I REMEMBER THE 70S CUZ I WAS THEREsw

[uglygangaguy]

I was born in 1954. My first car was a 57 Chevy that I paid $75.00 for. The first concert I went to was to see Donovan. And have been to hundreds since. I saw men land on the moon and I saw President JFK get killed. I was in the Marines and my brother was fighting in Vietnamese Nam. I remember Panama Red, Acapulco Gold + tons more. I’ve done purple microdot, psilocybin in high school. Been smoking reefer since I was 12 and haven’t stopped yet.

[90Gizmo]

A lot of that's kind of 60's, maybe you skipped the 70s? My draft lottery number was 362, about the only lottery I every won. I'd heard of "red" and "gold" but all we had was "Mexican" and rarely "sens". We ate little paper squares that sometimes had red markings, sometimes not. I was the designated driver because whatever we were doing I could stay on the road and avoid oncoming traffic. Once someone ran a line of opiated hash oil down a joint and that made me feel so good I swore I would never try opium again. (and haven't.) What a beautiful, happy, sun-shiny day that was. Luckily that was a walk-to visit. Although I didn't, I definitely suggest that you don't do opium and drive. I closed out the 70's with the Who in Buffalo at the concert after the Cleveland sadness.

[alltatup]

90Gizmo I lived in Buffalo in the 60s!! Where I saw Mothers of Invention.

[90Gizmo]

Zappa = great guitar

[Hooscrazy]

Born in 1962. First car was a 1975 Ford Courier. White spoke rims, eight track in the dash blasting Molly Hatchett. First concert was Boston. Awesome show. Their first album was pure gold imo. Sammy Hagar opened the show.

[golfnrl]

I was born in 1958. First car was a Dodge Coronet. Bought from my mother. I don't remember the first concert because I was stoned. It could have been Blue Oyster Cult and ZZ Top but like I said. I love live music and have been to dozens and dozens of live shows. I still remember the Rolling Stones at the Cotton Bowl on a pink stage. ELP in Tulsa. And Led Zeppelin in OKC. Yes, they made it to OK. Me and my friends came out of a Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes concert tripping and the there was a person telling everyone the world was coming to an end. It was an interesting night after that, at least what I think I remember. That was before Ted lost his way. I was privileged to see Mr. BB King a couple of times. One of the most memorable was Eric Clapton and Freddie King in Tulsa, 1976. They did a guitar duel with just the two of them on the stage. It was awesome. When I was eleven I was so excited to be able to write 69 on school papers, you know for the date, right? Started smoking weed when I was 14. $10 a lid. Me and my friends would save lunch money and go in on a bag every week. I loved LSD, quaaludes (Rorer 714) for all those that wish they were there, mushrooms, peyote, and speed. Smoked daily till about 25 and then took a 30 year break from any substance. When OK approved medical cannabis I got a prescription and started smoking and growing. No more chemicals for me but I do love me some cannabis.

[Puglover1]

I recently watched a YT video of Wilco playing at Farm Aid in 1998. I was there, I have zero recollection of that song or set. Just weed. 7/14 is a personal holiday here, I yearn for a 'lude. Were Rorer's before Lemmon's?

[alltatup]

Guys always talk about what their first car was!!! I wonder if that's a genetic thing... Mine was a VW Beetle, red, rear-ended and totaled by a Cadillac.

[Puglover1]

It's the red car syndrome. I've been in 12 MVAs, never at fault but most of the time I owned a red car! Five wrecks in one year, a red Datsun 240Z with a black top. A few cars later it was a red Nissan Pulsar, several wrecks in one year, it had a removable sun roof. HS: a red Camaro with a black top, rear ended. First car was a blue VW Beetle with a sun roof.

[alltatup]

Puglover1 Do not-- I repeat, Do NOT-- buy any more red cars. I hope that solves the problem. It would not be too good if you had to stop buying cars altogether...

[Puglover1]

alltatup It didn't work, amber mist colored Impala. After a decimating derecho in 2010 my car which was sitting in the driveway was totally untouched. Six months later an uninsured special ed teacher in town hit me. Ended up losing my thyroid, the surgeon took out a para without my knowledge, now I'm hypopara, the Only gland in the human body without a replacement hormone. My QOL took a big dump. Since having rhabdomyolysis in October I'm on the couch more than anywhere. Too bad I don't have anything to trim, LoL.

[BU2B]

Most of my memories from that time period are a bit hazy and acid laced so whether they are actual memories may be a matter of some debate but I can confirm I don’t regret them and yes it’s true! There are

I’ve seen ‘em! 😂
In 1975 I was on the yearbook committee- this picture I did waaay back then got the Teacher in a lot of trouble for not noticing the belt buckle until after the printing was done and the books were delivered. Oops

[UndergroundFarmer]

Time flies like the wind but fruit flies like bananas.

[alltatup]

That is so FUCKING AWESOME!!! Teachers are so fucking stupid....

[Gingerbeard]

Can we all please give alltatup a group hug? We love you ATU!!!

