14 Essential 1975 Country Albums

'70s country is the source of plenty of current nostalgia despite being made (gulp) a half century ago. There are so many great albums that hit the 50 mark this year, though, and it only seemed right to give you all an excuse to listen to them — some will be super familiar, but hopefully others offer some wonderful new-old music.

Old No. 1, Guy Clark

I wrote a couple thousand words on this album that have been scrubbed from the Internet (as it ever was, here's the raw Google doc). The thing that sticks with me about this album is how many hooks there are — Clark was the epitome of a Serious Songwriter, and yet these tunes get in your head and stay there. More of a pop savant than anyone (least of all him) would admit. 

Pieces of the Sky/Elite Hotel, Emmylou Harris

There's no choosing when it comes to Emmylou. I think maybe Pieces of the Sky is the critic's pick between these two (?) but I'm a big Elite Hotel head (who can resist "Ooh Las Vegas" and "Feelin' Single, Seein' Double"). She's just been on a decades-long hot streak!

Before the Next Teardrop Falls, Freddy Fender

One of the biggest country albums of 1975, a game-changing release with two instant classics on it…and Freddy Fender is still not in the Country Music Hall of Fame? Make it make sense.

Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson

I know this one's not going to be new to anyone, but in case you needed an excuse to revisit Red Headed Stranger…well, now you have one.

Dreaming My Dreams, Waylon Jennings

Between "Bob Wills Is Still The King" and "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way" (and a cover of a very vintage, very excellent Roger Miller tune) there was a lot of looking backwards by the reigning king of the outlaw movement at its zenith!

I'm Jessi, Jessi Colter

Hit after hit on this one — saving "Storms Never Last" and "What's Happened To Blue Eyes" for the last two tracks was pretty wild!

Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure Got A Lot Of Love, James Talley

One of the less heralded products of the outlaw boom (despite being the author of "Are They Gonna Make Us Outlaws Again?"), and for no good reason as evidenced by this collection of smart, intimate folk and country songs. Talley has such a gentle, unaffected way of singing. 

Rhinestone Cowboy, Glen Campbell

The anti-outlaw in a way, but considering how little respect Glen gets by comparison to his edgier peers in retrospect it might actually be the totem of '70s pop gloss and studio magic that's more outsidery 50 years later. 

Mississippi You're On My Mind, Stoney Edwards

Put Stoney in the canon! Even if he's not on streaming! Traditional '70s country at its best. 

Out Of Hand, Gary Stewart

A honky-tonk classic.

Juarez, Terry Allen

Allen's opening statement is just as arty and weird and enduring as the more famous ones to come. 

Cowboys and Daddys, Bobby Bare

An all-time legend who spent the '60s and '70s consistently ahead of the curve on the greatest songwriters of the period, Bare has excellent early versions of now-classics like "Amarillo Highway" (speaking of Terry Allen) and "Up Against The Wall." A wonderful front to back listen. 

Back To The Country, Loretta Lynn

Not much that needs to be said besides "The Pill," but you can't go wrong with Loretta (and there's some intriguing experiments production-wise on this one).

Ridin' High, Jerry Jeff Walker

An album of inside baseball for outlaw fiends, made by the genre's top rabble-rouser. I love the jazzy-Gulf vibe this one has.