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Remember the 70s
From Bohemian Rhapsody and David Bowie to Star Wars and Watergate, the history of an unforgettable era that rocked (and discoed) the world.
The 1970s was one of the most exciting, innovative, and colorful decades of the twentieth century. It was ten years of major events in music (Freddie Mercury, The Sex Pistols, The Carpenters, and Blondie), film ( Jaws, Dirty Harry, The Godfather , and Saturday Night Fever ), television ( The Mary Tyler Moore Show, All in the Family, Benny Hill , and The Waltons ), and politics (Richard Nixon, Margaret Thatcher, and Jane Fonda). It was also a time of social change (the women’s movement and gay rights), and unforgettable nutty trends (orange shag carpets, bell bottoms, platform shoes, and wing-collared shirts).
From home-life and fashions to entertainment, sports, headlining-making crimes, and pioneering new technologies, Remember the 70s is a fabulous record of a chaotic, pivotal, loud, and revolutionary era. For those who lived through it, and for those who just heard about it, historian Derek Tait (who came of age in it—and has the photos to prove it) offers fascinating insights, truths, and reflections into a dazzling pop-culture turning point that resonates to this day.
The 1970s was one of the most exciting, innovative, and colorful decades of the twentieth century. It was ten years of major events in music (Freddie Mercury, The Sex Pistols, The Carpenters, and Blondie), film ( Jaws, Dirty Harry, The Godfather , and Saturday Night Fever ), television ( The Mary Tyler Moore Show, All in the Family, Benny Hill , and The Waltons ), and politics (Richard Nixon, Margaret Thatcher, and Jane Fonda). It was also a time of social change (the women’s movement and gay rights), and unforgettable nutty trends (orange shag carpets, bell bottoms, platform shoes, and wing-collared shirts).
From home-life and fashions to entertainment, sports, headlining-making crimes, and pioneering new technologies, Remember the 70s is a fabulous record of a chaotic, pivotal, loud, and revolutionary era. For those who lived through it, and for those who just heard about it, historian Derek Tait (who came of age in it—and has the photos to prove it) offers fascinating insights, truths, and reflections into a dazzling pop-culture turning point that resonates to this day.
- GenresHistory
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 17, 2018
I reached my teens in the early 70s so I remember it all very clearly. More clearly than Mr Tait in some areas, it seems! He makes some odd statements: 1) most homes were heated by a gas or electric fire in the front room and we all gathered to eat there. Central heating was fairly commonplace in my world and we ate in the dining room or, in some cases, the kitchen diner. 2) He says most homes didn’t have a telephone until the mid 1970s - that really is nonsense. I can’t remember anyone without a phone in the 60s! He says everyone was on a party line - also nonsense. A party line was a cheaper option by which you shared the line with another household, meaning that you could pick up the phone and listen into their conversations. It was just an option though and I only knew one family who had one. 3) Colour TVs didn’t start to appear until 1974? Did I grow up in a parallel universe? We got ours to watch the moon landings in 1969. We were the first amongst our neighbours to get one but the rest followed over the next year or so. Derek Tait’s view of home life in the 70s smacks of a Monty Pythonesque ‘when I were a lad.......’!
The book is split into sections covering music, sport, television, politics, etc. For most, it’s simply lists, ie in 1971, this happened; in 1972, that happened; in 1973 something else, etc. The politics section is the best, in my opinion. These were turbulent years domestically - strikes, power cuts, IRA bombs on the British mainland, unstable governments due to all of this - and it does no harm to remember how difficult things were.
This would be a great book if you were going to have the 70s as your specialist subject on Mastermind. Other than that, it’s a book for skimming through. Not a bad idea but not a great read. Oh, and only an English author could manage to mention the 1966 World Cup THREE times in a book about the 1970s!!
With thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for an ARC.
The book is split into sections covering music, sport, television, politics, etc. For most, it’s simply lists, ie in 1971, this happened; in 1972, that happened; in 1973 something else, etc. The politics section is the best, in my opinion. These were turbulent years domestically - strikes, power cuts, IRA bombs on the British mainland, unstable governments due to all of this - and it does no harm to remember how difficult things were.
This would be a great book if you were going to have the 70s as your specialist subject on Mastermind. Other than that, it’s a book for skimming through. Not a bad idea but not a great read. Oh, and only an English author could manage to mention the 1966 World Cup THREE times in a book about the 1970s!!
With thanks to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for an ARC.
February 10, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publisher, Pen & Sword Books for this review copy given in exchange for an honest review.
