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Songs of Summer, 1975

Fifty years ago, how is it possible?! Across the wide expanse of time is musical memory. That cerebral charge of muscle memory that allows one to instantly teleport back in time when hearing the words and music of a particular song. Summertime is perfect for roadtrips, driving with the windows down, playing music on your…

Mike Miller
2–3 minutes

Fifty years ago, how is it possible?! Across the wide expanse of time is musical memory. That cerebral charge of muscle memory that allows one to instantly teleport back in time when hearing the words and music of a particular song.

Summertime is perfect for roadtrips, driving with the windows down, playing music on your patio, through your earbuds on a walk or workout, at the lake or when you are organizing the garage.

Certain songs are summer songs, even if they don’t specifically have summer in the title like “Summer in the City”, “Summer Breeze”, “Cruel Summer” or “Boys of Summer.” Summer has a special feel-good vibe of fun, freedom, youth, the water and love. All good things.

Whenever I hear these songs, I instantly think of summers long ago. “Diamond Girl”, “School’s Out”, “Do It Again”, “Carry On”, “Sundown”, “Saturday in the Park”, “Good Vibrations”, “Magic Carpet Ride”, “Baba O’Riley”, “Kicks”, “Last Train to Clarksville”, “Mrs. Robinson”, “This Guy’s in Love With You”, “Magic Man”, “More Than a Feeling”, “Life’s Been Good, “Hot Blooded”, “Listen to the Music” amongst others. I heard them during summer or something attached to my brain with a memory.

Below are some of the charting singles during the summer of 1975. Not all of these were favorites of mine, but songs that definitely played on the radio, depending on the station format. Rock, soul, country, folk, pop – a fruit salad of tastes.

“Fame” David Bowie

“Jive Talkin’” Bee Gees

“Evil Woman” Electric Light Orchestra

“Cut the Cake Average” White Band

“Lady” Styx

“Feel Like Makin’ Love” Bad Company

“Wildfire” Michael Murphy

“Why Can’t We Be Friends” War

“Black Water” The Doobie Brothers

“Philadelphia Freedom” Elton John

“That’s The Way (I Like It)” KC & The Sunshine Band

“The Hustle” Van McCoy

“My Eyes Adore You” Frankie Valli

“Shining Star” Earth, Wind and Fire

“At Seventeen” Janis Ian

“Midnight Blue” Melissa Manchester

“Feelings” Morris Albert

“Have You Ever Been Mellow” Olivia Newton John

“When Will I Be Loved” Linda Ronstadt

“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” Willie Nelson

“Love Will Keep Us Together” The Captain & Tennille

“Could It Be Magic” Barry Manilow

“(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song” B. J. Thomas

“Thank God I’m a Country Boy” John Denver

“Before the Next Teardrop Falls” Freddy Fender

“Rhinestone Cowboy” Glen Campbell

“How Long” Ace

“Sister Golden Hair” America

“Dance With Me” Orleans

“Holdin’ On to Yesterday” Ambrosia

“One of These Nights” Eagles

“Black Friday” Steely Dan

“Saturday Night Special” Lynyard Skynyrd

“Sweet Emotion” Aerosmith

“Jackie Blue” Ozark Mountain Daredevils

“Old Days” Chicago

“Tush” ZZ Top

4 responses to “Songs of Summer, 1975”

  1. greenpete58 Avatar
    greenpete58

    Lots of nostalgia appeal here, and I probably agree with Christian that ‘75 was a “pretty good” year, though not great. These of course were U.S. hits. Probably a bit different overseas.

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    1. Mike Miller Avatar
      Mike Miller

      One of the things that a loved the year was the diversity of really good songs. Going forward the radio and playlist formats hardened around genres.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. greenpete58 Avatar
        greenpete58

        Yes. Top 40 and free-form rock were really the only two distinct genres in 1975, and there was occasional overlap with those. But with punk and new wave came “college alternative,” and the genre splintering just kept continuing.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Christian's Music Musings Avatar
    Christian’s Music Musings

    Fun post and a good deal of songs I love, such as “Evil Woman” (ELO), “Black Water” (The Doobie Brothers), “When Will I Be Loved” (Linda Ronstadt), “Sister Golden Hair” (America), “Black Friday” (Steely Dan), “Sweet Emotion” (Aerosmith) and, of course, “Tush,” my favorite by ZZ Top. There were also some great albums that came out in 1975 like “Blood On the Tracks” (Bob Dylan), “Physical Graffiti” (Led Zeppelin), “Toys in the Attic” (Aerosmith), “Born to Run” (Bruce Springsteen), “Wish You Were Here” (Pink Floyd) and “T.N.T.” (AC/DC). I’d say, overall, 1975 was a pretty good year in music!

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