For the Record: The 70s
by Amy Lively
An audio documentary of 70s music. This podcast examines the intersection of a wide variety of musical genres -- pop, rock, country, country-pop, disco, punk, soul -- with the historic events and decisions that helped shape our modern world.
Episodes
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Ep. 63: Dolly Parton at the Intersection of the Music, Politics, and Culture of the 70s
If there is any one individual who was sitting right at the intersection of the music, politics, and culture of the 1970s, it was Dolly Parton. Her appearances on "The Porter Waggoner Show" helped make her a country star, but she had eyes on more than being a side act. She had eyes on being a…
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Ep. 62: How Rolling Stone, CREEM, and Tiger Beat Shaped 70s Music
Magazines were an important part of the 70s music experience. Rolling Stone, CREEM, and yup, even Tiger Beat gave information and access to our favorite singers and bands. Their influence was definitely not the same because their target audience was not the same. You were not going to see a…
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70s Rerun - The Spirit of 76: Pop Music in America's Bicentennial
As the U.S. approaches the 150th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence, FTR70 looks back to Episode 31, which examines 1976 and state of the nation -- and pop music -- in that bicentennal year. Things were a bit dicey in America in 1976. Gerald Ford was president, even though he only...
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Ep. 61: American Top 40 in the 80s
Casey Kasem was at the height of his powers as the 1980s began. The countdown show that he launched on July 4, 1970, "American Top 40," was now an international phenomenon and could be heard on over 500 stations around the world. Casey had made rooting for your favorite single's climb up the...
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Ep. 60: One-Hit Wonders of the 70s
The 1970s gave us some of the most memorable songs ever recorded and some artists who, for one reason or another, only broke through once. In this episode, we take a closer look at those so-called "one-hit wonders" and the stories behind the songs that stuck. From the laid-back groove of "How…
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Ep. 59 - Bands and Booze on the Festival Express of 1970
Imagine a train carrying the precious cargo that includes Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band, and many more of our legendary performers! This was not a figment of the imagination but a real tour in the summer of 1970. This episode examines why this tour, which is not considered in the same...
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Ep. 58 - WKRP in Cincinnati
"Baby, if you ever wondered, wondered whatever became of me, I'm living on the air in Cincinnati, Cincinnati WKRP." In this episode, WKRP in Cincinnati proves that a sitcom can be more than laughs—it can capture a cultural moment. Through sharp writing and memorable characters, the show explores...
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Ep. 57 - Punk and New Wave at New York's CBGB
Television. The Ramones. Patti Smith. The Talking Heads. Blondie. These bands and more used the iconic club, CBGB, as their proving ground, giving rise to punk and new wave rock. The environment might have been dicey, but hey, what's a few weird smells and maybe a rat or two when you have the...
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Ep. 56 - Talk Shows of the 1970s
Americans watched a lot of television in the 70s and talk shows were among the most popular shows to watch. Talk shows were the true intersection of music, politics, and culture. This episode will examine some of the most popular talk shows of the 70s including "Dinah!" "The Mike Douglas Show,"...
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Ep. 55: Heartland Rock is about More than the Heartland
The heartland is an American region, but heartland rock is not regional. In fact, it can be argued that it is more of a culture than a sub-genre of rock. This episode discusses the origins of heartland rock and the themes that attracted fans to it, which are far more universal than record…
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Ep. 54: Into the 80s! What Came Next for 70s Heavy Metal?
How did heavy metal change from the 70s to the 80s? This episode examines the birth of "hair metal" and how, for a short but LOUD period of time, heavy metal was one of the most popular genres in American music. Bands such as Quiet Riot, Def Leppard, and even Van Halen benefitted from widespread...
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Ep. 53 - More than Charley Pride: African Americans in 70s Country
The roots of country music are black and white. So, why do most people think of country as a white person's genre? This episode considers answers to that question and examines the contributions that African American artists made to country music in the 1970s.
