Christine's journey through the 70s

[christine]

I guess I have to take on music of the 70s in the UK as I'm the only one old enough to have lived through all of it! 1970-1979 was my stomping ground, my growing up years - from the tender age of 13 just two years into secondary school, through to leaving home and moving away. Through prog rock and Motown to punk, it was an exciting decade to live through even tho it gets a bad press.

I've just scanned through 1970 alone and found 50 songs that mean a lot to me but I won't inflict them all on you so I'm going to do 10 per year. There might've been bigger hit singles, but these ones are personal favourites :)

1970
The Liquidator - Harry J All Stars
Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
Melanie - Ruby Tuesday
The Kinks - Lola
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Edwin Starr - War
Cat Stevens - My Lady D'Arbanville
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Nothing Rhymed
Free - Alright Now
T.Rex - Ride a White Swan

1971
Greyhound - Black and White
Family - In My Own Time
Dave and Ansel Collins – Double Barrel
Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up
Curved Air – Backstreet Luv
Tom Jones – She’s a Lady
Rod Stewart & The Faces – Maggie May
Slade – Get Down and Get With It
John Kongos – Tokoloshe Man
Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine
The Supremes (post Diana Ross) – Nathan Jones
The Who – Won’t get Fooled Again

1972
David Essex - Rock On
Hudson Ford - Pick Up the Pieces
Goldern Earring - Radar Love
Thin Lizzy - Whisky in the Jar
Sweet - Blaockbuster
Suzi Quattro - Can the Can
Stevie Wonder - Living for the City
Strawbs - Part of the Union
Isley Brothers - Who's that Lady
Pink Floyd - Money

[jiraffejustin]

Yeeeeeeaaaaahhh. This should be good.

[christine]

1970

the year the Beatles split up , Jimi died in London, Richard Branson started a mail order record business, England lost to Germany in the quarter finals of the World Cup, 18 year olds could vote for the first time, Edward Heath became PM, and Everton won the First Division.

The Liquidator - Harry J All Stars - the era of Trojan records and scores of brilliant reggae tunes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmLDf9XKMfk

Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum - always got the kids on the dancefloor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aZsF7v0pNw

Melanie - Ruby Tuesday - loved her vulnerable yet powerful version of Ruby Tuesday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9alAuYr2g_8

The Kinks – Lola - we always thought of them as quintessentially British

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9B3LEqO-cc

Black Sabbath – Paranoid - my dad:what's all this bloody noise!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZyVZFJGX5g

Edwin Starr – War - I was always a Motown kid, had so may of their records

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk

Cat Stevens – My Lady D’Arbanville - I really had something for Cat Stevens. Lots of posters on the wall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0l6sF5Kecs

Gilbert O’Sullivan – Nothing Rhymed - me and my friend loved him. People laughed at his get up, but his lyrics were great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtoefxZGR6U

Free – Alright Now - this just rocks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg2Nc178JIo

T.Rex – Ride A White Swan - another one from my dad: is it a girl or boy?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9rFoPyqFoA

[christine]

The others from 1970
Jimmy Mack - Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson, Black Night - Deep Purple, Voodoo Chile - Jimi Hendrix, Come and Get It - Badfinger, Long Shot Kick Da Bucket - The Pioneers, Return of Django - The Upsetters, I want You Back - Jackson 5, Farewell is a Lonely Sound - Jimmy Ruffin, I Can't Help Myself - the Four Tops, Abraham Martin & John - Marvin Gaye, Groovin with Mr Bloe - Mr Bloe, Band of Gold - Freda Payne, Mama Told Me Not to Come - three Dog Night, In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry, Gasoline Alley - The Hollies, Black Pearl - Horace Faith, Young Gifted and Black - Bob and Marcia, Patches - Clarence Carter, When I'm Dead and Gone - McGuinness Flint

[seanc]

I love Alright Now, Ruby Tuesday, and Spirit In The Sky. O'Sullivan seems like someone I would like. That song is pretty cool.

