Welcome to the sixth annual 50 year countdown. Beginning in 2020 with 70 FROM ’70 we’ve sampled music from each year and attempted to find the ‘keepers’. This year is no exception, though the fragmentation of rock music into sub-genres makes any attempt at ranking increasingly fraught. In this initial set we have keyboard-based prog, jazz-rock, UK folk-rock, Italian symphonic prog, blues rock, West coast harmonies, an electric troubadour, and art rock. Not so much apples vs oranges as an entire fruit shop. Hopefully something for everyone amongst the fruit salad.
Please join me as we kick off…
75 FROM ’75
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GREENSLADE — TIME AND TIDE
The twin keyboard attack of Daves Lawson and Greenslade is still front and centre, as are Lawson’s idiosyncratic lyrics and unusual voice. Greenslade were near the end of their initial run by this stage, but still offer lively and entertaining mid-decade prog rock. The marvellous cover by Patrick Woodroffe is a bonus. (Greenslade fans should seek out the 2019 Esoteric CD re-issue that includes a bonus disc of a 1975 Swedish radio concert.)
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LARRY CORYELL — PLANET END
Planet End is a high energy LP that fuses jazz virtuosity with rock’s raw energy. Featuring the Eleventh House rhythm section and two tracks from his earlier powerhouse association with John McLaughlin, the album feels both forward-looking and retrospective. “The Eyes of Love” demonstrates Coryell’s melodic sensibility while the jagged pyrotechnics of “Tyrone” evoke Miles’ Jack Johnson (also featuring John McLaughlin). Though uneven in flow (like many of his solo albums) Planet End captures Coryell in a period of restless creativity, unafraid of stretching jazz-rock to its limits.
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JOURNEY — JOURNEY
This debut bears but a passing resemblance to the arena-rock of later Journey releases. That’s why I like it. With Santana alumni Greg Rolie and Neal Schon as core musicians, the band deliver a virtuosic, jazz-inflected rock that favours instrumental exploration over anthemic choruses. Make no mistake, this is a rock album but with more chops than schmaltz.
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JOHN MARTYN — LIVE AT LEEDS
This set presents the singer-songwriter in all his unvarnished intensity. Sympathetically accompanied by legendary bassist Danny Thompson (who sadly left the stage in September of this year) and drummer John Steven, Martyn dominates proceedings with his fierce vulnerability and writhing, soaring guitar work. Fans of Martyn’s Echoplex-treated instrument will love this at times hypnotic set, substantially expanded for the 2006 CD reissue.
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STEELEYE SPAN — COMMONER’S CROWN
Produced by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Commoner’s Crown features crisp arrangements and bold instrumental textures, with Maddy Prior’s crystalline vocals at their finest. Being folk there are dark tales and comic interludes, yet always with the signature muscular riffs and tight harmonies of this major British folk-rock band.
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PFM — COOK
Italy’s Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) play an intricate yet exuberant progressive rock that mostly avoids the histrionics of some of their countryfolk but still packs in plenty of drama and movement. This live outing demonstrates their energy and rich melodicism, including fan favourite “Celebration”, a delightful romp evoking “Hocus Pocus,” the sole hit by Dutch band Focus.
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JEAN-LUC PONTY — UPON THE WINGS OF MUSIC
Jean-Luc takes a stroll in 1967 and rises to new heights in 1975
The French violinist was already a veteran in European jazz scene, releasing his first album in 1964 at the age of twenty-two. Opportunity for career advancement in the US appeared in the moustachioed form of Frank Zappa, with whom he toured and recorded. Ponty’s first album for Atlantic exemplifies the warm jazz-rock sound he swung towards in the mid-70s. It features great ensemble playing, Patrice Rushen on keys in particular.
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CROSBY & NASH — WIND ON THE WATER
Mature songwriting and the expected exquisite harmonies mark out this fine duo album from David and Graham. Highlights include “Carry me” and “To the last whale.” Sad yet hopeful, it is amongst their finest work.
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PHIL MANZANERA — DIAMOND HEAD
Albums by the Roxy Music guitarist are often glossed over or damned with faint praise. That’s a shame as Phil Manzanera is an excellent songwriter, inspired collaborator and outstanding guitarist whose individual style distinguishes him out from the six string crowd. Guests here include Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt, John Wetton, and Andy Mackay, exploring textures ranging from the shimmering instrumental “Frontera” to the dreamy, Latin-tinged “Alma.” File under Hidden Gems.
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ROBIN TROWER — FOR EARTH BELOW
This album continues the style and feel of 1974’s excellent Bridge Of Sighs. Featuring bassist and vocalist James Dewar and drummer Bill Lordan, the trio delivers a warm, muscular sound steeped in Trower’s Hendrix-inspired tone… yet distinctly his own. Tracks like “Shame the Devil” and “Alethea” balance lyrical guitar phrasing with rhythmic grooves, while slower pieces such as the instrumental “A Tale Untold” and the title track reveal deep blue currents beneath the power.
