Allan

The Seventies

Monday, 31. August 2009, 18:48:24

The seventies. Maybe the most intense decade in my life. The decade I grew up - from I was 10 to I was 20.

I remember our long hair and bell bottom trousers.. The Sweet, Slade, Abba, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and God only knows how many else.

I was 10 years old and had myself a pair of glasses larger than my face in '70. In '71 I understood the very difference between boys and girls. I discovered that I could technically become a dad in '72. My first kiss was in '73. In '74 I realized that I was a good performer at exams. In '75 I had my first motorized vehicle, a 50ccm very noisy motorcycle. I smoked weed for the first time in '76. I left basic school and began my high-school life in '77. In '78 I voted for the first time. In '79 I clearly understood that smoking weed and maintaining good performances at exams just didn't go together very well - in a way my first adult decision. I chose exams.

But when I think back to the seventies, the first thing popping up in my mind is the colors and the style of things. Orange colored curtains. Brown walls. Purple clothes. Things really looked different during that decade.

The above photo is the seventies to me. I took it at a couple of friends' home the other day - the female part of that couple has an obsession with kitsch. And seeing this really brought me back.

And one thing more - November 21st I am going to a concert with Deep Purple! Dig that!!

Nous Sommes Enfants du SoleilGoodbye, evicted refugees

Comments

PainterWoman # 31. August 2009, 18:52

Love that lamp! I've a thing for stuff from the fifties. I guess it's called 'retro' or 'kitsch' but I'm not sure.

I hope you have a blast at that concert!

gdare # 31. August 2009, 19:02

Seventies are foggy in my memory but rememeber few things

In `75 flew by plane for a first time - it was a love at first sight

In `76 first grade primary school. `79 my first Deep Purple LP - Machine Head

But what really remind me of that era is this car

The first car I drowe was this one, but much later, in 1986.

ellinidata # 31. August 2009, 19:29

I was inroduced to the 70's by Matthew a.k.a NoahCounte here on Opera, I always liked the 80's now I LOVE the 70's! thanks for sharing!

AnitaMargita # 31. August 2009, 20:55

I like so much from the seventies: music, fashion...

Stardancer # 31. August 2009, 21:44

We're the same age, Allan, so I was 10 through 20 in that decade, too. Reading your retrospective was like reading my own. I had one of those furry orange footprint rugs. Remember those? And the Dynam8 eight-track tape player. (I think that's what it was called.) It looked like those boxes with a handle on top that you'd push to detonate dynamite to blow up something. The handle was pushed on the Dynam8 to change the track on the tape. It was the coolest thing! At the time, anyway. State of the art.

Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.

derWandersmann # 31. August 2009, 22:03

STYLE!!!!

Aqualion # 1. September 2009, 04:43

Grydehår, træsko og tændstikben. Åh, disse minder.

ricewood # 1. September 2009, 07:09

Thanks guys for the seventies additions.

I like Darko's Zastava - looking much like a Fiat 600 from the sixties, though!

nopanic # 1. September 2009, 19:51

With old faschion bulbs. Not the new energy saving ones

warm wunderbar photo

momable # 1. September 2009, 21:16

We all had a great time in the 70's.

julka # 1. September 2009, 22:34

I wasn't even born in the seventies, but I do like the way everything looked those days.
And I love the clothes!

edwardpiercy # 2. September 2009, 02:15

I agree about Darko's car -- that is totally cool. Wish I had one.

As for 8-track....better that that one just diappeared.

This is off topic but I was wondering what you think of this new 9-9-9 Beetles reissue and all the stuff that's coming out about and around that.

And oh -- nice lamp!

ricewood # 2. September 2009, 05:54

Seventies seem to have a certain ring to it - even for people not born at the time

Now that the old bulbs have been taken off the market we only have the new energy savers left. I guess that we in the future will think back on "the warm light of decades long passed" or something like that.