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Ep. 52 - 70s Christmas Music
It isn't easy to write an original Christmas song that stands the test of the time, but artists of the 70s gave us several, such as "Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano and "Step into Christmas" by Elton John. These songs, combined with some iconic covers, added a wide variety of Christmas music...
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Ep. 51 - The Softer Side of 70s Rock
Rock critics may have hated it but millions of music fans loved so-called "soft rock." This episode examines possible theories for this genre's popularity and makes the case that this "safer" version of rock music may have actually been an expansion of it that is still part of popular music.…
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Ep. 3 - Nostalgia, Race, and Rebels in 70s Southern Rock (Encore)
Southern rock from bands such as the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd was not just loved by Americans from the South. Southern rock has broad appeal. For many white southerners, though, this form of rock tapped into a desire for nostalgia, rebellion, and a reclaiming of the South as a distinct...
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Ep. 2: Countryish Music of the 1970s (Encore)
How and why did artists such as John Denver and Olivia Newton-John upset the country music establishment in the 1970s? Country radio has created the country music sound it has wanted since Elvis and rock and roll began to lure away its customers. This was not pleasing to country music purists in...
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Ep. 1: Disco Doesn't Suck (Encore)
Disco and the 70s had a love-hate relationship. This episode examines who hated disco and why, as well as why it thrived in the underground until radio and the movie, "Saturday Night Fever," helped bring disco into the mainstream.
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Ep. 50 - The Travolta Trilogy
In just over a two-year span as the 1970s marched on toward the 1980s, John Travolta starred in three cultural touchstone movies: "Saturday Night Fever" (released on December 12, 1977), "Grease" (released on June 16, 1978), and "Urban Cowboy" (released on June 6, 1980). This episode examines the...
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Ep. 49 - Austin City Limits and the 70s Country Music Revolution
In 1974, a local Austin PBS station aired the first episode of "Austin City Limits" and, with that, took the first step to showing the entire country how Austin, Texas celebrated and encouraged experimentation with country music. One of the founders of the show carried a business card that...
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Ep. 48 - The "Worst" of the 70s? The Music of 1974
The year 1974 shoulder much of the blame for the so-called worst music of not only the 1970s, but the worst of all time. Is this true? While we know that 1974 had much good to offer, is it true that it also had the worst of the worst? If so, does it matter. This episode takes a closer look at…
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Ep. 47 - Dick Clark's Entertainment Empire
Did you watch television in the 70s? If so, it was highly likely that you watched something that was created or produced by Dick Clark. The centerpiece of his entertainment empire was "American Bandstand," but there was more than that, including "New Year's Rockin' Eve" and "The 25,000 Pyramid."...
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Ep. 46 - The Chaos and Music of the Ozark Music Festival of 1974
What could possibly happen to make a music festival be tagged as "3 Days of Sodom and Gomorrah?" How about toilets on fire? Drugs being sold as openly as sex? Young rock fans strolling naked through the streets of Sedalia, Missouri as they ditched their clothing to cope with the summer heat? Yes,...
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Ep. 45 - Oh, Canada! Canada's Rock Music Industry in the 70s
In the 1970s, it was not easy for Canadians to produce and distribute music that would be widely received by American or Canadian audiences. Their was the issue of cost and, maybe even more importantly, the issue of credibility. Canada's content laws made radio listeners skeptical about the bands...
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Ep. 44 - Streaking, Werewolves, Sharks, & Drinking: 70s Novelty Songs
There is no single type of novelty song, although they all have something that distinguishes them. Sometimes it is the topic and sometimes it is the format, but a novelty song that endures should also be a good piece of music. Novelty songs were popular in the 1970s and this episode examines some...
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Ep. 43 - Music and The Kent State Massacre of May 4, 1970
On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed protestors at Kent State University in Ohio. Four students were killed and nine others were wounded. This episode examines that music that mattered to the students and the music that was made as a result of this tragedy. "Ohio" by...
