The Seventies

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Sitting here watching "The Sweeney", it has occurred to me that anybody who was not there at the time, could be forgiven for thinking that the seventies were a dreary affair full of drab buildings & bad haircuts.

But there were the summers of 1975, and 1976, for some reason they seem to be forgotten.

What are your memories of the seventies?

[Nearly Sane]

Sitting here watching "The Sweeney", it has occurred to me that anybody who was not there at the time, could be forgiven for thinking that the seventies were a dreary affair full of drab buildings & bad haircuts.

But there were the summers of 1975, and 1976, for some reason they seem to be forgotten.

What are your memories of the seventies?

everything being dark and satanic. Growing a lot.
Starman. Jeux San Frontieres. Hair appearing. First Indian restaurant meal. First gig. Blue cheese. Abigail's Party. How cold cross country running can be. Etc etc

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Sitting here watching "The Sweeney", it has occurred to me that anybody who was not there at the time, could be forgiven for thinking that the seventies were a dreary affair full of drab buildings & bad haircuts.

But there were the summers of 1975, and 1976, for some reason they seem to be forgotten.

What are your memories of the seventies?

My seventies were a bit like a dinosaur. Thin at one end, fat in the middle, thin at the other, 1970 and half of 71 were ok.
Apparently some film historians have put the drab look down to the stock of Eastmancolour film that was used in the seventies, giving most people an unwashed look.
Brown was a popular colour. No wonder some thought the seventies were shit.

[Humph Warden Bennett]

Starman was 1972, I have gone on Internet record as asking "Who was the kid in the tank top standing behind Bowie, and Ralphs? Nobody has ever answered the question.

Cross Country Running? In 1973 I won the school cross country run, the first time in my life that I beat the PE teachers' favourite, but it did not matter since the PE teacher gave the end of year award to his favourite .

[Nearly Sane]

Presume Ralphs = Ronson? For the tank top guy, phone up Danny Baker's radio show on Saturday morning on 5 live and suggest they have a slot to find people in the background of iconic music moments

[Rhiannon]

We were a house that had the news on a lot. So I remember strikes, IRA bombing campaigns, the National Front and the Yorkshire Ripper. And Liverpool FC winning everything.

Shit, racist, sexist, amateur television that’s best forgotten.

But the music... it was music and image. Disco. Lip gloss. Face glitter. Kate Bush. Boob tubes. Punk. Anarchy.

Now I see the 70s as all Sandy Denny and crochet, and Laura Ashley floral sundresses.

But then I was still a kid when the decade ended. What do I know?

[Robbie]

I liked the seventies, went to grammar school '72, at the end of the decade I was 18/19 so one could say I grew up a lot in the seventies.

Certainly I remember all that Rhi talks about but there were many good times. Punk was '76-'77, John Peel used to play some at the end of his late night radio show. Adored Kate Bush, still do like her. Queen's silver jubilee in '77 to which I was youthfully deliberately indifferent.  The Beach Boys came over here.  Abba in their peculiar clothes! Elton and Queen.  First boyfriend.  Good memories. 

I liked 'The Sweeney' in those days too but haven't felt inclined to record and watch it all again.

[Nearly Sane]

The thread just bring to mind this


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g


Which has very little from the 70s as it focusses on the 50s.


Life on Mars, the TV series, did a very good job of summing up my memory of the 70s. As Rhiannon has posted the underlying racism and sexism, and violence. It was not the worst of times but it wasn't the best of times.

[Nearly Sane]

September seventy-seven
Port Elizabeth's weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room six one nine

Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko

[Robbie]

Yes, I remember the Front and horrible racist attitudes of some people - older people - youngsters my age didn't spout venom, at least none with whom I mixed.  'Asian' people from Uganda came here, expelled by Idi Amin, & some people were up in arms about it, they just couldn't think themselves into the shoes of those who were forced to leave their homes and friends and life behind.  Beggars belief.

Still managed to have a good time, I have many happy memories.

[Harrowby Hall]

What are your memories of the seventies?

The Seventies was my academic decade. My wife supported me when - at the age of 30 - I decided to go to university, for a first degree and then for a doctorate (which I did not complete). This was a decade of self-discovery which began with the realisation that experience was as valuable as A levels in higher education.

A decade which saw the birth of my first child.

A decade which provided me with the insight and motivation to enter into a career as a teacher in further and higher education which I loved and which I found fulfilling.

[Anchorman]

Three day week, miners strike, rigged referendum, rise of the venom known as Thatcher, death of Labour, etc.

[Robbie]

Power cuts!  Strikes. Thatcher took the helm at the very end of the seventies. Thought the miners' strikes were in the 1980s. The NI 'troubles' replaced Vietnam on the news.

I don't remember brown being a popular colour at all, apart from my school uniform I wore really pretty clothes & nothing brown except maybe shoes. Brown was in vogue around the end of the nineties but it was a shiny, galaxy chocolate type brown.

Who saw 'Hair' at beginning of seventies? I didn't, too young, but knew all the songs.

'Abigail's Party' with Alison Steadman & Nicky Henson, I saw on TV - am sure it was later than the seventies. I also saw it on stage and that was in the 1980s. Mike Leigh's plays were good, 'Nuts in May' was a favourite.

[Walter]

Sitting here watching "The Sweeney", it has occurred to me that anybody who was not there at the time, could be forgiven for thinking that the seventies were a dreary affair full of drab buildings & bad haircuts.

But there were the summers of 1975, and 1976, for some reason they seem to be forgotten.

What are your memories of the seventies?

my memories?    Dirty Brenda. ooooooh!

[Gordon]

I was 18 in 1970, so the first 3 years were mostly about having fun (I think, it was a while ago). I got married in 1974 (in fact it was Mrs G's wedding anniversary just yesterday), and the mid-70's were about work, playing in pub-rock bands, curries at Ghandi's in Sauchiehall Street and pints in 'The Rock', 'The Doublet', 'The Aragon', 'The Amphora', 'The Muscular Arms' and 'The Rubaiyat' (in no particular order).

Our first child arrived in 1979, and she is now the mother of my 4 grandchildren, and at that point career got more serious and, unfortunately, I was forced to grow up!

We got our first colour TV with a remote in the 70's - it had two buttons: channel change (just 3 options) and volume and there were no mobiles, or computers, or CDs and DVDs. Furniture was brown (when it wasn't orange) and I had hair on the top of my head.

[Anchorman]

Power cuts!  Strikes. Thatcher took the helm at the very end of the seventies. Thought the miners' strikes were in the 1980s. The NI 'troubles' replaced Vietnam on the news.

I don't remember brown being a popular colour at all, apart from my school uniform I wore really pretty clothes & nothing brown except maybe shoes. Brown was in vogue around the end of the nineties but it was a shiny, galaxy chocolate type brown.

Who saw 'Hair' at beginning of seventies? I didn't, too young, but knew all the songs.

'Abigail's Party' with Alison Steadman & Nicky Henson, I saw on TV - am sure it was later than the seventies. I also saw it on stage and that was in the 1980s. Mike Leigh's plays were good, 'Nuts in May' was a favourite.

   


Oh, no......there were two lots of strikes - the 1973 ones brought about the power cuts.
I wll remember the police trying - unsuccessfully - to break the Highhouse colliery picket lines.

[Robbie]

Yes you're right, I vaguely remember Edward Heath was PM. I do remember the power cuts but not the reason for them.

It's interesting to look back - we lurch from disaster to disaster!

[Rhiannon]

I was at school during power cuts. That would be ‘76 or thereabouts. I remember because I had to take a torch whenever I went to a friend’s for tea. I also remember going into London and there being piles and piles of rubbish everywhere because of the bin strikes, but I don’t remember that it being like that at home.

[Nearly Sane]

Main power cuts in the 70s were during 1974 three day week.

Bin strikes most famously were 1978/9

[Rhiannon]

Main power cuts in the 70s were during 1974 three day week.

Bin strikes most famously were 1978/9

I was 3 in ‘74. I’d have been 5 or 6 when I needed a torch on what are now called ‘playdates’.

[Nearly Sane]

I was 3 in ‘74. I’d have been 5 or 6 when I needed a torch on what are now called ‘playdates’.

Odd so it would be more specific about your experience.

[Aruntraveller]

In no particular order - Doncaster, 10cc, first love, enduring love, long warm summers, Berwick on Tweed, lifelong friendships formed, miners strike - how well I remember the local grocer not extending credit to loyal customers who had kept him in business for 20 years, when the strike finished so was he, Paris, Isle of Wight, Flares with 5 button waists, stacked heels (fuck they hurt), life long fascination with Reginald Hill's Dalziel & Pascoe books formed, gay pubs in the 70's - 7 men sat around a calor gas heater in one memorable pub in Nottingham - oh weren't we so glamorous!

[Robbie]

I do remember piles of rubbish sacks burst open, complete with maggots in some places - ugh.

1974, early summer, we (mum, dad, sister, me) moved house, I was 13. My parents bought my grandparents' house, the grands moved to a smaller place. Nearly fifteen years ago we bought same house from my parents!  It's not a tradition, can't imagine my kids will buy it!  A good move though, we've been so happy here.  Anyway that's not to do with the seventies.

I honestly can't remember what my parents did with their refuse when the dustmen were on strike. Could you take stuff to a tip?

[Anchorman]

1977 - became a Christian. 1979...irst after hours session at the Scotia....6 hours of non-stop music...then up trying to look intelligernt at a lecture - and failing - but rejoicing that the lecturer was in a similar state of non-being.

[Rhiannon]

Odd so it would be more specific about your experience.

They seem to be a thing.

https://theonlysallyg.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/3rd-november-1977-the-power-cuts-that-were-the-forerunner-of-the-winter-of-discontent/

This is what I remember too, sporadic episodes with no street lights or anything to cook with.