Album Chart of 1975
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| Album Chart of 1975 |
38 tracks, runtime 3h 29m. The playlist features the highest-rated track from each album (subject to what's available on YouTube) in chart order, with a minimum individual track-rating of 6.5 required for inclusion. To view the full tracklist, access shuffle-play or avoid in-play interruption due to territorially blocked videos, it might be best playing directly via YouTube 
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO PONY, LIKE BONY MORONIE?
Thanks to folks like Patti Smith, the true teen spirit of rock n roll was still chipping away at the god-awful rock mainstream of the early to mid-70s.
Intelligent, challenging and exciting, her invigorating debut, "Horses", foretold the spirit of DIY inventiveness that would brighten up the second half of the decade.
Patti’s group were far from alone as punky agitators in New York at this time – The Dictators can lay a bona-fide claim to the first Punk LP, with at least 4 tracks from their March ’75 debut being Punk by the classic ’77 definition of the term. In Europe, Klaus Dinger’s vision of what Neu! should be, was sneering and snarling at stadium rock with 2 fingers in the air – one for each chord.
’Pon de island, U-Roy and Burning Spear took full advantage of the Wailers having a breather, and grabbed the headlines at home and abroad with their intensely exciting long-players.
Despite operating against backgrounds that were incredibly tough and oppressive, there were terrific African LPs in my chart this year from Moses Mchunu (South Africa), Ikenga Super Stars of Africa (Nigeria) and Teta Lando (Angola).
Oblivious to fashion and trend, Sir Bob Dylan was BACK this year with gravel in his guts, and spit in his eye – and that’s music to my ears ; - )
The Jukebox Rebel
28-Jun-2016
Patti Smith
Arista AL-4066
“A masterpiece” Proto-PunkJukebox picks: “Land: Horses / Land Of A Thousand Dances / La Mer(de)” (10) • “Kimberly” (10) • “Redondo Beach” (9.8)
The debut album from the 28-year-old arrived at the very tail end of ‘75. ‘Til recently, Patti’s work had been played ou...more →
U-Roy
TR International TR-73457
“Excellent” ReggaeJukebox picks: “Dreadlocks Dread” (9.6) • “Natty Don’t Fear” (9.1) • “Listen To The Teacher” (8.9)
Roots rocking is the play on U-Roys second long-player, largely down to the terrific engineering skills of Errol Thompso...more →
Neu!
Brain brain-1062
“Excellent” Trance RockJukebox picks: “After Eight” (9.2) • “Hero” (8.7) • “Isi” (7.8)
Brilliantly, Neu! reconvened in winter ’74-’75 for one last hurrah and this time the inconsistency which plagued previou...more →
Moses Mchunu
Motella BL-57
“Excellent” AfricanaJukebox picks: “lnkunzi Emnyama” (9.4) • “Ngizula Nomhlaba” (8.8) • “Emzini Bakhala Ngawe” (8.4)
Excellence abounds on the debut set from the 26-year-old, native to the rural village of Nkandla in the East, but now se...more →
Bob Dylan
Columbia PC-33235
“Really good” Folk; Folk Rock / AmericanaJukebox picks: “Lily, Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts” (9.8) • “Idiot Wind” (9.3) • “Buckets Of Rain” (7.8)
Well, his spell at Asylum Records didn’t last too long – he was straight back to Columbia after just 1 year away, and “B...more →
Ivor Cutler
Virgin V-2037
“Really good” Avant-Garde; Poetry; StorytellingJukebox picks: “Life In A Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 2, Ep. 2” (10) • “The Stranger” (9.8) • “The Dirty Dinner” (9.6)
Ivor’s second of three mid 70’s LP’s for Virgin Records, featuring 12 songs, 11 poems and 8 stories. Once again, the set...more →
Burning Spear
Island Records ILPS-9377
“Really good” ReggaeJukebox picks: “Slavery Days” (9.4) • “The Invasion” (7.9) • “Resting Place” (7.8)
After two albums for Coxsone Dodd's Studio One label, the vocal trio of Winston Rodney (30, lead vocals), Delroy Hines (...more →
