File Sharing - 70s Style

The introduction of stereo cassette decks in the early Seventies was a true revolution, allowing us to copy our friends' LPs, make music tapes for cars and portables and record quality music from the radio. Pictured above is the Advent 201 - one of the first models to feature high-quality sound and Dolby noise reduction to help eliminate tape hiss. I had a TEAC model, which I purchased in 1974 for $200 at the Kings Plaza Mall.

Originally the cassette was a low-fi medium, used mostly to record meetings and dictation. Serious music listeners used 7 or 13-inch reel-to-reel machines, which recorded at either 7.5 or 15 inches-per-second on 1/4-inch tape. There were even a few albums released on reel tape; my cousin had one by Santana. Then there was the 8-track cartridge, about which I'll do a separate entry shortly. 8-track cartridges usually came pre-recorded, and most folks listened to them in automobiles. Few decks existed which could record them.

One of the great things about the cassette was that its patent-holders insisted that the format be standardized. Any cassette could be played on any deck or player. With time, advances in technology allowed for the tapes to hold four tracks : two stereo tracks for each side. But it was Dolby B noise reduction that really made the cassette a serious music resource. The principal was simple: boost the high frequencies in the recording phase, then lower them back for playback. This substantially lowered the annoying hiss heard in the background. A good cassette could also hold up to 45 minutes per side, which was enough to record most albums of the day.

Not surprising, people were soon using cassette decks to copy their friends' albums, and to make copies of their own records to be played back in their cars or on portables. As the 70s moved on, the 8-track format faded, and more and more cars were coming with cassette players. Also, around 1974 came the early "Ghetto Blasters," as boom boxes were then called. These monsters ate batteries at an incredible rate, and cost upwards of $200 back then! Still, they were popular for those of us who liked to hang around outside.

Then there was the radio. The Seventies saw the peak of quality radio on stations with either no play lists or rather broad ones. All on FM, these stations did not feature disk jockeys who talked over the music, making it possible for us to tape them. Also in the early Seventies came the advent of live concert broadcasts, both on FM and television. Who can forget ABC's "In Concert" or NBC's "The Midnight Special?" I recall seeing a rather humble-looking singer/songwriter named Billy Joel making his debut on one of these shows.

Ford to City: Drop Dead!

Who can forget that famous 1975 Daily News headline? Of course, Ford never used those exact words, but his pledge to veto any Federal assistance to NYC during the 70s fiscal crisis. Maybe it was part of his commitment to his much-ridiculed "Whip Inflation Now" program. In any case, Ford's refusal is often cited as one reason why Ford lost the 1976 election to Jimmy Carter.

Bernard Meltzer- NY's Corniest Radio Host

In a town where radio is now dominated by political extremists and shock jocks, it's hard to imagine that Bernard Meltzer's "What's Your Problem?" show on WOR radio was hugely popular in the 70s and 80s. Combining "expert" knowledge on everything from leaky basements to municipal bonds to interfaith marriages with a thick New York accent, he was New York's Dear Abby and Mr. Fix-It. At the same time, he was corny to a point where most of us wondered about his sincerity. Often he would begin a show with a recording of "Let There Be Peace on Earth," and he was always invoking "The Good Lord's" guidance in providing advice on aluminum siding. To those who ridiculed him, Meltzer would simply quote his ratings. Who was this man, whom listeners and announcers always addressed as "Mister" or "Doctor" Meltzer (never Bernie)?

Meltzer was a local success story, the child of working class Jewish parents who studied Engineering at City College, at one time the "Poor Man's Harvard." Although Columbia had offered him a scholarship, they refused to waive certain fees which he could not afford, and Meltzer never forgot this. After graduating Meltzer worked primarily in civil engineering, one of his major projects being the 34th Street / Herald Square subway complex. (Depending upon your perspective, this maze of tunnels and stairwells was either an engineering marvel or nightmare). With time he amassed enough experience to be considered an expert witness on a variety of topics, although the only "doctorate" which he in fact received was an honorary Doctor of Music. Meltzer frequently told of a life-changing event in which a friend named Sam loaned him some money. When Meltzer offered to repay him, Sam instead asked that anytime he should encounter someone in need, he should help that person.

Meltzer's Saturday morning show on WOR was originally a low-key affair, with most callers inquiring about home engineering matters. With time, he got more and more calls regarding finance and legal matters, to a point where an announcer would begin every show by reminding listeners that "Mr. Meltzer is not an attorney." He did most of his commercials himself, and sponsors obviously liked his endorsements. Frequently he would have guests on the show ranging from career experts to the well-known Catholic author Malachy Martin.

But it was his responses to people's personal problems which made Meltzer so folksy. Elderly people would often call in with complaints about their children, and Meltzer would typically addressed the women as "Mama." He always tried to get feuding family members to try and talk things out. He also referred callers to matchmakers, as well as lawyers, contractors and the like. Thousands of people wrote him letters to complain about problems with government agencies and large corporations, and Meltzer had a staff to handle these inquiries. They also gave out t-shirts saying "Bernard Meltzer Loves You" to callers.

