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The 1970s

The 1970s see yet another change of direction – including in music, with the rise of Minimalism. The term “Watergate” becomes infamous, Saigon falls and the United Kingdom enters its Winter of Discontent.

We hear a bold collaboration between violinist Yehudi Menuhin and sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar; and, as the decade draws to a close, the UK elects its first female prime minister.

Listen on Radio 3 and 大象传媒 Sounds

The music

Works that define the spirit of the 1970s

  • Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians (1976)
  • Stanley Myers: Cavatina (1970)
  • Blondie: The Attack of the Giant Ants (1976)
  • Henri Dutilleux: Ainsi la nuit (1977)
  • Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto (1868)
  • Philip Glass: Einstein on the Beach (1975)
  • Arvo Pärt: Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten (1977)
  • Yehudi Menuhin and Ravi Shankar: West meets East, vol 3 (1978)
  • Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Te Deum in D major (late 17th century; rediscovered 1953 and adopted as the theme tune of Eurovision)
  • Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells (1973)
  • Einojuhani Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus (1972)
  • Germaine Tailleferre: Sonata for two pianos (1974)
  • Geoffrey Burgon: Nunc Dimittis (1979)
  • David Bowie: Sense of Doubt from Heroes (1977)
  • Iannis Xenakis: Pléïades (1978)
  • Arvo Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel (1978)

Events to listen out for

1971

February: Decimal Day
On 15 February 1971 the UK finally makes the leap from the old system of pounds, shillings and pence to its current decimal system.

The UK Government commissions variety performer Max Bygraves to write a song to help the public understand the changes.

We call it... decimalisation, decimalisation
Soon it's gonna be time to change the money round
'Cause we've got... decimalisation, decimalisation
There's a hundred new pennies now for every pound...

December: André Previn on Morecambe and Wise
The world renowned conductor and pianist André Previn makes a surprise appearance on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show, sending himself up perfectly as the aggrieved maestro brought in to conduct a performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto with soloist… Eric Morecambe.

Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise and Andr茅 Previn on the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show in 1971. Image 漏 大象传媒

1972

January: Bloody Sunday
On 30 January, 13 people are shot dead when soldiers from the Army's Parachute Regiment open fire on civil rights demonstrators in Derry. Father Charles Daly (later Bishop of Derry) is filmed waving a blood-stained white handkerchief as he leads a group carrying the mortally injured John Duddy. He tells reporters: "That little boy was shot when he was running away. He was just a young boy… he was running."

15 August 1973: President Richard Nixon delivers a speech to the American people during the Watergate scandal. Image 漏 大象传媒

June: Watergate
Five men are arrested after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee HQ in the Watergate Building, Washington DC. It is the beginning of a political scandal that will end with President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974.

September: The Munich Massacre
A dark shadow falls over the 1972 Munich Olympics when 11 Israeli athletes are taken hostage and killed by members of a Palestinian militant group, Black September.

1973

January: Britain joins the European Economic Community
Ireland and Denmark also join the EEC, bringing the total number of member states to nine. Prime Minister Edward Heath tells reporters: "It is going to be a gradual development and obviously things are not going to happen overnight. But from the point of view of our everyday lives we will find there is a great cross-fertilisation of knowledge and information, not only in business but in every other sphere.”

1975

April: The Fall of Saigon
Tens of thousands of Americans and Vietnamese civilians associated with the Republic of Vietnam are evacuated from Saigon, which until now has remained relatively peaceful. By 30 April, the city has come under control of the Vietnamese People's Army, signalling an end to the decades-long Vietnam War.

September: Fawlty Towers
A new sitcom following the exploits of eccentric Torquay hotelier Basil Fawlty hits UK TV screens on 19 September. Find out more about the launch of Fawlty Towers on 大象传媒 100.

1976

August: The standpipe drought
The months of late 1975 and early 1976 are exceptionally dry, leading to widespread drought in the UK. In June, thousands of homes have their water supply replaced by communal standpipes. The drought reaches its peak in August, when the Drought Act 1976 is brought into force, giving water companies powers to reduce or turn off the supply.

Women queue in the street for water during the drought of 1976. Image 漏 大象传媒

1977

October: David Bowie releases Heroes
The rock star’s 12th studio album is the second in his Berlin Trilogy, combining influences from experimental and art rock to electronic and ambient music. In 1997, the composer Philip Glass will use the album as a basis for a new work, "Heroes" Symphony.

David Bowie performing in 1976. Image 漏 大象传媒

1978: West Meets East, Vol 3
American violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar release the third in a trilogy of highly successful recording collaborations. For many Western listeners, this partnership is a first encounter with Indian classical music.

November: The Winter of Discontent
Starting in November, the UK sees widespread strikes as trade unions demand pay rises in the face of measures imposed by the Labour Government to control inflation. Strikes by rubbish collectors lead to refuse being piled in makeshift dumps. London’s Leicester Square is temporarily dubbed “Fester Square”.

1979

May: Margaret Thatcher becomes the UK’s first female PM
Thatcher has led the Conservative Party since 1975. She will become the longest-serving UK Prime Minister of the 20th century, with 11 years, 208 days in office.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the doorstep of Number 10 Downing Street after her election win on 4 May 1979. Image 漏 大象传媒

Andy Warhol co-founds the New York Academy of Arts
The same year he appears on 大象传媒 Radio (3)’s pioneering show, Conversations with Artists, telling Edward Lucie-Smith about his famous prints.

Andy Warhol, exact date of photography unknown. Image 漏 大象传媒

September: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Alec Guinness stars in a new spy drama from the 大象传媒, adapted from John le Carré's 1974 novel. The theme tune, Nunc Dimittis, is by the composer Geoffrey Burgon, who will also write the music for 大象传媒 hits including Brideshead Revisited and Chronicles of Narnia.

November: Anthony Blunt confesses
Art historian (and real-life spy) Sir Anthony Blunt is publicly revealed to have been the “fourth man” of the Cambridge Five, a group of English spies who worked for the Soviet Union from the 1930s to the early 1950s.

In a statement to the media, Blunt claims that he had confessed his activities to MI5 in 1964 in return for immunity from prosecution. Find out more with 大象传媒 History.