How was I to know yesterday, when I posted about Black Sabbath's Sabotage, that Ozzy was going to die that day. While my post didn't slag Ozzy personally, it did slag the genre he helped create. In light of this, I felt I should write a few lines about the Prince of Darkness.
Ozzy was one of the most unlikely frontmen. He wasn't a golden god like Robert Plant. He didn't have a conventionally magnificent voice. He was never emulated by other artists. But along with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, he created Heavy Metal. In many ways Black Sabbath are the Alpha and Omega of Heavy Metal. Those first few albums are great. Ozzy's first few solo albums are brilliant. I did check out after Shot in the Dark, and never watched an episode of his reality show, but he was an important figure in the development of my musical taste. Bizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman are perfect albums. I listened to them non-stop. Randy Rhoads blew my mind. His death was also a gut punch.
I wasn't going to pile on with another Ozzy tribute, but since I shot my mouth off about Sabotage it felt right to recognize his importance to music. It's nice that he was able to perform in Black Sabbath one more time before he passed. I would imagine it gave him a sense of pride in his legacy, and some closure. Rest in peace Ozzy. You lived a hell of a life. Peace.
Here's a fun fact. The year 2000 is as far away from today as it was from 1975. What? How can that be possible? Science, I guess. The laws of Time and Space are a bitch. At any rate, I decided to mark this occasion by doing another Deep Dive for the year 2000. I considered 1965, but when I looked at the releases for 2000 I changed my mind. There were many excellent albums that year by artists ranging from grizzled veterans to new acts. I've compiled a listening list of around 100 albums. Some are personal favorites, some are critically-acclaimed, and many I've never heard. It has the potential for a fantastic Top 25.
I never made Mt. Rushmores for the 2000's, so it's a clean slate at the top. I started listening a few days ago and already have two 5 Star albums; both are debuts. It's going to take me awhile to get through this list, so bring some patience for the ride. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to another debut, Badly Drawn Boy's The Hour of the Bewilderbeast, and the magnificent track, "Everybody's Stalking". I predict this album and song will make my lists, but I'll keep an open mind. What usually happens during these dives is I listen to all the great albums first, then it's a slog to the finish. I was going to attempt to mix it up somewhat this time, but so far I've been listening to the albums I'm already familiar with. Dumb ass!
In the meantime, I'm always reassessing Sound Mind. It seems to have turned into a blog for album dives and discographies, which wasn't my original intent. I would like to get back into examining my actual collection. I would also like to post on a more consistent basis, but I have quite a bit of shit going on in my life that gets in the way. There are other projects I'd like to work on, as well, but in the end, Sound Mind tends to be my default. It's my way of screaming into the Void. Peace.
There have been a confluence of events that made me want to circle back and put a bow on my 1975 Deep Dive; particularly in regards to Black Sabbath. Of course, the band have been in the news because of their final show with Ozzy. I also belong to a Discord group that is currently doing a 1975 deep dive and the discussion of Sabotage has been very positive. Many have it as a 5 star album. I have it at 3 Stars, and after today I can't imagine I will ever listen to it again. Where's the disconnect? Coincidentally, a YouTuber I follow recently posted a video questioning whether he still liked Heavy Metal. Naturally, this got me thinking about my collection and personal history with the genre. Before I address that, I should share my feelings about the actual album.
I did a little research into the history of Sabotage to see if there were any potential reasons why this would have been a "difficult" recording. Turns out, they were in the process of suing their former manager, and the recording process was marked by anger and constant legal interruptions. In fact, the final track is an eight minute epic entitled, "The Writ". Sabotage is certainly an angry album. For me, the bottom line is that apart from Ozzy's vocals, this doesn't sound like Black Sabbath. Tony Iommi and Bill Ward are two of my favorite musicians, but on this record they are completely generic. This was their sixth album, so maybe it was a natural progression of their sound. Whatever the case may be, I don't like the direction. The reason I say it "may" be a natural progression is I realized I've never listened to their albums directly before, or after, Sabotage. The only records I own are Paranoid, Master of Reality, and the two Dio albums. I guess that doesn't make me as much of a fan of Sabbath, or Heavy Metal, as I thought.
