the year I was born

Yearly Inflation Rate USA 11.3%
Yearly Inflation Rate UK 17.2%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 616
Average Cost of new house $34,900.00
Average Income per year $13,900.00
Average Monthly Rent $185.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas 55 cents
Average cost new car$3,750.00
Samsonite Case $62.00
Below are some Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling
Average House Price 10,990
Gallon of Petrol 0.42
To find more prices and information for the 70's including 1974
1970s Music The 1970s created a perfect musical bridge from the rebelliousness of the 1960s and the happy songs that are characteristic of the 1980s. Following the counterculture of the 60s, the 70s created a trend of relaxing music as well as dance music. People may have grown tired of the fighting that happened the previous decade and many of them sought a refuge in dance clubs and other places to enjoy a good time. Out of this idea emerged the Disco movement. Of course, there was still the bands and artists that continued to speak of the ills of society, typically characterized by the punk music of the era. But it seemed to be a much happier era than the 60s proved to be.
If ever a musical style defined a decade, Disco was the definition of the 1970s. Although its popularity was relatively short-lived, it created a great deal of songs and artists that people are still dancing to today. Van McCoy’s “The Hustle” has often been referred to as the definitive disco track and many people say it was the first disco song created. Gloria Gaynor also enjoyed disco popularity with her anthem – “I Will Survive.” The Bee Gees also helped to define the disco genre with their hit “Jive Talkin’.” Their blockbuster “Stayin’ Alive” is often synonymous with the disco musical era. The Village People’s “YMCA” and “Macho Man” also helped to add to the popularity of this popular style. Unfortunately, it did not take long for the public to see disco’s silliness and commercialization – something that they had just rebelled against a few years earlier. Its lack of attention to musical significance helped add to its downfall after only a short time of popularity.

Progressive rock was another popular genre during the 1970s. This type of music was typically characterized by rock music combined with another genre, such as classical or opera, to create a hybrid genre, so to speak. Songs from this genre were often longer and bands tended to be more spontaneous and experimental while they were playing live. Many progressive rock albums were also “concept albums,” meaning that they followed a theme throughout the entire album or series of albums. Pink Floyd was great at doing this. Their concept album – The Wall – was a psychedelic album that explored the loneliness that one feels due to the metaphorical walls that they build up around them. This 1979 album used philosophical lyrics and a variety of musical styles throughout the songs to exhibit the message that they were trying to get across to the listeners. “Another Brick in the Wall” was one of the most popular songs to emerge from this album and the band as a whole.
Jethro Tull was a British rock band that also created concept albums for their audience. They had a unique vocal style combined with the dreamlike sound of a flute to help the listener immerse themselves into the songs that are being played. Their “Thick as a Brick” album was composed of essentially one track on two side of the album. This track consisted of repeating themes and movements that helped to mesmerize the listener. They also used a variety of genres to create their one-of-a-kind sound, including blues, jazz, rock, and classical music.
The punk rock genre also emerged in the 1970s. This was a style that continued on the legacy of the 1960s but with a more upbeat and harder style. Heavy guitar riffs and more decibels helped to motivate those who were still upset about the status quo in the country. The Ramones are often referred to as the original punk band. This band consisted of a group of family members that based their image on The Beatles but their music was much harder. On the lists that rate the greatest rock bands of all-time, The Ramones are often listed as #2, behind only The Beatles at #1. Their song “I Wanna Be Sedated” became a generational anthem depicting the feeling that society is so screwed up that the only way to get through life with your sanity is to be sedated for the entire experience. The Sex Pistols also enjoyed a short-lived success as a punk rock band of the 1970s. Band members heavily used drugs and alcohol which eventually led to their dissolution shortly after forming, but not before releasing two hit albums (“God Save the Queen” and “Never Mind the Bullocks”) that created a wave of rebellion throughout the United States and the UK.
Although the rebellious idea had died down shortly following Woodstock in 1969, there were still many people that disagreed with the establishment and the way the country was being run. Most people, though, were just looking for another way to vent their frustrations, which helped to give rise to the fun that disco music provided. The 1970s was not a unique decade in terms of creating innovations in musical styles and genres, but it was unique in that it was a musical bridge connecting the hippie lifestyle of the 1960s with the characteristic yuppie lifestyle that was about to occur in the 1980s.
Below are some of the popular artists and groups from the 1970's
Were you lucky enough to see them live in concert
Aerosmith
Alice Cooper
Bee Gees
Black Sabbath
Blondie
Bob Dylan
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Boomtown Rats
Bruce Springsteen
Chicago
Commodores
David Bowie
Elton John
Gloria Gaynor
Ike & Tina Turner
James Taylor
Janis Joplin
Jefferson Starship
John Lennon
Kiss
Led Zeppelin
Marvin Gaye
Michael Jackson
Minnie Riperton
Mungo Jerry
Paul McCartney & Wings
Paul Simon
Pink Floyd
Queen
Rod Stewart
The Doors
The Eagles
The Jackson 5
The Osmonds
The Police
The Rolling Stones
The Who
Village People
ZZ Top