Memorable Seventies Television Commercials

• “Look Ma! No cavities!”
• “Two all beef patties, special sauce….”
• “Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.”
• “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”
• “Hey, Mikey….He likes it.”
• “Chow, chow chow.”
• “I’d like to teach the world to sing…..”
• “You’ve come along way baby.”
• “Kind of hip, kind of now, Charlie!”
• “Finger lickin’ good.”
• “Schaefer is the one beer to have, when you’re having more than one.”
• “Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener….”
• “The uncola.”
• “You deserve a break today….”

Seventies Movies You May Remember Seeing

Things from the 70’s that our parents believed screwed us up:

• Marijuana.
• Rod Stewart’s “Do ya think I’m sexy” & Donna Summer’s “Love to love you baby.”
• All those boys in loud cars
• TV remote control
• Black light posters
• Ouija board
• New math
• Artificial sweeteners
• The Sweathogs
• Sex education
• Subliminal messages
• Right turn on red

Things from the 70’s that our parents believed saved us:

• Saying the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day.
• Reverend Billy Graham.
• Raising the drinking age from 18 to 21 in most states.
• Nixon’s resignation and Carter’s defeat.
• Wheat germ, granola, and yogurt.
• Capital punishment.
• Seat belts with shoulder straps.
• The documentary Scared Straight.
• Republicans.
• High school guidance counselors.
• The 55 mile-per-hour speed limit.

MUSIC: THE MOST HORRIFYING #1 SONGS OF THE SEVENTIES

Our Freshman and Sophomore Years of High School

Despite a post-Woodstock atmosphere, the early Seventies saw the rise of “Lounge” music, with Roberta Flack, Neil Diamond, and the Carpenters leading the way. There was also a healthy representation from the “What Were We Thinking?” category, with #1 hit songs from Cher and the Partridge Family. Ridiculous melodies and insipid lyrics began to emerge, providing ample raw material for the forces of even scarier music that waited patiently in the shadows.

• Alone again, naturally – Gilbert O’Sulivan
• Baby don’t get hooked on me – Mac Davis
• Ben – Michael Jackson
• Black and white – Three Dog Night
• Brand new key – Melanie
• Brandy, you’re a fine girl – Looking Glass
• Candy man – Sammy Davis, Jr.
• Close to you – Carpenters
• Cracklin’ rose – Neil Diamond
• Delta Dawn – Helen Ready
• Everything is beautiful – Ray Stevens
• Family Affair – Sly & the Family Stone
• Go away little girl – Donny Osmond
• Gypsies Tramps and Thieves – Cher
• Half-breed – Cher
• How can you mend a broken heart – Bee Gees
• I am woman – Helen Reddy
• I can see clearly now – Johnny Nash
• I think I love you – Partridge Family
• Indian reservation – Raiders
• Keep on truckin’ – Eddie Kendricks
• Killing me softly with his song – Roberta Flack
• Knock three times – Tony Orlando and Dawn
• Love train – The O’Jays
• Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul
• One bad apple – Osmonds
• Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head – BJ Thomas
• Song sung blue – Neil Diamond
• The first time ever I saw your face – Roberta Flack
• The morning after – Maureen McGovern
• The most beautiful girl – Charlie Rich
• The night the lights went out in Georgia – Vicki Lawrence
• The way we were – Barbra Steisand
• Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes
• Tie a yellow ribbon round the ole oak tree – Tony Orlando and Dawn
• Touch me in the morning – Diana Ross
• Top of the world – Carpenters

Our Junior and Senior Years of High School

By 1974, things had gotten pretty silly. Watergate shocked the nation and the music scene responded with utter confusion. Like a young teenager whose parents had left town for the weekend, mid-Seventies music was ready to try anything. Olivia Newton-John became chief spokesperson for the “Lounge” movement but was quickly overshadowed by the sheer idiocy of songs like “Kung Fu Fighting,” “Convoy,” and “The Streak.” The stage was set; the time was ripe. Breaking through the insanity to bring order from the chaos was the “savior” of the Seventies. Yes, disco was born. Disco continued to dominate the music scene in the years after we left high school. Here are some of the horrifying #1 songs of our junior and senior years of high school:

• Bad blood – Neil Sedaka
• Billy, don’t be a hero – Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods
• Convoy – CW McCall
• Feel like makin’ love – Roberta Flack
• Fly robin fly – Silver Convention
• Get down tonight – KC & the Sunshine Band
• Have you never been mellow – Olivia Newton-John
• He don’t love you like I love you – Tony Orlando & Dawn
• Hey won’t you play another somebody done somebody wrong song – BJ Thomas
• Hooked on a feeling – Blue Suede
• I honestly love you – Olivia Newton-John
• Jive talkin’ – Bee Gees
• Kung fu fighting – Carl Douglas
• Laughter in the rain – Neil Sedaka
• Let’s do it again – Staple Singers
• Love machine – Miracles
• Love rollercoaster – Ohio Players
• Love will keep us together – The Captain & Tennille
• Lovin’ you – Minnie Riperton
• Mandy – Barry Manilow
• My eyes adore you – Frankie Valli
• Rhinestone cowboy – Glen Campbell
• Rock me gently – Andy Kim
• Rock the boat – Hues Corporation
• Saturday night – Bay City Rollers
• Seasons in the sun – Terry Jacks
• Thank god I’m a country boy – John Denver
• That’s the way – uh-huh, uh-huh – I like it – KC & the Sunshine Band
• The hustle – Van McCoy
• The locomotion – Grand Funk
• The night Chicago died – Paper Lace
• The streak – Ray Stevens
• You’re having my baby – Paul Anka