In my research supporting the 1970s flashback sections of Rhythms & Muse, I made “far out” cultural notes. These “rad” tidbits about the 70s “totally” helped me add a realistic sense of time to the novel.

“Yowsers!” what memories these notes bring back…

Culture
Charm holders
Elvis passes
Environmentalism
First test-tube baby born
John Paul II becomes Pope
Jonestown Massacre
Slime
South African anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko tortured to death

Entertainment
A Star is Born
Dallas
Olga Korbet
Roots miniseries
Saturday Night Fever
Star Wars
Welcome Back, Kotter

Music
Abba
Barbra Streisand
Billy Joel
Blondie
Bread
BTO
Cat Stevens
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Destroyer
Elton John
Fleetwood Mac
John Denver
Kiss
Meatloaf
Pablo Cruz
Peter Frampton
Phil Collins
Queen
Roberta Flack
Rod Stewart
The BeeGees
The Eagles
The Guess Who
The Pointer Sisters
Toys in the Attic

Slang
Babe
Bogus
Cho-oice!
Copasetic
Cosmic
Decent!
Drool buckets
Fur sure
Gag me!
Munching out
Oh my God
Rap session
Sock it to me
Stoked
To the max!
Totally
Tubular
Yowsers!

Style
Candies (shoes)
Cherokees (rubber wavy soles)
Cowl necks
Dorothy Hamil haircut
Espedrils (canvas shoes)
Feathered hair
Gauchos
Gloria Vanderbilt design
Izod
Jordache
Knee socks
Lettermen’s jackets
O.P.
Overalls
Platform shoes
Ralph Lauren
Sassoon
Satin disco pants

What other cultural phenomenon got you “stoked” in the 1970s?