Vinyl Dreams: How the 1970s Changed Music

By Tony Wellington

After the dense miasma of the sixties, the seventies hit like a hangover. Idealism took a pounding as cynicism began to pervade Western culture. Stagflation, Watergate and a futile war in Vietnam all weakened faith in government, while environmental disasters and an oil crisis proved there was even more to worry about than a Cold War. A culture of 'me' began to replace the hippie ideal of universal love. Yet at the same time, women and the LGBTIQ+ community stepped forward to actively assert their rights. This tumult saw remarkable changes in music. Rock splintered into dazzling shards as technical innovation propelled experimentation. Music became a visual spectacle via glam, shock rock, disco and punk. Musicians co-opted elements of classical, jazz, electronic, world and avant-garde music. Monumental albums were born: Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, Joni Mitchell's Blue. From Elton John, Led Zeppelin and Yes to Talking Heads, Tangerine Dream and The Clash, no other decade instigated such a gloriously diverse range of musical styles. Brimming with beguiling stories and little-known details, Vinyl Dreams is a fast-paced romp through the musical decade that defined all that came after. From the golden age of progressive rock to the new wave revolution, it traces the transformations that reverberate through to today, showcasing the fervour and enduring legacy of the decade's music.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1922979015
• ISBN13: 9781922979018
• Release Date: September 2023
• Publisher: Monash University Publishing
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.7"