Sci-Fi History: The Bionic Woman (1976)

Jaime Summers was introduced in a 1975 episode of The Six Million Dollar Man. The character is nearly killed in a skydiving accident, but is saved with bionic implants. The series premiered as a mid-season replacement in January 1976. The show was amazingly popular and won Lindsay Wagner an Emmy. Despite this, ABC cancelled the show, but it was picked up by NBC. The network shift eliminated any possibility of crossover appearances by Lee Majors and may have hurt the show. It ended after the third year. Both Majors and Wagner reprised their roles in several TV movies from 1987-94. The show was an example of feminism's impact on pop culture in the seventies. Wagner portrayed a strong, independent woman.

Intro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcba-ZgtsT4

Sci Fi History: The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

The price tag sounds ridiculously low by today's standards, but staggered the imagination in 1973. The TV series ran five years, 100 episodes, and became a phenomenon. It centered around Steve Austin, an astronaut, who received bionic implants following a crash. It was based on the novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin and evolved from an examination of what made human beings human into an action adventure sci-fi spy amalgamation. Austin's bionic implants enhanced his speed, strength, and sight. It also made him the perfect spy/problem solver for the U.S. government. Lee Majors starred as Austin and Richard Anderson as Oscar Goldman, a George H.W. Bush type administrator. Anderson narrates the now iconic opening sequence, "Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better....stronger...faster." The series featured slow motion action sequences along with distinctive sound effects. The Six Million Dollar Man led to spin offs, TV movies, and has been the subject of possible reboots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoLs0V8T5AA

Sci-Fi History: Atlas Shrugged (1957)

Ayn Rand’s masterwork centers around an America where people refuse to be exploited by government. Rather than surrender to high taxes and regulation, they shutter themselves in. The book delves into the failures of big government and focuses on individualism and reason. Leftists HATE the work with a passion. Interestingly, some of the reactions Rand writes about happened in the 1970s and the 2010s.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEDtQkeLFCE
 

Top 10 Movies of the 1970s

Just my opinion...not in any particular order

Star Wars

The Godfather

The Godfather II

Apocalypse Now

The French Connection

Jaws

Rocky

Patton

Taxi Driver

A Clockwork Orange

For my picks for the 80s, 90s, and 00s:

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/06/1980s-movies-top-10.html

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/06/best-movies-of-1990s.html

http://cicero390.blogspot.com/2010/03/movies-of-decade-aughts.html

Favorite 70s Albums

Not in any order...

Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen (1975)

Who’s Next- The Who (1971)

The Wall- Pink Floyd (1979)

Quadrophenia- The Who (1973)

Sticky Fingers- Rolling Stones (1971)

Some Girls- The Rolling Stones (1978)

Plastic Ono Band- John Lennon (1970)

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd (1975)

Let it Be- The Beatles (1970)

Greatest Albums of the 1970s

Not in any order...

Dark Side of the Moon: Pink Floyd (1973)

What’s Going On?: Marvin Gaye (1971)

Born to Run: Bruce Springsteen (1975)

Exile on Mainstreet: The Rolling Stones (1972)

Innervisions: Stevie Wonder (1973)

Led Zeppelin IV: Led Zeppelin (1971)

Who’s Next: The Who (1971)

Rumours: Fleetwood Mac (1977)

The Wall: Pink Floyd (1979)

Quadrophenia: The Who (1973)

Best riffs of the 1970s

Smoke on the Water- Deep Purple

Layla- Derek and the Dominoes

Iron Man- Black Sabbath

Heartbreaker- Led Zeppelin

Walk This Way- Aerosmith

Paranoid- Black Sabbath

Aqualung- Jethro Tull

Brown Sugar- The Rolling Stones

Running with the Devil- Van Halen

La Grange- ZZ Top

Cat Scratch Fever- Ted Nugent

Hey Hey My My- Neil Young

Money- Pink Floyd

Cocaine- Eric Clapton

Ain’t Talkin’ ‘bout Love- Van Halen

Frankenstein- Edgar Winter

Stranglehold- Ted Nugent

Sweet Home Alabama- LS

In the Evening- Led Zeppelin

Echoes- Pink Floyd

My All-Time Grammy Awards

Best Vocals: Roger Daltrey: Love Reign O’er Me

Greatest Guitar riff: Smoke on the Water- Deep Purple

Greatest Guitar Solo: David Gilmour: Comfortably Numb

Greatest Bass Line: Another One Bites the Dust: John Deacon (Queen)

