Best Songs of 1973

For these year-end lists, I like to undertake the seemingly impossibly task of creating an hours-long mix. The order you see below represents that effort, which you can listen to via Spotify and Apple Music. Sadly all 100 tracks aren't available, but you get the general idea. Track notes to come eventually or maybe never.

Show Grid

Piano Man

Billy Joel

Piano Man

Columbia
via TK library: 12/1/2003 (12/2/1997)

Notes
Love Reign O’er Me

The Who

Quadrophenia

MCA
via TK library: 8/25/2018

Notes
Dream On

Aerosmith

Aerosmith

Columbia
via TK library: 9/6/2011

Notes
Over the Hills and Far Away

Led Zeppelin

Houses of the Holy

Atlantic
via TK library: 2/12/2012

Notes
Ooh La La

Faces

Ooh La La

Warner Bros.
via Rushmore (1999) library: 1/11/2005

Notes
Higher Ground

Stevie Wonder

Innervisions

Motown
via past experience library: 11/15/2003 (8/12/1997)

Notes
Chameleon

Herbie Hancock

Head Hunters

Columbia
via TK library: 8/2/2018

Notes
The Payback

James Brown

The Payback

Polydor
via TK library: 8/22/2008

Notes
Sanford & Son Theme (The Streetbeater)

Quincy Jones

You’ve Got It Bad, Girl

A&M
via TK library: 6/24/2012

Notes
Hihache

Lafayette Afro Rock Band

Soul Makossa

Musidisc
via TK library: 5/12/2018

Notes
Mango Meat

Mandrill

Just Outside of Town

Polydor
via TK library: 2/11/2008

Notes
Country Road

Toots & the Maytals

Funky Kingston

Dragon
via TK library: 8/5/2011

UK-only release
I Shot the Sheriff

Bob Marley & The Wailers

Burnin’

Tuff Gong
via the ether library: 1/26/2012

Notes
Slipping Into Darkness

Ramsey Lewis Trio

Upendo Ni Pamoja

Columbia
via my dad library: 6/12/2012

Notes
Me and Baby Brother

War

Deliver the Word

United Artists
via my dad library: 2/11/2008

Notes
Get It Together

The Jackson 5

Get It Together

Motown
via TK library: 2/26/2010

Notes
Mama, I Got a Brand New Thing

Undisputed Truth

Law of the Land

Gordy
via TK library: 4/20/2008

Notes
Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

Black & Blue

Philadelphia International
via TK library: 2/10/2013

Notes
T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)

MFSB

MFSB

Epic
via TK library: 2/11/2013

Notes
Believe in Humanity

Carole King

Fantasy

Epic
via TK library: 2/10/2013

Notes
Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

Aretha Franklin

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

Atlantic
via TK library: 8/17/2018

Notes
Without You in My Life

Tyrone Davis

Without You in My Life

Dakar
via TK library: 3/11/2009

Notes
Here I Am (Come and Take Me)

Al Green

Call Me

Hi
via TK library: 4/2/2009

Notes
Pillow Talk

Sylvia

Pillow Talk

Vibration
via TK library: 8/17/2018

Notes
Come and Get Your Love

Redbone

Wovoka

Epic
via Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) library: 8/6/2014

Notes
That Lady (Parts 1 & 2)

The Isley Brothers

3 + 3

T-Neck
via TK library: 1/18/2010

Notes
We’re an American Band

Grand Funk

We’re an American Band

Capitol
via TK library: 8/17/2018

Notes
Shambala

Three Dog Night

Cyan

ABC/Dunhill
via past experience / LOST library: 12/28/2009

Notes
Takin’ Care of Business

Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Bachman-Turner Overdrive II

Mercury
via the ether library: 4/27/2013

Notes
Radar Love

Golden Earring

Moontan

MCA
via TK library: 7/4/2017

Notes
Smokin’ in the Boy’s Room

Brownsville Station

Yeah!

Big Tree
via TK library: 8/17/2018

Notes
La Grange

ZZ Top

Tres Hombres

London
via TK library: 7/28/2012

Notes
Be What You Want To

Link Wray

Be What You Want To

Polydor
via TK library: 6/3/2013

Notes
Right Place Wrong Time

Dr. John

In the Right Place

ATCO
via Dazed and Confused (1993) library: 4/3/2011

Notes
Dixie Chicken

Little Feat

Dixie Chicken

Warner Bros.
via the Dave Matthews Band cover library: 10/29/2012

Notes
Collection Box

Thomas Jefferson Kaye

Thomas Jefferson Kaye

Dunhill
via the Country Funk II compilation library: 7/13/2014

Notes
Tuesday’s Gone

Lynyrd Skynyrd

(Pronounced ’Leh-’Nérd ’Skin-’Nérd)

