Living through the 70s was by turns grim and grimmer still. Thank you to The Dabbler for pointing me in the direction of Seasons in the Sun: The Battle for Britain 1974-1979 by Dominic Sandbrook. I shall of course be reading the tome in its entirety, but just a quick glance through Sandbrook's index tells you everything you need to know about the decade that still haunts us. Just a few of the Bs: Bouquet of Barbed Wire, Brain Salad Surgery, Black & White Minstrel Show, Brentford Nylons. Says it all really.Here's the author being interviewed about his book.
I recommend, if you haven't read it, Sandbrook's book on the 60s, White Heat. His BBC2 series about the 70s was impeccable too. Clever guy
ReplyDeleteBlimey, Bouquet of Barbed Wire... that takes me back - I read the book (was too embarrassed to watch it on telly with family around) and it was quite an education for me at the time...
ReplyDeleteI really liked Sandbrook's BBC2 series too; a warm and intelligent approach, I thought. Will be looking out for the book now, thanks.
They call him the people's historian. I'll go along with that.
ReplyDeleteYep, it's a fine work for all of us 70's historians and nostalgists. Brain Salad Surgery? Nothing wrong there!
ReplyDeleteBrain Salad Surgery: the sound you can hear is that of the open door you're pushing at Mr. Bear. You will find copious references to both it and ELP within this Saga endorsed blog.
DeleteExcuse me while I attend to that real blade of grass standing behind yonder glass.
John, may I recommend " That Option No Longer Exists, Britain 1974-76" being published shortly by Zero Books for an alternative version of the 70's . Mr Sandbrook is expressly mentioned in the foreward....
ReplyDeleteYou may Suzie. Isn't that a Jim Callaghan quote?
DeleteYes indeed it is, the 1976 Labour Party conference
DeleteI've just finished reading it. It's a good book and the 800 odd pages go by pretty quickly. I'll be interested to hear what you think about Sandbrook's take on Punk and Disco. Won't spoil it.
ReplyDeleteThank you H.
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