Looking back at my teenage self, I fancied myself a metal head. I had long, Robert Plant hair. I listened to a radio station that played thrash metal, like King Diamond and Metal Church. I was into all the Hair Metal bands. I even liked early Metallica. I was really into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, but currently, I only own two Iron Maiden albums and one by Judas Priest. Around this time, I was buying mostly cassettes, which I don't have anymore. So, that leaves a big hole in my collection that I haven't felt compelled to fill. That's because around the late 80's my taste in music began to change. I didn't like the "newer" Metallica. I hated Guns 'N' Roses. Hair Metal was becoming a joke. I found myself revisiting bands like R.E.M. I got into groups like The Smithereens and The Pursuit of Happiness. Then, in 1991, Nirvana came along and killed the Hair bands. I've mostly been a fan of alternative and indie rock ever since.
I still love those early Sabbath albums, but I'm not really a metal head after all. I certainly have no interest in the current state of Heavy Metal. When I was a young musician, I was impressed by flashy guitarists who did nothing but shred, and drummers who played machine gun double bass kicks, but those days are long gone. And don't get me started on metal vocalists. They all sound angry and constipated. I wasted a lot of time gatekeeping, in my mind, what was metal and what was just hard rock. In the end, it's all just music and we like what we like. Some people like Sabotage, but I am not one of them. Peace.
I've been waiting for the release of Wet Leg's second album with a combination of excitement and dread. Three years ago, when I first watched the video for "Chaise Longue", I became obsessed with Wet Leg. I fully realize that a 60 year old man isn't the demographic, or intended audience for this band, but I thought they were fascinating. They were quirky and confident, and the songs were fun. It seemed as though they single-handedly saved music from the post-pandemic malaise. So, why would I be dreading their new album, Moisturizer? Fear of being let down. Fear that Rian would become over confident, and over the top. When the video for the first single, "Catch These Fists", was released my fears seemed to be confirmed. Don't get me wrong, it's a great song. However, I wasn't a fan of her blonde dye job and foxy boxing outfit. I'm sure it's about empowerment, or something, but it put me on guard. She seemed to be leaning more into a "sex kitten" persona. I felt more like a voyeur than a fan.
Now that the record is out, and I've had some time with it, my misgivings were completely unfounded. It's even better than their debut. It's an infectious, high-energy statement with a full band sound. The touring band that Rian and Hester had put together has become their actual band with writing contributions. Every track is a banger. The musicianship and songwriting have taken a quantum leap. Hester Chambers even has two solo song credits, "Pond Song" and "Don't Speak", which she fronts. Both are excellent. "Don't Speak" is my second favorite song. It's classic indie rock with a great bass line. Rian does more actual singing on tracks like "Pokemon" and "11:21", and it's a nice development. The rhythm section is propulsive and the guitars are crunchy and fuzzy, just how I like them. This is most evident on my favorite song, "Pillow Talk". The opening track, "C.P.R." has a tremendous guitar riff while Rian is moaning "Is it love or suicide?" I could go on about every song and the lyrics, but I won't. However, I do love the line from "Catch These Fists"..."On my way to the club. Stupid is. Stupid does". My rating for Moisturizer...MAN DOWN! Peace.
Setting aside Captain and Tennille, and KC and the Sunshine Band, 1975 was a solid year for songs. It was difficult getting down to 25. I couldn't even include some singles that I had bought the 45, like "Lorelei", "Island Girl", and "Sara Smile". Other songs that didn't make the cut include, "Strange Magic", "Crazy on You", "Fame", "Miracles", "Take Me in Your Arms", "Sister Golden Hair", and "Hair of the Dog". Maybe I should have compiled a Top 40. I could start doing long distance dedications.