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia PC-33795
“Really good” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; New WaveJukebox picks: “Born To Run” (9.4) • “Thunder Road” (7.9) • “Backstreets” (7.3)
The 25-year-old was out to colour-in the mid-70s grey of the AOR market and this was certainly achieved on a set which o...more →
Ikenga Super Stars of Africa
RAS ASALPS-2
“Good” AfricanaJukebox picks: “Ikenga In Africa” (7.7) • “Ikenga Go Marry Me” (6.0)
Nigeria’s Ikenga Super Stars of Africa, led by Vincent Okoroego, broke through all over the continent with this release,...more →
Lou Reed
RCA Victor APL1-0915
“Good” Soft Rock / A.O.R.Jukebox picks: “Coney Island Baby” (9.3) • “Kicks” (7.1) • “Ooohhh Baby” (6.9)
Had I been around back in December’ 75, I’d have been pretty pissed off with Lou Reed by now. After his seminal works wi...more →
Tom Waits
Asylum Records 7E-2008
“Decent enough” JazzJukebox picks: “(Intro) To "Better Off Without A Wife"” (8.8) • “(Opening Intro)” (7.9) • “Emotional Weather Report” (7.4)
Amazingly, the voice of the 25-year-old has aged some 30 years overnight, and we’re to believe he’s now a seasoned old g...more →
Parliament
Casablanca NBLP-7022
“Decent enough” Disco / FunkJukebox picks: “Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)” (7.7) • “Unfunky Ufo” (7.1) • “P-Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)” (6.4)
A whole lotta rhythm goin’ down… yowsa yowsa yowsa etc etc. Can’t say I was ever overly impressed by George Clinton’s hi...more →
Neil Young
Reprise Records MS-2221
“Decent enough” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Folk Rock / AmericanaJukebox picks: “Tired Eyes” (9.1) • “Tonight's The Night, part II” (7.6) • “Tonight's The Night” (7.4)
Released in June ’75 almost two years after it was recorded; how strange for a set that was considered by Neil to be the...more →
Teta Lando
CDA NALP-6000
“Decent enough” Folk; AfricanaJukebox picks: “FNLA - MPLA” (8.5) • “Lulendo Mpaxi” (7.7) • “Lembele Iembele” (7.4)
What with the stresses and hardships caused by the Angolan War of Independence (1961-1974), it perhaps comes as no surpr...more →
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
Reprise Records MS-2242
“Decent enough” Rock; Folk Rock / AmericanaJukebox picks: “Don’t Cry No Tears” (7.5) • “Barstool Blues” (7.4) • “Stupid Girl” (7.1)
Following the death of Danny Whitten, the future for Crazy Horse as an independent group of their own looked to be over ...more →
Roxy Music
Island Records ILPS-9344
“Decent enough” Cerebral Pop; New WaveJukebox picks: “Love Is The Drug” (7.8) • “Both Ends Burning” (6.9) • “Whirlwind” (6.8)
“Siren” was widely acclaimed, but I can’t escape the feeling that they’re slowly slipping away from me at this stage. Th...more →
Kraftwerk
Kling Klang 1C 062-82 087
“Decent enough” ElectronicaJukebox picks: “Radioaktivität” (9.4) • “Radioland” (8.5) • “Ohm Sweet Ohm” (8.3)
Arriving in October ’75 was the next instalment from the fascinating and mysterious electronic group from Düsseldorf. Th...more →
The Dubliners
RAM Records RMLP-1012
“Decent enough” FolkJukebox picks: “The Auld Triangle [album version ‘75]” (7.3) • “Farewell To Carlingford” (6.9) • “The Lark In The Morning” (6.9)
During the middle of 1974, the Dubliners lost two of their five; Ciarán and Ronnie. Ciarán Bourke (tin whistler and guit...more →
Led Zeppelin
Swan Song SSK-89400
“Decent enough” RockJukebox picks: “Kashmir” (9.8) • “Black Country Woman” (7.7) • “Bron-Yr-Aur” (7.5)
Their tenure at Atlantic now at an end, “Physical Graffiti”, delivered in February ’75, was the first on their own label...more →
The Dictators
Epic KE-33348
“Decent enough” PunkJukebox picks: “California Sun” (7.0) • “Two Tub Man” (6.7) • “Master Race Rock” (6.6)
The snotty debut from these delinquents with attitude was only slightly spoiled by the vaguely cartoonish nature of thei...more →
Betty Davis
Island Records ILPS-9329
