Music of the 1970’s.

Music of the 1970’s.

Unlike todays computerized songs (by solo artists) that are written by 7 or more people, the music of the 70’s was made by bands and solo artists who played their own instruments and wrote their own songs. If there was a mistake made while recording you couldn’t put it on a computer and quantize it, or fix it in two seconds on another track. You had to do it all over again from the beginning. I believe Elvis recorded Hound Dog 30 times before picking number 28.

And woman weren’t sexualized they way they are today making them a counter-part to pornography. (Sex sells).

There were tons of popular bands to listen to on the radio. When we turned on our favorite station we’d often wait for our favorite song to come on. We had no immediate gratification back then like today because there was no internet.

Hearing a song you liked stirred up an excitement that gave you a temporary high. And when you purchased an album at the local record shop down the street or in the local mall, you couldn’t wait to get home and listen to it on your turn table.

When the Beatles were putting out albums, people came up with the idea that they were subliminally inputting messages backwards on songs relating to Paul’s supposed death. “Turn me on dead man.” This was called backmasking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eay-4TOd4EA

The Electric Light Orchestra took the idea of backward messages and intentionally created a small backward section. In the 1970’s some record players had the ability to play the music backwards if you spun it that way with your fingers.

This effect can be found on youtube by looking for their song Fire on High with backward message. You’ll clearly hear the words: “The music is reversable but time is not. Turn back! turn back! turn back!”

Led Zeppelin was also accused of putting backward messages on Stairway to Heaven (My sweet satan) but it takes an overactive imagination to believe it.

Many albums opened up to include inside art. Especially if it was a double album.

The Black Sabbath album We Sold Our Soul for Rock ‘n’ Roll, opened up to a Goth-type woman lying in a coffin.

Led Zeppelin’s live album “The song remains the same” included pages inside of the band.

I recall getting Pink Floyd’s “Dark side of the moon” album and pulling out a wall poster of pyramids.

The inside of an Allan Parsons Project album Eve, displays a woman walking down a mansions’ staircase looking like something out of an Edgar Allan Poe story.
(They wrote an entire album based on his stories called tales of mystery and imagination).

Roger Dean paintings on the inside and outside of albums were a popular feature. But how do I describe the smell of a new album? It had a scent that made it as special as the music I was hearing for the first time.

And although CDs had a pristine sound, the benefit of experiencing the big album cover art was lost.

I remember long hair, bell bottoms, peace signs.

Blue lights were great for listening to music with the lights out, btw. 🙂

Vinyl album covers are making a comeback, although due to pricing I believe some modern albums leave out pictures or features from earlier versions.

The 1970’s was a special time for music. (The 1980’s had great music too).
And it wasn’t just rock music. Earth, Wind, and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, The Jackson 5, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding and many other black artists inspired us just as much.

Other artist on the softer side included Jim Croce, John Denver, Cat Stephens, and Harry Chapin. When it comes to poetry, listen to Chapin’s song Taxi, or Cats in the cradle. Or how about Phoebe Snow’s song Poetry Man. (which by the way, was erotic in nature).

And we lost many great artists. T-Rex died in a car accident (which included some eerie coincidences). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3WYuzAvaqM

Lynyrd Skynyd suffered a plane crash that killed several members. Jimi Hendrix died of an overdose. Janis Joplin died in her hotel room of an overdose. Keith Moon died of an accidental overdose. Mama Cass died of a heart attack. Harry Chapin died of a car accident. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OstxyCQGQBw
Jim Morrison died in Paris of an overdose. (some say he faked his death). Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger both died of suicide. John Lennon died by assassination, and many more. Look up the 27 club for more.

There are still some great groups out there today. But for me, times have changed. Music is made differently and the industry is a bit more…how shall I say it…Satanic!

There’s still a lot to explore when it comes to music. Old blues artists like Robert Johnson, Sun house, BB King and more are worth a listen if you’re into the history of music.

The 1970’s was a great time for music. At least, it was for me. Now, if I could just find that time machine I had. Oh yeah, it’s called youtube now. 🙂