[gbgoodies]

1970
Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum - always got the kids on the dancefloor
Melanie - Ruby Tuesday - loved her vulnerable yet powerful version of Ruby Tuesday
The Kinks – Lola - we always thought of them as quintessentially British
Edwin Starr – War - I was always a Motown kid, had so may of their records
Cat Stevens – My Lady D’Arbanville - I really had something for Cat Stevens. Lots of posters on the wall
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Nothing Rhymed - me and my friend loved him. People laughed at his get up, but his lyrics were great


These are the songs that I liked best from this group.

"Spirit in the Sky" was my favorite of these songs, and I really liked the Cat Stevens song too.

I've heard a few of these songs before, but by different artists. I think "Ruby Tuesday" was by The Rolling Stones, (one of the few Rolling Stones songs that I like), and "War" by Bruce Springsteen.

I'm not a big fan of The Kinks, but I do like their song "Come Dancing".

[Swan]

Gilbert O'Sullivan is fantastic, christine. :up:

[christine]

Gilbert O'Sullivan is fantastic, christine. :up:

He's a funny one Swan. I still like him and I play his old records - there is some that are a bit twee, but some have a great depth to the lyrics despite seeming a bit plonky piano if you know what I mean!

[honeykid]

So much goodness in this period. End of the 60's through to punk/disco there's so many different styles of music which bloom/start or it's a golden age. Can't reallly go wrong with the 70's.

I can understand wanting to go year by year rather than a 50 or 100. For the last song tournament I themed all my songs from 1973. 16 picks, I still had to leave a few out and it wasn't even my era.

Looking forward to seeing what's coming.

[christine]

1971

I've tried to get a live performance for the youtube clips but some are so old that the record is just played on top of whatever footage they have.
Anyway 1971 when beer was 11p and you could've got a ticket for the Cup Final for £2 where you could've seen Arsenal beat Liverpool :D
The 15th Feb sees decimalisation of the currency when queues in the shops were longer as everyone fumbled with the new money. Thatcher as Education Secretary did her milk snatcher act. The House of Commons voted to join the EEC. The Trouble's are heading towards a peak in Northern Ireland .

Greyhound – Black and White - great sentiment , another hit on the Trojan label
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eHp0wABxbg

Family – In My Own Time - I loved these guys and Roger Chapman's eccentric voice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrlxdKKP2n0

Dave and Ansel Collins – Double Barrel - iconic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiDyQD-Dic0

Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up - this is one of my all time top ten favourite songs. Just perfect. The brass section is amazing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpD8FpGpBjE

Curved Air – Backstreet Luv - quite a lot of fancying Sonja Kristina done by the lads at school
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUnjMI81vAA

Tom Jones – She’s a Lady - for me mum, her heart throb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMXehqqR8J8

Rod Stewart & The Faces – Maggie May, great song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEoc13bwCw0

Slade – Get Down and Get With It - Noddy Holder , our Nod here with their first chart single. Not one of their own songs but I like this as it shows Noddy's powerful voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No-AAzcc_A0

John Kongos – Tokoloshe Man - always a mysterious song to me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mCYgjhnGg

Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine - this is just a long time favourite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIdIqbv7SPo

The Supremes (post Diana Ross) – Nathan Jones - You'll probably not understand this one you guys who've always lived with stereo, but going from a Dansette (http://www.dansetterevolver.co.uk/dr/Home.html) to a stereo radiogram and listening to this lying on the floor between the speakers, just amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzQOvcw6cZk

The Who – Won’t get Fooled Again - class!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIHJ9RMAVGI

[honeykid]

Some great stuff there, Christine. Move On Up, Black and White and Nathan Jones. :cool: The others are good/OK, with the exception of Maggie May, which I've just never liked. There again, I could say the same for the vast majority of Rod Stewart's work.

[Mr Minio]

I thought it's going to be a movie journey, but apparently the latest trend of music threads is stronger than I thought.

[jiraffejustin]

"Move On Up" is great and it provides a sample for Kanye West's "Touch the Sky"

[Jack1]

Also for 1970: Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes). First number-one of the decade.

