Needle Drop Nation Ep7 | Soul Power Rock Thunder

Podcast Title: Needle Drop Nation

Episode 7: 1970 – Soul Power, Rock Thunder (and Jody's Birth Year!)

Description: Welcome back to Needle Drop Nation! This week, hosts Nick Wood and Jodi Baras are wiping the slate clean and kicking off a brand new decade with 1970, a year they have dubbed "Soul Power, Rock Thunder". This is an extra special episode because 1970 also happens to be the year our pop-culture-obsessed co-host, Jodi, was born!

1970 was a true year of awakening. Across the globe, there was a profound sense of change—from anti-war protests and the commencement of Earth Day in the US, to a surprise Conservative government led by Edward Heath and the lowering of the age of consent in the UK. Join us as we explore how the artists of the day captured this powerful cultural sentiment and shaped the soundtrack of our childhoods.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Power of Soul: We dive deep into the incredible R&B of the era, from the synchronized choreography of The Jackson 5's "ABC" to the heavy, conscious basslines of The Temptations' "Ball of Confusion" and "I Can't Get Next to You".Rock Thunder & The Birth of Glam: Exploring the emergence of early heavy metal with Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin's epic "Immigrant Song," alongside the theatrical makeup and performance art of David Bowie and T-Rex's Marc Bolan as the glam rock era took root.Epic Breakups & Solo Triumphs: The Beatles and The Supremes may have called it quits, but their departures gave us massive solo hits, including Diana Ross's beautiful love-ballad version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and George Harrison surprisingly becoming the first Beatle to score a solo #1 with the spiritually driven "My Sweet Lord".Stonewall & Social Milestones: A meaningful discussion reflecting on the Stonewall riots, the founding of the Stonewall charity by Peter Tatchell in the UK, and the groundbreaking narrative of The Kinks' hit "Lola". We also discuss Elton John and Bernie Taupin's "Your Song," and the amazing story of Bernie writing a future hit in 10 minutes at a party with Princess Margaret.Childhood TV & Cinema Escapism: We remember the monumental impact of PBS children's shows like Sesame Street and The Electric Company (featuring a young Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno). Plus, Nick shares UK nostalgia with memories of the slapstick Carry On films and Benny Hill's cheeky #1 hit, "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)".Space Race Realities: A look back at the terrifying "Houston, we have a prob