In 1972 the United States was a tumultuous place. It was the beginning of modern terrorism as we know it today, which accumulated in the Munich Olympics terrorist attack in September of that year. Gas, which was only $.38 per gallon would see a dramatic rise under President Jimmy Carter and the Arab Oil Embargo. By 1974 the price of gas was $.55 per gallon. In today’s money, that meant the price of gas rose from $1.96 to $2.53 per gallon. The average income per year $11,800.00. That hurt, especially minorities because we were just getting thru the bull crap of the 60’s, which saw people like Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and Robert Kennedy slaughtered in the defense of our civil and economic rights. Man, to those who live thru it, it was real crazy…
In 1972 I was in my late teens. Like most families, there would be weekly or monthly BBQ’s. The grownup’s would gather around the grill’s talking about the topics of the day and the teen’s would be eyeing each other making plans. Sooner or later, the grown folk’s would get around to “this is grown folks talk.” That meant go to the basement and listen to music… most of the time. Sometime we would just meet without the grown folks and give impromptu parties or the grown folks would be up stairs hosting the party for their son’s or daughter’s after having invited their friends… as long as they didn’t hear no fighting they assumed we was having a great time. You know something.. they were right.
Today, as I was looking over my social media, one of my friends posted a song about a group I haven’t thought of in years. Listening to it brought back memories of big fro’s, pretty smiles, and beautiful eye’s. We were dressed in bell bottom jean’s, and nehru shirts, while the women were wearing shorts and stacks, with big earrings and smelling like Evening in Paris and Channel No5. Hmmm… ” Ya’ll go somewhere, this is grown folks talk!!” And we did.
The 1972 music charts were a who’s who of the artist we revere and admire today. Roberta Flack held #1 one the billboards with ” The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” and people like Michael Jackson, with his song about a rat call “Ben,” was there too. I didn’t get into “MJ” until “Thriller.” When I got into my twenties, I started digging him… “123, it’s easy as Do, Ray Mi, ABC, that’s how easy love can be.” No way I could say I dug a kids song back then being 17 years old and all. He had out put that out a couple years earlier. Lol.. I wasn’t hip yet. Check out the music from your generation, I hope it makes you happy as it made me. To those that remember the blue light in the basement, holding soft hand, stolen kisses, sensual slow drag’s and promises in the dark, I want to take you back for a moment to one of my favorites . … enjoy.
Ps.. I wonder why they never made it big?
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