphy - "Canteloupe Island"
Kool & the Gang - "Summer Madness"
The O'Jays - "Give the People What They Want"
Ohio Players - "Love Rollercoaster"
Led Zeppelin - "Kashmir"
Pere Ubu - "30 Seconds Over Tokyo"
Kraftwerk - "Radioactivity"
Jerry Jeff Walker - "Pissin' in the Wind"
Heather Phares
David Bowie - Young Americans
Brian Eno - Another Green World
The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy!
Bob Dylan & the Band - The Basement Tapes
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Elton John - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Carole King - Really Rosie
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Neu! - Neu! 75
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Original Soundtrack - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Roxy Music - Siren
Patti Smith - Horses
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
The Who - The Who by Numbers
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night
Ace - "How Long"
Bee Gees - "Jive Talkin'"
David Bowie - "Changes"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)"
George Harrison - "Dark Horse"
J. Geils Band - "Must of Got Lost"
KC & the Sunshine Band - "That's the Way (I Like It)"
Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"
Labelle - "Lady Marmalade"
John Lennon - "Number 9 Dream"
Van McCoy - "The Hustle"
Ohio Players - "Love Rollercoaster"
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - "Jackie Blue"
Pilot - "Magic"
Mike Post - "The Rockford Files"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run"
Sweet - "Ballroom Blitz"
Silver Convention - "Fly, Robin, Fly"
War - "Low Rider"
James Christopher Monger
Gilberto Gil/Jorge Ben - Gil e Jorge
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Symphonion Dream
Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
Steeleye Span - Commoners Crown
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Original Soundtrack - The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Black Sabbath - Sabotage
Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic
Waylon Jennings - Dreaming My Dreams
Roxy Music - Siren
Electric Light Orchestra - Face the Music
Steeleye Span - All Around My Hat
Justin Hayward & John Lodge - Blue Jays
The Bothy Band - The Bothy Band
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Horslips - Drive the Cold Winter Away
Tom Newman - Fine Old Tom
Alice Cooper - Welcome to My Nightmare
AC/DC - "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"
Bee Gees - "Nights on Broadway"
Nazareth - "Hair of the Dog"
Richard & Linda Thompson - "Hokey Pokey"
Elton John - "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
Sparks - "Hospitality on Parade"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
The Tubes - "White Punks on Dope"
John Cale - "I Keep a Close Watch"
Rush - "Fly by Night"
Gilberto Gil - "Refazenda"
Pilot - "January"
David Bowie - "Fame"
Gordon Lightfoot - "Cold on the Shoulder"
Willie Nelson - "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain"
John Denver - "Calypso"
ZZ Top - "Tush"
Steely Dan - "Black Friday"
Rainbow - "Man on the Silver Mountain"
Foghat - "Slow Ride"
James Wilkinson
Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
Neil Young - Tonight's the Night
Emmylou Harris - Pieces of the Sky
Neil Young with Crazy Horse - Zuma
Brian Eno - Discreet Music
Bob Dylan & the Band - The Basement Tapes
Neu - Neu '75
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Al Green - Al Green Is Love
Richard & Linda Thompson - Pour Down Like Silver
Richard & Linda Thompson - Hokey Pokey
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - The First Minute of a New Day
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Emmylou Harris - Elite Hotel
Renaud - Amoureux de Paname
Smokey Robinson - A Quiet Storm
Kraftwerk - Radio-Activity
Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
The Band - Northern Lights-Southern Cross
Lee Perry & the Upsetters - Revolution Dub
Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers - "Roadrunner"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Augustus Pablo - "King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown"
Eagles - "Lyin' Eyes"
The Beach Boys - "Sail on Sailor"
George Jackson - "Things Are Getting Better"
Starry Eyed & Laughing - "Nobody Home"
10cc - "I'm Not in Love"
Merle Haggard - "Always Wanting You"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run"
Steely Dan - "Do It Again"
Linda Ronstadt - "Love Is a Rose"
Waylon Jennings - "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?"
Al Green - "Full of Fire"
Minnie Riperton - "Lovin' You"
The Drifters - "There Goes My First Love"
Glen Campbell - "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in LA)"
Bad Company - "Feel Like Makin' Love"
America - "Sister Golden Hair"
Aneet Nijjar
ABBA - ABBA
Kraftwerk - Radio-Activity
Millie Jackson - Still Caught Up
Neu! - Neu! 75
Roxy Music - Siren
Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner
Robert Wyatt - Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
David Bowie - Young Americans
Can - Landed
Minnie Riperton - Adventures in Paradise
Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby
David Axelrod - Seriously Deep
Split Enz - Mental Notes
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Tangerine Dream - Rubycon
Popul Vuh - Aguirre
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Cat Stevens - Numbers
Goblin - Profondo Rosso
Todd Rundgren - Initiation
Janis Ian - "At Seventeen"
Sweet - "Fox on the Run"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
Jasper Carrott - "Funky Moped"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run"
Pink Floyd - "Have a Cigar"
Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"
Diana Ross - "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?)"