Greatest Bass Solo: My Generation: John Entwhistle (The Who)

Greatest Drum Performance: Moby Dick: John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)

Greatest Keyboard Performance: Light My Fire: Ray Manzerek (The Doors)

Presidential Theme Songs: Richard Nixon

In real life: Nixon Now!

A rousing early seventies pop sound. It was so overwhelmingly happy, that over 60% of the country voted for him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceocNS-toDk

The song that may have best fit his administration: The Theme to the Godfather. In one sense, the end of Part 2 mirrors the end of the Nixon Administration. Michael was all alone after isolating himself. Paranoia led to Michael's lonely existence as it ended the Nixon presidency and left the president alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvKXt3Surlk

#5 The Who

The Who were four distinctly different personalities that emerged from Shepherd’s Bush to become one of the greatest bands of all time. They were known for their energetically aggressive stage shows, innovative records, and attitude. Pete Townsend came from art school and was the band’s chief songwriter, conceptualizer, and world class guitarist. Roger Daltrey is one of rock’s greatest vocalists and front men. He’s a brawler and could probably still kick a 20 year old’s ass. John Entwhistle is rock’s greatest bassist and turned the bass guitar into a lead instrument. Keith Moon is rock’s greatest drummer and its court jester. The band came from the London Mod scene and were the antithesis of peace and love. Instead, they pioneered instrument destruction and stage mayhem. From “Can’t Explain” to “My Generation”, there was something different about The Who.

Imagine being a hippie at Monterey in 1967. The San Francisco sound dominated the Summer of Love and the Monterey Pop Festival. Then came The Who. They blew up the stage and probably frightened some hippies. Before going on, Pete Townsend and Jimy Hendrix fought over who would close. Neither one wanted to follow the other. They almost came to blows, but settled the dispute. Townsend won and Hendrix closed. Hendrix then expropriated Townsend's antics and took him one better.

After a couple of years, the band was at a crossroads. Where to go? Pete Townsend put together an ambitious project. It was the first rock opera, Tommy. The album was a smash and propelled the Who to superstardom. In 1969, they played Woodstock and The Who continued to record smash albums well into the seventies.

In 1978, drummer Keith Moon died. After Moon's death, the band lost its way. Pete Townsend went into a tailspin. Singer Roger Daltrey admits to doing things he had never done before. The band eventually dissolved in 1982. They reunited for Live Aid in 1985, for a tour in 1989, and for their induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. In 1996 and 1997, they got together to tour for their 70s classic, Quadraphenia. Then came the concert for New York following 911. They owned the show and reunited for good. On the eve of a tour, bassist John Entwhistle died. Roger and Pete have continued on and even recorded their first album since the early 80s.

Rock n Roll Moment: Keith Moon took a horse tranquilizer before a show and passed out on stage. The band invited a fan on stage to play the drums and The Who finished their set. He also got banned from the Holiday Inn after driving a car into the Flint Holiday Inn’s pool.

Essential Who:
My Generation (1965)
A Quick One (1966)
The Who Sell Out (1967)
Tommy (1969)
Who’s Next (1971)
Quadrophenia (1973)

The Who’s Top 10:

Can’t Explain
My Generation
A Quick One While He’s Away
I Can See For Miles
Pinball Wizard
Listening to You/See Me, Feel Me
Baba O’Reilly
Won’t Get Fooled Again
5:15
Who Are You?