“Decent enough” Disco / FunkJukebox picks: “F.U.N.K.” (8.2) • “Dedicated To The Press” (6.9) • “The Lone Ranger” (6.6)
Another solid album of hard-funk nastiness, only slightly hampered by the laws of diminishing returns. Album highlight “...more →
Dr. Feelgood
United Artists UAS-29727
“Average” Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “That Ain't The Way To Behave” (7.4) • “Twenty Yards Behind” (7.1) • “I Don't Mind” (7.0)
After more than 3 years of hard-slog ‘round the pub-circuit of the South East, things were beginning to happen for this ...more →
Willie Nelson
Columbia KC-33482
“Average” CountryJukebox picks: “Medley: Blue Rock Montana / Red Headed Stranger” (6.9) • “Red Headed Stranger” (6.8) • “Denver” (6.8)
A major success for Willie, establishing him once and for all as a big player in his own right in the country field, and...more →
Loudon Wainwright III
Columbia PC-33369
“Average” Alternative Folk; SongwriterJukebox picks: “The Untitled [live ’74]” (7.9) • “Rufus Is A Tit Man [live ’74]” (7.8) • “Mr. Guilty [live ’74]” (7.0)
Speaking of that memorable cover shot, Loudon says: “The big picture of me on the front cover of the album with the te...more →
Eno
Island Records ILPS-9351
“Average” Electronica; Ambient; New WaveJukebox picks: “Everything Merges With The Night” (7.7) • “The Big Ship” (7.4) • “Golden Hours” (7.2)
Once again, “Another Green World” seen the bold Mr Eno enter the studio with no pre-conceptions, no fore-planning, bar t...more →
Keith Jarrett
ECM Records ECM-1064/1065
“Average” Contemporary Classical; JazzJukebox picks: “Köln, January 24, 1975 Part I” (7.2) • “Köln, January 24, 1975 Part II a” (6.8) • “Köln, January 24, 1975 Part II b” (5.5)
An absorbing 66 minutes from one man and a piano, with occasional moans and grunts in all the right places, resulting in...more →
Can
EMI Electrola 1C 062-29 600
“Average” New WaveJukebox picks: “Half Past One” (8.0) • “Full Moon On The Highway” (6.6) • “Red Hot Indians” (6.1)
More conventional than their preceding works, “Landed” can be viewed as the first Can album to look backwards; a confusi...more →
Selda
Türküola (Germany) Cassette 475
“Average” Folk; Folk Rock / Americana; Middle Eastern; RockJukebox picks: “Bad-I Sabah” (8.6) • “Mehmet Emmi” (7.3) • “Yaylalar” (6.8)
It’s exceedingly difficult to get a good grasp of Selda Bağcan’s complete discography – I spent a long-time having a go,...more →
Curtis Mayfield
Curtom CU-5001
“Average” R n BJukebox picks: “Billy Jack” (7.4) • “Hard Times” (6.3) • “When Seasons Change” (5.5)
What a cracking album cover! It was based on a famous photograph by Margaret Bourke-White and published in Life Magazine...more →
Chuck Berry
Chess CH-60032
“Average” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Baby, What You Want Me To Do” (7.3) • “Don’t You Lie To Me” (6.4) • “Sue Answer” (6.0)
The all-important 17th album must be eponymously titled. Also, it must be the one which contains the most cover versions...more →
Dr. Feelgood
United Artists UAS-29880
“Below average” Blues / Rhythm n Blues; Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Rock n Roll / RockabillyJukebox picks: “Going Back Home” (6.8) • “Don't Let Your Daddy Know” (6.5) • “Back In The Night” (5.9)
The limited edginess of January’s debut LP is further eroded on the follow up just 9 months later, as the malpracticing ...more →
Joni Mitchell
Asylum Records 7E-1051
“Below average” Jazz; SongwriterJukebox picks: “The Jungle Line” (8.7) • “Harry's House / Centerpiece” (7.2) • “The Hissing of Summer Lawns” (5.5)
By this stage, the pop sensibilities of “Ladies of the Canyon” (1970) and “Blue” (1971) were a thing of the past as Joni...more →
ABBA
Polar POLS-262
“Below average” PopJukebox picks: “I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do” (8.3) • “SOS” (7.7) • “So Long” (7.6)
The European Cup winners of 1974 continued their good form into ’75 with their classic 1-2-2 formation – with Stig at th...more →
Bra Sello
Soweto SWA-14014
“Below average” Disco / FunkJukebox picks: “Butterfly, part 1” (5.3) • “Butterfly, part 2” (5.2)
Recorded at the Satbel Recording Studios in Johannesburg, engineered by Paul Dobbe and produced by Cambridge Matiwane. T...more →
Parliament
Casablanca NBLP-7014
“Below average” Disco / FunkJukebox picks: “Chocolate City” (6.4) • “Let Me Be” (6.0) • “Bigfootin’” (5.7)
A black majority now inhabited Washington, D.C. and the term “Chocolate City” was banded about positively by many, most ...more →
John Cale
Island Records ILPS-9350
“Below average” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; RockJukebox picks: “Cable Hogue” (6.7) • “Pablo Picasso” (6.6) • “Engine” (5.9)
Often sounding tired and stuck in that horrid early to mid-70s sludge-rock sound, “Helen Of Troy” only occasionally deli...more →
Robert Wyatt
Virgin V-2034
“Below average” SongwriterJukebox picks: “Sonia” (6.0) • “Soup Song” (5.6) • “Team Spirit” (5.5)
Robert plays keyboards and sings on this one, backed by a core group of Bill MacCormick (bass), Laurie Allan (drums), Ge...more →
Black Sabbath
NEMS 9119-001
“Poor” RockJukebox picks: “Hole In The Sky” (7.1) • “Symptom Of The Universe” (6.4) • “Don’t Start (Too Late)” (5.4)
Starts off strongly with the chunky “Hole In The Sky”, but deteriorates into theatrical territories best left to the...more →
David Bowie
RCA Victor RS-1006
“Poor” Disco / FunkJukebox picks: “Fame” (6.5) • “Across The Universe” (6.4) • “Young Americans” (6.3)
Pop's great chameleon re-invents once more, this time he's gonna be a soul man, transporting himself and his family unit...more →
Ray Martin and his Orchestra
Decca SPA-391
“Poor” Film Score / IncidentalJukebox picks: “Hawaii Five-O” (6.5) • “Ironside” (6.4) • “Mission Impossible” (6.0)
Following on from the first volume in '73, it's the usual high quality instrumentation and arrangement from Ray, with at...more →
John Cale
Island Records ILPS-9317
“Poor” RockJukebox picks: “The Jeweler” (8.0) • “Guts” (6.8) • “Heartbreak Hotel” (6.5)
To my sensitive ears, “Slow Dazzle” is mostly an album of session muso sludge that Jools Holland would be proud of. Amaz...more →
Emmylou Harris
Reprise Records MS 2213
“Poor” CountryJukebox picks: “Too Far Gone” (6.3) • “Bluebird Wine” (5.7) • “Queen of the Silver Dollar” (5.0)
The second LP from the 27-year-old arrived in February '75, underlining her folk-singer-turned-country-gal position, fiv...more →
Aerosmith
Columbia PC-33479
“Poor” RockJukebox picks: “Round And Round” (5.9) • “Uncle Salty” (5.5) • “Walk This Way” (5.2)
With their third album in three years the Boston rockers made a breakthrough in Canada (#7) as well as heightening their...more →
Pink Floyd
Harvest SHVL-814
“Poor” ProgJukebox picks: “Wish You Were Here” (6.1) • “Welcome To The Machine” (5.6) • “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I–V)” (4.8)
30 months on from “Dark Side Of The Moon”, the quartet's highly-anticipated follow up finally arrived in September '75. ...more →
Rod Stewart
Warner Bros. Records K-56151
“Lame” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Pop Ballad; Rock; Soft Rock / A.O.R.Jukebox picks: “Drift Away” (6.1) • “Stone Cold Sober” (4.9) • “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” (4.8)
Having dumped dumped all of his UK bandmates, the bold Rod was free to roam and play wherever and with whoever. He's los...more →
Queen
EMI EMTC-103
“Lame” Rock; Crooner / CabaretJukebox picks: “Bohemian Rhapsody” (6.0) • “You’re My Best Friend” (5.7) • “'39” (5.0)
Freed from a nightmare management deal, Queen were financially rock bottom as this expensive production was launched in ...more →
Dion
Phil Spector International 2307-002
“Lame” Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Only You Know” (5.8) • “Your Own Back Yard” (5.6) • “Born To Be With You” (5.1)
