Best Songs of 1974
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.
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Inspiration Information
Shuggie Otis
Inspiration Information
Epic
via TK library: 11/10/2003 (5/15/2001)Notes
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I Shot the Sheriff
Eric Clapton
461 Ocean Boulevard
RSO
via TK library: 4/7/2011Notes
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Rebel Music
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Natty Dread
Tuff Gong
via past experience / the Spearhead cover library: 11/2/2011Notes
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Boogie on Reggae Woman
Stevie Wonder
Fulfillingness’ First Finale
Tamla
via TK library: 12/4/2010Notes
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I’m Goin’ Left
Syreeta
Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta
Motown
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
Bill Withers
+Justments
Columbia
via TK library: 11/5/2003 (7/15/1999)Notes
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Live It Up
The Isley Brothers
Live It Up
T-Neck
via TK library: 1/18/2010Notes
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Tell Me Something Good
Rufus & Chaka Khan
Rags to Rufus
ABC
via the ether library: 9/9/2007Notes
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Up for the Down Stroke
Parliament
Up for the Down Stroke
Casablanca
via TK library: 2/11/2008Notes
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Sexy Ways
Funkadelic
Standing on the Verge of Getting It On
Westbound
via TK library: 9/16/2018Notes
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Fire
Ohio Players
Fire
Mercury
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Pick Up the Pieces
Average White Band
AWB
Atlantic
via TK library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Loose Booty
Sly and the Family Stone
Small Talk
Epic
via past experience / the Beastie Boys sample library: 10/20/2018Notes
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Do It (’Til You’re Satisfied)
B.T. Express
Do It (’Til You’re Satisfied)
Scepter
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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Look at You
George McCrae
Rock Your Baby
T.K.
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Actual Proof
Herbie Hancock
Thrust
Columbia
via TK library: 9/16/2018Notes
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Hot Dawgit
Ramsey Lewis
Sun Goddess
Columbia
via TK library: 10/29/2012Notes
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The Bottle
Gil Scott-Heron
Winter in America
Strata-East
via TK library: 6/2/2011Notes
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Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter
Nina Simone
It Is Finished
RCA
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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I Can’t Stand the Rain
Ann Peebles
I Can’t Stand the Rain
Hi
via the Missy Elliott sample library: 4/18/2015Notes
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After Midnight
Maggie Bell
Queen of the Night
Atlantic
via TK library: 12/21/2015Notes
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Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley
Robert Palmer
Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley
Island
via 103.7 The Mountain , past experience library: 8/31/2009Notes
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Rock and Roll Doctor
Little Feat
Feats Don’t Fail Me Now
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 10/5/2019Notes
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It’s Only Rock ’n Roll
The Rolling Stones
It’s Only Rock ’n Roll
Virgin
via TK library: 3/27/2015Notes
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You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything
Faces
You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything 7"
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 6/25/2008Notes
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The Golden Age of Rock ’N’ Roll
Mott the Hoople
The Hoople
CBS
via TK library: 4/15/2019Notes
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(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace Love and Understanding
Brinsley Schwarz
The New Favorites of Brinsley Schwarz
United Artists
via the Elvis Costello cover library: 3/28/2009Not released in United States
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Magic
Pilot
From the Album of the Same Name
EMI
via TK library: 10/1/2018Notes
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You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Not Fragile
Mercury
via TK library: 4/27/2013Notes
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The Bitch Is Back
Elton John
Caribou
MCA
via TK library: 4/13/2019Notes
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I’ve Got the Music in Me
The Kiki Dee Band
I’ve Got the Music in Me
MCA
via TK library: 9/29/2019Notes
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Rock the Boat
The Hues Corporation
Rockin’ Soul
RCA
via TK library: 9/16/2018Notes
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Nothing From Nothing
Billy Preston
The Kids & Me
Arista
via TK library: 4/22/2013Notes
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Hooked on a Feeling
Blue Swede
Hooked on a Feeling
EMI
via Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) library: 8/16/2014Notes
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I Hate Hate
Razzy and the Neighborhood Kids
I Hate Hate 7"
Aquarian
via Emerald City Soul Club library: 10/12/2008Notes
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Be Thankful for What You Got
William DeVaughn
Be Thankful for What You Got
Roxbury
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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Feel Like Makin’ Love
Roberta Flack
Feel Like Makin’ Love
Atlantic
via TK library: 1/10/2013Notes
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Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)
Aretha Franklin
Let Me in Your Life
Atlantic
via TK library: 8/17/2018Notes
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Nightingale
Carole King
Wrap Around Joy
Ode
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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Help Me
Joni Mitchell
Court and Spark
Asylum
via TK library: 9/25/2012Notes
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Wild Tales
Graham Nash
Wild Tales
Atlantic
via past experience library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Whatever Gets You Thru the Night
John Lennon
Walls and Bridges
Apple
via TK library: 7/24/2008Notes
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Rebel Rebel
David Bowie
Diamond Dogs
RCA
via TK library: 12/8/2007Notes
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Burning Airlines Give You So Much More
Brian Eno
Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)
Island
via TK library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Counting Out Time
Genesis
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Atco
via past experience library: 9/23/2013Notes
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Look at the Fool
Tim Buckley
Look at the Fool
Discreet
via TK library: 4/13/2019Notes
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You Know More Than I Know
John Cale
Fear
Island
via TK library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Dark Horse
George Harrison
Dark Horse
Apple
via past experience library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Star
Stealers Wheel
Ferguslie Park
A&M
via past experience library: 9/17/2018Notes