Remember the 70’s? I certainly do. I won’t go as far as to say my age, but I was born in the 70’s (and more towards the beginning than the end!). So I can safely say, I do remember most of the 70’s! I like books like this, so was pleased when the Publisher granted my wish and gave me a copy of the book. Also,on looking, the author has written some great other books on subjects of bygone years which I’ll be looking at to read at a later date!
It does what it says on the tin – it explores the 70’s decade, giving insight into many of the things that happened during this time. It brushes on clothes, music, TV and film as well as an array of other things. It was really interesting to read through some of these and, whilst I knew of them and living through most of it, it was great to have my memory jogged for some of the names of people and places that have long passed me by – examples are Rumbelows (what ever happened to them?) and Bejam’s (which apparently is now Iceland!) The pictures weren’t very good on the kindle, but that was the only format given so I had to put up with it. I would hope for the paperback version that they are there in all their 70’s technicolour glory!
My one criticism is that in the music section Gary Glitter’s name was mentioned no less than 3 times. I’m sure the 70’s music scene can be relived without having to broach on the politically incorrect Mr Glitter. Yes, he was memorable at the time, unfortunately more memorable now for other offences. After seeing this, I was expecting Jim’ll Fix It to be dwelled upon, but thankfully we was spared that!
It was a fun read down memory lane. To be honest, most of the stuff that is in there is readily available on the internet and I’d heard of all before, but it was nice to have it all in one place. It would be a great book as a birthday present for someone born of this era.
3.5 Stars!
Remember the 70’s? I certainly do. I won’t go as far as to say my age, but I was born in the 70’s (and more towards the beginning than the end!). So I can safely say, I do remember most of the 70’s! I like books like this, so was pleased when the Publisher granted my wish and gave me a copy of the book. Also,on looking, the author has written some great other books on subjects of bygone years which I’ll be looking at to read at a later date!
It does what it says on the tin – it explores the 70’s decade, giving insight into many of the things that happened during this time. It brushes on clothes, music, TV and film as well as an array of other things. It was really interesting to read through some of these and, whilst I knew of them and living through most of it, it was great to have my memory jogged for some of the names of people and places that have long passed me by – examples are Rumbelows (what ever happened to them?) and Bejam’s (which apparently is now Iceland!) The pictures weren’t very good on the kindle, but that was the only format given so I had to put up with it. I would hope for the paperback version that they are there in all their 70’s technicolour glory!
My one criticism is that in the music section Gary Glitter’s name was mentioned no less than 3 times. I’m sure the 70’s music scene can be relived without having to broach on the politically incorrect Mr Glitter. Yes, he was memorable at the time, unfortunately more memorable now for other offences. After seeing this, I was expecting Jim’ll Fix It to be dwelled upon, but thankfully we was spared that!
It was a fun read down memory lane. To be honest, most of the stuff that is in there is readily available on the internet and I’d heard of all before, but it was nice to have it all in one place. It would be a great book as a birthday present for someone born of this era.
3.5 Stars!
January 16, 2020
Too much detail
I grew up in the 70s,I was expecting this book to bring back the feel of the era.While it has all the names and dates correct,it felt like i was reading an encyclopedia.
I grew up in the 70s,I was expecting this book to bring back the feel of the era.While it has all the names and dates correct,it felt like i was reading an encyclopedia.
July 21, 2021
Great photos and retrospective. It's from a British - based author so some (politics, for example) of the memories are different than what we experienced in the states but tons of it is universal.
April 9, 2022
Great read about the 70s
This book was an excellent look at the 70s in england. It had things about other countries too. But mostly th uk
This book was an excellent look at the 70s in england. It had things about other countries too. But mostly th uk
March 21, 2018
Remember the 70s is a nostalgia book about the 70s decade in Britain.
The book covers life from the aspect of the home, fasion, music, television, movies, sport, politics, innovations and transport with a round up by year of notable highlights.
It has some black and white photography and celebrity quotes.
Whilst the information was interesting, the book is rather a dry read and does in some places appear to repeat itself.
I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.
The book covers life from the aspect of the home, fasion, music, television, movies, sport, politics, innovations and transport with a round up by year of notable highlights.
It has some black and white photography and celebrity quotes.
Whilst the information was interesting, the book is rather a dry read and does in some places appear to repeat itself.
I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.
February 14, 2019
I am reviewing this book for Derek Tait, Pen & Sword and NetGalley who gave me a copy of their book for an honest review.
This brought back many memories but I expected more photos throughout and to be in colour. It mentions lists of e.g. TV programmes - I would have liked an image of each and maybe a line or two of what the show was about.
This brought back many memories but I expected more photos throughout and to be in colour. It mentions lists of e.g. TV programmes - I would have liked an image of each and maybe a line or two of what the show was about.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews