1970 was the year Ohio National Guard troops shot and killed four Kent State University students who were demonstrating against the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young responded with the single "Ohio." On the B-side was "Find the Cost of Freedom." Both captured the mood of those turbulent times.
Solemn Season
Other events also cast a somber mood over the holidays. In October, Janis Joplin died of a drug overdose at the age of 27. Just a couple of weeks earlier, Jimi Hendrix had died. His death, also at age 27, was attributed to an overdose of sleeping pills. Ironically, his "Voodoo Child" went to the top of the UK singles charts in late November, two months after his death. It would be his only single to make it to #1 in Britain.
In December of 1970, The Doors performed what would be their last live show with lead singer Jim Morrison. Within a few months, he, too would be dead, another 27-year-old rock star buried as a result of drug use.
End of An Era
By the time the year-end holidays rolled around, The Beatles had disbanded once and for all. George Harrison became the first of the group to score a hit as a solo artist. "My Sweet Lord" -- from Harrison's 1970 holiday season release, All Things Must Pass -- went to #1 on the US singles charts on the day after Christmas. The same day, John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band was released. On New Year's Eve, Paul McCartney filed the official court documents dissolving the Beatles partnership.
Slow Hand, New Start
It had been two years since Cream disbanded. Eric Clapton had spent those years dodging the limelight, mostly in the background with Delaney and Bonnie & Friends. By December of 1970, he was reincarnated once more. Derek (Clapton) and the Dominos (Duane Allman, Jim Gordon, Carl Radle and Bobby Whitlock) released Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, widely considered to contain some of Clapton's finest guitar work.
In November, Led Zeppelin's third album -- Led Zeppelin III -- was #1 on the UK charts as soon as it was released, and stayed on the charts of the next 40 weeks.
New Rock Superstar
The controversial rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar rocked the rock world during the holidays. In somewhat unconventional order, it was released first as an album, became a stage production the following year, and a movie three years later.
The Next New Things
By the 1970 holiday season, Progressive Rock and Glam Rock were getting a solid foothold. Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother was a quick success. Grand Funk Railroad and The Who had Top 20 singles. T. Rex's self-titled album hit #3 on the U.K. album charts, and David Bowie released his third album, The Man Who Sold the World.
The Kinks, Rare Earth and Sugarloaf were in the Top 10 in Boston's 68/WRKO Big 30 survey.
More 1970 Holiday Season Album Releases
Syd Barrett - BarrettCreedence Clearwater Revival - Pendulum
Free - Highway
Grateful Dead – American Beauty
Van Morrison - His Band and the Street Choir
Cat Stevens - Tea For the Tillerman
Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills
