1970s Music: History, Pictures & Artists - RetroWaste

The late 70s also witness the birth of another young music style: hip-hop. ... much more experimental than it was technically capable of being in the 60s. RetroWaste»The1970s:AmericanPopCultureHistory»1970sMusic:History,Pictures&Artists Therewasmorevarietyinmusicinthe1970sthaneverbefore.Musiclistenershaddozensofgenrestochoosefromandmanyofthemrosetopopularityatdifferentpointsduringthedecade. Advertisement Funk,Soul,R&B,Pop,HardRock,SoftRockandDiscoallcarvedouttheirplaceinthemusicworldinthe1970s.Thelate70salsowitnessthebirthofanotheryoungmusicstyle:hip-hop.Someofthebestrocknrollofalltimewasrecordedinthe70s.FromDavidBowietoLedZeppelintoPinkFloyd,thelistIcouldmakewouldkeepyouscrollingfordays.The70swereagoldeneraforvinylrecords.Theywereaffordabletoeveryoneandeveryonehadarecordplayer.Itseemslikealmosteverysongevermadeinthe80shada70ssampleinit.Musicequipmenthadfinallygivenartistsmorethan4trackstoworkwithandmusicbecamemuchmoreexperimentalthanitwastechnicallycapableofbeinginthe60s.Shareyourlovefor1970sMusic:History,Pictures&Artists ElectronicmusicwasgettingmoresophisticatedasartistslikeKraftwerkandJeanMichaelJarrelaiddownsometracksthatarestillquitelistenabletothisday. QUICKREFERENCELINKS 1970sMusicTimeline 1970|1971|1972|1973|1974|1975|1976|1977|1978|1979Musicin1970EnormousmusicfestivalslikeWoodstockdisappearedasquicklyastheyarrived,duetotheinherentdangerofattending.Riots,drugs,andviolentcrowdscausedmanypotentiallylegendaryfestivalstobecancelled.Amongthepopularartistsin1970yearwereEltonJohn,whoarrivedfromEnglandandtheJacksonFive,hailingfrom“Motown”AKADetroit,Michigan.Rangingfrom12-19yearsold,theJackson5,featuring12-year-oldMichaelJackson,capturedimaginationsacrossthecountry.DianaRosslefttheSupremesforsolofame.NeilDiamond,hititbigwith“Cracklin’Rosie”whileSimonandGarfunkelimpressedaudienceswith“BridgeOverTroubledWaters.”JohnnyCashwontwoGrammyawardsforhissong,“ABoyNamedSue.”Hard-rockgroupThreeDogNightrankedhighonthenationalbest-sellerlist.Elvisreappearedinconcert,aftermakingnearly30moviesinthe1960s.BurtBacharachgainednewpopularitywithsongsforTVandconcerts.1970markedtheendofanera.TheBeatlesdissolved,sufferinginternalconflicts.Eachwenttheirseparatewaysappearingonsoloalbums.Arguablytheworld’smostfamousgroupofalltimewasnomore.Thepopandrockmusicworld,whichTheBeatleshadforeverchanged,wouldneverbethesame.LouisArmstrongrecoveredfromillnesstothrowafamousbirthdaybashonhis“70thbirthday”onJuly4,1970.Itwasn’tknownuntilthe1980sthathistruebirthdaywasonAugust4,1901.Whenhediedin1971,hewasactuallyonly69yearsold.AstatuewasplannedtobeerectedinArmstrong’sbirthplaceofNewOrleans.Incrediblejazz-onlyfestivalswerestagedinMontereyandNewport.Twodeathsrockedthemusicworldin1970.OnSeptember18,mercurialguitaristJimiHendrixwasfounddeadinLondon.Lessthanamonthlater,onOctober4,JanisJoplindiedinHollywood.Thedreamofpeaceandloveheldsodearlybythehippiesofthesixtiesseemedtobevanishingbeforetheirveryeyes. AdvertisementMusicin1971LedZeppelin1971TourPosterAlthoughglamrockandjazzwerebusypushingboundaries,forthemostpart,1971wasayearrifewithnostalgia.TheBritishInvasionrebooted,featuringseveralsuccessfultoursbyseveralEnglishartists.BlackSabbath,EltonJohn,TheWho,LedZeppelinandBeeGeeswerejustafewofthehugelypopularEnglishmusicians.TheMamasandthePapaswererejuvenated,makinganewalbuminhopesofatour.SonnyandChercamebackintodemand,asdidPerryComo.TheBeachBoysturnedtheirmusictoanolderaudience,thosewhohadlistenedtothemintheirearlierdays.AlloftheformerBeatlesweresuccessfulthisyear,butnonemorethanGeorgeHarrison,with“MySweetLord.”Hisepic,3-vinylboxsettitled“AllThingsMustPass”isconsideredbymanytobeHarrison’sultimatemasterpiece.TheNewportJazzfestivalwascancelled,againduetoviolence.TheMontereyJazzfestivalavoidedcertainperilitselfbydirectingitsmusictowardanolderaudience.1971witnessedthedeathofoneofthegreatestmusiciansinthehistoryofhumankind.InNewYorkCity,onJuly6,LouisArmstrongdied.“Satchmo”couldreachunheard-ofnotes,andhisoriginalitymadepeoplewanttolearnthetrumpetjusttoimitatehim.Fortunately,heleftuswithamassivecatalogofover1,500records.Hisinfluenceonmodernmusic,whilenotnecessarilyobvioustomany,iscertaintobefeltforcenturiestocome.Musicin1972DavidBowieasZiggyStardust1972startedoffwithatragicblast.Twobombsexploded,withminutesofeachother,onJanuary26whichdamagedtheNYHQofColumbiaArtistsManagementandthenearbyofficesofSolHurok.TheblastswereattributedtotheJewishDefenseLeaguewhichprotestedtheRussiantreatmentofJews.ColumbiaandHurokhadpioneeredinimportingRussiantalent.1972sawthenationalemergenceof“soulmusic.”Atonepoint,thefivetop-sellingrecordsintheUSand11ofthetop20albumswerebyAfricanAmericanartists.LeadingthewaywasIsaacHayes,withhissmashhitfrom1971,Shaft.OtherlegendaryR&BartistsatthetopoftheirgamewereArethaFranklin,MarvinGaye,AlGreen,CurtisMayfieldandevenSammyDavisJr.gotintothemixwith“CandyMan”fromCharlieandtheChocolateFactory.Americanrockerswentadecidedlysofterdirection.NeilYoung,ThreeDogNightandAmericaallreleasedsinglesthatcouldbedescribedaseasylistening.NotsoinBritain.GlamrockwasinfullforceasZiggyStardustandT.Rexstruttedtheirstuffonstage.FireworksandotherstartlingeffectsbroughtareturntotheatricsasAliceCoopertreatedhisconcertswithallthepompandcircumstanceofaBroadwayplaybasedinHell.Alongwiththeglamorousimageryandglitteringcostumescameaqualitycharacterizedbysomeobserversas“RocknRouge”becauseoftheirbi-sexualovertones.TheRollingStonesalsotouredtheUSforthefirsttimesince1969insupportoftheiriconicExileonMainStreetalbum.Themostpopularsongoftheyear,however,belongedtoDonMcLeanwithAmericanPie.Thecryptic8-minutelongsongcapturedtheheartsandmindsoftheentirecountryforthefirsttwomonthsoftheyear.Musicin1973 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Rockandpopruled“Supreme”in1973.Soulwashugetoo,featuringlegendslikeBarryWhite,StevieWonder,andmore.ReggaewasmakingabreakthroughintheUnitedStates,headlinedbytheWailersandJimmyCliff.JohnnyNash,anAmerican,cameoutwith“StirItUp”and“ICanSeeClearlyNow,”thefirstAmericantohaveapopularreggaerelease.RockownedafewperennialfavoritebandsliketheGratefulDead,theAllmanBrothers,andLedZeppelin.PaulMcCartneyreleased“RedRoseSpeedway,”andanotherex-Beatle,GeorgeHarrison,released“LivingintheMaterialWorld,”withafewhitsongsofitsown.HelenReddy,anAustralian,soldmillionsofcopiesofhersongs,“IAmaWoman”and“DeltaDawn”bothtoppedthecharts.TheNewportJazzFestivalinNewYorkCitywasverysuccessful,withjazzenthusiastscomingfromaroundtheworldtolistento10daysofjazzmusic.Musicin1974EltonJohn’spopularitysoaredinboththeUnitedStatesandtheUnitedKingdom.AtaconcertinCalifornia,75,000ticketssoldoutwithinhoursofbecomingavailable.BobDylanreappearedinconcertafteranear10-yearhiatus.Amotorcycleaccidentin1966preventedhimfromappearing,butoncehewasback,itwasobviousthathistalentwasstillunrivaled.FrankSinatramadeafewappearancesduringtheyear,drawinglargecrowdswhereverhewent.Crosby,Stills,Nash&Younggotbacktogetheragain,aftereachofthemhadattemptedtogooffontheirown.StevieWonder’ssecondalbum“Innervisions”wasamassivesuccessandRobertaFlackcashedinonhertalentsaswell.A12-hourrockshowinOntario,California,maderecordprofits,grossingover$2million,showcasedtheEagles,radiopersonalityDonImus,andSeals&Crofts.Themusicworldwassaddenedbythelossof75-year-oldDukeEllington,oneofthemostinfluentialjazzartistsofalltime.Musicin1975PreviouslyundiscoveredBruceSpringsteenwasadiamondintherough.Afterreleasinghisfirsttwoalbumsintoobscurity,histhirdexploded.“BorntoRun”madeover$1millioninlessthantwomonths.EltonJohn’sdominanceontherocklandscapecontinued,fillingtheDodgerStadiuminLosAngeles,thefirstartisttodososinceTheBeatles.StevieWondersignedarecord-breakingcontract,aseven-year$13millionguarantee.Discothèques(ordiscos)appearedaroundthecountry,gainingmoreandmorepopularity,untileventheradioshadtocopythestyle.Discosweremadefordancing;mainlysoulmusicwasplayed,withastrongbassanddrumbeat.BarryWhite,GloriaGaynor,andVanMcCoywerepopularartistswithinthediscocircles.Jazzwashummingalongnicely,withtheformingoftheWorldJazzAssociationandtheLasVegasJazzSociety.LeadersofthejazzmovementweresuchasLonnieListonSmith,QuincyJones,EddieHarris,andmanymore.Musicin1976 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Aerosmithwasoneofthemostpopulargroupsin1976,withleadsingerStephenTylerdrawingcomparisonstoMickJaggerinmorewaysthanone.PaulMcCartneyfinishedaworldtourwithhisbandWings.Thetour,whichhadbeguninEuropethepreviousyear,endedwithatouroftheUnitedStatesandCanada,andwasextremelysuccessful.EricCarmenwasapopularnewartist,playingmultipleinstrumentswhilesinging.Piano-playingcroonerBarryManilowwasanotherpopularartist.British-bornPeterFramptonbroughtalittlepopularitytotheUnitedStates,outsellingBobDylanwithhisalbum“FramptonComesAlive!”Electrifiedfunkbecameanewmusicalgenre,ledbyWildCherryandtheirleadsinger/guitarist,RobertParissi.Theirsingle“PlayThatFunkyMusic”soldoveramillioncopies.Jazzruled,especiallyguitaristGeorgeBenson.Hehit#1inchartsforpopular,soul,andjazzmusic,withhisalbum“Breezin’.”OtherpopularjazzartistsincludedNatAdderly,MiltJackson,andKennyBurrell.Musicin1977Punkrockdevelopedseriouslyforthefirsttime,withbandsliketheSexPistolsandtheRamonesthrashingtheirwaytosuccess.Theircrazystagebehaviorandoffbeatarrangementsdrewbothpraiseanddiscouragement.Kisspopularizedin1977,drawingcrowdsofyoungpeoplewiththeircostumesandheavyrockstyle.FleetwoodMaccameintotheclearforAmericanaudiencesbyaddingnewmembersandchangingtheirtraditionallybluesstyle.Bytheendoftheyear,theirtworidiculouslysuccessfulalbumshadcollectivelysoldover11millioncopies.JamesTaylorandhiswifeCarlySimonweresuccessfulinsellingtheirownrecords,withhisplatinumrecord“JT”andhersingle“NobodyDoesItBetter.”TheCommodoreswerealsosuccessful,withR&Bhitslike“BrickHouse”and“HowMuchLove.”HerbieHancockhelpedorganizeajazztourwithmembersofMilesDavis’quintetandFreddieHubbardinplaceofDavisonthetrumpet.Theirtourwaslessthanoverwhelming,goingthroughTokyo,London,andtheUnitedStates.GuitaristGeorgeBensonkeptuphispre-establishedfanbase,withhisjazztunes.ThedeathsofElvisPresleyandBingCrosby,however,rockedthemusicindustryin1977.Theworldwassaddenedbythelossoftwosuchlegends,andbothwillberememberedforgenerationstocome.Musicin1978TheBeeGeesexplodedintothemusicworld,sellingmorerecordsthananyonethoughtpossible.Theyalsoweretheushersforthediscoera,asitwasinfullswingin1978.ThesoundtrackforthemovieSaturdayNightFeversoldnearly30millioncopies.WillieNelsonandDollyPartonblendedtheircountrywithotherstylesofmusic.Partonpioneeredmoreofapop-country,whileNelsonmadehisownrock-countrymix.BruceSpringsteenreemergedwith“DarknessontheEdgeofTown,”consideredbymanytobeoneofthegreatrockalbumsofthedecade.ButBillyJoelwasthemostpopularrockartistoftheyear.Joelsoldover6millioncopiesofhisalbumsintheUnitedStatesalone,toppingthecharts.SteelyDancreatedaplatinumrecordoftheirown,“Aja,”whichhadajazz-likefeeltoit.KennyLogginsandJimMessinasplit,andLogginsmadeanewalbum,thepopular“NightWatch.”JazzreceivedasurgeofpopularityproducedbythePresident.JimmyCarterinvitedover30jazzinstrumentaliststocomeplayontheWhiteHouselawnonJune18.SomeofthemusiciansinvitedwereHerbieHancock,BennyCarter,andChickCorea.ThepresidenthailedjazzasAmerica’sownoriginalmusic.More1970sMusic1970sMusicalInstruments:History&Pictures»Instrumentsfromthe1970saresomeofthebestevermade.Theywerebuilttolastandsoundgreat.Alotof'70smusicequipmentisstillinusetoday.1970sSongs:Every#1Songfromthe1970s»Musicintheearly1970swasanawesomecontinuationofwhatwasgoingoninthelate1960s.Thenwehadtomakeachoice:funkordisco?Let'shaveboth! AdvertisementShareyourlovefor1970sMusic:History,Pictures&Artists 11thoughtson“1970sMusic:History,Pictures&Artists” HiiiiiiiiiiiiihowIlovemusicfromthe70s Reply↓ IlikesomeofthesesongssomeIdon’tknow Reply↓ hiOMGIlovemusicfromthe1970stoo#imdownwiththekids Reply↓ Ihavemytag;“Imaybeold,butIgottoseethecoolbands”IhadaSansuiamp,Ithink1stturntableKenwood?,1stanAkaireeltoreel,thenJBLdualcassettedeck,CerwinVegaspeakers,JBLImissthosedays. Reply↓ YouhavemegoingnowD.MorelikeMarantzpower,aThorensturntable,Klipschloudspeakers&aRevoxreeltoreel. Reply↓ mustbeaboutmyageaboutthesamestuffexceptlynsondeckt/tablejbllaterb&w iwasntreallyintomusictillsay77,78buzzcocks,undertones,sexpistols,clashandsomanymore TheyWereTheDays Reply↓ Themusicofthe70swasmostlyMotownwithafewexceptionsliketheBeeGees. Reply↓ omgIloveallthesesongs! Reply↓ Irememberthesedays,iwasbornintheyear1964andigrewupwiththesesickbops Reply↓ CoolHelen.Ihaven’tseenthatbrandofverbiagesincethe90’swheninsteadofjustreferencing2000likeanyotheryear,forsomereasontheyhadtokeepreferringtoitasifitweresomethingmagical;saying“intheyear2000”. Reply↓ Thereisonegenreofmusicthatwasbiginthe70sthatyoufailedtomention.ThatwasOutlawCountrymusic.WillieNelsonfinallymadeitbigasaperformer,andbroughthisbrandofcountrymusictomainstreamaudiences.AlsotherewasWaylonJennings,KrisKristofferson,JerryJeffWalker,DavidAllenCoe,andmanyothers. 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