25. IN MY TIME OF DYING - LED ZEPPELIN
Not gonna lie. This is a great song, but it's on the list because of that Robert Plant part at the end.
24. IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP - AC/DC
This is where the AC/DC template was created. Classic.
23. BAD SNEAKERS - STEELY DAN
Michael McDonald's backing vocals are exquisite. Top tier yacht rock.
22. FLY BY NIGHT - RUSH
Geddy Lee hated singing this, but it's a fan favorite.
21. BEAUTIFUL LOSER - BOB SEGER
Beautiful song, beautiful chorus, beautiful.
20. NO MORE, NO MORE - AEROSMITH
"Blood stains the ivories of my daddy's baby grand. I ain't seen the daylight since I started this band"
19. ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY - IAN HUNTER
What a vocal delivery. "I'm a-hummin' and a-strummin" all over God's world".
18. ROCK AND ROLL ALL NITE - KISS
This is an amazing live track. I dare you not to sing along to the chorus.
17. GOOD LOVIN' GONE BAD - BAD COMPANY
One of the all-time great guitar riffs. R.I.P. Mick Ralphs.
16. MAN ON THE SILVER MOUNTAIN - RAINBOW
Dio and Blackmore. Enough said.
15. SLOW RIDE - FOGHAT
Fool For the City probably should have made my album list. LOVE this song!
14. BORN TO RUN - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
"Someday girl, I don't know when, we're gonna get to that place where we really want to go and we'll walk in the sun".
13. CORTEZ THE KILLER - NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE
"He came dancing across the water with his galleons and guns".
12. EVIL WOMAN - ELO
Jeff Lynne is a genius songwriter. Never gets the credit he deserves.
11. LONGING FOR FIRE - SCORPIONS
This was the most exciting discovery of the deep dive. Who knew...Scorpions in 1975.
10. SOMEONE SAVED MY LIFE TONIGHT - ELTON JOHN
Greatest piano ballad ever.
9. HARRY'S HOUSE / CENTERPIECE - JONI MITCHELL
Magnificent combination of storytelling and composition.
8. VENUS AND MARS / ROCK SHOW - PAUL MCCARTNEY AND WINGS
Only McCartney could have written the transition between these songs. Seamlessly magical.
7. BLUE LETTER - FLEETWOOD MAC
I know they have a lot of hits, but how is this not the biggest?
6. YOUNG AMERICANS - DAVID BOWIE
I'm not a big fan of the album, but this song is fantastic.
5. WISH YOU WERE HERE - PINK FLOYD
My favorite Pink Floyd song. Gilmour is a legend.
4. BLACK FRIDAY - STEELY DAN
Probably my favorite Donald Fagen lyrics.
3. KASHMIR - LED ZEPPELIN
Most other years this would be #1. It's the best Zeppelin song on their best album.
2. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - QUEEN
The most improbably brilliant rock composition ever. It blew my 11 year old mind.
1. THUNDER ROAD - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
What else can I say about this song? It's literally perfect. Peace.
So, you've probably figured out the Top 5. There are two new albums on my 1975 Mt. Rushmore. The biggest fall was Queen's Night at the Opera, which dropped to 3.5 Stars and didn't make the list. There were so many records in 1975 that were full of weird, McCartney-esque, tin pan alley songs. Night at the Opera was one of those. Certainly, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is still one of my favorite songs, but most of the rest of the album is pastiche. An even more egregious example is 10CC's album, The Original Soundtrack. "I'm Not in Love" is a fantastic song, but the rest of the record is unlistenable schmaltz. And I'll never understand Sparks. Well, enough complaining about the crap. Here's the Top 5.
5. PINK FLOYD - Wish You Were Here ( 5 Stars )
This is still one of my favorite albums, but I had to drop it to #5 for 1975. The title track will be near the top of my song list, but other albums are just more loaded and have more variety. This Top 5 is literally all legends.
