SPACE ODDITY BY DAVID BOWIE

     Words don't really do David Bowie justice.  He's just so far ahead of his time that until we truly catch up to him, it's best just to let his stuff speak for itself.  Although technically released in 1969, David Bowie's haunting track "Space Oddity" was a taste of what was in store for the world as the new decade was approaching .  Heavily inspired by Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, "2001: A Space Odyssey", it's still one of Bowie's best known and loved songs, and remains as fresh and bizarre today as it must have sounded back then.

CLASSIC 70S COCA-COLA CHRISTMAS COMMERCIAL

     Instead of making silly new Christmas commercials that nobody will remember in 50 years, I think they should just re-air this one every year.  It's simple, it's iconic, and it's memorable.

KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER

    

           Eccentric and abrasive Las Vegas reporter Carl Kolchak stumbles upon the story of his life as a series of ghastly murders rock the city. It seems a modern-day vampire is preying on young women, and from the startling discovery of a dead girl's body stuffed into a garbage can in the opening scene, "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" enthralled and terrified audiences as it aired on January 11, of 1972.  Legendary Dan Curtis, of "Dark Shadows" fame, produced one of TV's best and most-loved movies, and a memorable slice of 70's horror.  

 Darren McGavin is fantastic as the impulsive Kolchak- it's arguably one of the most memorable performances of the decade.  It's almost hard to believe it back then,  but ABC's Movie Of the Week was a big deal- and hands down tops of all TV-movies.  And during that time, some of the greatest TV shockers of all time aired- titles such as "Don't Be Afraid Of the Dark", "Trilogy Of Terror", and of course, "Kolchak".  The movie was so popular, a sequel, "Kolchak: The Night Strangler" followed, then a weekly series followed that.  Based on science and folklore with a dash of supernatural thrown in for good measure, "Kolchak" was a ratings smash.  Since it was produced by Dan Curtis, you can see traces of "Dark Shadows" here and there throughout "The Night Stalker".  You can also see how influential "Kolchak" would be in the future with "The X-Files".  

     This is a great vampire flick with a witty and atmospheric script by the great Richard Matheson that crackles with tension and paranoia. They certainly don't make movies like this anymore.  But thanks to Netflix and DVD's, they can still be enjoyed today.  Often cited as the best TV movie of all time, the original and refreshing story of a modern-day Dracula terrorizing Las Vegas is a groovy, scary time capsule of the funky and weird 70's.  I recommend a "Kolchak" double feature and watch back-to-back with its sequel, "The Night Strangler".

COME SAIL AWAY BY STYX

     For me as a child, one of the strongest memories of the 70s is hearing the mega-awesome "Come Sail Away" by Styx.  Released in 1977 off their seventh studio album The Grand Illusion, "Come Sail Away" would help bolst the album to multi-platinum sales, and become one of Styx's biggest hits.  It's such a visual song, and much to ponder for those Ancient Aliens enthusiasts...  "Come Sail Away" would make it all the way to #8 on the Billboard charts.  This is classic rock- it's theatrical, over-the-top, and beautiful.  This song  simply must be played loud.  And check out this video!

DOCTOR'S ORDERS BY CAROL DOUGLAS

     One of the pioneering tracks of disco, released in 1974, was "Doctor's Orders" by Carol Douglas.  The song became hugely popular by the end of '74, making it all the way to #11 on Billboard's Top 100 chart and #2 on Billboard's recently launched disco chart.  By 1975, global sales of "Doctor's Orders" by Carol Douglas totaled one million units.  It's irresistible disco, and downright impossible not to sing along with Carol- why she didn't have more hits is beyond me.  "Doctor's Orders" is a personal favorite.  It's a gem!

1970- THE YEAR IN MOVIES

MOVIN' BY BRASS CONSTRUCTION

     Brass Construction were a disco/funk group of the 1970's who scored a Top 20 hit in 1976 with the irresistibly funky "Movin".  Although only scoring one other Top 20 hit in the US, they were much more successful on the dance charts, including "Movin", which would become a #1 dance smash.  Brass Construction never quite became household names, but that doesn't necessarily mean they weren't influential.  The Bucketheads would sample the tune with their 1995 smash "Got Myself Together", and had other tunes sampled by the likes of Jill Scott and N.W.A.  It is impossible to sit still while listening to this song, and this is quintessential 70s disco/funk. Love it!

KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL- THE CRYING INDIAN COMMERCIAL

     Every child of the 70's will forever have this commercial embedded into their brain.  Who can ever forget the Crying Indian?  I feel shameful just thinking about it...

CARRIE

     It doesn't get much better than Brian DePalma's masterpiece of 70's horror, "Carrie".  Sissy Spacek plays Carrie White, a shy high school girl ruthlessly taunted by her cruel classmates.  She also has to deal with her religious fanatic of a mother, Piper Laurie.  

