What did you like about the music of the 70s?

BaldFriede wrote: I wouldn't say "the 70s". for me the decade is from 1967-1976. Artists really tried out unconventional things in that decade, even outside of prog. After 1976 it became a bit formulaic. There are of course exceptions outside of that period, but during that period the feeling of "anything goes" and "all but the kitchen sink" truly dominated.

Totally agree about the slip of the decade, though 66-76 seems more like it...

Also, in what other time frame could've ugly ducklings like The Guess Who, Bachman Turning Overweight, Mountain, Meatloaf and Procol/Trower could've achieved stardom with their totally ingrate physique??

The.Crimson.King wrote: stegor wrote: I was lucky enough to be 10 in '70 and 19 in '79 so my teens coincided with the decade perfectly and the music occupies that sweet spot in my brain. Same here.  Not just that I was the perfect age to 'get it', but the 'it' I was getting was incredibly exciting music not heard before.  I guess if I had to condense the reasons into a list it would be this... 1. Bands were able to experiment freely without much record label interference 2. The focus was on melody/harmony rather than rhythm 3. 70's music inherited more from the classical music tradition than the ritual dance music tradition 4. Lyrics were often vague and open to interpretation 5. Instrumental virtuosity was appreciated and encouraged 6. Long compositions and complex music were seen as a worthwhile venture to both create and listen to 7. Concerts often pushed the limits of theater and music 8. Many record labels were still run by music lovers who were willing to take chances on new bands 9. FM Radio still gave many DJ's the freedom to play what they wanted regardless of length or style 10. I looked really good in my Disco Sucks t-shirt

you two are a few years older than I, but I'd object to TCK's list
1. Labels were still as dirigist with pop bands as before (as opposed to prog or jazz artistes) and have been since
2. you mean to tell me that the dummers and bassists were ignored in the 70's??
3. Funk & disco ruled in the 70's.
4. difficult to be more abstract than Sinfield, Reid and Jon, I'll say.
5. bop music made that possible decades before the one we're speaking about
6. no argument, though it was the case in jazz for decades, back then
7. true, but it's bled over all the next decades
8. that was always the case before... and still is nowadays.
9. the portion of FM radios having freedom was not nearly as big as the legend would have it. Max one or two per state or major city... And AM was not concerned
10. didn't need to wear one of them to be cool: just saying so was enough

dr wu23 wrote: Everything....for the most part. ;)

Mortte wrote: The.Crimson.King wrote: I'd venture that unless the apocalypse comes and we have to start civilization all over again that we'll never see a musical time like the 70's again If that happen I really hope old music will survive in some format. Vinyl?

stegor wrote: I was lucky enough to be 10 in '70 and 19 in '79 so my teens coincided with the decade perfectly and the music occupies that sweet spot in my brain.

Same here.  Not just that I was the perfect age to 'get it', but the 'it' I was getting was incredibly exciting music not heard before.  I guess if I had to condense the reasons into a list it would be this...

1. Bands were able to experiment freely without much record label interference
2. The focus was on melody/harmony rather than rhythm
3. 70's music inherited more from the classical music tradition than the ritual dance music tradition
4. Lyrics were often vague and open to interpretation
5. Instrumental virtuosity was appreciated and encouraged
6. Long compositions and complex music were seen as a worthwhile venture to both create and listen to
7. Concerts often pushed the limits of theater and music
8. Many record labels were still run by music lovers who were willing to take chances on new bands
9. FM Radio still gave many DJ's the freedom to play what they wanted regardless of length or style
10. I looked really good in my Disco Sucks t-shirt

I'd venture that unless the apocalypse comes and we have to start civilization all over again that we'll never see a musical time like the 70's again


Edited by The.Crimson.King - December 31 2017 at 10:06

I wouldn't say "the 70s". for me the decade is from 1967-1976. Artists really tried out unconventional things in that decade, even outside of prog. After 1976 it became a bit formulaic. There are of course exceptions outside of that period, but during that period the feeling of "anything goes" and "all but the kitchen sink" truly dominated.


Edited by BaldFriede - December 31 2017 at 02:58

This was a time when new sounds were being created, new patterns.......remember disco and the 4 on the floor pattern along with the open hi-hat sound, now the basis of almost all EDM. 

Just everything I find in a fair bunch of 60's , 80's, 90's and 00's music.... i.e. punch, groove, emotion, intensity, heart, fire! ;)

Edited by Tillerman88 - December 27 2017 at 14:50

It wasn't Seals & Crofts ?

^Agree also.  The analog, warmer sound.  

As already mentioned: the warm production.