4. JONI MITCHELL - The Hissing of Summer Lawns ( 5 Stars )
Why did I spend the vast majority of my life dismissing Joni Mitchell out of hand? Maybe I considered her too folk adjacent or too Dylan adjacent. Well, once again, I was a dumb ass. Joni Mitchell is a national treasure...for Canada. Her compositions and vocal style are entirely unique. Who else in 1975 would have written a song like "Jungle Line" with its mesmerizing Burundi drumming. There are few artists who possess her skills as a storyteller, and she makes it seem effortless. Evidence, the track "Don't Interrupt the Sorrow". Her breezy, tossed off delivery belies the depth of her lyrics. My favorite song is "Harry's House". It's quite acerbic and jazzy. I really need to start making up for lost time.
3. NEIL YOUNG - Zuma ( 5 Stars )
This was a first-time listen, and one of the few old Neil Young albums I don't own. Nobody seems to talk about this one and I don't get it. It presages 90's and 2000's lo-fi. The opener, "Don't Cry No Tears", sounds like a lost Guided by Voices song. "Danger Bird" could be a Jason Molina track. Zuma is right in my wheelhouse of fuzzed out, raggedy-ass indie rock. On "Pardon My Heart". Neil out CSN's Crosby, Stills and Nash. "Lookin' For a Love" is jangle pop perfection. The vocals on "Barstool Blues" sound like mid-period Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips. "Stupid Girl" is a great example of why I love Neil's Crazy Horse albums the best. The guitar tone and drumming are exquisite. And "Cortez the Killer" is such an intense, slow burn that builds an almost unbearable tension that isn't released until four minutes into the song. The lyrics are as biting as those on his song "Ohio". I could see this eventually being my top album of 1975. Where was this all of my life?
2. LED ZEPPELIN - Physical Graffiti ( 5 Stars )
This is my favorite Zeppelin album. I love double albums. Jimmy Page's riff on "Custard Pie" is one of the all-time greats. Bonham's drumming on "The Rover" is so dynamic. Robert Plant is in peak form throughout. And John Paul Jones is a bad, bad man. I can understand people who think this should have been a single album, because the first seven songs are perfect. But I love the later tracks as well. However, the song that rules Physical Graffiti is "Kashmir". It's their greatest. It's cinematic. While this album, as a whole, isn't as immediate as Zuma or the one at #1, it's a monumental release.
1. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND - Born to Run ( 5 Stars )
This is unquestionably the best album in the genre of Heartland Rock. "Thunder Road" is arguably the best song written by an American artist. Springsteen was able to tap into the zeitgeist of small town life in 70's America. It's kind of surprising critics didn't look down their noses at Springsteen's odes to the little guy who always get fucked over by the system, but never gives up on hope or love. The other appeal of Born to Run is, obviously, the theme of escape. "It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap. We gotta get out while we're young. Cuz tramps like us, baby we were born to run." It's universal. Then there's Clarence fucking Clemons. He was the heart and soul of the E Street Band. I crap on The Boss sometimes. Especially his 80's stuff, but his 70's albums are all phenomenal. Peace.
My 6-10 albums are, quite possibly, the most bizarre combination of artists ever on one of these deep dives. There's a stunning first listen, a jazz-rock classic with a repeat artist, a live album, a band from Down Under, and an old blues band that changed personnel to become a pop juggernaut. You will never guess the #10 album in a million years.
