Best Songs of 1976

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

Miami 2017 (I’ve Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

Billy Joel

Turnstiles

Columbia
via TK library: 2/16/2015

Notes
Rich Girl

Daryl Hall & John Oates

Bigger Than Both of Us

RCA
via TK library: 8/8/2008

Notes
Welcome Back

John Sebastian

Welcome Back

Reprise
via TK library: 3/30/2008

Notes
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Elton John & Kiki Dee

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Rocket Record Company
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Lonely Boy

Andrew Gold

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Asylum
via TK library: 11/2/2019

Notes
Takin’ It to the Streets

The Doobie Brothers

Takin’ It to the Streets

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 12/3/2003 (TK)

Notes
Midnight Lady

Rare Earth

Midnight Lady

Rare Earth
via TK library: 8/14/2018

Notes
Disco Lady

Johnnie Taylor

Eargasm

Columbia
via TK library: 9/29/2019

Notes
Don’t Leave Me This Way

Thelma Houston

Any Way You Like It

Tamla
via TK library: 3/19/2019

Notes
You Should Be Dancing

Bee Gees

Children of the World

RSO
via TK library: 12/18/2011

Notes
More, More, More

The Andrea True Connection

More, More, More

Buddah
via the Len sample/interpolation (1999) library: 7/23/2019

Notes
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Leo Sayer

Endless Flight

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 1/29/2012

Notes
Dancing Queen

ABBA

Arrival

Universal
via TK library: 10/8/2011

Notes
Turn the Beat Around

Vicki Sue Robinson

Never Gonna Let You Go

RCA
via TK library: 11/5/2019

Notes
Young Hearts Run Free

Candi Staton

Young Hearts Run Free

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 9/8/2019

Notes
If I Didn’t Mean You Well

Bill Withers

Naked & Warm

Columbia
via TK library: 10/15/2013

Notes
Lowdown

Boz Scaggs

Silk Degrees

Columbia
via TK library: 10/12/2019

Notes
Getaway

Earth, Wind & Fire

Spirit

Columbia
via TK library: 11/17/2003 (TK)

Notes
(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty

KC & the Sunshine Band

Part 3

T.K.
via TK library: 10/28/2018

Notes
Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)

Parliament

Mothership Connection

Island
via TK library: 1/15/2011

Notes
It’s All Right Now

Eddie Harris

That Is Why You’re Overweight

Atlantic
via TK library: 11/2/2019

Notes
Aufu Oodu

Ramsey Lewis

Salongo

Capitol
via TK library: 3/26/2013

Notes
Girl, I Think the World About You

Commodores

Hot on the Tracks

Motown
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
I’ll Be Good to You

The Brothers Johnson

Look Out for #1

A&M
via TK library: 9/8/2019

Notes
Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Roy Ayers Ubiquity

Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Polydor
via TK library: 7/1/2012

Notes
Summer

War

Greatest Hits

United Artists
via TK library: 7/23/2008

Notes
Shower the People

James Taylor

In the Pocket

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Amelia

Joni Mitchell

Hejira

Asylum
via TK library: 7/20/2014

Notes
Wildman

Ginny Reilly & Dave Maloney

At Last

Freckle
via TK library: 6/16/2015

Notes
Hasten Down the Wind

Linda Ronstadt

Hasten Down the Wind

Asylum
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Brand New Heartache

Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris

Sleepless Nights

A&M
via TK library: 11/2/2019

Notes
Hog of the Forsaken

Michael Hurley

Long Journey

Rounder
via TK library: 11/12/2019

Notes
When the Sun Goes Down Tomorrow

Dolly Parton

All I Can Do

RCA
via TK library: 11/5/2019

Notes
If You Don’t Like Hank Williams

Kris Kristofferson

Surreal Thing

Monument
via TK library: 6/20/2015

Notes
Long May You Run

Stills Young Band

Long May You Run

Reprise
via unknown, but a TV show, I think (ca. 2000 or 2001) library: 4/25/2010