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Ep. 42 - Rock Operas of the 70s
What IS an opera, anyway? It is a dramatic story told with music rather than acting. The songs tell us the story. The 1970s was not only a golden era for classic rock, it was especially a golden era for the rock opera. This episode of For the Record: The 70s examines some of songs from the iconic...
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Ep. 41 - The Impact of The Troubadour on 1970s Popular Culture
Is it possible that the combination of the live music and the community that was created at The Troubadour in Los Angeles can ever be replicated? There are few clubs that have the cultural impact that The Troub had on 70s popular culture. This episode examines a wide spectrum of artists, of both...
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Ep. 40 - Honestly Loving Olivia Newton-John
After Olivia Newton-John died, her broad reach was evident. Tributes poured in from all corners of the entertainment world. Even at the music festival for the late Taylor Hawkins in September, organized by his friend and Foo Fighters bandmate, Dave Grohl, there Livvy was, her smiling face on the...
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Ep. 39 - American Top 40: Keeping Our Feet on the Ground and Reaching for the Stars (Part 1)
If anyone could make following the Billboard Top 40 a friendly competitive sport, it was Casey Kasem. His national radio countdown show, American Top 40, is a vital part of 70s and 80s music history. This episode discusses AT40 in the 70s, including the first and last #1 songs played in the…
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Ep. 3 - Nostalgia, Race, and Rebels in 70s Southern Rock
Southern rock from bands such as the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd was not just loved by Americans from the South. Southern rock had broad appeal. For many white southerners, though, this form of rock tapped into a desire for nostalgia, rebellion, and reclaiming the South as a distinct…
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Ep. 6 - The 70s Roots of Hip Hop
Mainstream hip hop burst onto the scene with "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang in 1979, but hip hop's roots go deeper than that into 70s music. Hip hop godfathers Gil Scott-Heron and James Brown helped pave the way for rap and hip hop to become a commercial success, as did Chic with their...
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Ep. 7 - Women Who Rocked the 70s
Rock and roll was a man's world in the 1970s. Would that have been any different if Janis Joplin had not died just as the 70s were beginning? The world will never know but what is known is that women in the music industry faced challenges that men did not, simply because of their gender. This...
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Ep. 31 - The Spirit of '76: Pop Music on America's Bicentennial
Suffice to say that America's spirit in 1976 was a bit...mixed. The first half of the 70s carried the weight of war, social discord, and assorted political drama that began in the 60s. Even the very question of whether or not the U.S. should celebrate and, if so, how, was up in the air. This...
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Ep. 33 - Zaire '74, Muhammad Ali, and "The Rumble in the Jungle"
"The Rumble in the Jungle" featured heavyweight boxing legends, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, but they were not the only legends who gathered in Zaire in the fall of 1974. The music festival known as Zaire '74 brought African and African American music icons such as B.B. King, Bill Withers…
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Ep. 38 - The Influence of Jazz on 70s Popular Music
Jazz is America's music. It is America's sole original form of art, yet it had declined in popularity by the 1970s to the point that some musicians resisted even being associated with it. Still, jazz's influence was felt in popular music by bands like Chicago and Steely Dan. These bands were able...
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Ep. 32 - Take Me to Church: Religion in 70s Popular Music
Tom Wolfe said the 70s was witness to the Third Great Awakening, as many Americans turned to religion on their quest for self-enlightenment or simply to find a way to make sense out of the social and political chaos. This religious revival was reflected in pop music of the era, although writing…
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Ep. 37 - Philly Soul and the Sound of the 70s
There is no single sound that defines the 70s but there is no doubt that Philly Soul, or the Sound of Philadelphia, is an essential element. The O'Jays, The Spinners, Three Degrees, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, and Billy Paul are just some of the artists that created silky, lush soul records...