10. SCORPIONS - In Trance ( 4.5 Stars )
This is the stunning first listen. Sure, I liked Scorpions for a hot minute in the 80's. Who didn't? The first Scorpions record I bought was Blackout and I still love the title track. Of course, I had Love at First Sting. But over the years I outgrew Scorpions and got rid of those albums and never gave them any more thought. Apparently, they were formed back in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker. Klaus Meine became the singer in 1970 and their first album was in 1972. In Trance is their third album. Who knew? Much to my amazement, this record is great and way better than any of their 80's albums. I have no recollection of In Trance being reassessed in the 80's after the band became hugely popular. It's an album that seems ahead of its time in 1975. On the surface, it's quite similar to Love at First Sting, but it doesn't have that 80's hair metal vibe. It's just a rock solid hard rock record. I was particularly blown away by the tracks "Top of the Bill" and "Longing For Fire". The latter is a two and a half minute masterclass in songcraft. I'm gonna have to track this down and also reacquire Blackout. What a pleasant surprise!
9. KISS - Alive ( 4.5 Stars )
"You wanted the best and you got it." Thus begins one of the great "live" albums of the 70's. Then, KISS kicks into a blistering version of "Deuce", followed by the power riffage of "Strutter". Alive was assembled from shows in Detroit ( obviously ), Cleveland, New Jersey, and Iowa, with some "post production" to fix some live issues. As evidenced by their 1975 studio album, Hotter Than Hell, KISS translated much better live than in the studio. That's not meant to be a knock. Many bands in the 70's were better live; Cheap Trick, J. Geils Band, Pat Travers Band, and Peter Frampton to name a few. Alive also features personal favorite "Cold Gin" and the iconic live version of "Rock and Roll All Nite". It could be argued that the only KISS records anyone needs are the first two live albums. Rick Nielsen's parents might disagree. Surrender!
8. AC/DC - TNT ( 4.5 Stars )
I'm not going to get in the weeds of what version of this record is correct or when it was released. It's a straight-up pub rock masterpiece. While I have mostly moved on from AC/DC and find them annoyingly overplayed on the radio, there's no denying their early albums are pretty great. TNT comes out firing with "It's a Long Way To the Top", which is a classic track. The combination of Bon Scott's beer soaked vocals and Angus Young's riffs is singular.
7. FLEETWOOD MAC - S/T ( 4.5 Stars )
Perhaps, the most significant lineup change in a band was Lindsay Buckingham joining veteran blues band Fleetwood Mac and insisting he was a package deal with girlfriend Stevie Nicks. The rest is history. While I'm not a huge Fleetwood Mac fan, there's no denying their album run of the self-titled record, Rumors, and Tusk is amazing. My favorite track is the exquisite pop deep cut "Blue Letter", but this album is one great song after another. Buckingham, Nicks, and Christine McVie are all in top form as songwriters and vocalists. Commercially, the two standout tracks are Stevie Nicks' "Rhiannon" and "Landslide". For me, the key ingredient is Lindsay Buckingham's guitar playing and his gift for song craft.
6. THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA - Visions of the Emerald Beyond ( 5 Stars )
After a couple years of listening to YouTuber Andy Edwards bang on about The Mahavishnu Orchestra, I decided to check out their 1975 album for this dive. Holy shit! This record is spectacular. Edwards is always on about former Miles Davis guitarist JohnMcLaughlin, jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, and drummer Narada Michael Walden, and now I know why. Walden's drumming is insane. He's on a par with Tony Williams. I've never had an interest in Jean-Luc Ponty before, but now I see where Kansas got the idea for a prog violinist. And John McLaughlin is on fire. Exhibit A is the track "Lila's Dance". There's a bit of weird vocal stuff on here, but it doesn't distract from the musicianship. I'm gonna have to deep dive this band too. Peace.
Here are some fun facts about my 11-15 albums. Four out of five artists are Brits. Two of them share a December 30th birthday with yours truly. Three of these albums were first time listens. When I broke the Top 25 into groups of five it was weird that this section was full of legends. So is the Top 5, but the 6-10 group is mostly C-Tier groups who just happened to put out excellent albums in 1975. Might as well start with the biggest legend.
