Many of today’s seniors came of age or started families 50 years ago. There are those that remember the 70s fondly, and those that don’t. (Disco music, yes. “Jaws”, maybe not.) As we look back at ‘The ME Decade’ let’s get ‘hip’ to what life was like for them in 1975.
Politics
Throughout the decade of the 1970’s, the US was struggling. There existed a lot of political upheaval centered around America’s involvement in Vietnam. This unrest was eroding American prestige around the world and sending too many brave soldiers home to face a poor reception from their own country. 1975 saw the US finally end the war with the fall of Saigon in April. Watergate brought about the resignation of President Richard Nixon, who was then pardoned by Gerald Ford. But yet, in 1975, people were hopeful and looking forward to 1976 to celebrate America’s Bicentennial.
Fashion
Fifty years ago, those who were fashion conscious were sporting tracksuit tops, crop tops, low-cut pants and, don’t laugh, leisure suits. The color patterns and pallets were, shall we say, of the time, and leave it at that. In the 70s, much of America was dressing up, to take part in visiting the urban night life dance clubs that soon became synonymous with the type of music they played. We’re (Jive) talkin’ about Disco.
Music
While the year’s most popular song was “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain and Tennelle, the year’s music was flush with disco hits like Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Shining Star”, “Fire” by the Ohio Players and Van McCoy’s “The Hustle”. Next up is the aforementioned “Jive Talkin’” from the Bee Gees, and it was also the year everyone was “Kung Fu Fighting”. Of course, we can’t forget big hits from long-known artists like Frankie Valli with “My Eyes Adored You” and “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” from Freddie Fender. 1975 was also the year Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac before unleashing their best-selling “Rumours” album on the world two years later, which went on to sell 40 million copies (and counting) worldwide.
Television
What was TV like in 1975? “All in the Family” was the #1 show in America, featuring Archie and Edith Bunker. Other notable TV pairings popular in 1975 included Laverne & Shirley, Sanford and Son, Sonny & Cher, Donnie & Marie, Starsky & Hutch, along with The Jeffersons and The Waltons. Yet who could forget the high-dollar heroes Steve Austin and Jamie Summers known as “The Six Million Dollar Man” and “The Bionic Woman”. Finally, 1975 saw the debut of the not-ready-for-prime-time-players on “Saturday Night Live”.
Driving Around
If you bought a new automobile in 1975, you were most likely stylin’ in an Oldsmobile Cutlass, which found 300,000+ buyers that year. Rounding out the top five in car sales were the Ford Granada, Chevrolet Chevelle, Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. But, in one of the year’s best remembered cars, or rather it wasn’t necessarily the car itself. It was the fine Corinthian Leather, stitched into their new-for-1975 personal luxury car, the Chrysler Cordoba, featuring TV spokesperson Ricardo Montalban, who later became known for welcoming guests to “Fantasy Island”. The leather’s description was coined out of thin air by Chrysler’s advertising firm. Still, what a great way to cruise and listen to your new Grand Funk Railroad or Foghat 8-Track tapes.
Fifty years is a nice round number to look back upon fondly. For some of us, 1975 may feel like a lifetime ago, while to others, it can seem like yesterday. Today we can laugh at the fashion and hairstyles, the land yacht gas-guzzling cars destined for demolition derbies, and cringe at the music people were shaking their groove thing to, however, there were notable historic things that came to pass in 1975.
Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1975, launching the personal computer industry. Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to lead Britian’s Conservative party. The role of endorphins was discovered. And we ALL rode out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo with Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy”.
Memories are what help keep us young, and we hope you enjoyed this brief look back at half a century ago and found some reasons to smile.
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