#8 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Bruce is part Woody Guthrie, part Bob Dylan, part John Lennon, and part Elvis. His brand of heartland rock combined themes of youth and Americana and made him a star. It took several years and albums for Bruce to break. It’s doubtful many artists would be given the chance by modern record companies that Bruce and the E Street Band got. Eventually, they broke with Born to Run in 1975. At the time, rock had drifted and disco was becoming a force. As a result, Bruce was hailed as rock’s savior. Meanwhile, the band itself became stars as it was full of colorful characters such as Little Steven Van Zandt, The Mighty Max Weinberg, Nils Lofgren, Garry Tallent, Roy Bittain, Danny Federici, Patti Scialfa (as of 1984), Soozie Tyrell (as of 2002), and the Big Man, Clarence Clemons.

Bruce remained a star into the 1980s. In 1984, he achieved mega-stardom with Born in the USA. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were a phenomenon. Bruce changed it all up for the next album, Tunnel of Love. Then, Springsteen fired the band. He went into the wilderness. His next couple of albums faced mixed reviews In the mid-90s, he went folk.

The September 11 attacks motivated Springsteen to reunite the band. In 2002, they released their first album together in 18 years, The Rising. It was a return to his mid-80s form. Once again, Bruce experienced mainstream success. The band put out two more albums inspired by real world events and the zeitgeist. This 911 trilogy has been a commercial and critical success. In 2009, he played at a pre-inaugural concert for Barack Obama. Currently, he is on tour.

Rock n Roll Moment: In 1976, Bruce attempted to see Elvis by scaling the fence at Graceland. He was escorted off the premises while trying to explain who he was.

Essential Bruce:
Born to Run (1975)
The River (1980)
Nebraska (1982)
Born in the USA (1984)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995)
The Rising (2002)
Magic (2007)

Bruce’s Top 10:
Rosalita
Born to Run
Thunder Road
Badlands
The River
Atlantic City
Born in the USA
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
The Rising

#12 The Clash

The Clash were among the first wave of British punk that emerged in the mid-seventies. Their first album, The Clash, was an instant smash and propelled them to stardom. They were different than their punk brethren in two major ways. First, they were neither anarchists nor nihilists. Instead, the incorporated leftist politics into their music. Second, they branched out beyond punk and included Ska, Reggae, Funk, Hip Hop, and Rockabilly into their music.

All the these elements were in place by their third album, London Calling. This post-industrial apocalypse is considered the greatest album of the eighties. It also opened the American market up for The Clash. By 1983, they were one of the biggest bands on Earth, toured with The Who, played Shea Stadium, and were considered “The Only Band that Mattered.” Inner tensions eventually broke the group apart and they were done by the mid-80s.

After the breakup, Mick Jones formed the successful band, Big Audio Dynamite. In 2008, Jones formed Carbon Silicon. Joe Strummer struggled with the breakup, did some movie work, and eventually returned to music with Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros. Rumors of a Clash reunion began around 2000. In 2002, the band was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and considered reuniting to celebrate. However, Strummer died of an undiagnosed heart condition in 2002.

Rock n Roll Moment: The band demanded the record company offer the 3 album Sandinista! be offered at a fan friendly price.

Essential Clash:
The Clash (1977)
London Calling (1979)
Sandinista! (1980)

The Clash’s Top 10:
Complete Control
Career Opportunities
White Riot
English Civil War
London Calling
Train in Vain
The Guns of Brixton
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Rock the Casbah
Know Your Rights

#20 The Eagles

The Eagles derived their name from the Folk Rock band, The Byrds. They combined country with rock music and became one of the most successful bands in history. During the 1970s, they had five #1 songs and have five #1 albums for their entire career. Their greatest hits album is the best selling album in US history. By the end of the 1970s, they moved away from country and group tensions eventually broke them up in 1980. In 1994, Hell froze over and the band reunited. In 1998, they made the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Nine years later, they released their first album of new material since 1979. They are now back together, continue to tour, and scoring #1 albums once more.

