Why 1975 Was One of the Best Years for Country Music

Many fans agree that the 1970s were the best decade for country music. The decade saw Dolly Parton hit her peak, debut releases from John Prine and Guy Clark, and the rise of folk artists like Doc Watson. Additionally, the decade gave birth to Outlaw Country. However, not all years in the decade were equal. For instance, 1975 saw landmark albums and songs from some of the brightest stars in country music, making it one of the best years for the genre.

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It would be nearly impossible to break down all of the monumental country music moments that took place in 1975. Instead, we’ll look at three landmark albums from three of the genre’s biggest names that are shining examples of what the year had to offer.

[RELATED: 4 Lesser-Known Country Albums From the 1970s You Should Be Listening To]

1. Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson

The genesis of Outlaw Country can be narrowed down to a pair of albums: Waylon Jennings’ Honky Tonk Heroes (1973) and Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger (1975) took country music in new directions. Both artists had gained creative control over their music, and these albums marked the beginning of a new era for them and the genre as a whole.

This wasn’t just a landmark album for the genre. It was also Nelson’s first No. 1 LP. Additionally, the record’s first single, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” was his first No. 1 on the country songs chart. Indeed, Red Headed Stranger marked the beginning of a new era for country music and helped make Nelson the legend he is today.

2. Back to the Country by Loretta Lynn

Country music legend Loretta Lynn released Back to the Country in February 1975. It went to No. 2 on the country albums chart. By this time in her career, a No. 2 hit wasn’t news for the Coal Miner’s Daughter. She already had several No. 1 songs and LPs under her belt, became the first woman to earn the CMA Entertainer of the Year Award, and was hailed as one of the genre’s greatest songwriters. Interestingly, this album didn’t contain a single song penned by Lynn. Instead, the 12-track collection proved that she could put her stamp on songs written by nearly anyone.

Back to the Country contains many standout songs, including “I Can Help” (Billy Swan), “You Love Everybody But You” (Tom T. Hall), and a gender-swapped version of Conway Twitty’s “Linda on My Mind,” titled “Jimmy on My Mind.” However, the song that put this LP on the list is “The Pill.” Penned by Lorene Allen, Don McHan, and T.D. Bayless, the song was a massive hit for Lynn, peaking at No. 5 on the country chart and No. 70 on the Hot 100, her highest-charting single on the all-genre survey. The song likely would have gone higher on the country chart, but its then-controversial topic–the positive impact of birth control on the lives of women–led to it being widely banned.

3. Dreaming My Dreams by Waylon Jennings

Released in June 1975, Dreaming My Dreams was Waylon Jennings’ first No. 1 album after shaking up the country music world with Honky Tonk Heroes two years earlier. It and Red Headed Stranger seemingly marked the beginning of an era in which progressive/Outlaw country began to rule the charts and airwaves. It was the beginning of a streak of four consecutive No. 1 albums for Jennings, who wouldn’t have an album miss the top 10 until 1983.

Dreaming My Dreams didn’t become a No. 1 album for no reason. It is packed with classic songs. The tracklist includes tracks like “Waymore’s Blues,” “I’ve Been a Long Time Leaving (But I’ll Be a Long Time Gone),” “Dreaming My Dreams with You,” and “Bob Wills Is Still the King.” However, the album opener, “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” may be the most important of the bunch. It was a No. 1 single for Jennings and would be a rallying cry for fans of traditional and Outlaw Country music for decades to come.

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