MCA
via TK library: 12/6/2010

Notes
Ramblin’ Man

The Allman Brothers Band

Brothers and Sisters

PCLC
via the ether / Field of Dreams (1989) library: 11/15/2003 (4/4/1997)

Notes
Eyes of the World

Grateful Dead

Wake of the Flood

Arista
via the Dave Matthews Band cover library: 8/4/2012

Notes
Can’t You See

The Marshall Tucker Band

The Marshall Tucker Band

Capricorn
via 103.7 The Mountain library: 12/3/2003 (8/2/1996)

Notes
Sweet Revenge

John Prine

Sweet Revenge

Atlantic
via past experience library: 11/25/2019

Notes
Up in Mississippi (Tonight)

Mudcrutch

Up in Mississippi (Tonight) 7"

Red Pepper
via the Tom Petty box set Playback library: 12/1/2003 (12/25/1995)

Notes
Take It Easy

Jackson Browne

For Everyman

Asylum
via 103.7 The Mountain library: 1/12/2010

Notes
Shotgun Willie

Willie Nelson

Shotgun Willie

Atlantic
via LOST library: 2/14/2009

Notes
Jambalaya (On the Bayou)

Blue Ridge Rangers

Blue Ridge Rangers

Fantasy
via past experience (Creedence Clearwater Revival) library: 8/25/2018

Notes
If I Had a Hammer

Johnny Cash

Any Old Wind That Blows

Columbia
via past experience library: 5/19/2013

Notes
My Tennessee Mountain Home

Dolly Parton

My Tennessee Mountain Home

RCA
via TK library: 2/10/2013

Notes
Silver Threads and Golden Needles

Linda Ronstadt

Don’t Cry Now

Asylum
via TK library: 11/2/2019

Notes
You’ve Been in Love Too Long

Bonnie Raitt

Takin’ My Time

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 1/22/2015

Notes
Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky

Claudia Lennear

Phew

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 9/22/2018

Notes
If I’m in Luck I Might Get Picked Up

Betty Davis

Betty Davis

Just Sunshine
via TK library: 8/17/2018

Notes
For the Love of Money

The O’Jays

Ship Ahoy

Epic
via TK library: 6/24/2012

Notes
Jungle Boogie

Kool & the Gang

Wild and Peaceful

De-Lite
via TK library: 12/9/2010

Notes
Entertainment Value

Labi Siffre

For the Children

Polydor
via past experience library: 10/28/2025

Notes
If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me)

The Staple Singers

Be What You Are

Stax
via TK library: 1/12/2012

Notes
To You

Cymande

Second Time Round

Janus
via TK library: 8/31/2018

Notes
The Look of Love

Bobby Womack

Facts of Life

United Artists
via TK library: 2/11/2013

Notes
Midnight Train to Georgia

Gladys Knight & The Pips

Imagination

Buddah
via TK library: 9/17/2012

Notes
I Believe in You (You Believe in Me)

Johnnie Taylor

Taylored in Silk

Stax
via TK library: 8/17/2018

Notes
Warm Love

Van Morrison

Hard Nose the Highway

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 8/25/2018

Notes
May You Never

John Martyn

Solid Air

Island
via TK library: 4/11/2015

Notes
You Goin’ Miss Your Candyman

Terry Callier

What Color Is Love

Cadet
via TK library: 10/29/2012

Notes
I Can’t Write Left-Handed

Bill Withers

Live at Carnegie Hall

Columbia
via past experience library: 11/11/2006

Notes
Que Sera, Sera

Sly and the Family Stone

Fresh

Epic
via my dad library: 11/15/2003 (6/20/1997)

Notes
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)

George Harrison

Living in the Material World

Capitol
via TK library: 2/11/2013

Notes
Photograph

Ringo Starr

Ringo

Parlophone
via TK library: 7/21/2014

Notes
Bring on the Lucie (Freda People)

John Lennon

Mind Games

Apple
via Children of Men (2004) library: 4/12/2008

Notes
Band on the Run

Wings

Band on the Run

Capitol
via the ether library: 6/10/2007

Notes
Showdown

Electric Light Orchestra

On the Third Day

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 9/4/2012

Notes
Rock On

David Essex

Rock On

CBS
via the Michael Damien cover (1989) library: 11/18/2012

Notes
The Rocker

Thin Lizzy

Vagabonds of the Western World

Decca
via TK library: 8/25/2018

Notes
No More Mr. Nice Guy

Alice Cooper

Billion Dollar Babies

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 4/3/2011

Notes
20th Century Boy

T. Rex

20th Century Boy 7"