15. PAUL MCCARTNEY AND WINGS - Venus and Mars ( 4.0 Stars )
This is, arguably, Paul's second best post-Beatles album, behind Band on the Run. It's probably the most consistent. I love the title track, "Venus and Mars / Rock Show". The rest of the album is very solid, with the exception of the obligatory goofy McCartney song, "You Gave Me the Answer". "Listen to What the Man Said" was the big hit, but there are other great songs like "Letting Go", "Spirits of Ancient Egypt", and "Medicine Jar". The tour for Venus and Mars resulted in the brilliant live album Wings Over America. That was peak McCartney.
14. CHRIS SQUIRE - Fish Out of Water ( 4.5 Stars )
If there were any doubt about Chris Squire's importance to the sound of YES, it was erased by Fish Out of Water. This sounds pretty much like a great YES album. Bill Bruford is on board in the drummer's seat and the vastly underrated Patrick Moraz is on bass and synths. The compositions here are beautiful and virtuoso. This is the best prog album of 1975. Squire's transition from backing harmonies to lead vocals is seamless. I don't know why I had never listened to this record before. Squire is one of my favorite bassists and it was sad when he died before YES were inducted into the Rock Hall. I could see if I spent more time with Fish Out of Water and found a copy on LP that it could become a 5 star album. Listening to it again while I type this is already making me second guess my rating. There may not be an individual song that makes my Top 25, but "Lucky Seven" and "Hold Out Your Hand" are fantastic.
13. PATTI SMITH - Horses ( 4.5 Stars )
I have never really listened to Patti Smith before, despite Michael Stipe being a super fan, and U2 doing a great cover of "Dancing Barefoot". I didn't expect Horses to make my Top 25. I almost stopped listening after the first couple tracks. When the third track, "Birdland" came on I started to see the influences on Stipe. When I heard the next song, "Free Money", I realized I was a dickhead. Then came "Kimberly". I saw the light of Patti Smith. What a great album. And we are birthday buddies. I will have to do a dive of her albums right after Joni Mitchell.
12. ELO - Face the Music ( 4.5 Stars )
Of course, my other birthday buddy is Jeff Lynne of the Electric Light Orchestra. I've always considered ELO a continuation of The Beatles. And Jeff Lynne eventually worked with George Harrison to great success. The George Harrison guitar sound is all over Face the Music, especially on the instrumental opener "Fire on High", and the second track "Waterfall". "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic" are ELO classics. Even the deep cuts, like "Nightrider" are nuggets of pop genius. I really regret not going to see ELO last year when they came to the States for the last time. They are easily a Top 50 band for me, and Face the Music is probably their most consistent record.
11. ELTON JOHN - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy ( 4.5 Stars )
I don't know if Elton had any input over the lyrics on Captain Fantastic, but it seems to be Bernie Taupin's autobiography of him and Reg. The opening title track is magnificent. Hell, the whole record is magnificent. Side One ends with one of my favorite Elton John songs, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and when you flip the record over it's the fabulous rocker, "Gotta Get a Meal Ticket". In 1975, Elton John was the most important recording artist in my life. As I've grown older, Elton has receded to the back of my mind, but when I do these dives a little part of 1975 me is alive again. I could have ranked this record as high as #7, and most likely should have. It's funny that my babysitter would always bring over 1975's Elton John dud, Rock of the Westies, instead of Captain Fantastic, But it did have the hit single "Island Girl", so that's probably why. I was just a kid and thought it was all great. It sucks to lose your childlike wonder. Peace.
I suppose the most interesting thing about albums 16-20 is that there are two records that feature Ian's. I hadn't intended that, but sometimes things just work out that way. Apart from that, there are no similarities between these artists whatsoever. There's a prog band, an eccentric genius, some studio perfectionists, an American rock band that I generally dislike, and one of my favorite singers. Let the countdown continue.
