It is difficult to think of another decade that has endured such a bad press in recent years as the 1970's. Retro programmes inevitably focus on the worst aspects ( the three-day week, strikes, food shortages, flared trousers, The Osmonds etc. ) without mentioning the best, to produce a picture that is fundamentally distorted. I saw a book on sale ( in 'The Works' naturally ) recently called 'The '70's - The Decade That Taste Forgot' and it was written by someone born in 1982. So effective has this hatchet job been that even some people who lived through those times have come to question their happy memories.
'I Love The 1970's' was two shows clumsily bolted together; a good one focused on pop culture of the day, featuring clips and interviews with many movers and shakers, and a really bad one dominated by inane chatter from people too young to remember anything other than rusks and potty training. The nadir in this area came in the 1976 edition which featured Peter Kay's incredibly detailed reminiscences - even though he was only three years old then!
Kate Thornton told us that 'Charlie' perfume was inspired by the success of the 'Charlie's Angels' television series, even though it was on sale for three years before anyone had heard of Farrah Fawcett and co. Spacehoppers originated in the '60's, not the '70's. 'Love Thy Neighbour' was not a racist show - it simply made fun of a racist. But the biggest blunder was in the 1970 edition - singer Ray Dorset was billed as 'Mungo Jerry' - it was the name of his group! Who did the research - Frank Spencer?
Well-intentioned it may have been, but there is a danger of young people believing this six-pack of lies and half-truths. Others will tune in simply to have a sneer ( there's going to be an awful lot of red-faced forty somethings twenty years from now when 'I Love The Noughties' rolls around, and they're reminded of 'Big Brother', 'Footballers Wives' and 'Crazy Frog'! ). I suppose it amuses them to think the world was a worse place before they existed. They are oh so-wrong if they think that. By sniggering at disco, glam rock etc., they become like the bug-like aliens in the old 'Cadbury's Smash' adverts ( also made in the '70's ) who fall over laughing at the sight of a potato peeler. "They are clearly the most primitive people. Hee, hee, hee!".
Here are the facts: the best time to be alive in history was the summer of 1976 ( boy, was it hot! ), no-one died of A.I.D.S. in the '70's, no-one knew what climate change was, Bowie and Bolan were in the charts, we had 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', 'The Sweeney', 'The Goodies' on television ( yes, 'New Faces' was crap but then so is 'The X Factor' ), 'The Black & White Minstrel Show' started in the late 1950's and therefore should not be considered a product of the '70's, 'Jaws', 'Dirty Harry', 'Star Wars' and 'The Exorcist' in cinemas and, best of all, beer was only 50p a pint! So come off it. 'The decade that taste forgot' is the one we are in right now!
'I Love The 1970's' was two shows clumsily bolted together; a good one focused on pop culture of the day, featuring clips and interviews with many movers and shakers, and a really bad one dominated by inane chatter from people too young to remember anything other than rusks and potty training. The nadir in this area came in the 1976 edition which featured Peter Kay's incredibly detailed reminiscences - even though he was only three years old then!
Kate Thornton told us that 'Charlie' perfume was inspired by the success of the 'Charlie's Angels' television series, even though it was on sale for three years before anyone had heard of Farrah Fawcett and co. Spacehoppers originated in the '60's, not the '70's. 'Love Thy Neighbour' was not a racist show - it simply made fun of a racist. But the biggest blunder was in the 1970 edition - singer Ray Dorset was billed as 'Mungo Jerry' - it was the name of his group! Who did the research - Frank Spencer?
Well-intentioned it may have been, but there is a danger of young people believing this six-pack of lies and half-truths. Others will tune in simply to have a sneer ( there's going to be an awful lot of red-faced forty somethings twenty years from now when 'I Love The Noughties' rolls around, and they're reminded of 'Big Brother', 'Footballers Wives' and 'Crazy Frog'! ). I suppose it amuses them to think the world was a worse place before they existed. They are oh so-wrong if they think that. By sniggering at disco, glam rock etc., they become like the bug-like aliens in the old 'Cadbury's Smash' adverts ( also made in the '70's ) who fall over laughing at the sight of a potato peeler. "They are clearly the most primitive people. Hee, hee, hee!".
Here are the facts: the best time to be alive in history was the summer of 1976 ( boy, was it hot! ), no-one died of A.I.D.S. in the '70's, no-one knew what climate change was, Bowie and Bolan were in the charts, we had 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', 'The Sweeney', 'The Goodies' on television ( yes, 'New Faces' was crap but then so is 'The X Factor' ), 'The Black & White Minstrel Show' started in the late 1950's and therefore should not be considered a product of the '70's, 'Jaws', 'Dirty Harry', 'Star Wars' and 'The Exorcist' in cinemas and, best of all, beer was only 50p a pint! So come off it. 'The decade that taste forgot' is the one we are in right now!