     The movie starts off shocking- Carrie has her first period in gym class, and because her mother is such a religious wacko, she has failed to mention or explain menstruation to her daughter, who thinks she's bleeding to death.  Of course, her classmates find this terribly amusing, and led by Nancy Allen's super-bitch Chris Hargensen, commence to throwing tampons and sanitary napkins at Carrie while shrieking "Plug it up!".  It's a vicious and harrowing scene that shows just how cruel school kids can be.  Especially the girls.  Sue Snell, played by Amy Irving, feels bad for participating, and asks her popular boyfriend Tommy Ross (William Katt) to take Carrie to the prom to make it up to her.  He asks her, and she accepts.  But evil Chris doesn't like it one bit, and unknown to everybody but us, rigs up two buckets of pig blood to be dumped on Carrie and Tommy as they are announced King and Queen of the prom (which has also been fixed).  And we can only helplessly sit back and wait for the brutal climax we know is coming. Carrie comes to the realization that she has telekinesis, and after years of being abused and taunted by her classmates, uses that power to "bring down the house" for a little old-fashioned revenge at the prom.  Rarely has a horror movie, (or any movie, for that matter) evoked such a range of emotions while watching- pity, tension, revulsion, and outright horror.  You feel for Carrie White, thanks in large part to her unforgettable, Oscar-nominated performance.  Sissy Spacek owns the role of Carrie- you just can't imagine anybody else in the role.  Piper Laurie is terrifying (and utterly delicious) as Carrie's demented mother, Margaret.  Let's not forget the fabulous supporting players here- Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, P.J. Soles, and John Travolta in his first starring role.  In my opinion, actually better than the book it was based on (which don't get me wrong- King's novel is sensational- it was just magically brought to life on the screen by DePalma), "Carrie" is a tour-de-force of acting, directing, editing, and special effects that is still one of the greatest horror movies ever made.  And it's amazing how many times "Carrie" pops up in practically anything these days, whether in reference, imitation, or homage.   "Carrie" has made a huge impact on pop culture- the image of Sissy  Spacek, drenched in blood, is a true iconic image of horror.  This is one of the most awesome horror movies of all time.

HELLO, IT'S ME BY TODD RUNDGREN

     "Hello It's Me" was a Top 5 smash for Todd Rundgren in 1972, and it's a perfect example of the laid back and mellow vibes of the 70's.  It would be Todd's only major pop hit, but the song has become a bona fide pop classic.  Popular enough in fact to be used on tv's "That 70's Show" in the ending of that show's series finale.

DARK SIDE OF THE MOON by PINK FLOYD

Although originally released in 1973, Pink Floyd's epic "Dark Side Of The Moon" is currently still the most successful album of all time.  Unbelievably it remained on Billboard's Hot 200 album chart for an amazing 15 years straight, having sold over 40 million copies worldwide.  It is said that one in every 20 people under the age of 50 owns a copy of this album.  It has truly transcended genres, and remains a timeless piece of work.  Long considered an experience much more than a mere album, "Dark Side Of The Moon" is the ultimate symbol of the spaced-out 70's.  Just about every person who bought this album at one point or another lit some candles, turned off the lights, smoked a doob, and with some good headphones truly went to a far off place somewhere in their mind.  Listening to this album is like an acid trip, and continues to this day to delight and astound newcomers to the band.  Like Stanley Kubrick's tripped-out masterpiece "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Dark Side Of The Moon" became one of the ultimate celestial vehicles for self-awareness and discovery in the 70's, as if all the mysteries of our existence are hidden among the lyrics and music.  

Many words come to mind when"Dark Side Of The Moon" is mentioned- spaced-out, trippy, deep, ethereal, obscure. The album is simply as far as you can get from traditional rock or pop.  Pink Floyd, very much like The Grateful Dead, made up their own rules as they went along.  "Dark Side Of The Moon" is odd in that the songs on it don't seem to work by themselves near as well as they do together- the album works much better as one piece of music.   If you can leave behind the Top40 mentality and decide to take a journey through space and time and open your mind as never before- this is one of the best albums to do it with.  There really isn't much to say about "Dark Side Of The Moon" that hasn't already been said.  The music and the cult speak for themselves.  Rare is the album that has the uncanny power to completely transcend time and remain as modern and fresh over 30 years after its release.  This is art, this is epic- you don't just hear Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" for the first time, you experience it.  The album has permeated pop culture as an icon of classic 70's concept albums, and will never stop selling.  This is highly recommended for those music lovers who realize that music is not relevant to styles or genres.  This album is a rite of passage, and it's impossible to think of the 1970's and not think of Pink Floyd or this strange but brilliantly innovative album.  If we were ever to jettison into space a time capsule to represent art and culture from planet Earth, Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" most certainly belongs inside it.

Sometime in the 90's, it became popular to watch "The Wizard Of Oz" but with the Pink Floyd album playing instead of the film soundtrack.  Amazingly, although the band has said that this was total coincidence, many times throughout the album and the movie mesh extremely well together.  It's as if Pink Floyd purposely designed the  album to flow with the "The Wizard Of Oz".  It has become almost an urban legend at this point, only adding to the album's overall mystique.  Overall, this is a must for music lovers of any genre.  It is a masterpiece of experimentation and creativity.  One of the most classic and beloved concept albums of all time, "Dark Side Of The Moon" remains consistently cool.  This album still has the power to reduce me to chills at times.  It truly is a total head trip, and is so associated with the psychedelic culture that even today I instantly smell pot and incense whenever Pink Floyd is mentioned.

