It was a colorful, flashy, contradictory time. And no one cared. Perhaps it was the most carefree era we’ve ever experienced, due to its “live and let live” attitude.
☎️ Okay, there was the oil crisis with Sunday driving bans, which meant that in 1973, for the first time, you could ride your Bonanza bike or roller skates on the motorway on Sundays. But that was cool, too.
And the same goes for the music and instruments of the time – it was simply a great time to be alive. 🎸
Not everything was better, but a lot was different
CD players didn’t yet exist, not to mention streaming and digital storage media such as USB thumb drives. Music came on vinyl records and cassettes, and when the tape had gotten stuck in the player again, you simply grabbed a pencil, stuck it in the rotating mechanism, and rolled it back up.
Certainly not everything was better back then—quite the contrary—but a lot was different. In terms of music, the diversity of coexisting genres was simply astonishing.
The 1970s began with an identity crisis
The decade began with a big shock: the breakup of the Beatles. A good ten years after they first appeared on stage, the band was history in 1970. Until then, they had shaped the worldview of young people. Suddenly, there was a gaping hole that many did not know how to fill. Without warning, they were left without a role model. But the Rolling Stones took over, and many more were to come.
The early ‘70s: Glam rock with flamboyant outfits and platform shoes
The hippie era was slowly coming to an end, and the world of music was literally turned upside down in the 1970s. For some, this shift had already begun around 1968 with the emergence of a wide variety of styles. Glam rock experienced a huge boom with British bands such as The Sweet, Slade, Mud, and numerous other artists such as David Bowie, T Rex, and Kiss.
The first punk bands emerged in the middle of the decade
The mid-70s heralded the dawn of the punk wave. Originating in the UK and the US, it was popularized by bands such as the Ramones – considered the inventors of punk – and established itself not only as a music genre but as a subculture. Its typical characteristics were provocative behaviour and a rebellious, non-conformist attitude.
In reality, the punks were (mostly) very friendly people. They just didn’t let it show, and they certainly didn’t want to adhere to outdated conventions. Musically, it wasn’t about quality, quite the contrary: amateurism and pure rebellion were the order of the day.
Electronic music as an almost simultaneous antithesis
At around the same time, electronic pop music saw the light of day. The first bands began to experiment with the then-new synthesizers and drum machines, which were, of course, analog at the time. Initially hardly noticed by the general public, the German electro band Kraftwerk rose to world fame and became the pioneers of this scene. In a sense, they went straight from the now legendary Kling-Klang Studios to the wide world of driving beats.
When disco took over 🪩
Contrary to the blurred memories of some, the late ‘70s were no longer dominated by rock or punk. Instead, the disco era had begun, and people flocked to the clubs in search of elegance and lightness. Bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire, ABBA, the Bee Gees, and Boney M. by the German producer Frank Farian had taken over the charts.
Instead of protest songs, they focused on danceable party tunes, a trend that included the lyrics. Suddenly, even the clumsiest of boys wanted to be able to dance the lumberjack.
Gear innovations
After guitarists had relied exclusively on all-tube amplifiers in previous decades, transistor-based amps came onto the market in the 1970s. One example was the Roland Jazz Chorus from 1975 – also known as the Roland JC-120 for short. At the time, it couldn’t match the tonal qualities of tube distortion, which is why it was considered a low-cost entry-level amp for a long time.
However, the Roland JC-120 became a huge success precisely because of its clean sound and excellent chorus. And it was by no means only used by dance musicians of the time, but also by rock guitarists like Joe Perry (Aerosmith), Andy Summers (The Police), and Metallica’s James Hetfield. The combo amp, which can be used for both guitar and keyboard, is still available today in an updated version.
Roland
JC-120
The first Ibanez Tube Screamer saw the light of day in 1979. The original TS808 model laid the foundation for what is arguably still the most famous overdrive pedal on the market.
Its unique selling point is its warm, voluminous sound, and the tone controls allow for a wealth of sound variations, from fat leads with plenty of sustain to classy vintage sounds, depending on the amp.
It’s still played today by artists such as Joe Bonamassa, Andy Timmons, and John Mayer. Incidentally, it is not only the best-selling pedal, but also the most frequently imitated.
Ibanez
TS808
And then came the synths. At first, they were used either experimentally or – in a rock context – alongside the organ and electric piano, until the aforementioned band Kraftwerk created a whole new style around them. Leading the way was the first Minimoog, released in 1970, which sparked the synthetic revolution.
But the polyphonic Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 from 1978 and the iconic Yamaha CS-80 – an ultra-heavy beast at 100 kg – are also long-established legends today. Even the first sampler, the Fairlight CMI, appeared as early as 1979 – and went on to shape the pop music of the 1980s.
Moog
Minimoog Model D 2022
Does the sound of the ‘70s feel more alive?
Today’s production tools are faster, but also more complex than ever before. Think of them as a modern car with dozens of functions – but to save costs, corners are cut on materials. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, things were built to be more robust and durable – “they used to last forever,” is something you often hear.
The same applies to music: studio work used to be precious and rare. Today, thousands of new songs are published on streaming platforms every day. We live in an era of quantity, and many long for the perceived quality of bygone times. Add to this the vintage trend:
Old microphones, tube gear, and analog consoles are now sought-after collector’s items – often at astronomical prices. One example is the Neumann U67, a legendary studio mic, which is now sold as a reissue for several thousand euros – still considerably cheaper than an original from the 1960s.
Neumann
U67 Set
And musically? Here are 15 cool songs from the ‘70s
A list of 15 cool songs from the ‘70s can only be incomplete. There were thousands of them, each with its own unique qualities – and of course, it is and always will be a question of criteria: personal taste, the memories associated with them, or maybe sales figures and chart positions? Regardless of this, here are 15 history-making songs from the roaring ‘70s, ranging from rock to pop, disco, and electro:
- “Stairway to Heaven” – Led Zeppelin (1971) – the most beautiful rock ballad of the ‘70s
- “Imagine” – John Lennon (1971) – a visionary hit that is still relevant today
- “Blockbuster!” – The Sweet (1973) – hard-hitting glam rock
- “Sugar Baby Love” – The Rubettes (1974) – bubblegum pop for the dance floor
- “Autobahn” – Kraftwerk (1974) – an innovative starting signal
- “Ballroom Blitz” – The Sweet (1974) – with sirens and thunder
- “No Woman, No Cry” – Bob Marley (1975) – from the king of reggae
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen (1975) – an incredible rock opera
- “Dancing Queen” – ABBA (1976) – for many, the perfect pop song
- “Hotel California” The Eagles (1976) – perfection in instrument and voice
- “Stayin’ Alive” – The Bee Gees (1977) – danceable hit with falsetto vocals
- “Mull of Kintyre” – Wings (1977) – Paul McCartney’s best-selling song
- “Heart of Glass” – Blondie (1978) – a surprising shift from punk to disco
- “Highway to Hell” – AC/DC (1979) – the international breakthrough
- “London Calling” – The Clash (1979) – a milestone in punk rock
So there was a lot going on in the ‘70s, an extremely diverse decade. The musical and sonic variety was enormous. New instruments and new gear saw the light of day and supported the creativity of musicians. Perhaps the Beatles had to break up to make way for a new decade that still shines with great music today.
The 1970s: Music, Sound & Style – Your Feedback
What did your parents or grandparents tell you about the ‘70s? Or did you perhaps experience the era yourself? Let us know about it! We look forward to your comments.
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