20. JETHRO TULL - Minstrel in the Gallery ( 4.0 Stars )
The first Ian has been revealed. Yes, rock flautist Ian Anderson's band Jethro Tull comes in at #20. Jethro Tull are mostly a singles band for me. I inherited many of their albums a couple years ago and only kept Aqualung. This album was not among them. I enjoyed Minstrel quite a bit during this dive, despite the lack of "hits". Guitarist Martin Barre really stands out on this release. Anderson's vocals are powerful and he stands unchallenged as rock's master of the flute. I really didn't expect this to make the list, but it turned out to be a pleasant listen. I don't think I could ever make it through a whole Jethro Tull deep dive, though.
19. IAN HUNTER - S/T ( 4.0 Stars )
And the second Ian has now been revealed. Ian Hunter is my fifth favorite vocalist. He's a singular storyteller and his style is brashly over the top. One thing I've noticed during this dive is that many studio versions of classic songs pale in comparison to the live versions. "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" is one of those. It's still a fantastic track, but I prefer it live. This record also features Mick Ronson on guitar, who steals the show on the track, "The Truth, the Whole Truth, Nuthin' But the Truth". When I listen to Ian Hunter, I feel like I'm listening to someone who's living their best life...no apologies.
18. AEROSMITH - Toys in the Attic ( 4.0 Stars )
I don't really like Aerosmith, but I'm not a monster. Toys in the Attic is a certified classic album. If I was being objective, it's probably a 4.5 or 5 star record. When I was in college, we played the hell out of this, but it doesn't hold quite the same charm for 2025 me. I've heard "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion" a million times too many. Some of the deep cuts, like "Uncle Salty", "Adam's Apple" and "No More, No More", still hold up quite nicely. And who doesn't love the ham handed double entendre of "Big Ten Inch Record". Too bad Aerosmith had that career revival in the late 80's and early 90's. That shit sucked. Oops, I guess I am a monster.
17. FRANK ZAPPA - One Size Fits All ( 4.0 Stars )
Somehow, Zappa keeps making it on my lists even though I'm not a huge fan. One Size Fits All is just that. It's a fairly normal record by Zappa standards. It features the opening track, "Inca Roads", which may be his most impressive composition in a vast catalog. Frank's guitar playing on this album is incendiary, particularly on a song like "Po-Jama People". I've enjoyed these Zappa albums in the context of yearly deep dives, but I don't think I could make it through all his albums in one go.
16. STEELY DAN - Katy Lied ( 4.0 Stars )
I love Steely Dan. They're such an unusual "band". Fagen and Becker had a singular musical vision and hired the hottest session players, Wrecking Crew style, to bring that vision to life. Seriously, the playing credits on Katy Lied are incredible. Jeff Porcaro and David Paich of Toto, Michael McDonald on backing vocals, Chuck Rainey on bass, Phil Woods on sax, and Larry Carlton and Ric Derringer on guitar, just to name a few. The album features all-timers like, "Black Friday", "Bad Sneakers", and "Doctor Wu". I would probably have it rated higher, but it does tail off quite a bit on Side Two. Still, it's pretty, pretty good. Peace.
Somehow, I managed to compile a decent Top 25 album list for 1975. It was one of those years that had a wealth of great songs and a treasure trove of weird, unlistenable records. I'm looking at you Sparks, 10CC, and Split Enz. It was a mixed bag from artists I usually like. Some of the disappointments were The Kinks, Black Sabbath, and Bowie. On the bright side, I had some 4 Star albums that missed the cut; Jefferson Starship's Red Octopus, Styx Equinox, Foghat's Fool For the City, Doobie Brothers' Stampede, Miles Davis' Agharta, Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert, Stan Getz, McCoy Tyner, and Steve Hillage. I even have an interesting bookend situation at #1 and #25. There are also 11 first time listens in my Top 25. And half of my Mt. Rushmore changed. My 21-25 is an interesting mix of artists. Here we go.