The new beetle? I don't know what you mean by "9-9-9", but since the new beetle came out in ´96 (is that correct?) I always thought it was not a people's car (volks wagen) because of the price tag.

Thank you nice people, for the comments.

edwardpiercy # 2. September 2009, 06:11

Oops. That's a typo. It's "Beatles" not "Beetles"

They are issuing a Complete Beatles digitally remastered set on September 9th.

Over here too a lot of media time is being spent discussing some recently released tapes John Lennon made for Rolling Stone just after the breakup in which he has some not very nice things to say about the other band members' and their attitude towards Yoko.

ricewood # 2. September 2009, 06:26

I see

I am interested in all things Beatles. Every bit of forgotten interview. Every bit of rehearsal tape found on somebody's attic.

I have heard that Lennon interview you are referring to. Which is probably what I am least interested in - even though interested. After all, it is about The Fab Four.

It is a bit intimidating to witness people showing their dirty laundry in public.

edwardpiercy # 2. September 2009, 06:49

I remember reading somewhere in his biography Thayer mentioning something about Beethoven's dirty "linen" (i.e. underwear). I probably could have lived without knowing that. Still, it's a part of the historical record now.

studio41 # 2. September 2009, 07:26

you have captured the perfect shot of the perfect lamp for our dining area off the kitchen (1970s, of course!) but where were you then, Allan?! I don't even live in that house anymore

very nice retro photo...

you are an interesting writer, as well as photographer.

ricewood # 2. September 2009, 07:47

@Ed: That's what I would have written if I'd had the mind to it. Historically interesting. For the record.

@Jill: I've got this time-machine, you see. That is a gem. Thank you.

studio41 # 2. September 2009, 08:06

Aqualion # 2. September 2009, 10:23

I found an old photo album the other day with family pictures from around 1972. What a strange bunch of people. My mother in a green dress with her hair in what looks like a pillow on top of her head, my brother in nittet sweater with tight trousers and about twoo inches of socks showing between the trousers and the shoes, my sister with a semi-afro and bleached jeans (she did it herself in the bath tub with clorine), my dad with clogs and shorts sitting in the door of his Datsun 510, and of course my self in the stroller sucking my yellow rubber rabbit.

ricewood # 2. September 2009, 10:36

Sounds seventieth alright! Clogs and shorts and Datsun!

Aqualion # 2. September 2009, 10:51

Dad had this Datsun for some years when I was a baby. Then he got the Volvo Amazone (which we have discussed on several occasions), which I actually remember, because it was big as a house to a kid like me. I sometimes would sneak into the garage and climb into the car to just stay there, enjoying the big space and that particular smell.

As you know, I recently inherited my dads latest car - Suzuki Wagon, silver. So, in a way, another circle is complete.

I like when that happens. It keeps my faith up.

ricewood # 2. September 2009, 13:59

Keeps your faith up? In that case it's as good as it gets, friend.

Aqualion # 2. September 2009, 16:25

I_ArtMan # 2. September 2009, 18:32

"in a way my first adult decision. I chose exams."
that was a crossroads for sure. a critical decision to have made consciously like that.

studio41 # 2. September 2009, 20:40

Originally posted by Aqualion:

What a strange bunch of people. My mother in a green dress with her hair in what looks like a pillow on top of her head...

LOL Martin, we must be from same family

Originally posted by I_ArtMan:

that was a crossroads for sure

my major decision was to put my Shaun Cassidy LP down and pick up my brother's Carly Simon... other than that it is all a blur.. the pool table in our basement, my skateboard and piano occupied my time at home. perhaps, my mom's meatloaf had a bit doing to keep me out of trouble-I wasn't a stellar student, wasn't a poor one, either. pretty bland, like mashed potatoes... think that relieved my mom after the fireworks my brothers set off.

bugscout # 6. September 2009, 23:59

Hi Allan,

my wilds days started 1967 with the Cream "Sunshine of your love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bROMN_H950s

started to be an old man in the 80's