Peel in his Sounds music paper column, published on 4th January 1975, wrote his personal favourite top 40 singles of 1974, with the additional favourite singles from positions 41-50 as well as revealing his 51st favourite single of that year:
- Rod Stewart & The Faces: You Can Make Me Dance
- Don Covay: It's Better To Have
- Richard & Linda Thompson: I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
- Johnny Taylor: I've Been Born Again
- Robert Wyatt: I'm A Believer
- Bad Company: Can't Get Enough
- Hollies: The Air That I Breathe
- Sparks: This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us
- Rod Stewart: Farewell
- Supertramp: Dreamer
- Gary Shearston: I Get A Kick Out Of You
- Climax Blues Band: Sense Of Direction
- Eno: Seven Deadly Finns
- Van Morrison: Bulbs
- George McCrae: Rock Your Baby
- Status Quo: Down Down
- Supertramp: Land Ho
- Wings: Band On The Run
- Sparks: Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
- Leo Sayer: Long Tall Glasses
- Mott The Hoople: Saturday Gigs
- 10cc: Silly Love
- Queen: Seven Seas Of Rhye
- Betty Wright: Secretary
- Jackson Browne: Walking Slow
- Loudon Wainwright III: Down Drinking At The Bar
- Allman Brothers Band: Jessica
- Alan Price: Jarrow Song
- Souther-Hillman-Furay Band: Fallin' In Love
- Ace: How Long
- Leo Sayer: One Man Band
- Eagles: Already Gone
- Hollies: I'm Down
- Sparks: Amateur Hour
- Queen: Killer Queen
- Hatfield & The North: Let's Eat (Real Soon)
- Wings: Jet
- Pretty Things: Is It Only Love
- Thin Lizzy: Little Darlin'
- Argent: Keep On Rollin'
- First Class: Beach Baby
- Kiki Dee: I've Got The Music In Me
- Frankie Miller: Little Angel
- Gene Dozier: Give The Women What They Want
- Ducks Deluxe: Love's Melody
- Carol Grimes: Give It Everything You Got
- Kevin Coyne: I Believe In Love
- Eddie Kendricks: Boogie Down
- Ducks Deluxe: Fireball
- Montrose: Bad Motor Scooter
- Mighty Clouds Of Joy: Time
Peel mentions in the article that the list was 'compiled basically from sifting through mounds of records dumped all over the floor of Peel's Boarding House (Only A Stone's Throw From Tomorrow, No Hawkers. Tipping Encouraged).'