# Best #1 single of the year retrospective: 1975 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780 "2014-09-28T15:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/81 "2014-09-29T22:04:52Z")
Thanks to this thread and the others like it, I’ve gone back and listened to some of this cheezy 70s lite rock. What a blast from the past! Now I have a tummy ache. ☹ But seriously, some of these songs I’ve probably only ever heard coming out of a cheap AM radio; they actually do benefit at least a little from being heard in stereo, on decent speakers/headphones. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/82 "2014-09-29T22:08:29Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > True, but punk rock never dominated the charts, and it’s life span was pretty short. Yes, I think of punk rock as more of a palate cleanser, without which the new wave (Blondie, Talking Heads, The Cars) and New Romantic (Duran Duran famously set out to be “Sex Pistols meets Chic”) chart-toppers of the early-to-mid 80s might not have happened. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/83 "2014-09-29T23:04:44Z")
Sweet Moses Malone that is a weak list. I almost abstained until I stumbled upon Fame (which isn’t even Bowie’s top tune of '75). Here’s a quiz. What two things do the following songs have in common? I’ll give you the first: they are all better (IMHO, of course) than every song in the poll. Born To Run Bohemian Rhapsody Walk This Way Kashmir Tangled Up in Blue Wish You Were Here Thunder Road Low Rider Rhiannon Sweet Emotion Love is the Drug 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Make Me Smile Shine On You Crazy Diamond Sara Smile Tush Golden Years mmm ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/84 "2014-09-29T23:13:19Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Sweet Moses Malone that is a weak list. > > I almost abstained until I stumbled upon Fame (which isn’t even Bowie’s top tune of '75). > > Here’s a quiz. What two things do the following songs have in common? > > I’ll give you the first: they are all better (IMHO, of course) than every song in the poll. > > Born To Run > Bohemian Rhapsody > Walk This Way > Kashmir > Tangled Up in Blue > Wish You Were Here > Thunder Road > Low Rider > Rhiannon > Sweet Emotion > Love is the Drug > 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover > Make Me Smile > Shine On You Crazy Diamond > Sara Smile > Tush > Golden Years > mmm If it’s none of them were #1 records, that’s incorrect. “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” hit #1 in early 1976. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/85 "2014-09-30T00:44:51Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > If it’s none of them were #1 records, that’s incorrect. “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” hit #1 in early 1976. That’s not what it is. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/86 "2014-09-30T00:47:31Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > That’s not what it is. > mmm Ooh! Ooh! I know! They all came out in 1975 but weren’t #1 songs! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/87 "2014-09-30T00:49:35Z")
Wow 75 was a bad year. Only 1 song I really like and few I kind of like. **Mean Mr. Mustard** ’s list is pretty awesome though. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/88 "2014-09-30T01:10:56Z")
I couldn’t begin to pick one. Cheesy as most of that collection is, they’re the soundtrack of my childhood and I have soft spots for far too many of them. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/89 "2014-09-30T02:29:23Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Yes, I think of punk rock as more of a palate cleanser, without which the new wave (Blondie, Talking Heads, The Cars) and New Romantic (Duran Duran famously set out to be “Sex Pistols meets Chic”) chart-toppers of the early-to-mid 80s might not have happened. Well put. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/90 "2014-09-30T02:34:32Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Ooh! Ooh! I know! They all came out in 1975 but weren’t #1 songs! “Make Me Smile” came out in 1970. Unless there’s a non-Chicago song named “Make Me Smile.” ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/91 "2014-09-30T02:42:58Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > “Make Me Smile” came out in 1970. Unless there’s a non-Chicago song named “Make Me Smile.” …and apparently there was. Cockney Rebel from 1975: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FFBTljZDGY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FFBTljZDGY) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/92 "2014-09-30T04:52:39Z")
I’m going with Linda Ronstadt’s \*You’re No Good. \*It’s not her best song, but I can’t remember what years the others were in. Anyway, the less said about 1975, the better. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/93 "2014-09-30T05:21:45Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > “Make Me Smile” came out in 1970. Unless there’s a non-Chicago song named “Make Me Smile.” In a way, Chicago’s “Make Me Smile” _did_ top the charts in 1975…as part of _Chicago IX: Greatest Hits._ ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/94 "2014-09-30T12:36:23Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’m torn between “You’re No Good” and “One of These Nights.” \ Me too, with the addition of America’s _Sister Golden Hair_. Re: _Fame_ - I listened to it again to be sure of my feelings about it David Bowie performs “Fame” on **Soul Train** Like **Shagnasty** said, when it started playing it was an instant push a pre-select button on the radio, any pre-select button, even if it mean going to NPR’s _God-Hating Flag Burning Hour_ or _Feeling Guilty About Not Feeling Enough White Guilt_. The song is whiny (in the mold of _Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue_) and musically it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. (It isn’t David Bowie I don’t like, it’s the song: _Changes, Diamond Dogs, Rebel Rebel, Suffragette City_ and _1984_ I like.) To me, _Fame_ seems to have been written to be played as ridiculously-dressed bored-looking models walk the runway with a “_Don’t look at me, you’re not good enough to look at me. And don’t think about me, you’re not good enough to think about me either_.” expression. If (insert current top sex symbol here) said she’d spend as long I wanted in bed with me and the only condition was _Fame_ would be playing on continuous repeat, I’d be thankful I have a premature ejaculation problem - naw, I’d go home and take a cold shower. But personal taste, by definition, is highly personal. (p.s. I own the America Album _Hat Trick_ which contains _Muskrat Love_) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/95 "2014-09-30T16:11:57Z")
Wow. I’ve tried not to be \*that \*guy, who says that god what a shit year, but god what a shit year. Even Bowie’s \*Fame \*is one of his weaker soulless efforts. I think it’s winning just because “Oh, David Bowie. Why not?” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/96 "2014-09-30T16:18:18Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > when you can look at a list of #1 singles and say that _Nickelback_ is the best of the lot, it’s not a good sign. Good Lord, those must be bad lists. I may just have to stop opening these threads when we hit 2000. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/97 "2014-09-30T16:40:48Z")
> [@DChord568](#): > > I find it interesting that there is not a single mention of the song for which I’m the lone voter, “Laughter in the Rain” (other than someone who inexplicably put it in a list of songs with a “downbeat sound”). > > It’s a wonderful pop song with sparkling accompaniment and harmonies, and it’s anything but “downbeat.” I know a lot of people will find it to twee, but I’m not one of them. It’s less different music for different purposes, than different music for different tastes. You mention liking - no, _loving_ - 1960s-era Bee Gees, while I find songs like “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” and “I’ve Just Got To Get A Message To You” painfully maudlin. And I’d agree that “Laughter in the Rain” sparkles, no question - like sugar sprinkled on top of corn syrup. Some like it, some don’t. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/98 "2014-09-30T17:41:41Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > It’s less different music for different purposes, than different music for different tastes. I should have expanded a little on the meaning of my statement. What I mean is that many folks’ taste runs to just one general type of music…it has to be “deep,” “meaningful” or some such thing. And that’s fine; I like music like that too. But they tend to be the ones who disdain anything that smacks of plain old pop music, which means the only songs from the Top 40 they appreciate are those that have already won their stripes in more “progressive” or “underground” circles. I remember when “underground” or “progressive rock” first hit in 1966-67. (Those terms used to be synonymous, until the latter one morphed into “prog rock” and was applied more specifically to bands filled with music school graduates who felt that playing 25 notes when 5 will do is a virtue.) I spent a few months in the thrall of all the incredible possibilities that had been opened up in terms of lyrics, musical structure, new and diverse influences from other styles and cultures, instruments beyond guitar/bass/drums, etc. During that period of time, I thought I was just too cool for Top 40 music, and imagined myself smugly superior to those who were still getting those slight pop songs on their tinny AM radios. Fortunately, that phase only lasted a short time. Yes, I absolutely continued to be enthralled by the underground, but I still listened to Top 40 on my car radio, and realized that these songs, slight though they may have been by comparison, still had a purpose and could bring great pleasure…just of a different kind. I’ve always felt that rock and pop music is a pretty big tent, and that there’s room for great variety within it. It’s a view I continue to hold today, as I have a great fondness for the Top 40 hits of my youth. To be sure, I have my limits, as anyone does, and there are definitely some really _bad_ Top 40 songs (e.g., many of them here and a few years on either side of this one). But I’m glad I don’t reject any genre or style of music out-of-hand. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/99 "2014-10-04T04:47:17Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Too bad both those songs didn’t come anywhere near number one. [“Tangled Up in Blue” barely scraped into the Top 40 and peaked at #31](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangled_Up_in_Blue) while, as mentioned previously, “Born to Run” only made it to #23. This shows what kind of year it was. Pure dee shite. Worse, even, than 1974. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780/100 "2014-10-04T14:57:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m going with _Black Water_, because of the Southern rock sound (who can resist trying to harmonize with the closing refrains?), with _Shining Star_ hot on its heels. I am absolutely incapable of not singing along to “Black Water” whenever I hear it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1975/699780.md?page=6)