Safe and Warm

May your hands always be busy

May your feet always be swift

May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift

May your heart always be joyful

May your song always be sung

And may you stay forever young

- Bob Dylan, “Forever Young” (1971)

The Byrds

If it’s true the fun, good vibrations, and idealism of the so-called ‘60s revolution crashed and burned with the Manson Family murders, Altamont debacle, and the Fab Four’s break up, then it’s no less true the dreams, ideals, and music of the ‘60s carried on through the ‘70s even as the children of the revolution got jobs, started families, and watched as their once radical ideas (good and bad) became mainstream. After Richard Nixon resigned the Presidency in disgrace (the same year I was born), America under Gerald Ford and then Jimmy Carter actually seemed to be moving in the direction of becoming a kinder, gentler nation although soon even the hippies learned freedom can be a real drag since it means not only having to take responsibility and make decisions but also accepting the consequences.

U.S. Embassy Saigon, 1975

‘70s contemporary pop/rock is the second most represented musical style featured on my blog. Eclectic, offbeat, and empathetic, ‘70s contemporary pop/rock was the sound of the moment (country rock, power pop, new wave, etc.) and may very well be the high point of all pop/rock musical styles since its artists put into practice lessons learned from ‘50s and ‘60s masters while expanding pop/rock’s palette and unifying the masses (before it all went wrong in the ‘80s). For me, there will always be something warm, genuine, and comforting about ‘70s pop/rock which- time-tested for over half a century- still sends us messages from an era when there was real community and people still looked out for each other- and shared the music. Here are some of my favorite ‘70s contemporary pop/rock songs. Enjoy!

U.S. Embassy Tehran, 1979

01. Elton John – “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” (1975)

02. Elton John – “The Bitch Is Back” (1974)

03. Michael Nesmith – “Joanne” (1970)

04. The Velvet Undergound – “I Found a Reason” (1970)

05. The Byrds – “Jamaica, Say You Will (Live)” (1971)

06. Spirit – “Nature’s Way” (1970)

07. The Walker Brothers – “The Moon’s a Harsh Mistress” (1975)

08. Big Star – “Nightime” (1975)

09. Bob Dylan – “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” (1973)

10. The Velvet Underground – “Sweet Jane” (1970)

11. Bee Gees – “Run to Me” (1972)

12. The Velvet Underground – “Rock & Roll” (1970)

13. John Lennon – “Imagine” (1971)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

... or check out the playlist on YouTube

(To open music in separate window, click title bar at top of video box)

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