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The Calvary Cross
Richard & Linda Thompson
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
Island
via past experience library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Don’t Be Cruel
Billy Swan
I Can Help
Monument
via TK library: 7/13/2014Notes
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Cajun Moon
J.J. Cale
Okie
Shelter
via TK library: 7/13/2014Notes
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What Comes Around (Goes Around)
Dr. John
Desitively Bonnaroo
Atco
via TK library: 4/20/2015Notes
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Rock Me Gently
Andy Kim
Andy Kim
Capitol
via TK library: 9/8/2019Notes
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Bloody Well Right
Supertramp
Crime of the Century
A&M
via TK library: 4/27/2013Notes
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Too Rolling Stoned
Robin Trower
Bridge of Sighs
Capitol
via TK library: 4/21/2018Notes
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Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo
Rick Derringer
All American Boy
Blue Sky
via Dazed and Confused (1993) library: 4/3/2011Notes
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Sweet Home Alabama
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Second Helping
MCA
via TK library: 12/9/2010Notes
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Black Water
The Doobie Brothers
What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 12/3/2003 (9/29/1998)Notes
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Thank God I’m a Country Boy
John Denver
Back Home Again
RCA
via TK library: 3/10/2013Notes
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Rednecks
Randy Newman
Good Old Boys
Reprise
via TK library: 5/10/2010Notes
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Lucas Was a Redneck
Mac Davis
Stop and Smell the Roses
Columbia
via TK library: 1/16/2013Notes
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Forever Young
Bob Dylan
Planet Waves
Columbia
via TK library: 4/7/2010Notes
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I’m a Train
Albert Hammond
Albert Hammond
Mums
via TK library: 4/15/2019Notes
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Life’s Greatest Fool
Gene Clark
No Other
Asylum
via TK library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Sundown
Gordon Lightfoot
Sundown
Reprise
via TK library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Cat’s in the Cradle
Harry Chapin
Verities & Balderdash
Elektra
via the Ugly Kid Joe cover (1992) library: 1/29/2012Notes
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Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Steely Dan
Pretzel Logic
MCA
via my dad library: 11/10/2003 (10/25/2001)Notes
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For the Turnstiles
Neil Young
On the Beach
Reprise
via TK library: 9/6/2011Notes
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Angel From Montgomery
Bonnie Raitt
Streetlights
Warner Bros.
via the John Prine original by way of the Dave Matthews Band cover library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Love Hurts
Gram Parson & Emmylou Harris
Grievous Angel
Reprise
via TK library: 11/2/2019Notes
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Comfort You
Van Morrison
Veedon Fleece
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 10/27/2014Notes
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Streetlife Serenader
Billy Joel
Streetlife Serenade
Columbia
via Songs in the Attic / Brendan Caffrey library: 11/14/2003 (6/6/1998)Notes
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The Heart of Saturday Night
Tom Waits
The Heart of Saturday Night
Asylum
via TK library: 2/2/2011Notes
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Chelsea Hotel #2
Leonard Cohen
New Skin for the Old Ceremony
Columbia
via TK library: 11/8/2009Notes
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Black Eyed Dog
Nick Drake
Time of No Reply
Island
via TK library: 11/4/2003 (1/13/2001)unreleased 1974 track; released in 1986
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I’m in Love With a Girl
Big Star
Radio City
Ardent
via TK library: 4/5/2009Notes
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Depot Street
Mudcrutch
Depot Street 7"
Shelter
via the Tom Petty box set Playback library: 12/1/2003 (12/25/1995)Notes
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Late Again (Gettin’ Over You)
Kris Kristofferson
Spooky Lady’s Sideshow
Monument
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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This Time
Waylon Jennings
This Time
RCA
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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Jolene
Dolly Parton
Jolene
RCA
via TK library: 5/11/2011Notes
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Bring Back Your Love to Me
Don Gibson
Bring Back Your Love to Me
Hickory
via TK library: 9/25/2007Notes
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Another Cruel Love
The Marshall Tucker Band
A New Life
AKJ
via TK library: 5/8/2018Notes
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Scarlet Begonias
Grateful Dead
From the Mars Hotel
Grateful Dead
via TK library: 12/28/2010Notes
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Fountain of Sorrow
Jacksone Browne
Late for the Sky
Asylum
via TK library: 11/4/2010Notes
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Already Gone
Eagles
On the Border
Asylum
via TK library: 11/16/2011Notes
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You’re No Good
Linda Ronstadt
Heart Like a Wheel
Capitol
via TK library: 6/1/2014Notes
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Tonight’s the Night
Betty Wright
Danger High Voltage
Alston
via TK library: 11/3/2019Notes
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Never Can Say Goodbye
Goria Gaynor
Never Can Say Goodbye
MGM
via the Jackson 5 original library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Dancing Machine
The Jackson 5
Dancing Machine
Motown
via TK library: 2/26/2010 (on cassette ca. 1990)Notes
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Lady Marmalade
LaBelle
Nightbirds
Epic
via TK library: 5/1/2011Notes
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On and On
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Claudine
Buddah
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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Take Me to the River
Al Green
Explores Your Mind
Right Stuff
via TK library: 11/11/2003 (1/16/2000)Notes
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Let My People Go
Darondo
Legs / Let My People Go 7"
Af-Fa World
via TK library: 4/20/2008Notes
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Living in the Past
WITCH
In the Past
Zambia Music Parlour
via TK library: 11/30/2019Zambia-only release. U.S. reissue in 2013 on Now-Again.
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Hung Up on My Baby
Isaac Hayes
Tough Guys
Stax
via TK library: 5/20/2015Notes
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Summer Madness
Kool & The Gang
Light of Worlds
De-Lite
via the DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince sample library: 8/2/2018Notes
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How Long
ACE
Five-A-Side
Anchor
via TK library: 4/13/2019Notes
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Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company
Swan Song
via TK library: 12/28/2012Notes
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The Air That I Breathe
The Hollies
Hollies
Epic
via TK library: 7/1/2010Notes