Saturday, July 18, 2009

My Top Ten Best Albums of 1975

1975 was a great year for music. (That's what I hear, anyway. Ha.)


So I have a fun little task for you to do - make up a list of what YOUR top ten best albums of 1975 are. Let's stick to studio albums (not live or compilations). If you can't think of ten, then just tell me one or two that you loved listening to over and over again (and maybe still do!).

Based on my tastes & preferences, here's my top ten best albums of 1975 (this is kind of ironic considering I wasn't anywhere near to being alive, but trust me - I've been listening to a lot of this music since I was in the womb):


10. A Night at the Opera - Queen
Because we wouldn't have "Bohemian Rhapsody" if it weren't for this album. And that song is a must. So I'd say it's a pretty important album.

9. Fool for the City - Foghat
Because where would we be without "Slow Ride"?

8. Gorilla - James Taylor
Because of all these big names that helped on this one: Linda Ronstadt, Valerie Carter, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Carly Simon, Danny Kortchmar. Plus, "Mexico" is one heck of a catchy song.

7. Nuthin' Fancy - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Because it's just a good ol' southern rock album. Two years before everything went to hell. Allen Collins is one tall and creepy dude.

6. Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith
Because you have to have Aerosmith on the list. Plus, what's not to like?

5. Straight Shooter - Bad Company
Because Paul Rodgers' voice is awesome. Plus, Bad Company was the first group to have an album released on Led Zeppelin's Swan Song Records label. That's pretty great.

4. Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin
Because of the way the album cover worked (so I'm told, there's a little insert with different images that come up in the windows). Plus, it's 16x Platinum in the United States.

3. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Because of the emotions of the band during the recording of it. Plus, the whole thing is a tribute to a guy who isn't even dead yet. (Not literally.)

2. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
Because now the greatness that is Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks have teamed up with the mostly underrated rhythm section of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, and the lovely Christine McVie. Plus, no one knew it, but the best is yet to come (i.e. Rumours, Tusk).

1. One of These Nights - The Eagles
Because "One of These Nights", "Lyin' Eyes", "Take It to the Limit", and "After the Thrill is Gone". Plus, this is the first album that Don Felder appears. Even though it was Bernie Leadon's last. :(


Your turn!!! :)
I'm interested to know your picks. I know a lot of the big ones I left out, such as Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and Springsteen's Born to Run. But if you know me, you know why. Haha.

Grab your record collection (or more realistically, your iTunes library) and get to work - ready, set, GO!

6 comments:

Sean Coleman said...

Neil Young-Tonight's The Night
Zuma
Frank Zappa w/the Mothers-One Size Fits All
Black Sabbath- Sabotage
Led Zep-Physical Grafitti
The Band-Northern Lights, Southern Cross
Queen-A Night at the Opera
Jeff Beck-Blow by Blow
Steely Dan- Katy Lied
Joni Mitchell-The Hissing of Summer Lawns

So much more should be here, but there you have it...

Whizkid said...

Great lists CLASSIC ROCK & Sean! Can't argue with a single one on them.

Ahh, 1975. The year I graduated from high school and started college...

Here's a few of the albums I bought and was listening to (in no particular order):
Led Zeppelin - Physical Grafitti
Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent
Paul McCartney & Wings - Venus and Mars
Steely Dan - Katy Lied
Outlaws - Outlaws
Jeff Beck - Blow by Blow
The Who - The Who By Numbers
Olivia Newton John - Have You Never Been Mellow
Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
AC/DC - T.N.T.
Journey - Journey
Atlanta Rhythm Section - Dog Days
Armageddon - Armageddon
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Nuthin' Fancy
Bachman-Turner Overdrive - Four Wheel Drive
David Bowie - Young Americans
Robin Trower - For Earth Below
Foghat - Fool For The City
Eagles - One of These Nights
Rolling Stones - Made In The Shade
Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Bad Company - Straight Shooter
Carly Simon - Playing Possum
Gary Wright - The Dream Weaver
Linda Ronstadt - Prisoner In Disguise
Willie Nelson - Red-Headed Stranger


I know, I know, I spent too much money on records. But I had a great summer job!

Jeff said...

1. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
2. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks
3. Patti Smith - Horses
4. Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Tonight's the Night
5. The Who - The Who by Numbers
6. Queen - A Night at the Opera
7. Rush - Fly by Night
8. Gentle Giant - Free Hand
9. Elton John - Captain Fantastic...
10. Fleetwood Mac - S/T

Dan said...

So many albums already mentioned. I had just graduated high school and music was my top priority. My top 10 are:
1. Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin (by far)
2. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd (not until a year later though when they came to Milwaukee County Stadium)
3. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
4. Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent
5. Shaved Fish - John Lennon
6. Equinox - Styx (for the girls)
7. Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan
8. Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith
9. Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac
10. Beautiful Loser - Bob Seger
I think I was still listening to mostly pre-1975 albums in 1975. It always took awhile to get into the next great album for me.

Dan said...

Oh and BTW who can forget KC and the Sunshine Band? They were hugely popular with the girls. I dont see any R&B albums listed. How about War or Earth, Wind and Fire or Kool and the Gang, etc? They were all very popular back in the day. Not my favorite but still we heard them over and over again on the radio.

classicrockforthesoul said...

@ Sean - That Jeff Beck album is pretty cool - my dad told me to listen to "Cause We've Ended as Lovers" in headphones and it's totally awesome the way the sound moves around your head!

@ Whizkid - How could I forget Uncle Ted?! And Journey's first album! Great list.

@ Jeff - I had a feeling Wish You Were Here would be your number 1 :) Great choice!

@ Dan - I knew someone would have to list Born to Run! Good picks. Lots of R&B groups like Earth, Wind and Fire and even the Temptations had albums out in '75! Interesting.

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