The all-time favourite album of The Who's Pete Townshend. Celebrated by Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream. Cited as an in...more →
Greyhound
Mercury SRM-1-1054
“Terrible” ReggaeJukebox picks: “Mango Rock” (6.1) • “Sky High” (6.0) • “Wappadusa” (5.7)
Only really 2 or 3 worthwhile tracks here, the rest all a bit schmaltzy and insincere…...more →
Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson
Arista A-4030
“Terrible” Jazz; R n BJukebox picks: “Pardon Our Analysis (We Beg Your Pardon) [live]” (5.2) • “Guerilla” (4.8) • “Winter In America [album version 1975]” (4.8)
The move to Arista Records led to a bigger, smoother, slicker and jazzier production than ever before, with the eight-pi...more →
King Kennedy
EMI Brigadiers RG-V-1006
“Terrible” Disco / FunkJukebox picks: “Ride On Scorpio” (4.4) • “Meeting Up” (4.3) • “Midnight Moon” (3.1)
I wonder how many record buyers committed their hard-earned on the strength of that cover? Alas, King Kennedy is not the...more →
Wings
Capitol Records PCTC-254
“Terrible” Rock; SongwriterJukebox picks: “Call Me Back Again” (5.5) • “Magneto And Titanium Man” (5.3) • “You Gave Me The Answer” (4.4)
For this May '75 release the trio was expanded to a quintet featuring Paul McCartney (vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards, ...more →
The Eric Burdon Band
Capitol Records SMAS-11426
“Terrible” Rock; Blues Rock / Soul RockJukebox picks: “City Boy” (4.5) • “Rainbow” (4.5) • “The Man” (4.0)
Another AOR dander into Dullsville. With added cod-funk rock. Completely tedious…...more →
Lou Reed
RCA Victor CPL2-1101
“Terrible” Avant-GardeJukebox picks: “Metal Machine Music, part 1” (3.0) • “Metal Machine Music, part 2” (3.0) • “Metal Machine Music, part 3” (3.0)
In 2011, Lou Reed stated that Metallica fans had threatened to shoot him due to the collaboration on “Lulu”. In response...more →
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor APL1-0873
“Dire” CountryJukebox picks: “There’s A Honky Tonk Angel (Who Will Take Me Back In)” (3.7) • “If You Talk In Your Sleep” (3.4) • “Promised Land” (3.2)
Following on from the inappropriately titled “Good Times” 10 months earlier, this was the second album assembled from hi...more →
Elvis
RCA Victor APL1-1039
“Dire” CountryJukebox picks: “I Can Help” (5.1) • “Shake A Hand” (4.1) • “Woman Without Love” (3.4)
Cod Rock n Roll, bland country rock and Perry-Como-esque levels of schmaltz balladeering make up most of “Today”, an alb...more →
Earth, Wind and Fire
Columbia PC-33280
“Dire” Disco / FunkJukebox picks: “Africano” (4.5) • “Shining Star” (4.4) • “Yearnin' Learnin'” (2.7)
A huge #1 hit album stateside, highly acclaimed by the critics, and regarded by many as their crowning glory. The album ...more →
Adrienne Johnston
RCA Victor SF-8416
“Dire” Pop BalladJukebox picks: “Long Ride In The Morning” (5.0) • “So Long To Dublin” (3.7) • “So Many Country Songs” (3.4)
This lass was, for me, immortalized by her ethereal reading of “The Lambs On The Green Hills” in 1968. Having made her m...more →
Bay City Rollers
Bell Records SYBEL-8001
“An embarrassment” PopJukebox picks: “Bye Bye Baby” (4.0) • “Keep On Dancing ’75” (3.8) • “Angel Baby” (3.7)
The second scream-a-long-a-Rollers was delivered in May '75 and gave them their second #1 in the British album charts, w...more →
Eagles
Asylum Records 7E-1039
“An embarrassment” Soft Rock / A.O.R.Jukebox picks: “Journey Of The Sorcerer” (3.1) • “Take It To The Limit” (2.6) • “Hollywood Waltz” (2.4)
Huge breakthrough album for the L.A. group, giving them their first #1 hit in the US and their first Top 10 in the UK. T...more →
| see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1975 |
Album Charts by year
“A-list”
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“B-list”
1943 1945 1946 1950 1951 1952 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Album Charts by decade
“A-list”
1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s