DL Elderloungers :What songs encapsulate the 1970s for you?

Why do we want a decade "encapsulated"?

Our lives are not liver worm cysts.

Oh, dear.

Style is individual and subjective. Oh, dear yourself.

Ventura Highway

Not so much encapsulate the whole decade more like is a good example of it.

Go to Spotify and listen to a 70’s playlist for chrissake.

Ten years of change. Started out sort of post-Beatles middle of the road: The Carpenters, John Denver, ONJ, Barry Manilow, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt... Then Disco happened. Then Disco became toxic and there was a switch to Pop-Country: Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, etc.

Thank god for New Wave.

You Can Go Your Own Way…

Stayin’ Alive and Love Will Keep Us Together

The last song at almost every high school dance, 77-80.

Stumblin in

"Night Fever", the entire soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever, really

NATIVE NEW YORKAHHH

Have You Never Been Mellow by Olivia Newton John.

I agree with some of the above posters. I’ll add Muskrat Love, You Light Up My Life, Tie a Yellow Ribbon, anything by Carpenters, and You’d Better Sit Down Kids (song starts around 1:14).

[Quote] Our lives are not liver worm cysts.

Speak for yourself Miss Bitchface!!!

“Summer Breeze” by Seals & Croft

The entire Hasten down the Wind album (1976) by Linda Ronstadt encapsulates my '70s.

Love's Theme

Ah yessss R18!

pretty much all of the above

I lived that decade and "Love's Theme" sums it all up.

R14 - even though the song came out in 1967?

There’s Got To Be a Morning After

Goodbye Stranger

Lake shore Drive

“More, More, More” Andrea True Connection. It transitioned me from straight college bars where I drank with fraternity brothers into my first gay bars in the late 70s. It was one of the few songs that was popular in both venues.

Lovin' You- Minnie Ripperton

The chirping birds, the gentleness of her vocals (take a lesson screeching bitches trying to hit high notes!). You can just picture the mid-afternoon sunrays. I once saw her perform the song on TV. She had daisies in her afro and was wearing a lace flowing dress which looked like Mother Nature from the old margarine commercials.

For me it's several songs because the songs of the decade were so diverse:

Anticipation - Carly Simon

Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

I Feel Love - Donna Summer

Heart of Glass - Blondie

"Gone, love is never gone. As we travel on, love's what we'll remember."

🎵 Why do birds suddenly appear…

you guys wouldn't like my selections

Life on Mars - David Bowie

I like yours r32. my life changed with Ziggy Stardust

Sir Elton, of course

^ bad link above

Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat", "Winter in America" by Doug Ashdown, "With You I'm Born Again" by Bill Preston & Syreeta Wright

"Erica Leaves Saul"

I guess we're not breeders, or it would be Jethro Tull, Nazareth, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper...

To me, David Bowie is the best of the 70s.

Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"

Lots of Pink Floyd for me.

Atlanta Rhythm Section "Imaginary Lovers'

Gerry Rafferty "Baker Street"

"You'e So Vain" Carly Simon

"More than a Feeling"+ Boston

"Movin' Out" Billy Joel

"MacArthur's Park" Donna Summer

"Baker Street" is a really good one. It was popular during the summer.

Shame Shame Shame...

Some GL...

Bonnie T =

Anything by Olivia.

Loggins and Messina: Danny's Song. This song always brings me back.

It's a bird

It's a plane

It's this film theme

Denver anyone?

Big Bad Barry

The early '70s were a lot different from the late '70s.

The early '70s had a lot of that "Mellow Gold" stuff, which was nice.

Late '70s was heading into stuff like Cheap Trick, The Cars, etc.

25 or 6 to 4 by the great Chicago

Hello it's Me - Todd Rundgren

Fire & Rain = James T.

I love the Bee Gees, but I find that the lyrics to "Tragedy" are pretty much unintelligible.

Let Your Love Flow

Move over Madge...

No 70s thread would be complete without -

Summer is here.

Ugh. Let’s try this again:

The Doobie Brother's "What A Fool Believes"

Kool it down

A B.J. for you all

Gaye as a goose...

Tin Man - America

Hall & Oates forever!

Please...