Hi, gray skies are gonna clear up
Put on a happy face
Brush off the clouds and cheer up
Put on a happy face
Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy
It's not your style

[alltatup]

Gingerbeard I am perfectly happy the way I am, thank you very much: I love being grumpy, foul-mouthed, combative, smart aleck, cynical and highly judgmental. Wow, GB, I think we are twins...

[Gingerbeard]

First car was a '78 Ford Fiesta. First work I ever did on a car was swap the engine from a '77 FF. Used nothing but the car shop manual. Started the car on the first try after the swap. A proud accomplishment in my life.
Second work was replacing the brake system from master cylinder to pads and shoes. All that is straight forward.

[alltatup]

Brake system? cylinder pads for monthly cycle? pads and shoes to make you look taller? I'm confused.

[Going2fast]

1965 Ford mustang 4speed. Traded it for a 1972 maverick grabber. Loved that car. Put nearly 400.000 miles on her.

[alltatup]

I bet you were going too fast, too.

[OldManGrower]

1961 Plymouth Valiant, Slant six engine with a push button transmission. Saw the Grateful Dead in 69, 70 and 71 all in small venues. But, like BU2B, I know I was there because I can't remember that much. Managed to avoid the draft but had to watch a lot of friends go and some not come back.

[UndergroundFarmer]

I think you can claim the prize for strangest-looking first car. My '73 Pinto couldn't compete. I had friends with a '61 Valiant wagon - that's how I know!

[Puglover1]

We used to call those Prince Valium.

[Puglover1]

45's, you say? I was the Jukebox Lady who ordered and installed new 45's every week and coined out the jukebox cash boxes, plus pinballs, pool tables, videos, etc. The first major hit digital pinball machine '8 Ball' was new when I started working there. Space Invaders spent weekends in my apt's kitchen sometimes. At our best account the Asteroids' cash box couldn't hold a week's worth of quarters. Boss had a stroke on his 60th birthday, I started running the place. We didn't have a coffee station, we had a morning smoking room. Slow afternoons we played cards and drank screwdrivers.

- VW Beetle with a sun roof

[alltatup]

Ah, sun roofs!! Reminds me of the days before global warming...

[alltatup]

I have to say this: There was so much more to the 70s than cars. There were bell bottoms and fringe leather jackets, too. I had a buddy with a Corvette--this was when I was an undergraduate at the Univ. of Kansas--and we'd take rides into the countryside. Had another buddy with a big old motorcycle--it wasn't a Harley, but it was a real popular bike back then--and we'd also take rides into the countryside. That was long before I owned my lil beetle. I didn't own a car until I went to California. Had to have one there, (I had learned to drive stick in the 70s however), and everyone had a VW beetle back then. Except for the buddy with the vette. And we never wore seat belts. I don't think we even had them in the beetles. I remember that they were cold as fuck in Kansas winters.

[alltatup]

Other great and not so great things from the 70s:

super thick rolling papers
handle bar mustaches
hitch hiking without too much fear
shitty cheap wine
white people dancing disco
hamburgers for 20 cents
incense (no peppermints)
birth of reggae
pre-STD sex (I vaguely remember... it was so long ago I'm not quite sure, but I think that's what it was...)

[Rwise]

First car was a 65 Plymouth fury II, 361 cid 55 in first 115 in second and the speedo did not go far enuf for 3rd. I floated the valves almost every time I took off in it before shifting to the next gear. Ya I got a few tickets (when they could catch me), and I ran open exhaust. I would go to small towns, run up and down the street in front of the local PD until they would come out and chase me. (I may have been a bad boy) If/when they crashed out I would stop and make sure they got out of their squad car.
I remember saying "if gas goes over 49 cents a gallon, I'll never buy another drop" I do hate eating my words, but you cannot go without fuel. I did for a while run the drips, some of you may know what drip gas is, just know that it may have a lot of water with it.
3.2 beer, we killed that just a few years ago, but it was here in the 70's, drink a case go pee and drink another case. No wonder we turned to weed!

[alltatup]

Rwise You're speaking a foreign language, but I still can see the cops eating your dust...

[Gingerbeard]

I know alltatup . You sure got me a good zinger, boy-o.
Your kitchen comment gave me a tickle because it reminded me of a childhood favorite.
I love the way you show love. Warms my heart. I won't have to self-harm, today.

[alltatup]

Hey, I'm not a boy-o. It WAS a labor of love, and it took a long time to put together!!! I thought you'd laugh, but I guess I was wrong about your temperment.

[Gingerbeard]

Oh, no. I had a good tittle and I can tell you put a lot of time and effort into your presentation. Good for you!!! Keep it up. Keeps the old mind young.

[3Berries]

Saw ELO live at the Chicago Stadium with their Spaceship stage and Out of the Blue tour. Fantastic.....

[Puglover1]

The Stadium was a good place to watch musical talent. Been to so many older venues up there. I honestly enjoyed going to Park West the most, saw more people perform there in Chicago than anywhere else. I saw George Carlin there. Two drink minimum, heh, we smuggled in a lot. Parked free in hotel garages - the good old days. Then we drank and ate afterwards on Rush Street, before the area was called Viagra Triangle.

[3Berries]

Started going to concerts after McCormick Place burnt down. They had concerts at the Civic Opera House. It was great. Saw James Gang, Alice Cooper and Journey