Fifteen Reasons Why 1975 Still Tops The Rock Chart

Even though we are nearly halfway through 2020, it is 1975 at the top of the music chart. The 1975 is an alt rock band, whose new album Notes on a Conditional Form is currently number one.

Most boomers , like me, are probably only vaguely aware of the group, even though they have been around for the last half decade. We would, however, have to agree that they chose an excellent year as their name, especially when you look back at all the great records that were released in 1975.

Bob Dylan stood out the most, winning over fans and critics alike with Blood on the Tracks in January. A few months later his late Sixties collaboration with the Band, The Basement Tapes, was finally officially released.

Here are fifteen of the other records that came out in 1975.

1. A Night at the Opera by Queen
Of course this fourth offering from Queen have us "Bohemian Rhapsody," but making it even more memorable are tracks such as " Death in Two Legs" and "You're My Best Friend."

2. Self-Titled by Ambrosia
Citing Kurt Vonnegut and T.S. Eliot, as well as Lewis Carroll, the prog-rock quartet made a sensational debut.

3. Welcome To My Nightmare by Alice Cooper
His long time back up band behind him, Vincent Furnier became more showman than rocker while still scoring three solid singles.

4. Young Americans by David Bowie
Ziggy Stardust flexes his blue-eyed soul talents in the title track, which also helped set up the ensuing success of "Fame."

5. Unrequited by Loudon Wainwright III
One side is studio cuts, but the better half by far is the live set on the back, which has the folk singer trading jokes with the audience.

6. Dressed To Kill by Kiss
"Rock and Roll All Nite" first appeared here, but later that year it would become a huge hit on the Kiss Alive! double album.

7. Katy Lied by Steely Dan
Long before it became the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday was best known as the first single from the jazz-rock assembly's follow up to Can't Buy a Thrill.

8. The Original Soundtrack by 10cc
The opening track from this third album allegedly inspired Bohemian Rhapsody, even though "I'm Not In Love" was a much bigger hit.

9. One of These Nights by the Eagles
Bernie Leadon left after this album, which pretty much ended the country side apparent on "Lyin' Eyes."

10. Crisis? What Crisis? by Supertramp
Hints of Breakfast In America can be heard in this forerunner, especially in tunes like "Sister Moonshine" and "A Soapbox Opera."

11. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
How could a band possibly follow up a classic like Dark Side of the Moon? Well, "Here" is your answer.

12. Face the Music by the Electric Light Orchestra
A strange magic permeates this record, which also offers gems about Poker as well as an Evil Woman.

13. Rock of the Westies by Elton John
"Island Girl" and "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" were bigger hits, but my favorite tracks are "I Feel Like a Bullet" and "Feed Me."

14. The Who By Numbers by the Who
Do not judge this album by its single "Squeeze Box" because its other songs are far superior, as evidenced by "Slip Kid" and "How Many Friends."

15. Zuma by Neil Young
In addition to the rock jam "Cortez the Killer," this underrated disk shows Young's country leaning on "Don't Cry No Tears" and his other main influence on "Barstool Blues."