THE STEPFORD WIVES

     One of my favorite movies of the decade and of all time is "The Stepford Wives"- the infamous 70's shocker based on Ira Levin's delightfully diabolical novel.  It's about Joanna Eberhart, a big city photographer, who very reluctantly moves with her family to Stepford, Connecticut- a small, picture card town.  Though beautiful, there is something a bit off about Stepford, and Joanna soon realizes something is horribly amiss as she uncovers a deep, dark secret of the little town. And that's where the fun begins.

     The women of the town, all glowing in beautiful gowns, act very strange- as if they all wandered off the set of a television commercial.  They seem very fixated on cleaning, cooking, and other "wifely" duties.  Joanna, a die-hard feminist, feels completely out of place amongst the Stepford Wives.  She thankfully ends up meeting wacky Bobby (perfectly played by Paula Prentiss by the way...) and bands together as they soon discover the sinister plot behind the Stepford Men's Association, which their husbands coincidentally have joined...

      The movie is a razor sharp look at the Women's Lib controversy of the early 70's.  But underneath the slyness, there is an eerie vibe to the movie.  Director Brian Forbes purposely chose bright colors and lots of white, cheery scenes to create a "thriller in sunlight"- which counteracts with the dark and foreboding elements of the story.  And it works perfectly.  This is a movie that does require a little something called an attention span, and offers no gore or cheap scares, if that's what gets you off,  But if you're looking for a restrained, eerie little movie, that will haunt you afterwards, then this is the one for you.  "The Stepford Wives" weaves a creepy little spell while watching,  as it slowly and suspensfully builds to its chilling and unforgettable climax.   The term "Stepford Wife" has became a staple in pop culture, and it did spawn two sequels and a terrible remake-  and boy, when I say terrible, I mean terrible.  I was appalled...

      No, stick with the original gem from the groovy 70's that shouldn't be missed by horror fans or 70's fans, for that matter.  Like "Rosemary's Baby" (which Ira Levin also wrote), "The Stepford Wives" is quietly haunting and chilling. It gets under your skin.  And once it does you'll never forget it.  An infamous 70's horror classic!

EYES OF LAURA MARS

       Laura Mars is a New York fashion photographer who specializes in violent and overtly sexual images.  Her "art" causes controversy, and she's the toast of the town.  Everything is just fabulous until somebody starts brutally murdering her friends and acquaintances in the chic fashion world of New York City in the 70's. To make matters worse, some of Laura's photos, unknown to her, are exact matches of shots of real-life crime scenes in the NYPD crime book.  To top all of this off, Laura begins to see the murders happening through her own eyes... brief visions of the murders, which can seize her vision at any given time... Throw in a title tune sung by none other than Barbra Streisand, and you've got the "Eyes Of Laura Mars"...
     There are so many things to say about "Eyes Of Laura Mars" that I'm not sure where to begin.  This movie is awesomely campy, there's no doubt about that.  Perfectly capturing New York City circa 1978, the film is an absolute gem of 70's style and fashions.  Chock full of delicious disco tunes, "Laura Mars" is a strange but definitely original suspense film.  Faye Dunaway leads an all-star cast here- Tommy Lee Jones, Brad Dourif, and Raul Julia, just to name a few.  With a story by John Carpenter, slick, inventive cinematography and solid, stylish direction by Irvin Kirshner, the film is a tense and gorgeous little mystery/suspense shocker .  It has all the makings of a great movie, and almost succeeds.  There are quite a few things wrong with the film but I think overall the good outweigh the bad. There are many things the film has going for it.
     When Babs begins singing "Prisoner" (Love Theme From "Eyes Of Laura Mars"), you know you're in for a treat.  Streisand, you ask?  This is a Jon Peters production, you see. (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, just try to muddle through, okay?)  Faye Dunaway is nothing short of stunning here.  One of our greatest actresses, she is thoroughly believable in her role- and Rene Auberjonois is fantastically flamboyant as her best friend and assistant.  Brad Dourif is somewhat creepy as Laura's driver, who drives her around in some sort of weird station wagon...  Still not sure why a high-end fashion photographer wouldn't be driven around in a limo or at least a cadillac, but whatever.  It's a hoot.  Rounding out the crazy cast of characters is Tommy Lee Jones, who sports one of the worst uni-brows in celluloid history as he plays a cop determined to find out who's picking off members of the fashion world.
     "Eyes Of Laura Mars" is quite ridiculous, actually.  But Faye and friends do give the botched film all they've got, and it is extremely entertaining.  And... somewhat frustrating.  Frustrating because it could have been sensational, but unfortunately does fall flat in a few areas.  "Laura Mars" has many over-the-top scenes to enjoy, and besides being a time-capsule delight of the 70's, we're still treated to some somewhat suspenseful murder sequences and fabulous fashion sequences.  So all-in-all it's practically impossible not to have fun with "Laura Mars". If you're looking for a serious scare, you might not dig it.  But if you're looking for a deliciously campy murder mystery 70's style, then this is your film.