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Ep. 34 - A 70s Pop Manifesto: Finding Meaning in 70s Pop
Who knew that Barry Manilow wanted "Could it Be Magic" to be a "musical orgasm?" That song was part of the wide menu of 70s pop, which has been often derided by critics, yet found an audience with millions of music fans then and now. This episode examines the variety of songs that are classified…
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Ep. 36 - Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey! 70s Music and Sports
The relationship between music and sports in the 70s was multidimensional. There were songs about individual athletes, there were songs that enhanced the game for the fans, and there were songs that created an identity for athletes and teams. This relationship was evident even in rollerskating,...
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Ep. 35 - Cosmic American Music: 70s Country Rock
Gram Parsons called country rock Cosmic American Music; it was a little of this and a little of that, combined into a musical stew that today we call Americana. In the 70s, though, the marriage of rock and country, complete with the steel guitar and perhaps a banjo or two, seemed like an unlikely...
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Ep. 5 - Anti-Nixon Songs of the 70s
Songwriters of the 70s took on Richard Nixon the best way they knew how: with their music. Blaming music for drug use, the Kent State shootings, Watergate, and getting a pardon for "any crimes he may have committed" were all issues that inspired artists such as Jefferson Airplane, CSNY, The Honey...
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Ep. 4 - Music of the 70s (Sexual) Revolution
Did music help push the sexual revolution in the 1970s or was the music reflecting the changes in how society viewed sexuality? Music has always been used to sell sex but the message was delivered more directly in the 70s. The sexual revolution and music's role in it are explored using the music…
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Ep. 30 - The Sweet Sound of 70s Bubblegum Music
Bubblegum music was as beloved by its fans as it was maligned by critics. The 70s saw bubblegum of the 60s, such as "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies, morph into adoration of teen idols such as David Cassidy, Donny Osmond, and The Bay City Rollers. Still, the bubblegum formula worked for other pop…
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Ep. 29 - Every Little Thing is Gonna Be All Right: The Influence of 70s Reggae
Reggae may not have ever found a significant radio audience in America in the 70s, but its influence on pop and rock music is undeniable. This episode traces the beginning of reggae, borne out of the political strife of late-60s Jamaica, to the first real reggae hit in the U.S. by Blondie in…
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Ep. 28 - Soundtracks of the 70s
Movie soundtracks got better in the 70s as the creation of soundtracks became more intentional. Rather than simply compiling songs for an album and calling it a soundtrack, producers hired artists to create music that offered commentary and enhanced our understanding of characters. Soundtracks...
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Ep. 27 - That's Entertainment! TV Variety Shows of the 70s
The heyday of the TV variety show was, without a doubt, the 70s. It seemed as if every entertainer either had their own show or was on someone else's. While at the time they may have seemed a bit corny, they also seemed to be just what many Americans in the 70s were in the mood for in the wake of...
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Ep. 26 - Starmen: Glam Rock of the 70s
T. Rex, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, and Roxy Music were at the heart of 70s glam rock. This episode examines how glam stretched the boundaries of gender, sexuality, and how rock music was defined. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amy-lively/message
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Ep. 25 - The Hispanic Influence on 70s Popular Music
The Chicano Movement of the 60s and 70s and the growth of the Hispanic population in the U.S. influenced popular culture. Music was no exception. Artists ranging from Santana to Freddy Fender had successful careers in music in an era when Hispanic Americans sought more and better representation…
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Ep. 24 - Loud, Louder, Loudest: 70s Heavy Metal
Heavy metal was outright despised by many rock critics but was much loved by its fans. There is no question that heavy metal is noted for its loud, often aggressive sound and persistent accusations of satanic message followed many of the bands of the Seventies, especially Black Sabbath. Were they...
About this show
An audio documentary of 70s music. This podcast examines the intersection of a wide variety of musical genres -- pop, rock, country, country-pop, disco, punk, soul -- with the historic events and decisions that helped shape our modern world.
Hosted by
Amy Lively