Notes
Spotlight

Crosby & Nash

Whistling Down the Wire

MCA
via TK library: 1/24/2014

Notes
Are You Ready for the Country

Waylon Jennings

Are You Ready for the Country

RCA
via TK library: 10/6/2014

Notes
Let Your Love Flow

The Bellamy Brothers

Bellamy Brothers

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 9/8/2019

Notes
Life in the Fast Lane

Eagles

Hotel California

Asylum
via TK library: 12/1/2011

Notes
Still the One

Orleans

Waking and Dreaming

Asylum
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Carry on Wayward Son

Kansas

Leftoverture

Krishner
via TK library: 12/3/2011

Notes
Drivin’ Wheel

Foghat

Night Shift

Bearsville
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
The Boys Are Back in Town

Thin Lizzy

Jailbreak

Island
via TK library: 11/2/2011

Notes
So It Goes

Nick Lowe

So It Goes 7"

Stiff
via TK library: 3/28/2009

Notes
Body Talk

The Groundhogs

Black Diamond

United Artists
via TK library: 11/10/2018

Notes
Shake Some Action

Flamin’ Groovies

Shake Some Action

Sire
via TK library: 2/2/2015

Notes
Roadrunner

The Modern Lovers

The Modern Lovers

Beserkley
via TK library: 10/8/2011

Notes
Hanging on the Telephone

The Nerves

Nerves

The Nerves
via TK library: 8/6/2018

Notes
Ask the Angels

Patti Smith Group

Radio Ethiopia

Arista
via TK library: 11/3/2019

Notes
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead

Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon

Elektra
via TK library: 9/10/2011

Notes
Crazy Feeling

Lou Reed

Coney Island Baby

RCA
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Crazy on You

Heart

Dreamboat Annie

Capitol
via TK library: 2/26/2011

Notes
Cherry Bomb

The Runaways

The Runaways

Mercury
via TK library: 8/16/2014

Notes
Judy Is a Punk

Ramones

Ramones

Sire
via TK library: 8/22/2008

Notes
Do Ya

Electric Light Orchestra

A New World Record

United Artists
via TK library: 5/16/2010

Notes
Don’t Take Me Alive

Steely Dan

The Royal Scam

MCA
via my dad, 103.7 The Mountain library: 11/10/2003 (TK)

Notes
Night Moves

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

Night Moves

Capitol
via TK library: 6/3/2013

Notes
The Pretender

Jackson Browne

The Pretender

Asylum
via TK library: 11/4/2010

Notes
Year of the Cat

Al Stewart

Year of the Cat

Janus
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
More Than a Feeling

Boston

Boston

Epic
via TK library: 2/8/2011

Notes
Back in the Saddle

Aerosmith

Rocks

Columbia
via TK library: 8/25/2018

Notes
Somebody to Love

Queen

A Day at the Races

Elektra
via TK library: 3/2/2011

Notes
Silly Love Songs

Wings

Wings at the Speed of Sound

Capitol
via TK library: 6/25/2011

Notes
Beautiful Girl

George Harrison

Thirty Three & 1/3

Dark Horse
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Memory Motel

The Rolling Stones

Black and Blue

Rolling Stones
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)

Rod Stewart

A Night on the Town

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 10/21/2008

Notes
Ooh Baby (Make Me Feel So Young)

Terry Reid

Seed of Memory

ABC
via TK library: 9/15/2014

Notes
Closer to You

Stephen Stills

Illegal Stills

Columbia
via TK library: 2/5/2011

Notes
Get It Up for Love

Ned Doheny

Hard Candy

Columbia
via TK library: 10/12/2019

Notes
Breezin’

George Benson

Breezin’

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
I Want You

Marvin Gaye

I Want You

Motown
via TK library: 11/20/2013

Notes
You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

Lou Rawls

All Things in Time

Philadelphia International
via TK library: 9/29/2019

Notes
Theme From S.W.A.T.

Rhythm Heritage

Disco-Fied

ABC
via TK library: 9/8/2019

Notes
Sir Duke

Stevie Wonder

Songs in the Key of Life

Tamla
via TK library: 9/11/2007

Notes
I’m Going Down

Rose Royce

Car Wash

MCA
via TK library: 4/10/2019

Notes
Something He Can Feel

Aretha Franklin

Sparkle

Atlantic
via the En Vogue cover library: 8/17/2018

Notes
Love Hangover

Diana Ross

Diana Ross

Motown
via TK library: 8/6/2018

Notes
Boogie Nights

Heatwave

Too Hot to Handle

Epic
via TK library: 5/26/2013

Notes
People of Today

The Isley Brothers

Harvest for the World

T-Neck
via TK library: 10/12/2019

Notes
Let It Shine

Al Green

Full of Fire

Right Stuff
via TK library: 11/11/2003 (TK)

