Redartz: Greetings, and welcome once again to another excursion back in time on the Retro Metro! For today's trip we are returning back to the earlier Bronze age, back to November 1972. We woke up this morning to news that Richard Nixon was re-elected to the U.S. Presidency in a landslide. We note that East and West Germany have signed a treaty to normalize relations. But time for looking over the morning newspaper is over (although we do skim the comics quickly); the school bus is almost here.
Climbing on a grabbing a seat, we hear the current top song on the American Billboard Hot 100: Johnny Nash, "I Can See Clearly Now". A great, optimistic tune that seems to be playing everywhere.
Rounding out the top five:
2. The Moody Blues, "Nights in White Satin"
3. Lobo, "I'd Love You to Want Me"
4. Curtis Mayfield, "Freddie's Dead (Theme from Superfly)"
5. The Spinners, "I'll Be Around"
The Spinners, "I'll Be Around"
I love that Moody Blues epic, some incredible symphonic rock there. Of course we usually only hear the short version on the radio. And that Spinners song is very cool, always good to hear it come on. Of course there are some other notable tunes on the top 40 right now: Alice Cooper's "Elected" (amusingly timed with the US elections this week). America's "Ventura Highway" (another great tune from that new group). Seals and Crofts "Summer Breeze" and The Temptations "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"- two more favorites; "Breeze" is mellow, and "Papa"packs a soulful wallop.
Tops in the UK: Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Clair"
Oh, but hey; it's Thursday, some great stuff on tv tonight! Let's check the listings...
U.S. Television Schedule:
ABC: The Mod Squad, Kung Fu, The Streets of San Francisco
Kung Fu is a highlight of my week! Watching David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine, wandering the West and spreading wisdom? Count me in. That show is unlike any other I've ever seen. It's hugely popular among those at our school.
CBS: The Waltons, CBS Thursday Night Movie
My folks never miss The Waltons, nor do many other folks. But my tastes at that hour run to NBC.
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| Flip Wilson |
NBC: The Flip Wilson Show, Ironside, The Dean Martin Show
Comedian Flip Wilson's variety show is cool, hilarious, and oriented a bit more towards younger folk than, say, Dean Martin's show. And Wilson often features big current musical guests.
BBC1: Tomorrow's World in Israel, Top of the Pops, Sykes Ankle, One Man's China, Colditz, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Midweek
BBC2: Europa, War and Peace, Backstage, Horizon, Thirty Minute Theatre, Paul Williams
A big "thank you" to the UK, and to public television (PBS) here in the states for 'Monty Python". My cousin turned me on to the show, and now I devour each wild episode. Eric Idle, John Cleese, Michael Palin and the whole crew faithfully deliver a half hour of sheer madness. It's great for the soul and spirit!
Turning our attention now to the printed element of our pop cultural triumvirate, let's see what's out on the spinner racks:
At this point, I'm pretty much buying humor books, but I got that Archie at Riverdale High issue, and Barney and Betty Rubble. I notice the cool photo cover on Action comics, and that Marvel Team-up features two eternally popular characters. But for now I pass on them (but in about two more years, I'll be frantically hunting them down- oh, if I'd only had the foresight).
But what about you? How many of these did you grab up? Were you a Kung Fu-natic, or did other shows get your patronage? What were your memories of '72; and if you were too young, what looks (looked?) good to you now? Let us all in on it; and be sure to 'stay tuned' for the next episode of "Retro Metro"; coming soon!
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