[gbgoodies]

1971
Tom Jones – She’s a Lady - for me mum, her heart throb
Rod Stewart & The Faces – Maggie May, great song
Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine - this is just a long time favourite
The Supremes (post Diana Ross) – Nathan Jones
The Who – Won’t get Fooled Again - class!


Nice choices, especially Tom Jones.

[christine]

The other 1971 songs from the long list
Lindisfarne - Lady Eleanor, Shaft, The Tams - Hey Girl Dont Bother Me, The Pioneers - Let your Yeah be Yeah, George Harrison - Bangladesh, The Temptations - Just My Imagination , Neil Diamond - I Am I Said, Al Green - I'm So Tired of being Alone, The Delphonics - Didn't I Blow Your Mind, T.Rex - Get it On, and Jeepster, The Equals - Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys, Elton John - Your Song, Tami Lyn - I'm Gonna Run Away from You, McGuinness Flint - Malt and Barley Blues

[seanc]

Ain't No Sunshine is an all time great. I love that song.

[Daniel M]

The Kinks, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Tom Jones and The Who :) I hope to see "Alone Again" in 72.

[christine]

1972

1972 is a year of uncertainty in the UK. The Troubles in Northern Ireland has caused the Parliament over there to be suspended. Bloody Sunday happens and the IRA are active in England as well as NI. During the year the miners go on strike as well as the dockers causing two States of Emergency to be called in one year. Unemployment doubled to over 1 million in the two years under Heath's Conservative government. Thousands of Ugandan Asians arrive in the Uk after being expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin who'd seized power in a coup the year before.
At school we now had to stay on till we were 16. I was in the last year we could leave at 15. That year we wore two tone skirts and Ben Sherman shirts. We loved reggae and soul, but glam rock was the business of the charts.

It's difficult to explain how outlandish some of these outfits and music was back then as they seem quite unremarkable now , you'll just have to take it from me they were!

Roxy Music - Virginia Plain - Bryan Ferry was supersmooth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEalg62F8Zg

Mott The Hoople - All the Young Dudes - Television man is crazy saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks
Oh man I need TV when I got T. Rex
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkqQj8Z_aVY

Slade - Mama Weer All Crazee Now - Slade had so many number 1 hits in these few years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg-q8vSPxao

David Bowie - Starman - Androgyny wasn't a big thing in early 1970s Liverpool!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v342TST9tFw

Alice Cooper - Schools Out - wow we loved this at school. Obviously!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBEcLxnXVAc

Lindisfarne - Meet Me on The Corner - it wasn't all glam rock (I know this says 1971 but it was a hit in 72)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYPBF4s8m_Y

Status Quo - Paper Plane - this was the lads band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhwCqAmggnM

Elton John - Rocket Man - Who would've thought he'd become a national treasure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76itSz-QEcE

Love Unlimited - Walking in the Rain - must've been the year I went a bit daft ;) Nice to hear Barry White for the first time too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TamdHlPm_IA

Walk in the Night - Jnr Walker and the All Stars - perfect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgjpOl55oQ4

[seanc]

Elton John is one of my top 5 artists, and Rocket Man is one of my top 5 songs of his.

[Daniel M]

David Bowie is possibly my favourite artist, I love Starman and All The Young Dudes.

[Daniel M]

Gary Glitter might be my favourite glam rock artist of the 70s though. I know he's controversial obviously now, but I think his music his great, will you be including any if his songs?

[christine]

He's an amazingly successful singer but Bernie Taupin has to be given a lot of credit too :)

[christine]

Gary Glitter might be my favourite glam rock artist of the 70s though. I know he's controversial obviously now, but I think his music his great, will you be including any if his songs?