Notes
Get Up Offa That Thing

James Brown

Get Up Offa That Thing

Polydor
via TK library: 8/22/2008

Notes
Play That Funky Music

Wild Cherry

Wild Cherry

Epic
via the Vanilla Ice cover library: 2/11/2008

Notes
The Rubberband Man

The Spinners

Happiness Is Being With the Spinners

Atlantic
via TK library: 8/13/2018

Notes
Golden Years

David Bowie

Station to Station

Virgin
via TK library: 12/8/2007

Notes
Home Is Where the Heart Is

Bobby Womack & The Brotherhood

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Columbia
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Other Side of Town

The Beckies

The Beckies

Sire
via TK library: 11/3/2019

Notes
Rock’n Me Baby

Steve Miller Band

Fly Like an Eagle

Capitol
via the ether library: 11/15/2003 (TK)

Notes
Blinded by the Light

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

The Roaring Silence

Warner Bros.
via TK library: 9/8/2019

Notes
A Trick of the Tail

Genesis

A Trick of the Tail

Atco
via TK library: 9/23/2013

Notes
Devil Woman

Cliff Richard

I’m Nearly Famous

EMI
via TK library: 9/7/2013

Notes
Honor Among Thieves

Artful Dodger

Honor Among Thieves

Columbia
via TK library: 11/5/2019

Notes
Hold Back the Night

Graham Parker & The Rumour

Heat Treatment

Mercury
via TK library: 11/2/2019

Notes
Man Smart, Woman Smarter

Robert Palmer

Some People Can Do What They Like

Island
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Brother John

The Wild Tchoupitoulas

The Wild Tchoupitoulas

Mardi Gras Indian Music
via TK library: 7/17/2019

Notes
Jon the Generator

Maria Muldaur

Sweet Harmony

Reprise
via TK library: 11/2/2019

Notes
Travelin’ Light

J.J. Cale

Troubadour

Shelter
via the Widespread Panic cover library: 10/14/2019

Notes
Everything That ’Cha Do (Will Come Back to You)

Wet Willie

The Wetter the Better

Capricorn
via TK library: 10/14/2019

Notes
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper

Blue Öyster Cult

Agents of Fortune

Columbia
via TK library: 7/21/2012

Notes
American Girl

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Gone Gator/MCA
via TK library: 11/30/2003 (TK)

Notes
Take Me Away

Roger McGuinn

Cardiff Rose

Columbia
via TK library: 11/5/2019

Notes

Etcetera

Best Songs of 1976

Miami 2017 (I’ve Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

Billy Joel

Turnstiles

Rich Girl

Daryl Hall & John Oates

Bigger Than Both of Us

Welcome Back

John Sebastian

Welcome Back

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Elton John & Kiki Dee

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Lonely Boy

Andrew Gold

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Takin’ It to the Streets

The Doobie Brothers

Takin’ It to the Streets

Midnight Lady

Rare Earth

Midnight Lady

Disco Lady

Johnnie Taylor

Eargasm

Don’t Leave Me This Way

Thelma Houston

Any Way You Like It

You Should Be Dancing

Bee Gees

Children of the World

More, More, More

The Andrea True Connection

More, More, More

You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

Leo Sayer

Endless Flight

Dancing Queen

ABBA

Arrival

Turn the Beat Around

Vicki Sue Robinson

Never Gonna Let You Go

Young Hearts Run Free

Candi Staton

Young Hearts Run Free

If I Didn’t Mean You Well

Bill Withers

Naked & Warm

Lowdown

Boz Scaggs

Silk Degrees

Getaway

Earth, Wind & Fire

Spirit

(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty

KC & the Sunshine Band

Part 3

Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)

Parliament

Mothership Connection

It’s All Right Now

Eddie Harris

That Is Why You’re Overweight

Aufu Oodu

Ramsey Lewis

Salongo

Girl, I Think the World About You

Commodores

Hot on the Tracks

I’ll Be Good to You

The Brothers Johnson

Look Out for #1

Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Roy Ayers Ubiquity

Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Summer

War

Greatest Hits