PINK FLOYD / Wish You Were Here [1975]

By 1975's Wish You Were Here, it was very apparent Pink Floyd were no longer the happy curious lads they once were. Bitter, tired, angered with each other, suffering from long droughts of writer's block and having great problems dealing with the massive success of their previous album Dark Side Of The Moon, Floyd still managed to produce another perfect album.
Wish You Were Here continued the progressive soundscape atmospheres of Dark Side only this time coming off a little warmer and displaying the strongest songwriting they'd produce as a complete band. It doesn't get much better than this.

5 S.Y.D.'s out of 5

Songs Of Note: Shine On You Crazy Diamond 1-5; Wish You Were Here

DOLLY PARTON / The Bargain Store (1975)

It's Dolly.
That's all I need to write for this one.

Songs of Note: The Bargain Store; Kentucky Gambler

3½ career wigs out of 5

ALICE COOPER / Welcome to My Nightmare (1975)

Alice's masterpiece began life as a concept album, exploring the nightmares of a troubled individual named Steven. It deviated somewhat from the original idea, but I still regard it as one due to how well its individual parts complement each other, despite their compositional differences. It's a painting in musical form, with vibrant textures and blurred lines that when followed lead back upon themselves.

The inclusion of brass and synthesizers alongside the more traditional rock and roll guitars was an inspired move. Along the way it flirts with cabaret, ballad, spoken word and Alice's signature creepy piano movements. If you only listen to one Alice Cooper album in your lifetime, I'd make damn sure it's WtMN.

Songs of Note: Devils Food; Black Widow (listen to them in that order)

5 refrigerator lights out of 5