For the Record: The 70s

70s Rerun - The Spirit of 76: Pop Music in America's Bicentennial

As the U.S. approaches the 150th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence, FTR70 looks back to Episode 31, which examines 1976 and state of the nation -- and pop music -- in that bicentennal year. Things were a bit dicey in America in 1976. Gerald Ford was president, even though he only became president because of Nixon's Watergate scandal. The country was dealing with high gas prices, a shaky economy, the challenges of living with the civil rights legislation of the 1960s, and the consequences of American involvement in Vietnam. Not matter how much you trusted Walter Cronkite, the nightly news could be a bit stressful. If you were looking for an escape from all that, the pop music world was just the ticket! "Afternoon Delight," anyone?

Ep. 61: American Top 40 in the 80s

Casey Kasem was at the height of his powers as the 1980s began. The countdown show that he launched on July 4, 1970, "American Top 40," was now an international phenomenon and could be heard on over 500 stations around the world. Casey had made rooting for your favorite single's climb up the Billboard charts akin to a sport — would your favorite song be played after the drumroll this week? He even branched out to a Top 10 countdown television show. However, you could also make the case that his success led to his own demise as "American Top 40" attracted competitors, particularly in the form of radio disc jockey Rick Dees. This episode moves beyond the 70s and into 80s, following the changes in the music and the show itself, leading to the end of Casey Kasem's reign as the king of pop music countdowns.

Ep. 60: One-Hit Wonders of the 70s

The 1970s gave us some of the most memorable songs ever recorded and some artists who, for one reason or another, only broke through once. In this episode, we take a closer look at those so-called "one-hit wonders" and the stories behind the songs that stuck. From the laid-back groove of "How Long" by Ace, to the quiet melancholy of "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" by Danny O'Keefe, we explore what made these tracks connect and why they lasted. We'll get into the funk-rock crossover of "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry, the sunny pop of "Sweet City Woman" by The Stampeders, the tight pop classic "Cruel to Be Kind" by Nick Lowe, and the disco smash "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward. And how do you make a hit song about a brief encounter in a Chevy van, anyway? Was it luck? Timing? Skill? A little of all of that? Tune in for a discussion on these classic hits of the 1970s.

Ep. 59 - Bands and Booze on the Festival Express of 1970

Imagine a train carrying the precious cargo that includes Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band, and many more of our legendary performers! This was not a figment of the imagination but a real tour in the summer of 1970. This episode examines why this tour, which is not considered in the same vein as Woodstock, deserves its place in early 70s rock history.

Ep. 58 - WKRP in Cincinnati

"Baby, if you ever wondered, wondered whatever became of me, I'm living on the air in Cincinnati, Cincinnati WKRP." In this episode, WKRP in Cincinnati proves that a sitcom can be more than laughs—it can capture a cultural moment. Through sharp writing and memorable characters, the show explores the intersection of music, politics, and culture through the power of radio. In this case, it was a fictional radio station on a sitcom that aired from 1978 to 1982. However, even though it was fictional, it felt real to its fans and even to record labels, who appreciated its authenticity and its cultural reach.