For a brief period Meltzer took his show to WOR TV, but this did not last very long. For one thing, he wasn't exactly a charismatic personality. And discussions of roof tiles and property lines didn't make for visually exciting topics.

Meltzer commuted every day from his home in Philadelphia via Amtrak, using the long commute time to write poetry and read inspirational literature, which he would often quote on the air.

I actually called Meltzer's show once - the only time I ever got on commercial talk radio (this doesn't count the times during the 80s when I called the pirate stations in Brooklyn). His guest for the day was a career expert, and I wanted his advice on the prospects for occupational therapists. Charlotte, Meltrzer's call screener, was very polite and efficient, but I was surprised to learn that the vocational "expert" did not know what an occupational therapist did; he confused the position with physical therapy. After about two minutes he and Meltzer got the great idea that I should go for a Masters in Hospital Administration, a field in which I had zero interest.

Pete Townshend's Prophesy Prevails

The Who were one of the great Arena Rock bands during the 70s. Yes, I know they were around in the prior decade, and continued into the 80s, but the 70s were their glory days, IMHO. I mean, what could top "Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia."

"Won't Get Fooled Again," from "Who's Next," was no doubt the most popular tune that Pete and the boys ever performed, for many reasons. But the lyrics, which many of us had a hard time fully understanding (a problem with many Who tunes, such as "5:15"), turned out to be eerily prophetic in the decade before Reagan and the great Backlash. While everyone was celebrating the Age of Aquarius and Consciousness III (gag!), Roger Daltery was reminding us that, on a fundamental level, nothing had really changed.

We'll be fighting in the streets

With our children at our feet

And the morals that they worship will be gone

And the men who spurred us on

Sit in judgment of all wrong

They decide and the shotgun sings the song



I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

Take a bow for the new revolution

Smile and grin at the change all around

Pick up my guitar and play

Just like yesterday

Then I'll get on my knees and pray

We don't get fooled again



The change, it had to come

We knew it all along

We were liberated from the fold, that's all

And the world looks just the same

And history ain't changed

'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war



I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

Take a bow for the new revolution

Smile and grin at the change all around

Pick up my guitar and play

Just like yesterday

Then I'll get on my knees and pray

We don't get fooled again

No, no!



I'll move myself and my family aside

If we happen to be left half alive

I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky

Though I know that the hypnotized never lie

Do ya?



There's nothing in the streets

Looks any different to me

And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye

And the parting on the left

Are now parting on the right

And the beards have all grown longer overnight



I'll tip my hat to the new constitution

Take a bow for the new revolution

Smile and grin at the change all around

Pick up my guitar and play

Just like yesterday

Then I'll get on my knees and pray

We don't get fooled again

Don't get fooled again

No, no!



Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!



Meet the new boss

Same as the old boss

The Catholic Church Gets Hip (well, sort of)

Catholics, remember the Folk Mass? Big choirs and the organ gave way to small bands of folkies with guitars. Yes, some of the music was pretty lame. Remember "Sons of God?"

Brothers, sisters, we are one
And our life has just begun
In the spirit we are young
We can live forever!

Sons of God, hear his holy word
Gather 'round the Table of the Lord...

One of my Religion professors was a musician, and she would mock that one, saying the only reason it was used was because it had a good beat, and kids like rhythm. Also, Folk Masses were not Dress for Success events; street clothes were the norm (although some kids used the service as an opportunity to impress and meet the opposite sex).

But, tacky music aside, the 70s were a period when the RC Church was really trying to make itself relevant to a skeptical time, when many people questioned its position and importance. And to some extent, they succeeded. I went to a Catholic high school and undergraduate college. The Brothers were a pretty sharp crew, very knowledgeable about current affairs and deeply concerned about issues like human rights. They saw the Beatitudes as quite relevant to our world. And, just as important, they respected, and promoted an understanding of, other faiths. It wasn't like the nuns I had during the 60s in grammar school, who told us that our parents should vote for Bobby Kennedy because he was Catholic.

"Sister, my mother likes Hubert Humphrey," I protested.

"Humphrey is a good man, but he's a Protestant.."

Yeah, there was the embarrassing issue of the Pope's teachings on birth control," but the Brothers never made a big deal about that. And I knew of at least one college chaplain who counseled young couples to use it, if they couldn't afford kids. There was also the whole Ecumenical movement. It was OK, even good, to hang out with Protestants and Jews, even to marry them! You had the Church's approval, and they'd even do a joint wedding.

College was different, somewhat. Most of the priests there were hard-liners, although they tried getting our attention and respect through jokes. I had one class called "Marriage and the Family," in which the instructor tried giving us the party line about contraception in small doses, interspersed with lots of slightly raunchy humor. Didn't work, of course, although we all learned we'd flunk if we didn't pretend to believe what the prof taught. Another theology teacher got canned because he dared to question some of this stuff. Still, these hard-boiled old guys were into the Ecumenical spirit as well. There was a sense that something great was happening.

Things seemed to be changing as our decade ended and the Backlash Era began. But that story will wait until I have the time to set up an Eighties blog.