You Are What You Were. Celebrate Retro Pop Culture At Retroland.
The 1970s shall heretofore be known as the ABBA Era, because we all know the Swedish pop group was the life blood of that groovy decade. Their catchy tunes and graceful harmonies took the world by storm and haven’t lost one ounce of their sparkling appeal over the years.
Continue reading...
Andy Gibb was the youngest scion of the 1970s ruling music family, the Bee Gees. The Anglo-Australian clan dominated the pop charts during that decade and helped their little brother achieve rightful fame on his own. Not just another token teen idol, Andy also co-wrote the songs and played his own instruments. And then he left us too soon.
Continue reading...
Bringing up the rear of the British Invasion, the Bay City Rollers emerged from Scotland in the 70s and after racking up a respectable number of fans in the UK, arrived in America to enjoy even more adulation. Besides gracing the American music charts with a string of hits, the teen heartthrobs also endeared themselves to millions via Saturday morning television.
Continue reading...
New York City was a hotbed of punk and new wave activity in the mid-70's, overflowing with groups like The Ramones and The Talking Heads. Blondie emerged from this scene and became an international sensation with their blend of pop hooks, punk-ish edge and clever lyrics. They scored a long list of musically-diverse hit singles that defined the new wave sound and transformed their glamorous lead singer, Debbie Harry, into an alternative sex symbol.
Continue reading...
Once called “the first Third World superstar”, Bob Marley was a visionary who introduced the world to the sounds of Jamaican reggae music. Charismatic, controversial and a gifted songwriter and lyricist, Marley and his group, The Wailers, left a legacy of music that has far outlived his brief time on the planet, and continues to flourish throughout the world.
Continue reading...
Despite the disparaging remarks of contemporary music critics, the middle-of-the-road pop stylings of Captain & Tennille made them one of the most successful pop duos of the 70s, racking up an impressive five gold albums, six gold singles, two platinum albums and a platinum single. It’s no wonder we see their likenesses used and parodied in media today. They meant something.
Continue reading...
In the royal court of disco, there was never really any mistaking that Donna Summer was the Queen. Many have tried to copy her passionate vocal abilities but few ever came close. With style and grace, and plenty of hard work, she adopted the genre as her own and left her mark with a catalog of endearing hits beloved by her many fans.
Continue reading...
She was a little bit country, he was a little bit rock and roll, and they became one of the most successful brother/sister teams in entertainment history. Their wholesome mugs appeared regularly on television through the latter half of the 70s, and their wholesome music across the nation's radio stations. Make no mistake, Donny and Marie made their mark, and then some.
Continue reading...
By today’s standards, where the world is filled with portable music emanating from iPods, the eight-track tape seems rather (click) antiquated. Big and bulky, the endlessly-looping tape contained within also had this annoying habit of (click) interrupting songs midway through with an audible click as they moved through each of their quadrants. Furthermore, the intended order of songs was often disrupted, and occasionally (click) long periods of silence lingered between tracks. Having said that, they allowed, for the first time, the ability to bring music of one’s choice into (click) an automobile, as well as a portable listening device – something previously impossible.
Continue reading...
As if they hadn't done enough already, the Beatles introduced yet another new idea into the world of rock music by incorporating cellos, violins and other classical instruments into their songs. Inspired by the Fab Four's pioneer spirit, Roy Wood, guitarist for The Move, formed a new band that would experiment exclusively with the fusion of rock and classical. The result was the Electric Light Orchestra, a prolific group that quickly became a staple of 70s radio and beyond, thanks to an impressive 27 Top-40 hits.
Continue reading...