Rock n Roll Moment: Don Henley was arrested when a 16 year old girl OD’d at his house. She survived and he was charged with drug possession and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Essential Eagles:

Eagles (1972)
Greatest Hits 1971-1975 (1976)
Hotel California (1976)
Hell Freezes Over (1994)

Eagles’ Top 10:

Take it Easy
Witchy Woman
Peaceful Easy Feeling
Desperado
Tequila Sunrise
One of These Nights
Lyin’ Eyes
Take it to the Limit
Hotel California
I Can’t Tell You Why

#27 Queen

Queen is known for their musical diversity, harmonies, and their live shows. In fact, an industry poll ranked Queen’s Live Aid performance the greatest live performance of all time. They debuted in 1973. They originally attempted to merge Metal with Prog Rock. Their first album is considered one of the most underrated albums of all time. They broke the following year with “Sheer Heart Attack.” The album featured a fusion of many genres including Metal, soft ballads, and Caribbean.

They followed their breakthrough with the most expensive album ever produced to that point. “A Night At The Opera” is considered one of rock’s greatest. The album included “Bohemian Rhapsody” which combined opera with rock music and became the third largest selling single of all time. The band continued to release hit after hit in the 1970s. In 1980, “Another One Bites the Dust” became an anthem for the Detroit Lions and other sports franchises adopted it along with “We Are the Champions” for championship runs. Also in 1980, Queen also scored the soundtrack for the forgettable movie, Flash Gordon.

Queen continued to play to massive crowds. In 1981, they performed before nearly 500,000 during a Latin American tour. On several occasions, crowds numbered over 100,000. In 1985, one concert drew 180,000. Then came Live Aid. Freddie did not like Live Aid’s political slant, but Bob Geldof told him he’d have the largest audience ever to perform in front of. That sold Mercury.

In the the late 1980’s or early 1990s, Freddy was diagnosed with AIDS. He began to look sickly. He denied the rumors until November 1991. Mercury died less than twelve hours after releasing the statement confirming his illness. Queen’s popularity increased dramatically as a result of the publicity, a benefit concert for Mercury, and the movie Wayne’s World. People flocked to record stores requesting “the new Queen song, Bohemian Rhapsody.” (Dumb asses). After Mercury’s death, the band never officially disbanded and in 2004 began touring with Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, The Firm) on lead vocals. This incarnation split in May 2009.

Rock n Roll Moment: A biker gang attempted to jump members of Queen. Roger Taylor flashed his college ID and warned them he was a martial arts expert. Taylor claimed the law required he notify the gang three times that he had a black belt. The bikers ran away.

Essential Queen:

A Night at the Opera (1975)
News of the World (1977)
The Game (1980)
Greatest Hits (1981)
Greatest Hits II (1991)

Queen’s Top 10:

Bohemian Rhapsody
We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You
Fat Bottomed Girls
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Another One Bites the Dust
Flash
Under Pressure (with David Bowie)
Radio Ga-Ga
Who Wants to Live Forever
The Show Must Go On

#28 Tina Turner

Elvis may be King, but Tina is Queen. Her career spans fifty years. At 18, she began singing for Ike Turner. Her break came in 1960 when she filled in for an AWOL singer. Her recording of “A Fool In Love” hit #2 on the R&B charts. Ike knew he had something.

Ike and Tina Turner rose to stardom in the 1960s and into the 70s. Tina’s style had it’s own niche and was adaptable to changes in music. The two’s greatest work, “River Deep, Mountain High” was recorded with Phil Spector and his Wall of Sound. They also covered CCR’s “Proud Mary.” This funky, frantic high energy cover is Tina’s signature song.

In the 1970s, Tina’s popularity declined and she divorced her abusive husband, Ike. When she left Ike, she had 36 cents to her name and that was on a credit card. She had difficulty finding a recording contract. It looked like the end.

Then, she recorded a European hit and Capitol took a shot. The end result was the “Private Dancer” album which spawned the #1 smash, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” She hated the song, but it revived her career. She experienced a renaissance and released hit after hit. Her life story became a movie starring Angela Bassett and Lawrence Fishbourne. In the 90s, Turner scored a Bond theme for “Goldeneye.” In 2008, she embarked on a 50th Anniversary Tour, performed with Beyonce at the Grammy’s, and won a Grammy at 68. She continues to tour.

Rock n Roll Moment: After a steep decline in popularity in the mid-70s, no label wanted Tina. Capitol took a shot and she scored one of the great comebacks in history in 1984.

