The baby boomers generation is approaching the golden age of fifty this year (2008). Their formative years were inspired by an important period of history known as the 1970's in music, which dominated and influenced much of their lifestyle.

THOSE 70S - MUSIC VIDEO CHANNEL

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BABY BOOMERS IN 1970

Although the baby boom generation were in their teens at the time, the older kids (the ones who got to stay up past 11pm) often got a taste of rock 'n roll from the very same television sets that were providing 'tween food' from the die-hard family oriented television sitcoms ("The Brady Bunch" and "The Partridge Family" are two that come to mind).

THE CREATIVITY OF THE SEVENTIES

The large number of music videos in this player focus mainly on the early 70's, which were a time of outstanding creativitiy in music. Having recovered from an overdose of Woodstock peaked madness and the freakish voyeurism of the late 60's the music industry and the artists themselves set on the task of rebuilding music, predominantly the airwaves but increasingly so the music video (this was pre-MTV, remember).

ROCK SHOWS ON TELEVISION

Lucky for us, a few foresighted pioneers of music television, mainly Don Kirshner (Don Kirshner's Rock Concert), Burt Sugarman (The Midnight Special), Soul Train's Don Cornelius and the BBC's Jimmy Savile (TOTP) provided not only the faces, but actual 'live recordings' unlike groups which previously only mimed (or lip-synched) on television.

SIXTIES CROSS-OVERS

Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Performers who started their careers in the 1960's such as The Byrds, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Peter Paul and Mary (PPM), The Kinks, Ike & Tina Turner, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Crosby Stills Nash & Young (CSNY), The Cowsills, The Bee Gees, Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), Grand Funk Railroad, The Hollies, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson Five, The Guess Who, Three Dog Night, Dr.Hook, and Elton John continued to top the charts in the 1970s as well.

LEGENDARY BANDS

The seventies marked a time when many legendary rock bands started, or hit their peak, including ABBA, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Queen, Kansas, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Lynyrd Skynyrd, AC/DC, Fleetwood Mac, Nazareth, Status Quo, Family, Free, Badfinger, the Eagles, Heart, The Doobie Brothers, Seals and Croft, Rush, Styx.

MUSICALS AND MOVIES

There were musicals, the risk-taking production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" (how many know that Ian Gillan of the rock band 'Deep Purple' sang the part of Jesus?), "GodSpell" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" ('Time Warp'), ('Opening Credits) all premiered during the seventies. One song from a group called 'The New Seekers' was used in the most successful television commercial of all time ('I'd like to buy the world a coke').

GLAM ROCK

In Europe, there was a surge of popularity in the early decade for glam rock, thanks largely to the rise of Marc Bolan and T. Rex, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, and bands like Slade and The Sweet.

ONE-HIT WONDERS

My favourite is the 'one-hit wonder'! Think of 'Seasons in the Sun' (Terry Jacks), 'Silver Moon' (Michael Nesmith of the Monkees, who also wrote Linda Ronstadt's hit, 'Different Drum'), 'Timothy' (a very controversial song involving cannabalism by the Buoys), 'Me and You and a Dog named Boo' (Lobo), 'Sugar Sugar' (The Archies - this cartoon group was Don Kirshner's answer to the Monkees, who fired him!).

To continue the list: 'Living Next Door to Alice' (Smokie), 'MacArthur Park' (Richard Harris, although revived successfully during the disco era by the Three Degrees and Donna Summer), 'Sweet Mary' (Wadsworth Mansion), ' Reflections' (Marmalade), 'Stay Awhile' (The Bells), 'Ma Belle Amie' (The Tee Set), 'Indiana Wants Me' (R. Dean Taylor), 'Hold Your Head Up' (Argent) and 'Montego Bay' (Bobby Bloom).

TWO-HIT WONDERS

Watch Middle of the Road - Soley Soley (Sally Carr in hotpants!)

How about the two-hit wonders? Golden Earring ('Radar Love' and 'When the Lady Smiles'), Paperlace ('The Night Chicago Died' and 'Billy Don't Be a Hero'), Donna Fargo ('Happiest Girl' and 'Funny Face'), Middle of the Road ('Soley Soley' and 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep'), Edwin Hawkin's singers ('Oh Happy Day' and backing Melanie on the song, 'Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)', Don McLean ('American Pie' and 'Vincent').

BUBBLEGUM ROCK

Bubblegum poppers (as opposed to 'rockers') Donnie Osmond ('Go Away Little Girl', 'Puppy Love'), David Cassidy ('I think I love you') and Bobby Sherman ('Hey Little Woman', 'Julie' (Do Ya Love Me), 'Easy Come, Easy Go', 'Jennifer' , 'La La La' and 'The Drum'), all had their own television programs, and were the three big bubblegum hunks of the early seventies. Did you know that a 14 year old Michael Jackson appeared on the Dating Game television show in 1972?

ROCK DEATHS

Watch Jimi Jendrix - All Along the Watchtower

Of course, life would not be without its tragedies. The world was shocked by the untimely deaths of Jimi Hendrix (1970), Janis Joplin (1970), Jim Morrison (1971), Jim Croce (1973), Gram Parsons (Byrds)(1973), Cass Elliot (1974), Bobby Bloom (1974), Pete Ham (Badfinger)(1975), Keith Relf (Yardbirds, Renaissance)(1976), Elvis (1977), Cassie Gaines, Steven Gaines, Ronnie VanZant (Lynyrd Skynyrd)(1977), Marc Bolan (1977), Terry Kath (Chicago)(1978), Keith Moon (1978), Sandy Denny (1978), Minnie Riperton (1979), Lowell George (1979).

THE END OF AN ERA

What began as a time of experimentation in music continued to diverge and innovate, but not to everyone's liking. Purists take heart; two new genres of music, Disco and Punk Rock began to dominate after 1975 and except for several classics, are not included in this collection.