Let's Go Back To The Seventies!

[orangecoloredapple]

before disco - when the Doobies were cranking out China Grove, when computers were something only nerds used, cameras weren't on every corner, inflation was bad but everyone seemed to get by, there was a sense of community and hope.

Am I the only one that remembers how it felt?

[DODI]

1. Freedom Rock

I was just cleaning my kids' room and listening to the two CD Set "Freedom Rock" - anyone remember that collection. I know all the songs by heart -- great songs like "Turn, Turn, Turn", "I'd Love to Change the World", "War" and "Black & White". Yes, I miss the seventies. I miss the music. After listening to those CDs -- I know why I am a Liberal and proud of it.

[flamingyouth]

3. OMG - I have that set too!

Too funny - I'm going to pull it out now - thanks for the reminder!

[nuxvomica]

2. I remember telling a 20something how great the '70s were

The politics, the music, the mores. It was all good. Except for the clothes. He objected, saying the clothes were terrific and told me about an old pair of purple velvet bellbottoms he found in a used clothing store.
If we could return to the '70s, I think I could put up with the clothes.

[Lady Freedom]

4. sorry...

I was born in '78 so I don't have a clue!

[orangecoloredapple]

5. give this a try

the early '70s only! :)

http://www.superseventies.com/seventiesalmanac.html

[Lady Freedom]

6. COOL!

To bad I missed it! I like the site!

[jenk]

7. sort of like the early 90's

only instead of before disco, it would be before teenybopper pop.

[Blue-Jay]

8. Man,

I was, like, six or seven years old when that was happening.

[booksenkatz]

9. Hell, I LOVED the seventies!

I was born in 1960, so I spent my entire teen years in the 70s and had a great time. I have no idea how it felt from an adult's perspective, i.e. holding a job, buying groceries etc., so maybe that part sucked, but being a teenager in those years was fantastic. Even the clothes. Even disco. We had a blast.

[TheBigGuy]

13. same here...the 70s where great from a teens perspective.

maybe it looks better in retropsect, but I had a pretty good time back then, too....

[orangecoloredapple]

16. I was a young teen in the beginning of the decade too

and it wasn't just one of those "look back with fondness and nostalgia" at all the things that really weren't there. It was there! Belief in humankind, open minds, freedom, you could even hitchhike without fear of getting robbed or worse. I was 13 and hitchhiked through 4 states in middle america with two others - had a blast.

Of course there were not so good things - war and other issues, but the overwhelming zeitgist was one of hope and confidence. I will always remember that as my best and favorite times.

[booksenkatz]

17. You're right

We were out of Nam, feminists were coming into their own and actually winning some battles. We just didn't seem to have all the hate and sour attitudes and jaded feelings and divisiveness that is all so pervasive today. We felt like we could succeed at anything we tried.

[sandnsea]

20. We believed in the promise of the 60's

That's what I think. We grew up listening to the Kennedys and MLK and Peace Marches. I think we thought things were really going to change and the 70's were all about that.

And then Reagan. Damn.

[Skittles]

36. I SPENT EVERY ONE OF MY TEENAGE YEARS IN THE 70's

some in England, some in America. YES INDEED.

[corarose]

46. I was a teen in the 70's also

I think that jobs were plenty full back in those days but I wasn't serious about working.

[madrchsod]

10. those weren`t really

that bad-excpect the clothes- i worked at a union shop that had cost of living every 3 months..those days are gone!!! back then even if jobs were going overseas we didn`t pay much cause there were other jobs. it wasn`t till the 80`s did we realize the american worker was screwed..stupid assed "reagen democrats" they fell for the cut taxes and spend shit...
what`s amazing to me is that the veitnam war was finally over ..i remember watching the fall of saigon on cbs..it seemed that it started so long ago and now are troops are running for home..

[TheBigGuy]

14. the fall of vietnam, live, on your TV.

gosh, i remember that real well. The collapse of South Vietnam, the airlifts from Danang, wow!...

