1. Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life (Tamla) 292 (25)
2. Graham Parker and the Rumour: Heat Treatment (Mercury) 234 (22)
3. Jackson Browne: The Pretender (Asylum) 232 (22)
4. Graham Parker and the Rumour: Howlin' Wind (Mercury) 215 (19)
5. Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Kate and Anna McGarrigle (Warner Bros.) 208 (16)
6. Steely Dan: The Royal Scam (ABC) 182 (14)
7. Joni Mitchell: Hejira (Asylum) 169 (16)
8. Ramones: Ramones (Sire) 153 (15)
9. Rod Stewart: A Night on the Town (Warner Bros.) 150 (15)
10. Blue Oyster Cult: Agents of Fortune (Columbia) 148 (13)
11. Eno: Another Green World (Island) 143 (12)
12. The Wild Tchoupitoulas: The Wild Tchoupitoulas (Island) 136 (14)
13. David Bowie: Station to Station (RCA Victor) 136 (13)
14. The Modern Lovers: The Modern Lovers (Home of the Hits) 111 (12)
15. Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band: Night Moves (Capitol) 109 (12)
16. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band: Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (RCA) 99
17. Bob Marley and the Wailers: Live! (Island) 86 (10)
18. Ry Cooder: Chicken Skin Music (Reprise) 84 (8)
19. Warren Zevon: Warren Zevon (Asylum) 81 (8)a
20. The Dwight Twilley Band: Sincerely (Capitol) 80 (7)
21. Boz Scaggs: Silk Degrees (Columbia) 79 (10)
22. Boston: Boston (Epic) 78 (5)
23. Richard and Linda Thompson: Pour Down Like Silver (Island) 74 (9)
24. Arlo Guthrie: Amigo (Reprise) 68 (8)
25. Thin Lizzy: Jailbreak (Mercury) 66 (6)
26. Bob Dylan: Desire (Columbia) 59 (5)
27. Jeff Beck: Wired (Epic) 58 (5)
28. Andy Pratt: Resolution (Nemporer) 57 (6)
29. Linda Ronstadt: Hasten Down the Wind (Asylum) 55 (4)
30. Patti Smith Group: Radio Ethiopia (Arista)
As I pointed out earlier, had Graham Parker and the Rumour only released one album, instead of splitting the vote, they would have had the number one album of the year. It's a pretty pasty white list with only five acts of any color ( and that includes Thin Lizzy). Over the year, my fondness for Hejira and Station to Station grew. I've always loved Songs in the Key of Life, The Ramones, The Wild Tchoupitoulas and The Modern Lovers albums.
Most Overrated :
Rod Stewart - So the critics loved "Tonight's the Night"?
Blue Oyster Cult- Not their strongest despite (Don't Fear) The Reaper
Jeff Beck- Blow By Blow's baby brother
Graham Parker's Heat Treatment is NOT better than Howlin' Wind.
Most Underrated:
David Bowie Station to Station
The Modern Lovers
Should've Been on this list:
Jorge Ben Africa Brasil
Tom Waits Small Change
Donna Summer A Love Trilogy
Flamin Groovies Shake Some Action
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Lou Reed Coney Island Baby
Shouldn't Be on This List
Kate and Anna McGarrigle (s/t)
Brian Eno Another Green World
Richard and Linda Thompson Pour Down Like Silver
Bob Marley and the Wailers Live....all 1975 releases.
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band (s/t). Just one great song really.
Most Forgotten
Andy Pratt 's Resolution. Rolling Stone's review of the songsmith's album was given bigger play than Steely Dan's The Royal Scam in the same issue.
They Got It Right
Bob Dylan's Desire finished #1 on a lot of critics polls but isn't as strong as that. It actually does belong behind Arlo Guthrie's Amigo in my book
Night Moves and Boston are both strong, mainstream rock albums
I Still Don't Get It
Hasten Down the Wind doesn't do anything for me.
I tried to like Radio Ethiopia, figuring my rock cred is on the line and I still don't.
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