For the Record: 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 star and she accomplished that, all while navigating the sexism and the questions and the decisions that she made to push her career in the direction she wanted it to go. This episodes examines those choices and the inconic music that she has left as part of her enduring legacy. EPISODE PLAY LIST My Tennessee Mountain Home (1972) I Will Always Love You (1974) Jolene (1973)  Light of a Clear Blue Morning (1977) Here You Come Again (1977) Two Doors Down (1977) 9 to 5 (1980)  

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 Charles Manson interview in Tiger Beat, but that was not the reason for Tiger Beat's existence, but in a pre-internet world, there is little debate that print media was a strong influence in promoting the careers of musicians who made some of the seminal music of the era.  Support the show by being a patron! Be a Patron of FTR70 PLAYLIST "Your Song" by Elton John (1970) "Sugar Mama" by Bonnie Raitt (1975) "Changes" by David Bowie (1971) "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett (1979) "We're an American Band" by Grand Funk Railroad (1973) "Heartbeat, It's a Love Beat" by The DeFranco Family (1973) "Hey Deanie" by Shaun Cassidy (1977)  

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 became president because of Nixon's Watergate scandal. The country was dealing with high gas prices, a shaky economy, the challenges of living with the civil rights legislation of the 1960s, and the consequences of American involvement in Vietnam. Not matter how much you trusted Walter Cronkite, the nightly news could be a bit stressful. If you were looking for an escape from all that, the pop music world was just the ticket! "Afternoon Delight," anyone?

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 Billboard charts akin to a sport — would your favorite song be played after the drumroll this week? He even branched out to a Top 10 countdown television show. However, you could also make the case that his success led to his own demise as "American Top 40" attracted competitors, particularly in the form of radio disc jockey Rick Dees. This episode moves beyond the 70s and into 80s, following the changes in the music and the show itself, leading to the end of Casey Kasem's reign as the king of pop music countdowns.

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 Long" by Ace, to the quiet melancholy of "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" by Danny O'Keefe, we explore what made these tracks connect and why they lasted. We'll get into the funk-rock crossover of "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry, the sunny pop of "Sweet City Woman" by The Stampeders, the tight pop classic "Cruel to Be Kind" by Nick Lowe, and the disco smash "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward. And how do you make a hit song about a brief encounter in a Chevy van, anyway? Was it luck? Timing? Skill? A little of all of that? Tune in for a discussion on these classic hits of the 1970s.  

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 vein as Woodstock, deserves its place in early 70s rock history.

"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 the intersection of music, politics, and culture through the power of radio. In this case, it was a fictional radio station on a sitcom that aired from 1978 to 1982. However, even though it was fictional, it felt real to its fans and even to record labels, who appreciated its authenticity and its cultural reach.    

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 chance to listen to some of the most unique live music the 70s had to offer!

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," and, of course, "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson. Its hard to discuss 70s politics without Richard Nixon entering the fray, which he does in his attempts to deport Mike Douglas's co-host, John Lennon, and by using the power of the presidency to threaten "Soul!" and other public affairs programming on PBS.

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 companies and music executives of the 70s and 80s would have liked to admit. Artists such as Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, and John Mellencamp created music that touched on feelings and issues that many people could relate to, whether they lived in the American heartland or not.