[StClone]

11. That's Really Weird!!!

I was thinking the same thing for several hours yesterday. I could pull out my Yes LPs. Elton John, BTO and Led Zepplin 8 Tracks.

Simpler time, some problems (DDT was banned) but nothing by today's standard of Limpwad, Coulter, Bush and Freeps. My freind could pick me up in his laquered black Road Runner and peel out and never come back to the 21st madness.

[TheBigGuy]

12. Band on the Run, Angie, "back to the land", "etc...

...there was an interesting vibe going on in the early 70s, up to/thru 74 and maybe into 75 (but thats pushing it).

It was hopeful, it was the counterculture going mainstream and alot of things where being questioned back then....just a different atmosphere.

I was pretty young back then (7th, 8th, 9th grades) but even I picked up on it.

[inthecorneroverhere]

15. ugh the clothes

Just get rid of those ghastly tube tops, highwaters, cheap flip flops and junky looking clothes!

I don't mind the velvet tuxedoes and lace shirts for prom night. They're kind of cute.

Also, inflation really started to eat into people's salaries, especially those living on fixed incomes.

Other than that, working folks did OK.

[meow2u3]

24. I remember highwaters

Kids who wore them were taunted mercilessly. One common taunt went something like this:

The flood is over
The land is dry
Tell me why
Your pants are so high

[inthecorneroverhere]

29. yep

You got it! LOL!!!

I can't believe I'm seeing a variant of those darn things now! Ugh!!

BTW, I never did the taunting. But I sure never will, EVER, EVER buy a pair of them in my lifetime!!!!!!

[mitchum]

18. Loved the popular culture. Hated the pop culture.

Waaaay more tolerance then.

[sandnsea]

19. yeah, where'd the tolerance go????

I really thought we were making progress, race relations were improving, we weren't so judgmental, hardly any total religious freaks. What the hell happened????

[inthecorneroverhere]

31. tolerance?????

Not 'round my school yard! Kids were taunted mercilessly back then.

[sandnsea]

38. Kids still are

I'm not talking about kids, I'm talking about adults. Maybe it was just because I was in California, the people I knew just did not have all the hang-ups. And when I see those same sorts of people now, I just can't understand what happened. How can somebody who didn't care about race then, suddenly freak out if their child brings home someone from a different race? I don't get it.

[mitchum]

50. I agree with you...

and it wasn't just in California. I grew up in the middle-class suburbs in the deep south, and even there, "live and let live" was dominant.

[TheBigGuy]

32. that was a fairly tolerant period, or so it seemed.

I have to say, though, that that started to fade by the mid to late 70s....it wasnt all so keen back then...but we didnt see that big wave of fundyness and the war on drugs and all that....

[Gato Moteado]

21. i used to listen to super CFL, the voice of labor.....

....am 1000, WCFL in chicago. 1974 was my favorite year for music.

i wish i could go back. and the clothes weren't nearly as bad as tricky dick nixon.

[TheBigGuy]

30. CFL...I remember that station...

....I think Larry Lujak was their big DJ, or was he on WLS?

[meow2u3]

22. I collected Wacky Packages

Those gross parodies of brand name products, such as:

Slaytex Living Gloves--fits necks perfectly!

Pure Hex bleach--gets rid of stains and clothes!

[Gato Moteado]

23. i loved those things!

my brother and i started drawing our own from everyday products around the house.

[TXlib]

26. I used to have a notebook COVERED with those!

[inthecorneroverhere]

33. funny!

Oh gawd those things were funny!

One that was semi-political that I remember was Commie Cleanser. I still sometimes remember that when I buy a can of Comet!

[TheBigGuy]

41. Nixxon...Just the Same Old Gas.

...i think that was one sticker like that...

[Southsideirish]

25. "Sense of community" - when was the last time a Repuke mentioned that?

I think Dean should build his whole domestic campaign around this concept. I hope it isn't too late.

[Kellanved]

27. no

I wasn't around during the 70s, but another 70s would mean another 80s.
For heavens sake: don't.

