Best Songs of 1975
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.
December 1, 2019
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Kashmir
Led Zeppelin
Physical Graffiti
Swan Song
via TK library: 6/9/2012Notes
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Bohemian Rhapsody
Queen
A Night at the Opera
Elektra
via TK library: 3/2/2011Notes
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Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here
Columbia
via TK library: 5/10/2010Notes
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Speed of Sound
Chris Bell
I Am the Cosmos
Rykodisc
via TK library: 10/8/2008Recorded in 1975 and released in 2002
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Dream Weaver
Gary Wright
Dream Weaver
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 9/8/2019Notes
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After the Thrill Is Gone
Eagles
One of These Nights
Asylum
via TK library: 12/1/2011Notes
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Roll Um Easy
Linda Ronstadt
Prisoner in Disguise
Elektra
via TK library: 6/1/2014Notes
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Sugar Mama
Bonnie Raitt
Home Plate
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 10/29/2014Notes
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Wishing Well
Maggie Bell
Suicide Sal
Swan Song
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Come to Mama
Ann Peebles
Tellin’ It
Hi Records
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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So in Love
Curtis Mayfield
There’s No Place Like America Today
Curtom
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Turning Point
Tyrone Davis
Turning Point!
Dakar
via TK library: 9/8/2019Notes
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I Only Have Love
Syl Johnson
Total Explosion
Hi Records
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Struttin’ My Stuff
Elvin Bishop
Struttin’ My Stuff
Capricorn
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Sneakin’ Up Behind You
The Brecker Brothers
The Brecker Bros
Arista
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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King Kong
The Jimmy Castor Bunch
Supersound
Atlantic
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Get Down Tonight
KC & The Sunshine Band
KC & The Sunshine Band
T.K. Records
via TK library: 11/7/2007Notes
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Messin’ With My Mind
LaBelle
Phoenix
Epic
via TK library: 9/29/2019Notes
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Love Rollercoaster
Ohio Players
Honey
Mercury
via TK library: 2/11/2008Notes
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Love Machine
The Miracles
City of Angels
Tamla
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Shakey Ground
The Temptations
A Song for You
Gordy
via TK library: 2/16/2009Notes
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Slippery When Wet
Commodores
Caught in the Act
Motown
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)
The Isley Brothers
The Heat Is On
T-Neck
via TK library: 1/18/2010Notes
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Don’t It Feel Good
Ramsey Lewis
Don’t It Feel Good
Columbia
via TK library: 10/21/2019Notes
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Expansions
Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes
Expansions
Flying Dutchman
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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I Got the…
Labi Siffre
Remember My Song
EMI
via the Eminem sample library: 11/1/2011UK-only release
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Darkest Light
Lafayette Afro Rock Band
Malik
Makossa International
via the Wreckx-N-Effect sample library: 7/25/2011Notes
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Water Get No Enemy
Fela Kuti
Expensive Shit
Editions Makossa
via TK library: 1/13/2019Notes
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Sissy Strut
Johnny Lewis Trio
Live Dance Set
self-released
via Wheedle’s Groove library: 7/16/2013Reissued on Wheedle’s Groove
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People Make the World Go Round
Freddie Hubbard
Polar AC
CTI
via TK library: 9/16/2018Notes
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Reasons
Earth, Wind & Fire
That’s the Way of the World
Columbia
via my dad in the ’80s library: 11/7/2003 (6/8/1996)Notes
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Sara Smile
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Daryl Hall & John Oates
RCA
via my dad in the ’80s library: 8/8/2008Notes
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I’m Not in Love
10cc
The Original Soundtrack
Mercury
via TK library: 8/16/2014Notes
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Sleep
Crack the Sky
Crack the Sky
Lifesong
via TK library: 8/6/2015Notes
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Feel Like Makin’ Love
Bad Company
Straight Shooter
Swan Song
via TK library: 12/28/2012Notes
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Sweet Emotion
Aerosmith
Toys in the Attic
Columbia
via TK library: 11/29/2009Notes
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Ballroom Blitz
The Sweet
Desolation Boulevard
RCA
via TK library: 9/29/2019Notes
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Rock and Roll All Nite
KISS
Dressed to Kill
Island
via TK library: 4/3/2011Notes
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Rosalie
Thin Lizzy
Fighting
Vertigo
via TK library: 8/25/2018Notes
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Slow Ride
Foghat
Fool for the City
Bearsville
via Dazed and Confused (1993) library: 4/3/2011Notes
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Tush
ZZ Top
Fandango!
London
via TK library: 7/28/2012Notes
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Never Been Any Reason
Head East
Flat As a Pancake
A&M
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Evil Woman
Electric Light Orchestra
Face the Music
United Artists
via TK library: 5/16/2010Notes
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Let Yourself Go
Stealers Wheel
Right or Wrong
A&M
via TK library: 9/17/2018Notes
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Turn Back the Pages
Stephen Stills
Stills
Columbia
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Love Work Out
Crosby & Nash
Wind on the Water
ABC
via TK library: 1/4/2014Notes
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Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown
Neil Young
Tonight’s the Night
Reprise
via TK library: 1/7/2011Notes
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Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way
Waylon Jennings
Dreaming My Dreams
RCA
via TK library: 1/10/2011Notes
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Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Willie Nelson
Red Headed Stranger
Columbia
via TK library: 7/3/2012Notes
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Fire on the Mountain
The Marshall Tucker Band
Searchin’ for a Rainbow
Capricorn
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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The Pill
Loretta Lynn
Back to the Country
MCA
via TK library: 4/10/2019Notes
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Rhinestone Cowboy
Glen Campbell
Rhinestone Cowboy
Capitol
via TK library: 9/8/2019Notes
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There Goes Another Love Song
The Outlaws
The Outlaws
Arista
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Almost Saturday Night
John Fogerty
John Fogerty
Asylum
via TK library: 1/12/2013Notes
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All That You Dream
Little Feat
The Last Record Album
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 10/5/2019Notes
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It Makes No Difference
The Band
Northern Lights-Southern Cross
Capitol
via TK library: 11/12/2003 (7/24/1999)Notes
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Tangled Up in Blue
Bob Dylan
Blood on the Tracks
Columbia
via TK library: 8/22/2008Notes
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Show Me the Way
Peter Frampton
Frampton
A&M
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Listen to What the Man Said
Wings
Venus and Mars
Capitol
via TK library: 8/6/2014Notes
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I Don’t Know Why
The Rolling Stones
I Don’t Know Why / Try a Little Harder 7"
ABKCO
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Look Me in the Eyes
Carly Simon
Playing Possum
Elektra
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Landslide
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 1/8/2011Notes
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Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Loudon Wainwright III
Unrequited
Columbia
via TK library: 11/7/2013Notes
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Sunday’s Child
John Martyn
Sunday’s Child
Island
via TK library: 4/11/2015Notes
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Down By the River
Undisputed Truth
Cosmic Truth
Gordy
via TK library: 10/6/2014Notes
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It’s All Over Now
Bobby Womack
I Don’t Know What the World Is Coming To
Capitol
via TK library: 7/13/2014Notes
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I Wish You Well
Bill Withers
Making Music
Columbia
via TK library: 8/17/2013Notes
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This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)
Natalie Cole
Inseparable
Capitol
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Then Came You
Dionne Warwick
Then Came You
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
James Taylor
Gorilla
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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You
George Harrison
Extra Texture
Apple
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Stand By Me
John Lennon
Rock ’N’ Roll
Apple
via TK library: 7/24/2008Notes
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Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Eric Clapton
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door / Someone Like You 7"
RSO
via TK library: 4/7/2011Notes
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These Are the Good Old Days
Albert Hammond
99 Miles From L.A.
Epic
via TK library: 7/23/2019Notes
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Gloria
Patti Smith
Horses
Arista
via TK library: 12/19/2010Notes
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Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
Born to Run
CBS
via TK library: 11/25/2008Notes
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Young Americans
David Bowie
Young Americans
RCA
via TK library: 12/8/2007Notes
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Love Is the Drug
Roxy Music
Siren
Island
via TK library: 8/6/2018Notes
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St. Elmo’s Fire
Brian Eno
Another Green World
Island
via TK library: 8/6/2018Notes
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Break Away
Art Garfunkel
Breakaway
Columbia
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Have a Good Time
Paul Simon
Still Crazy After All These Years
Columbia
via TK library: 6/13/2007Notes
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Franklin’s Tower
Grateful Dead
Blues for Allah
Grateful Dead
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Take Me in Your Arms
The Doobie Brothers
Stampede
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 12/3/2003 (9/29/1998)Notes
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December, 1963 (Oh What a Night!)
The Four Seasons
Who Loves You
Warner Bros.
via TK library: 9/8/2019Notes
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Jive Talkin’
Bee Gees
Main Course
RSO
via TK library: 3/28/2013Notes
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Philadelphia Freedom
The Elton John Band
Philadelphia Freedom 7"
MCA
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Love Will Keep Us Together
Captain & Tennille
Love Will Keep Us Together
A&M
via TK library: 12/28/2009Notes
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Everyone’s Gone to the Movies
Steely Dan
Katy Lied
MCA
via TK library: 11/10/2003 (12/25/2001)Notes
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Low Rider
War
Why Can’t We Be Friends?
United Artists
via my dad in the ’90s library: 7/23/2008Notes
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Action Speaks Louder Than Words
Chocolate Milk
Action Speaks Louder Than Words
RCA
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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You Sexy Thing
Hot Chocolate
Hot Chocolate
Big Tree
via TK library: 10/8/2008Notes
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Supernatural Thing, Pt. 1
Ben E. King
Supernatural
Atlantic
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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Baby That’s Backatcha
Smokey Robinson
A Quiet Storm
Tamla
via TK library: 10/14/2019Notes
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The Hustle
Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony
The Hustle 7"
H&L
via TK library: 9/8/2019Notes
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Love to Love You Baby
Donna Summer
Love to Love You Baby
Oasis
via TK library: 7/27/2012Notes
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Sweet Thing
Rufus & Chaka Khan
Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
MCA
via TK library: 6/28/2012Notes
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Must Be Dues
Melba Moore
Peach Melba
Buddah
via TK library: 11/2/2019Notes
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Is It Love We’re Missin’
Quincy Jones
Mellow Madness
A&M
via TK library: 7/17/2019Notes
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Destination You!
Shuggie Otis
Wings of Love
Epic
via TK library: 4/16/2013Recorded in 1975 and released in 2013
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Wake Up Everybody
Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
Wake Up Everybody
Philadelphia International
via TK library: 1/17/2014Notes