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!