1970s country =

Maude

Hopelessly Devoted To You - Olivia Newton-John

Sandy "The World's Tallest Woman" Allen's favorite song =

"Love is like

The 1970s Dolly style -

Has anyone posted The Carpenters yet?

Glenny C.

Tuesday Afternoon - The Moody Blues

1 of the best soundtracks of the decade

Some more 1970s country music -

Truely one of the best tunes of the decade =

Gary Wright needs to be added...

The Partridge Family !

seconding ventura highway

One of of my favorites.

Barbara Mandrell from 1978.

Who keeps recommending country???

Is there no decency?

T-Rex for the first half..

^ R97 & R90 are two different posters so...

"Cotton's Dream" from the OST of the film, "Bless the Beasts and the Children," released in 1971, which then became the opening theme song to the daytime soap opera, "The Young and the Restless," debuting in 1973 and still used by the show today, and eventually renamed "Nadia's Theme" during the 1976 Summer Olympics, as it became associated with gymnast Nadia Comăneci.

And I hear the opening of this and I close my eyes all I can see is awful print wallpaper and macrame plant holders everywhere, so I'd say this does the trick for the second half of the 70s

What could you possibly have against the talented country artists of the 70s? There were so many: John Denver, Anne Murray, Olivia Newton-John, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, so many more. Many of these artists recorded some terrific pop-country crossovers.

I love every style of music made in the 70s.

Black Magic Woman, the Santana version.

"Midnight Blue" - Melissa Manchester

X-Ray Spex- Identity.

This still makes my punky little heart beat faster. Poly Styrene was a remarkable, totally original one off.

Melissa Manchester sucks ass. When she dies she'll be sucking ass in hell.

All the songs on Peter Allen's 1976 album, Taught by Experts.

Angie!

Chicago's 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐧 (1970):

10cc's 𝐈'𝐦 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 (1975):

Boz Scaggs' 𝐋𝐢𝐝𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞 (1976):

Manfred Mann's 𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 (1976-77):

It has to be Muskrat Love

Andrea True Connection's 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 (1976) (nod to R26, who suggested it):

Abba's 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 (1976):

Chuck Mangione's 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐆𝐨𝐭 (1979):

This one was always playing at Six Flags Over Texas in the vicinity of the Shock Wave.

Okay, I'll stop now. I was just responding to the OP's request for the songs that embodied the 1970s for me. I've kept my selections to the upbeat ones.

R116 meet R45.

5 favourites from my 'Goobye Seventies' playlist:

'Mr Blue Sky' - ELO 'Dreams' - Fleetwood Mac 'Picture This' - Blondie 'La Dolce Vita' - Sparks 'Summer Breeze' - The Isley Brothers

Good catch, R118. I didn't spot that on my initial pass through the thread, 'tho I did notice R26.

God I love that song R3.

I was born in 1980, but early 70s Laurel Canyon folk rock is my favorite.

1972 was a good year

Last Dance

I already posted above @ R28, but I should have also included this:

I can't believe you even have to ask

1970* "If You Could Read My Mind" Gordon Lightfoot

1979* "He's The Greatest Dancer" Sister Sledge

Top three nostalgia vibes per year for this 70s child:

1970

Let It Be-The Beatles

I'll Be There-The Jackson 5

Lola-The Kinks

1971

Me and Bobby McGee-Janis Joplin

What's Going On-Marvin Gaye

Riders on the Storm-The Doors

1972

Brand New Key-Melanie

Let's Stay Together-Al Green

I'll Take You There-The Staple Singers

1973

Superstition-Stevie Wonder

Love Train-The O'Jays

Me and Mrs. Jones-Billy Paul

1974

Dancing Machine-The Jackson 5

Help Me-Joni Mitchell

Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing-Stevie Wonder

1975

Lady Marmalade-LaBelle

That's the Way of the World-Earth Wind & Fire

Poetry Man-Phoebe Snow

1976

Sara Smile-Hall & Oates

Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen

Low Down-Boz Scaggs

1977

Strawberry Letter 23-The Brothers Johnson

I Wish-Stevie Wonder

Got to Give It Up-Marvin Gaye

1978

Got to Be Real-Cheryl Lynn

Shame-Evelyn "Champagne" King

Always and Forever-Heatwave

1979

Heart of Glass-Blondie

Chuck E's in Love-Rickie Lee Jones

What You Won't Do For Love-Bobby Caldwell

"Rock the Boat." Don't know if it encapsulates, but it sure as hell evokes!