Barbara Streisand - "Shake Me Wake Me (When It's Over)"
Van McCoy - "The Hustle"
KC & the Sunshine Band - "Get Down Tonight"
Joe Bataan - "The Bottle (La Botella)"
Black Blood - "A.I.E. (A Mwana)"
Shuggie Otis - "Inspiration Information"
Juggy Murray Jones - "Inside America"
Bee Gees - "Jive Talkin'"
Bobby Moore - "(Call Me Your) Anything Man"
The Salsoul Orchestra - "Salsoul Hustle"
Captain & Tennille - "Love Will Keep Us Together"
Esther Phillips - "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes"
Hot Chocolate - "You Sexy Thing"
Tim Sendra
As much as I would like to pretend that I knew Roxy Music existed in 1975 (Love Is the Drug, y’all!!) or that disco wasn't nearly as lame as it seemed (thanks, KC & your infernal Sunshine Band), or that power pop and punk were bubbling up all around, I had no clue. I only knew about what got played on Detroit rock radio and what Casey told me about on American Top 40. It meant I had a pretty sheltered view of the musical world for sure, but I still love all these songs today.
AC/DC - "T.N.T."
Bee Gees - "Nights on Broadway"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "That's the Way of the World"
Electric Light Orchestra - "Strange Magic"
Electric Light Orchestra - "Evil Woman"
Foghat - "Fool for the City"
Hot Chocolate - "Emma" (YouTube)
J. Geils Band - "Must of Got Lost"
Kiss - "Strutter" (from Alive!)
Led Zeppelin - "Houses of the Holy"
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - "Jackie Blue" (YouTube)
Queen - "You're My Best Friend"
Bob Seger - "Beautiful Loser"
Bruce Springsteen - "Thunder Road"
Bruce Springsteen - "Born to Run"
Matthew Garbutt
ABBA - ABBA
Al Green - Al Green Is Love
Big Youth - Dreadlocks Dread
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Curtis Mayfield - There's No Place Like America Today
David Bowie - Young Americans
Dr. Feelgood - Down by the Jetty
Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70 - Expensive Shit
Gregory Isaacs - In Person
Keith Hudson - Torch of Freedom
Kraftwerk - Radioactivity
Millie Jackson - Still Caught Up
Neu! - Neu! 75
Patti Smith - Horses
Robert Wyatt - Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
Rod Stewart - Atlantic Crossing
Roxy Music - Siren
Smokey Robinson - A Quiet Storm
Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner
Yabby You - Conquering Lion
Claudia - "Deixa Eu Dizer"
Cornell Campbell - "Natty Dread in a Greenwich Farm"
Glen Campbell - "Rhinestone Cowboy"
I-Roy - "Sidewalk Killer"
Jah Stitch - "Give Jah the Glory"
Jean Plum - "Look at the Boy"
Johnny Clarke - "None Shall Escape the Judgement"
Known Facts - "He's Got It"
Lyn Collins - "You Can't Love Me If You Don't Respect Me"
Minnie Riperton - "Lovin' You"
Prince Far-I - "I and I Are the Chosen One"
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"
Susan Cadogan - "Hurts So Good"
Sweet Charles - "Hang Out and Hustle"
Sylford Walker - "Jah Golden Pen"
The Isley Brothers - "Fight the Power"
Toby Owens - "I Don't Want Nobody Else But My Baby"
Toots & the Maytals - "Funky Kingston"
Veniece - "Trying to Live My Life Without You"
War - "Low Rider"
Andy Kellman
Miles Davis - Agharta
Donald Byrd - Places and Spaces
The Isley Brothers - The Heat Is On
Earth, Wind & Fire - That's the Way of the World
Parliament - Mothership Connection
Brian Eno - Another Green World
Joni Mitchell - The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Minnie Riperton - Adventures in Paradise
Harmonia - Deluxe
Grover Washington, Jr. - Feels So Good
John Abercrombie - Timeless
Eddie Henderson - Sunburst
Patrice Rushen - Before the Dawn
Roxy Music - Siren
Leroy Hutson - Hutson
Johnny Hammond - Gears
Weldon Irvine - Spirit Man
Gary Bartz - The Shadow Do!
Neu! - Neu! 75
Gilberto Gil - Refazenda
Pere Ubu - "Heart of Darkness"
The Isley Brothers - "Fight the Power"
Roxy Music - "Love Is the Drug"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "That's the Way of the World"
Donna Summer - "Love to Love You Baby"
David Bowie - "Fame"
Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes - "Expansions"
Kraftwerk - "Radioactivity"
Kool & the Gang - "Summer Madness"
Hot Chocolate - "Emma"
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes - "Bad Luck"
Donald Byrd - "Think Twice"
Burning Spear - "Marcus Garvey"
The Pointer Sisters - "How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)"
Minnie Riperton - "Inside My Love"
LaBelle - "Messin' with My Mind"
Led Zeppelin - "Trampled Under Foot"
Television - "Little Johnny Jewel"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Saturday Night Special"
Louisa Mark - "Caught You in a Lie"