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Next: #65—#61
vinylconnection.com.au 
My lands, so much to discover! That Ponty record was the only art I recognized from this list. That Journey album art! Wow! No words. Will check out that Crosby and Nash one, never saw/heard that one either. Love the chewy, strange texture here, tastes like chicken!
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Overcooked?
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While the first 3 Journey are great fun, it makes me sad that you don’t care for arena-Journey 😦 I like a mixture of both.
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Sorry Mike. The whole big hair big ballad thing never rang my bells. 😕
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Jouney is/was a popular band in the 80’s. I understand the band has their place in rock music history, but I don’t care for much of their music.
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The good news is, Cain is leaving after the next tour. Him and Perry wrote the ballads mostly.
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Still touring, eh? That’s an achievement. I think I watched a doco on them a while back. Took an interesting path when recruiting a new singer, as I recall. Liked them for that.
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I never saw it, but yeah that was a Netflix movie I believe. I think you’d like Neal Schon’s 3 CD live album with Rolie. They dive deep on the early Journey. They even do two Santana songs with Marco Mendoza singing.
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Sounds good. It was the Rolie Santana connection that first alerted me to Journey.
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Steeleye Span seems to have had a hit or miss time with the recording engineers, I’m a Huge Fan but thank heavens for the reissues with cleaned-up sound. When I’ve listened to traditional renditions of “Long Lankin” or “Dogs & Ferrets,” I’m always intensely appreciative of what wonderful tunes this band created out of what are to my ear (sorry) pretty dull folk songs. And the cover is cool when you realize what looks at first glance like beadwork or something is actually composed of swarms of tiny figures.
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The cover is something else, isn’t it? 700 little gold figures came out of the woods.
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Some very nice album covers too.
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Plenty of visual variety, DD. Thanks for stopping by.
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Music wise, I think Wind on the Water will be on the weekend listening list.
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Listening again yesterday, I really enjoyed it. Hope you do too.
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Journey’s eponymous album is the sole one I recognized. I previously listened to some of its tracks. In general, I like a good deal of Journey’s music from throughout their career. I’ve also listened to music by Steeleye Span and Robin Trower, though I believe not from these specific albums. While I also dig CSN and CSNY and have heard some of David Crosby’s and Graham Nash’s solo music, I haven’t listened to “Wind on the Water,” so that looks like one I should probably check out.
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‘Wind on the Water’ is an easy one to recommend if you enjoy the various C, S, N and Y combinations. May I also be bold enough to encourage a listen to ‘Diamond Head’? I reckon you’ll enjoy it, Christian.
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That John Martyn album has been a constant companion. The Steeleye is one of my favorites. 1975 was a strange year of highs and lows.
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Lots of interesting stuff, for sure. Have you heard the expanded Live at Leeds, Neil? So much extra material it really is like a new ‘set’.
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Love Wind On The Water! I’m familiar with a lot of Journey’s music, but not the album listed here. I count myself a definite fan of their late 70s/early 80s stuff, and of course one of their tunes was part of the memorable ending to “The Sopranos”…!
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I think it’s my favourite Crosby Nash effort, JDB.
The debut Journey is my only album! What’s more, I’ve not seen even one episode of The Sopranos! Not much to chat about there. LOL.
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Vis-a-vis The Sopranos: you have a lot to look forward to!
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A lot of worthy records in this lot, Trower, ‘Diamond Head’, John Martyn, ‘Commoner’s Crown’ but the one that blew my mind in 1975 was Greenslade’s ‘Time and Tide’. From the music to the cover to the contents of the gatefold I was obsessed and listened to this over and over while devouring their stage set up depicted in the gatefold- a plexiglass drum kit FFS!! To me this was their ‘pop prog’ album with shorter, punchier songs like ‘Newsworth’ and ‘Flattery Stakes’. If you are comfortable with Jon Anderson and Geddy Lee then Dave Lawson’s vocal shouldn’t be an impediment. The previous album ‘Spyglass Guest’ depicted in its sleeve everything I desired in life at that time- a cup of mead, chess, maidens and playing music with your friends. I still play their records in 2025, so infatuated back in ‘75 I bought all their singles too. It helped that hardly anyone knew of them at my Christian Brothers secondary school. Prog meant Yes or ELP or Floyd and that was it.
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Great memories and connections, Chris. Thanks for sharing them. I quite like Dave Lawson’s vocals, having fallen hard for the band with the self-titled debut. Very impressed that you managed to find their singles! How did you manage that, I wonder? 🙂
Also very pleased to high five over Manzanera’s Diamond Head. What a fine LP.
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