[sweetheart]

28. Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynryrd, Led Zepplin and Heart

Mother do you think they'll drop the bomb. - PF the wall
Gimme 3 steps. - LS <album?>
Led Zepplin - so many ... pickem... :-)
Heart - Magic Man

[inthecorneroverhere]

34. schools

Another thing I really didn't like about the 70s was how the schools began to deteriorate in terms of academic standards.

Nerd Power!!!!

[Skittles]

35. back when people took LSD

and saw ORANGECOLOREDAPPLES. :O

[stlsaxman]

37. "early '70's" a poem

Early '70's"

sometimes I can never remember
other times I'll never forget
that sweet young innocence
that had us thinking
all the world was ours

anyway I look back at it
any way we went was right
the loves we found at the drop of a hat
simple as that first look
into each others eyes

mom often stayed up half the night
wondering where we were
or when we'd call and when we'd get home
but the gods looked upon us with favor
and kept us far from harm

we were living in the real world alright
and our world was based on love
based on peace and understanding
never to hurt any one
no brother or sister left behind

was it magic or stupidity
the world outside would have eaten us alive
but we were together and inspired
and our bodies were as temples
turning each other on to the new

the spirit was with us
the spirit was within us
the spirit was all around us
and we were all about the spirit

the spirit was one
the spirit was all
the spirit was everything
and we were nothing but the spirit


copyright@2002 Dominic Schaeffer

[KG]

39. SEXSEXSEX!!!

the best thing about the 70's (well, for me anyways)

life before AIDs

sex was much more fun.

oh yes -lots and lots of un-protected sex. :)

[ForrestGump]

42. Sure, rub it in

I came of age in the early '80s - finally got my shot (no pun intended) at that wonderful activity a few months after Rock Hudson died. Didn't even get my chance to fight a skirmish in the Sexual Revolution. :-(

You '70s guys had all the fun - we got Reagan and %#*&ing Culture Club.

[KG]

47. yep, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. 24/7

it was all good. real good. lots of it!

(did i mention it was un-protected, too?) :)

and lots of it! (well, I got a lot.)

[TheBigGuy]

40. Billie Jack...remember that one.."One Tin Soldier"....

was the theme song which became a hit.

In some ways that movie sort of sums up some of the ethos of the period.....of sticking up for the underdog and such.....although I recall it was pretty violent.

[corarose]

43. Tomato Shaped AM Radios, Platform Shoes & I was an Original Punk Rocker

I graduated High School in 79 and boy do I remember the 70's.

I remember we use to practice walking in platform shoes in the alley behind our apartment building in Chicago.

[RobinA]

44. I Miss

the tolerance, the prevailing liberalism, and the lack of all these rules and regulations we seem have now. Plus I liked the clothes and the music. Of course, I wouldn't look good in those clothes anymore, but I wouldn't mind some new music that was listenable.

[Best_man23]

45. Only if we can start on August 9, 1974

So I can see Nixon resign and then go to a Ford dealer to buy a new Starsky & Hutch Torino.

[Kat45]

48. When we laughed at Archie Bunker,

we thought of him as an old breed that was dying out, going the way of the dinosaurs. Liberalism and tolerance were the new way, and they'd increase forever.

But now, it seems that Archie Bunker has become the norm, and liberals are the ones who can feel in danger of extinction. What went wrong? I think it started with Reagan.

[Kat45]

49. And of course, getting stoned all the time.

Everything was so much fun. You could share a joint with people you just met, and it was cool. And sometimes the authorities even looked the other way; marijuana hand't become the scourge of the universe yet (thank you, reagans). We all thought it really would get decriminalized.

The movie "Outside Providence" really brought me back to the seventies, to the stoner culture that I knew so well. I don't know if many people saw it, but it was about some kids who grew up outside of Providence, RI. I grew up outside Boston, and it was just so familiar. The movie got a lot of the little things right, such as the importance of the book "Fear and Loating in Las Vegas," which was passed around among my group of friends. :smoke: