1970 – Summer of Discontent
Perhaps the single most significant influence on the mood of the country – and of rock music – in the summer of 1970 was the killing, by National Guardsmen, of four Kent State University students who were part of a protest of the U.S. invasion of Cambodia during the Viet Nam war. The incident inspired Neil Young to write "Ohio," which became one of Crosby Stills Nash & Young’s most famous songs, even though it was initially banned by some radio stations because of its controversial lyrics.
Several classic rock sub-genres were establishing themselves in the summer of '70. Allman Brothers Band and ZZ Top were busy inventing Southern Rock. The British Invasion was over and groups like Grateful Dead and Creedence Clearwater Revival were defining the sound of American rock. Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, James Taylor and Bob Dylan were ushering in the era of the singer-songwriter.
With the advent of stereo technology, FM radio was beginning to make inroads with the Album Oriented Rock (later to become Classic Rock) format, challenging the popular AM radio Top 40 pop singles formula. This gave groups like The Who, Pink Floyd, Styx and Black Sabbath an opportunity for airplay that they couldn’t get on traditional Top 40 stations.
Sounds of the Summer of '70:
Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die - (Compare CD Prices)
Grand Funk – Closer To Home - (Compare CD Prices)
Deep Purple – In Rock - (Compare CD Prices)
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Cosmo’s Factory - (Compare CD Prices)
Paul McCartney – McCartney - (Compare CD Prices)
Timeline of the 20th Century: 1970-1979
1970 - 5th Day of Christmas Past
1967 - Summer of Love
1969 - Summer of Woodstock
1970 - Summer of Discontent
1972 - Summer of Transition
1976 - Summer of Platinum
