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Revisiting the top 10 singles of 1975
Just try to get through this list without one of these songs getting stuck in your head.
The Everett Collection
We're going off the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 list, as published by the magazine themselves. Keep in mind that the magazine uses dates between November of the year prior and October of the current year, so some of these may have been released in 1974, but they count for the 1975 charts. Or they may have been released late in 1974, but spent most of their time on the charts in '75.
How many of these do you remember? Any surprises?
10. One of These Nights - The Eagles
This was the second of The Eagles' five number-one singles (while it finished at #10 at the Year-End charts, it spent a week at #1 in the summer.) Their first #1 single was also from 1975 (look for it later in this list), but "One of These Nights" did just a little better. In the liner notes of 2003's The Very Best Of album, founding member Glenn Fray said that this was his favorite Eagles song.
9. Laughter in the Rain - Neil Sedaka
This wasn't Sedaka's only song on the Year-End charts — he had a later single "Bad Blood" end at #93. The opening chord of the chorus was based on the one used in Elton John's "Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road". Sedaka released the song on John's label, Rocket Records, and John also provided uncredited backing vocals on "Bad Blood".
8. Fame - David Bowie
"Fame" was Bowie's first song to hit #1 on the American charts. It spent two weeks at the top, interrupted briefly by John Denver's "I'm Sorry". The song was written at a complicated time in Bowie's life, during a falling out (and subsequent lawsuits) with his manager and a flop Broadway project by the same name. Bowie would later step away from the song, saying that it was written from a place of anger.
7. Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
"Shining Star" was Earth, Wind & Fire's only song to hit #1 on the US charts. However, they had several others crack the top 10, and they remain one of the best-selling bands of all time. The song also won the group a Grammy, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
6. Some Kind of Wonderful - Grand Funk Railroad
This song was initially recorded in 1967 by the R&B group Soul Brothers Six. That one peaked at #91 on the US Hot 100. The Grand Funk Railroad version was much more successful, earning it a place on this list. That wasn't the only tune of theirs to end up on the list, either — "Bad Time" showed up at #62.
5. My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
"My Eyes Adored You" was originally recorded by Valli's group, The Four Seasons. When their Motown label didn't want to release it, Valli bought the recording for $4000 and eventually got the song published by Private Stock Records, who wanted only Valli's name on it. It became Valli's first #1 hit on the US charts as a solo artist, and renewed public interest in The Four Seasons. Another song by Valli as a solo artist, "Swearin' to God", barely made it on the Year-End list at #99.
4. Before the Next Teardrop Falls - Freddy Fender
By the time Freddy Fender got around to his version of this song, originally written in 1967, it had been recorded over two dozen times. However, Fender's bilingual version became a breakout hit, jump-starting his career that had been stalled after being arrested on drug charges in 1960. Afterwards, Fender recorded several other bilingual standards that also found success.
3. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
1975 was another good year for Elton. He had the most songs on the Year-End list of any artist — along with "Philadelphia Freedom", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" came in at #35 and "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" at #92. The song was a tribute to John's good friend and tennis star, Billie Jean King, and her Philadelphia Freedoms professional tennis team. In 2023, Billie Jean King sang "Philadelphia Freedom" on The Masked Singer during an Elton John tribute night.
2. Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell
"Rhinestone Cowboy" was originally written and recorded by Larry Weiss in 1974, but didn't make much of a splash. Campbell heard the song while on tour in Australia, and upon return to the US, was approached about recording his own version. Campbell's version became a crossover hit, resonating with both country and pop fans alike.
Honorable mentions
Before we get to #1, let's take a look at a few songs that barely didn't make it to the top 10.
11. "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" - John Denver
12. "Jive Talkin'" - Bee Gees
13. "Best of My Love" - The Eagles (See? We told you they'd show up here again.)
14. "Lovin' You" - Minnie Riperton
15. "Kung Fu Fighting" - Carl Douglas
And now, without further ado...
1. "Love Will Keep Us Together" - Captain & Tennille
Your #1 song of 1975 was originally recorded by a UK brother-sister duo in 1973, but it didn't chart. It was also co-written by Neil Sedaka, who you may have seen earlier in this list! The song, which was also the title of Captain & Tennille's debut album, was their first single and immediately became a hit. It won the Grammy for Record of the Year. The same year, Captain & Tennille recorded a Spanish version, "Por Amor Viviremos", which also ended up charting, giving the duo a rare accomplishment of having the same song charting on the Hot 100 at the same time in two different languages!
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For those of you not in the know, Riperton passed away from cancer, and she was the mother of Maya Rudolph of SNL and 'Kamala' impersonation fame...
