Every year I put together these lists and I’m shocked to see the names on this list. I may be getting old, but the music stays fresh and vibrant.

I’m listing my favorite 25 albums on the year, and then my list of top songs across all genres that were released during 1974.

Albums (These are not in any ranking)

Crime of the Century, Supertramp

Walls and Bridges, John Lennon

It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll, The Rolling Stones

Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell

Eldorado, Electric Light Orchestra

On the Border, Eagles

Diamond Dogs, David Bowie

Second Helping, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Bad Company, Bad Company

461 Ocean Boulevard, Eric Clapton

Pretzel Logic, Steely Dan

What Once Were Vices Are Now Habits, The Doobie Brothers

Good Old Boys, Randy Newman

Late for the Sky, Jackson Browne

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Genesis

Homecoming, America

Chicago VII, Chicago

Apostrophe (‘), Frank Zappa

Heart Like a Wheel, Linda Ronstadt

Mother Lode, Loggins & Messina

So What?, Joe Walsh

Turn of the Cards, Renaissance

Natty Dread, Bob Marley & the Wailers

Bridge of Sighs, Robin Trower

On the Beach, Neil Young

Honorable Mention Albums:

Borboletta, Santana

Relayer, Yes

The Heart of Saturday Night, Tom Waits

Feats Don’t Fail Me Now, Little Feat

Up for the Down Stroke, Parliament

Autobahn, Kraftwerk

Fire, Ohio Players

Ice Water, Leo Kottke

Welcome Back My Friends, to the Show that Never Ends, Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Hit Songs:

“Lady Marmalade”, Labelle

“The Air That I Breathe”, The Hollies

“Pick Up The Pieces”, AWB

“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”, Bachman Turner Overdrive

“Never Can Say Goodbye”, Gloria Gaynor

“Ride the Tiger”, Jefferson Starship

“Jackie Blue”, Ozark Mountain Daredevils

“Sweet Jane”, Lou Reed

“Killer Queen”, Queen

“How Long”, Ace

“Sundown”, Gordon Lightfoot

“You Are So Beautiful”, Joe Cocker

“Jolene”, Dolly Parton

“Lovin’ You”, Minnie Riperton

“(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”, Millie Jackson

“Poetry Man”, Phoebe Snow

“Cat’s in the Cradle”, Harry Chapin

“Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, Elton John

“The Bitch is Back”, Elton John

“Feel Like Makin’ Love”, Roberta Flack

“Annie’s Song”, John Denver

“Bungle In the Jungle”, Jethro Tull

“Love Hurts”, Nazareth

“The South’s Gonna Do It Again”, Charlie Daniels

“Magic”, Pilot

“Come Monday”, Jimmy Buffett

“I Honestly Love You”, Olivia Newton John

“Must of Got Lost”, J. Geils Band

“Kung Fu Fighting”, Carl Douglas

“I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song”, Jim Croce

“You Make Me Feel Brand New”, The Stylistics

“Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”, Aretha Franklin

“Tell Me Something Good”, Rufus

“Rock the Boat”, The Hues Corporation

2 responses to “Music Turning 50 in 2024”

  1. I published “my” 1974 albums list earlier this week and our picks largely overlap. It’s another impressive year in music.

    Of the 40 albums I like and pre-selected, I narrowed it down to the following six:
    – Joni Mitchell: Court and Spark
    – Steely Dan: Pretzel Logic
    – Lynyrd Skynyrd: Second Helping
    – Eric Clapton: 461 Ocean Boulevard
    – Supertramp: Crime of the Century
    – Genesis: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway

    At the end of the day, of course, it’s all pretty subjective!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s a great six.

      Liked by 1 person

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