The gone too soon Nicolette Larsen in an all-time 70s classique!

Since we’re goin’ back, come what may, lively and liberal Linda:

Miss Ross, The Boss.

Driver’s Seat

Though I’ve participated in this thread, the thing ended at R3, with Ventura Highway. That’s quintessential 70s right there.

Delicious….

I’ll second John Denver, but suggest this one over Annie’s Song:

The immortal classic "Wichita Lineman" (used to wonderful effect in the documentary 'Tarnation', from 2003) sounds to me like the ultimate 1970s song, but I found out it was actually released in 1968 (close enough).

I guess The Eagles' "Hotel California" will be my choice instead.

BOC w/ DFTR

Boston's More Than A Feeling

Saw them in concert.

One of the best from the 70s.

Delicious 79s bliss:

Honeycone

[quote]I guess The Eagles' "Hotel California" will be my choice instead.

You win, R136!! To me, that is the ultimate song that encapsulates the 70s. In fact, I'd bet a lot of money that every American on this thread could sing it by heart.

Thread closed.

A STAR IS BORN (1976) soundtrack.

It's amazing how different the music of the 70s was in the beginning of the decade than at the end. From Close to You to My Sharona.

I turned 65 yesterday. This thread makes me wish it was 1977 again.

I know we joke about Eldergays here but does anyone else my age really not feel a day over 40?

r1 Embarrassed herself

Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

(but just because it was the first music casette tape i got as a kid)

I’d sooner insert shards of glass into my urethra than listen to The Eagles.

George McCrae's Rock Your Baby.

Here he is, voice still in very good shape, with Jools Holland.

When I was a teen in the '70s I actually thought maybe 85% of the music was awful. But now I like a lot of it.

R87- That song encapsulates the 1960's for me. Not the 1970's

It was released in 1967.

You Light Up My Fucking Life

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes' 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐲 (1976):

Paul and Linda McCartney's 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 / 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐲 (1971):

The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (My Throat).

I had a girlfriend (yeah, I know) in 7th grade who talked me into buying that Ram album. She was a real fan of it. I never really liked it. The first album I ever bought for myself.

70s in LA

70s in NYC

Makes me think of 70s time square

Some Kind of Wonderful!

R159 Were you working the corner or the booths?

I was 5-15 during the 70s, going through so many different developmental phases. But this one captures the decade retrospectively.

I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake

Both of course @R161

[quote]I guess we're not breeders, or it would be Jethro Tull, Nazareth, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper...

R40 Oh. I was listening to all of those. And Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Judas Priest, and later in the decade Iron Maiden and Motorhead etc. I see at R122 I wasnt the only fag listening to hard rock. That said I did listen to some Bowie too

BTO!

Cruel to be Kind

Chic

Grace Jones

Grease...John T and ONJ...Bony M. It's like my brain suddenly discovered music in 1978. Blonde and Abba.

R166 Oh yeah thats one I missed, I loved BTO

This track was a fave when I was a gayling. I wasnt an entirely typical gayling

KC and the Sunshine Band.....Keep It Comin' Love!

Back in the 70s, Chevy vans were really popular. People would put in shag carpets, sofas, beds, chairs, wet bars, etc.

They would have bumper stickers on it that said, "If you see this van rocking, don't come knocking!"

They were called Shagging Wagons. This song is the perfect representation of that era.

UK here.

This made it to Number 1 in the UK in 1978.

The Jamaican patois was strange to most people’s ears, but it was catchy and good to dance to. For Black kids it must have been a big deal to have their culture centre stage for once.

Strange Magic by ELO

Dog and Butterfly by Heart

Up The Junction - Squeeze

Life During Wartime - Talking Heads

R174: I love that song, along with Black Box Recorder's deadpan cover version:

Sadly, this song encapsulates my love life for the middle third of the '70s.

R179: that wonderful song plays over the opening credits of DL fave "Looking for Mr. Goodbar"

Hooked on a feeling

The Movie Soundtrack from Car Wash and Thank God It's Friday.