I dunno Daniel, he wasn't one of my favourites anyway at the time, but the Glitter Band's songs did obviously feature a lot in the glam rock period of the early 70s. I'll prob mention them in the ones that didn't make it list. I always feel sorry for the rest of the Glitter Band. Think of the royalties they've missed out on with their records never being played.
Its an uncomfortable one, specially after he went to the Far East too to carry out what he did :(

[Daniel M]

I dunno Daniel, he wasn't one of my favourites anyway at the time, but the Glitter Band's songs did obviously feature a lot in the glam rock period of the early 70s. I'll prob mention them in the ones that didn't make it list. I always feel sorry for the rest of the Glitter Band. Think of the royalties they've missed out on with their records never being played.
Its an uncomfortable one, specially after he went to the Far East too to carry out what he did :(

Fair enough. I've only really been introduced to his music this summer, I had never listened to any of it before, probably because of obvious reasons. But I'm glad I did as I think he was a greater performer. Rock and Roll, I'm The Leader of the Gang, Do You Wanna Touch Me, Rock On, Remember Me This Way, Hello! Hello! I'm Back Again, I Love You Love Me Love and The Wanderer are songs I enjoy from the 70s. Through The Years might be my favourite song of his altogether though.

Forgot to say I love Elton John, not really a fan of Status Quo though.

This should have been on the 72 list though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_P-v1BVQn8

:(

[christine]

I know. I felt I couldn't put another Gilbert O'Sullivan track on there cos I've got one on 1970, and I've trying not to repeat singers/bands but yes that one's so good I'm glad you've put it up there :)

Feel free to put upi your own favourites from these particular years but don't jump forward years yet!

[Daniel M]

:up:

This for 1970 then, you mention The Beatles splitting up, this might be one of my favourite songs of theirs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajCYQL8ouqw

:)

[honeykid]

All The Young Dudes and Rocket Man are two of my favourite songs. :up:

[christine]

aww yeah nice Daniel. Sad they split up but they wanted to do their own thing for a while before that,

Other 1972 songs from my long list:
Layla - Derek and the Dominos, In a Broken Dream - Python Lee Jackson, Let's Stay Together - Al Green, Silver Machine - Hawkwind, Have You Seen Her - the Chi-Lites, Feel the Need - The Detroit Emeralds, Burlesque - Family*, American Pie and Vincent - Don McLean, Alone Again Naturally - Gilbert O'Sullivan , Help Me Make it Through the Night - Gladys Knight and the Pips, Horse With No Name - America.

This was a real popcorn music year, the era of David Cassidy and the Osmonds but I was far above that sort of teenybopper nonsense - I left that to my younger cousins ;)

*This is an ace song if you haven't heard it https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=23VdAJuEU1Y

[Daniel M]

Wow, the 70s were so good. I would make my own list, but I would miss so much stuff out. From your almost made it list, I love Don McLean's American Pie and Vincent, two beautiful songs. Lets Stay Together and Layla are fantastic too, great songs from films that I love.

[christine]

1973

1973 saw the first episodes of Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? , Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em , That's Life, Last of the Summer Wine as well as the pilot for Porridge
Bowie retired his Ziggy Stardust persona, Queen released their first album and Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of The Moon.
A double bill of The Wicker Man and Don't Look Now were spooking people in the cinemas (including me)
Noel Coward and J.R.R. Tolkein died.

in the country we entered the EEC on the 1st Jan. VAT was launched. The IRA planted bombs in London. Northern Ireland held a referendum to see if people wanted to stay in the UK, the overwhelming vote was to stay. Royal Navy ships were used to protect UK fishing fleet in the 'Cod War' with Iceland.

It was the year of my O levels :yup:

1973
David Essex – Rock On. This guy was my heart throb that year. Me and my mate went to see him in the film That’ll Be The Day and swooned over him
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pYwtq8gZ3Y

Hudson Ford – Pick Up the Pieces - Cant’ find a video for them singing but always liked the guitars in this song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc14AzULCzo

Golden Earring – Radar Love, like the drum beats and the guitars in this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeRa3RtBiIU

Thin Lizzy – Whisky in the Jar - it’s a great version of an old song . Phil Lynott died far too young. RIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyQ-tScuzwM

Sweet – Blockbuster – they had three hits this year but I know you’ve already had Ballroom Blitz winning a tournament so here’s another one. Great makeup :rolleyes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQkbfoUVPcY

Suzi Quattro – Can the Can – always thought she looked like a really feisty girl at the time. I liked that
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYoogY-UGio

Stevie Wonder – Living for the City
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSRyf5G2uI8

The Strawbs – Part of the Union – I had this in the folk tournament , but it’s so evocative of the era that I’m including it again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdOCWUgwiWs

The Isley Brothers – Who’s That Lady - so smooth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_YpmHMjtBg

Pink Floyd – Money - iconic track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4gl14k9oV0

[honeykid]

Great year. I'm loving this thread, Christine and I really appreciate and enjoy these little history write-up's, too.