EMI
via TK library: 8/2/2018

Notes
Search and Destroy

Iggy and The Stooges

Raw Power

Columbia
via TK library: 10/19/2009

Notes
The Jean Genie

David Bowie

Aladdin Sane

RCA
via TK library: 12/8/2007

Notes
Needles in the Camel’s Eye

Brian Eno

Here Come the Warm Jets

Island
via TK library: 8/16/2018

Notes
Money

Pink Floyd

Dark Side of the Moon

Capitol
via TK library: 1/8/2011

Notes
Editions of You

Roxy Music

For Your Pleasure

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 8/25/2018

Notes
Crocodile Rock

Elton John

Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player

MCA
via TK library: 12/18/2011

Notes
Kodachrome

Paul Simon

There Goes Rhymin’ Simon

Columbia
via past experience library: 6/13/2007

Notes
Blinded by the Light

Bruce Springsteen

Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ

Columbia
via TK library: 6/27/2011

Notes
My Old School

Steely Dan

Countdown to Ecstasy

MCA
via my dad library: 11/10/2003 (12/25/2001)

Notes
China Grove

The Doobie Brothers

The Captain and Me

Warner Bros.
via my dad library: 12/3/2003 (9/29/1998)

Notes
I’ll Be Around

Spinners

Spinners

Atlantic
via TK library: 11/25/2012

Notes
Never, Never Gonna Give You Up

Barry White

Stone Gon’

20th Century
via TK library: 10/21/2017

Notes
Let’s Get It On

Marvin Gaye

Let’s Get It On

Tamla
via TK library: 2/14/2009

Notes
Killing Me Softly With His Song

Roberta Flack

Killing Me Softly

Atlantic
via the Fugees cover (1996) library: 9/25/2012

Notes
I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song

Jim Croce

I Got a Name

ABC
via TK library: 1/12/2013

Notes
When the Morning Comes

Daryl Hall & John Oates

Abandoned Luncheonette

Atlantic
via past experience library: 2/7/2013

Notes
Crying in the Night

Buckingham Nicks

Buckingham Nicks

Polydor
via past experience (Fleetwood Mac) library: 4/13/2013

Notes
Full Circle

Byrds

Byrds

Asylum
via TK library: 8/16/2018

Notes
Ballad of Cody

Bill Wilson

Ever Changing Minstrel

Windfall
via the Country Funk compilation library: 11/8/2012

Notes
Turn the Page

Bob Seger

Back in ’72

Reprise
via TK library: 6/3/2013

Notes
Angie

The Rolling Stones

Goats Head Soup

Rolling Stones
via TK library: 2/11/2013

Notes
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

Bob Dylan

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid

Columbia
via TK library: 8/22/2008

Notes
A Song for You

Gram Parsons

GP

Reprise
via TK library: 8/17/2018

Notes
I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You

Tom Waits

Closing Time

Asylum
via TK library: 2/2/2011

Notes
I Am the Way (New York Town)

Loudon Wainwright III

Attempted Mustache

Columbia
via TK library: 3/2/2015

Notes
The Free Electric Band

Albert Hammond

The Free Electric Band

Mums
via TK library: 4/15/2019

Notes
Dolphins

Tim Buckley

Sefronia

Discreet
via the Beth Orton cover (1998) library: 4/13/2019

Notes

Etcetera

Best Songs of 1973

Piano Man

Billy Joel

Piano Man

Love Reign O’er Me

The Who

Quadrophenia

Dream On

Aerosmith

Aerosmith

Over the Hills and Far Away

Led Zeppelin

Houses of the Holy

Ooh La La

Faces

Ooh La La

Higher Ground

Stevie Wonder

Innervisions

Chameleon

Herbie Hancock

Head Hunters

The Payback

James Brown

The Payback

Sanford & Son Theme (The Streetbeater)

Quincy Jones

You’ve Got It Bad, Girl

Hihache

Lafayette Afro Rock Band

Soul Makossa

Mango Meat

Mandrill

Just Outside of Town

Country Road

Toots & the Maytals

Funky Kingston

I Shot the Sheriff

Bob Marley & The Wailers

Burnin’

Slipping Into Darkness

Ramsey Lewis Trio

Upendo Ni Pamoja

Me and Baby Brother

War

Deliver the Word

Get It Together

The Jackson 5

Get It Together

Mama, I Got a Brand New Thing

Undisputed Truth

Law of the Land

Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

Black & Blue

T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)

MFSB

MFSB

Believe in Humanity

Carole King

Fantasy

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

Aretha Franklin

Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)

Without You in My Life

Tyrone Davis

Without You in My Life

Here I Am (Come and Take Me)

Al Green

Call Me

Pillow Talk

Sylvia

Pillow Talk

Come and Get Your Love

Redbone

Wovoka

That Lady (Parts 1 & 2)

The Isley Brothers

3 + 3