Connie O’Connell Funk
Iowa City, IA
We built our high school Homecoming floats with the sound of the Beatles in the background. It’s a great memory.
Rock the Boat takes me back to South Haven, Michigan where I worked the summer of 74 at Sunny Brook Farm. We all danced to it at a lakeside bar in nearby Saugatauk.
We didn’t have alot records at home. But we had Knock Three Times on a 45 and we played it over and over again while knocking on the wall!
Bobbi Earles
Dubuque IA
I grew up in Maquoketa. REO Speedwagen takes me back to hanging out with my group.
We listened to Linda Ronstadt on an 8-track and that was such a big deal at the time, driving around with the windows down.
You’re No Good, we all sang along.
Sail Away
Boston, Styx, so many hits.
I did go see Van Halen in concert at Five Seasons in Cedar Rapids.
Kris Bemko
Bradenton FL
It started with Ed Sullivan. My sisters were all older and they went crazy over the Beatles.
So we had the 45s, I Wanna Hold your Hand.
Please Please Me
Our connection to the band was even close because my cousin was married to Louise Harrison, George’s sister.
My older sister Patricia even met the band members.
In college, I loved Fleetwood Mac, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Boz Scaggs.
Elton was a favorite for decades.
Another music story: It was rumored and then Newsweek published a story in 1963 that a high school kid, Lorre Wyatt, from my hometown of Millburn, NJ, actually wrote Blowin’ in the Wind and that Bob Dylan purchased it. Dylan has denied it.
Bev Rahe
Dyersville, IA
I grew up with four sisters so we all shared music.
It was that time when you could drink at age 18. I remember those gravel road trips and singing along to the Eagles’ Lyin Eyes.
I went to prom with my future husband and Color My World was one of the themes.
Remember Jeremiah was a bullfrog and 3 Dog Night!!!
John Denver, Country Boy, Take me home country roads!
Don Williams too – You’re my best Friend!
I helped dad on the farm with chores, making hay and we listened to country alot too.
Loved Jimmy Buffett!
Robin Bauer
Guttenberg, IA
I went to Iowa State and was in a sorority. We loved Fleetwood Mac.
John Denver was also a favorite, I was not really ever into disco.
It was a time of discovery for me, I was one of the first in my family to go to college. Music was part of it.
Shirley Horstman
East Dubuque, IA
I grew up on a dairy farm and as a kid I helped out in the barn. My parents watched The Beatles debut on Ed Sullivan and that began our family connection to their music. We listened to the radio while milking.
Others that take me back:
Leaving on a Jet Plane by Peter Paul and Mary
Pinball Wizard by Elton John
My Dad loved music, he listened to Leo Greco on AM600 into old age. But he also loved Surfing USA. My Mom loved the Beatles later tune, Let it Be.
As my own children grew, they also loved our 70s music. We saw Credence together at Red Rocks in Colorado.
Cindy Crow
Guttenberg, IA
I liked Neil Diamond.
“What were his hits?” Of for sure Sweet Caroline. But Cracklin’ rosie and Song Sung Blue.
A bunch of us went to concerts at the old Hippodrome in Waterloo and at Five Seasons in Cedar Rapids.
We went to dances in New Vienna. It was the good ole days, when the cops gave you a pass on an open beer. We were all legal at 18 back then.
So good, so good, so good. Listen here.
Linda Hamilton
Waverly, IA
I remember teen dances in Shell Rock, how much fun it was to dance. I loved Fleetwood Mac, especially Rumors. My daughter loves it too.
I went to prom three years in a row with my future husband. The themes were popular songs and it was Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven one year.
You Make Lovin’ Fun – listen here!
Tina Abbott
Kansas City, MO
I grew up in LA and graduated in 1973.
I loved high school and tell my kids today, “We had the best music.”
I loved Ambrosia and anything Motown.
Itza Heim
Cascade, IA
I grew up in Panama and came to the US at age 18.
Then there was Puma the name we had for
My musical roots are Spanish including
Julio Iglesias.
He was my guy.
Jose Luis Rodriguez from Venezuela.
These guys take me back home.
Also Celia Cruz who was Cuban and was the
Queen of Salsa.
We had high school dances and we played these songs.
The dances were for my whole high school, it was called a Social. On Friday after school, we would all be there in the gym dancing once a month. It would be packed.
Everybody was there.
At home, I listened to the radio. I was a romantic so loved the slow songs and I also had a record player that played 45s that I got at the record store. I had a
Jackson 5 poster in my room and loved “I’ll be there.”
I met Kenny when I was 19 and then I married rock and roll.
He was from Temple Hill.
I came to US in 1979 and then on to Iowa and within a year or so was going to the Jones County Fair. I loved Marshall Tucker and
Jackson Browne, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Plus the local groups like Tussle.
We listened to all rock including ZZ Top.
I just loved Sharp Dressed Man. Oh that takes me back.
Today I still listen to all Spanish every day on Sirius.
When we attended the 100th Harley anniversary there was to be a surprise guest. We all thought it would be ZZ Top or Marshall Tucker. It was Elton John! And people were upset. Some walked out.
Harley people were born to be wild.
We had a blast though seeing Elton John.
I love all music even classical.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7aXgo7vAHDjHR0JrCX2qJv?si=ebce8daddbeb4c5a
70s Tunes Take Us Back 