OK kids, time for the big reveal:
botheration - "Too Much Monkey Business", Chuck Berry (early single that amazingly never charted Pop).
determination - "Ball of Confusion", Tempts (yay urth!)
cogitation - "Nikki Hoeky", PJ Proby, a beloved-by-chart-geeks regional hit from '67; I was wrong, it actually did get to #23.
masturbation - "Give Peace a Chance", Plastic Ono Lennon (yay gaz!)
salutations - "Life is a Rock", Reunion ("friends and Romans, salutations/Brenda and the Tabulations")
preservation - "Young Hearts Run Free", Candi Staton ("self-preservation is what's really goin' on today")
investigation - "Me & Julio", Paul Simon
accusations - "Don't stand So Close...", Police (yay gaz again!)