[christine]

thanks Hun :)

[christine]

1973 and around those years as well as being in the flush of glam and glitter were the years of the prog rock supergroups - Yes, ELP. Caravan, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull. King Crimson, Led Zep and Genesis. The era of concept albums and rock operas. The year I ignored all that . Good job as as I little did I know I'd have to sit through it four years later when I met my future husband!
It was also the year that Judge Dread the English Reggae singer had two records in the top 40 this year. He had a string of hits in the 70s all banned by the BBC for their saucy lyrics, yet selling enough to all feature in the top 40 through the 70s.

The longer 1973 list includes :The Rolling Stones - Anjie, Stealers Wheel - Stuck in the Middle , Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side, George Harrison - Give me Love, Steve Miller Band - The Joker, Slade's Cum On Feel the Noize and Merry Xmas Everybody, ELO - Roll Over Beethoven, Wizzard - See My Baby Jive, T-Rex - 20th Century Boy, Sweet - Ballroom Blitz,

[Swan]

You have great taste Christine. :up:

[christine]

1974

The UK was under pressure this year. It started the year with the ‘Three Day Week’ , the government’s limiting the supply of electricity to businesses to three days a week . The shortage of electricity was due to the miners working to rule causing a coal shortage, co-inciding with the OPEC oil embargo which was in response to the US support for Israel in the Yom Kippur war. Oil increased in cost in 6 months from $3 a barrel to $12.
This, along with the 17.2% interest rate was causing unrest in the country reflected in the political situation. There were two General Elections this year, one in Feb where Harold Wilson’s Labour won by 4 seats over Heath’s Conservatives and had to form a minority government. Followed by one in the October where Labour just scraped a majority.
The fascist National Front gained support in local elections in some London boroughs – typical playing on peoples anxieties during times of hardship.
Westminster reacted against IRA bombings which caused many deaths in Belfast, Birmingham, London, Guildford and on the M62 by declaring Direct Rule over Northern Ireland and a State of Emergency. The Prevention of Terrorism Act 1974 was passed.

Bill Shankly retired from managing Liverpool FC. Don Revie took over the England job from Alf Ramsey. John Lennon performed for the last time on stage in Madison Square with Elton John. Tom Baker took over Dr Who from John Pertwee. Nick Drake died from an overdose aged 26. The first McDonalds opens in the UK.

Medicine Head – Slip and Slide - Always love listening to harmonica playing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJggucIl1Zk

Liverpool Lou – The Scaffold . A local one for me back in the 70s. Paul McCartney’s brother is in this band in case you didn’t know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om1f_DzrzlE

Fell in love with Queen this year. Our Art teacher brought in their first album Queen and Queen II this year and played them in our lessons. What a guy. Seven Seas of Rhye
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EvL7-9RVGE

sorry but have to have both Queen’s hits from this year – Killer Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZBtPf7FOoM

This is enough to make you go weak at the knees. The late, great Marvin Gaye with Let’s Get it On
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j3okb3kuts

We had fun with this song and dance at the discos at the time – Mud - Tiger Feet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQfidTOTsLo

Paul McCartney and Wings – Jet . I like this rehearsal version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFOnTfdms90

Sparks – This Town Ain’t Big Enough – these guys used to spook us but it’s a great song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfA4FphZHbc

The Hollies – The Air that I Breathe – my beloved Nan died this year and she loved this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJhxoJ11ogU


and so disco gets going , gets funky – Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes – Get Dancin’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD6PqT3LjQk

[Gideon58]

Nice to see some love for "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Rock On"