I know very little about this band besides they recorded an exceptional cover of Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light". Turns out, they previously covered Springsteen on this album. Turns out, "Spirits in the Night" is also the best song on this album. I had assumed that Manfred Mann was the singer, but it turns out Mick Rogers handles the vocals and plays one mean guitar. He is the most surprising discovery of this dive. Mann's organ and synth playing aren't bad either. I should probably listen to their 1976 release, The Roaring Silence, since I actually own it. It's weird that Mick Rogers was replaced by two guys on that album. He did rejoin in 1983, however.
24. THE NEW TONY WILLIAMS LIFETIME - Believe It ( 4.0 Stars )
While this album is probably classified as jazz, it's more of a jazz-rock record. For one, Tony Williams' drumming style here is even more dynamic, and rock influenced. Secondly, Believe It features Allan Holdsworth on guitar. And it's produced by Bruce Botnick. The opening track, "Snake Oil", is quite King Crimson adjacent. These are two musicians playing at the top of their game. Do yourself a favor.
23. BOB SEGER - Beautiful Loser ( 4.0 Stars )
This is the album Seger was touring when he recorded Live Bullet, and there's no arguing that songs like the title track, "Katmandu", "Travelin' Man", and "Nutbush City Limits" sound much better live. Nonetheless, this is a fantastic album. I might be biased as a native Michigander, but I like it. Beautiful Loser and Live Bullet are all the Bob Seger anyone needs, though.
22. NEIL YOUNG - Tonight's the Night ( 4.0 Stars )
If you want to understand me, there are two Neil Young albums in this Top 25 and this is the lowest ranked, and there are no records by Stephen Stills, Crosby and Nash, The Eagles, or Dylan. That about sums up my taste in music. Technically this was recorded before 1975, but it was released that year. There's just enough random Crazy Horse contribution here to make this album better than most crap in 1975, but not enough to be better than Zuma. The track, "Albuquerque" comes pretty close.
21. RUSH - Fly By Night ( 4.0 Stars )
What would a Sound Mind Deep Dive be without a RUSH album. There were two in 1975, but one of them was Caress of Steel. Fly By Night marks the recording debut of Neil Peart as the drummer, and equally important, the lyricist. He comes right out of the gate with "Anthem"; a straight up rocker with literate lyrics. The title track is an autobiographical song about his move to the UK to make it in music, only to end up back in Canada. Lucky for all of us that he did and auditioned for RUSH. Fly By Night also features the fan favorite, and live staple, "By-Tor and the Snow Dog"; a prog epic inspired by two actual dogs. Of course, there has to be a Lord of the Rings song (Rivendell). The album closes out with "In the End", which starts out as a beautiful, acoustic number, then Alex kicks in with the power chords. This was the beginning of a 40 year musical journey that touched a lot of people's lives. Thanks Geddy and Alex. Rest in Peace Neil. You guys were the best. Peace.
I really thought this 1975 dive was going to be a blast. This is the year my compulsion for buying records began. The radio was full of great songs. But other than a handful of 5 star albums, 1975 is a wasteland of albums ranging from alright to God awful. I'm actually on the verge of abandoning this dive. I'm about two-thirds of the way through my listening list, and as of now, Styx will be in my Top 25. I've resorted to grading these albums on a 1975 curve.
Even artists I really like put out sub standard records in 1975. There were two, count 'em, two horrible albums by The Kinks that I couldn't even bring myself to rate. RUSH put out two albums, one good, one horrible. Same with Elton John. I listened to Sabotage by Black Sabbath for the first time and didn't care for it. The solo albums by Steve Howe and Steve Hackett were fine, but disappointing. I forced myself to listen to a technically fine, but boring as hell album by The Grateful Dead. I was even going to attempt listening to Tom Waits, until I read some reviews of his 1975 album and changed my mind. I'm down to mostly jazz and obscure prog, so I'm not holding out much hope for miracles. I still have KC and the Sunshine Band on my list and I'm terrified I might give it 5 Stars out of desperation. Peace.