Essential Tina:

River Deep Mountain High (1966)
Private Dancer (1984)
Simply the Best (1991)
What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993)

Tina’s Top 10:

Proud Mary
What’s Love Got To Do With It
Private Dancer
Better Be Good To Me
We Don’t Need Another Hero
Typical Male
The Best
GoldenEye
River Deep Mountain High
Nutbush City Limits

#47 The Ramones

The Ramones are considered the first punk band. They formed in 1974 and decided that each of them would perform under the pseudonym, “Ramone.” Their sound was stripped down, fast, and quirky. The Ramones could perform 17 songs in a half an hour. They sang about lobotomies, psycho therapy, glue sniffing, and so on. The Ramones were a throwback to the 50s as well as the early Who. In the late 70s, they turned to a popier sound and stayed together until the mid-90s. Their final performance was during the 1996 Lollapalooza tour. Bands inspired by the Ramones include: The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Black Flag, Social Distortion, Pearl Jam, Metallica, Motorhead, and Green Day.

Rock n Roll Moment: Phil Spector fired a gun at the band. They framed the bullet hole in the wall.

Essential Ramones:

The Ramones (1976)
Leave Home (1977)
Rocket to Russia (1977)

Ramones Top 10:

Blitzkrieg Bop
I Wanna Be Sedated
Teenage Lobotomy
The KKK Took My Baby Away
Rock n Roll High School
I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
Psycho Therapy
Do You Remember Rock n Roll Radio?
Sheena is a Punk Rocker
Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue

61. The Sex Pistols

After Blondie hit #1, record companies rushed to sign punk bands. Out of this bum rush came the most irreverent band of all time. What could be more rock n roll than screaming out, “I am the Anti-Christ?” The band attacked corporations, record companies, society, and even Queen Elizabeth II herself. Guitarist Steve Jones admitted their goal was chaos. The more negative publicity they received, the more popular they became. When they realized they were rock stars, they quit. As a result, they were probably the most honest band in music history.

Rock n Roll Moment: During the Queen’s Jubilee, the band attempted to play “God Save The Queen” on the Thames and just outside the Westminster Palace. The band was arrested.

Essential Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bullocks (1977)

#72. Creedence Clearwater Revival

It’s hard to believe CCR did not come from the bayou. They are a classic roots rock band that incorporated a series of influences thus creating their own sound. While others in San Francisco went flower power and psychedelic, CCR went their own way. They gained attention in the alternative press and eventually broke. They produced several rock classics before internal strife broke them apart. Had they survived, they’d be much higher in the countdown.

Rock n Roll Moment: The members of CCR engaged in one of the great feuds in rock history.

Essential CCR: Green River (1969), Willie and the Poor Boys (1969), Cosmos Factory (1970)

CCR’s Top 10:

Fortunate Son
Proud Mary
Born on the Bayou
Bad Moon Rising
Down on the Corner
Travelin’ Band
Who’ll Stop The Rain
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Someday Never Comes
Green River

#73 Blondie

Blondie has sold over 50 million albums. Originally, Debbie Harry was in a folk group. She met Chris Stein and they formed Blondie. The band’s repertoire was so eclectic, they were compared to The Who. Blondie incorporated Punk, New Wave, Disco, Reggae, Rap, and other musical forms into their work. They eventually hit the big time and Debbie Harry became bigger than the band itself. In the early 80s, Chris Stein suffered a rare fatal disease and Blondie disbanded. Stein somehow recovered. They were highly influential (Madonna, Shirley Manson) and reconstituted in the late 90s and hit #1 in the UK with “Maria.” In 2006, they scored a top 10 hit in the US with “Rapture Riders” (with the Doors). They were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 and still tour.

Rock n Roll Moment: There were some issues during their induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Two former members wished to play during the induction, but Debbie refused as she had the current lineup ready to go. (awkward!)

Essential Blondie:
Blondie (1976)
Parallel Lines (1978)

Blondie’s Top 10:
Call Me
One Way or Another
Rapture
Dreaming
Heart of Glass
Maria
Atomic
Rip Her To Shreds
The Tide Is High
Island of Lost Souls