The 1970s provided a bridge between the folksy ’60s and the over-the-top ‘80s, filling the disco decade with flowy bohemian fashion, manmade fabrics designed to show off bodies on the dance floor, and vintage references like turbans and feather boas. Sink into the glamour of the 1970s by reading a book set in that era. Not sure where to start? Here are some ideas!
Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Written as an oral history of the fictional biggest band of the 70s, Daisy Jones & the Six, this book will scratch your tell-all itches. The ups and downs of stage life will have you feeling like a Fleetwood Mac roadie without all the hassle. (Hint: This one is especially good as an audiobook!)
Groupies by Sarah Priscus
In 1977, Faun Novak loses her mother and starts a new life by hopping a bus to California with nothing more than a love of music and a Polaroid camera. She reconnects with a childhood friend and ends up enmeshed in the life of a rock ‘n roll hangaround, photographing the band and especially the groupies while also getting closer and closer to the dark side of the lifestyle.
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton
Trendsetting Opal is on the forefront of Afro punk and determined to be a star when she meets singer/songwriter Nev. They quickly become a rock duo and a fixture in the New York City music scene, until the presence of a Confederate flag at one of their concerts throws everything off track.
Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie
Jane Quinn’s mother was a songwriter, so Jane was born into the music world and had her own band at a young age. Before long she’s pulled into a tour, and a love affair, with folk legend Jesse Reid that will cause a rift in her family and disillusionment with the industry. Explore the early 70’s music world with this book about what a career in music could cost a female artist.
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
Fourteen-year-old Mary Jane has grown up with a predictable, respectable family life. She’s shy, loves books and loves listening to her family’s Showtunes of the Month records. When she takes a job as a nanny for the summer, she discovers a whole new world: progressive politics, cluttered housekeeping, and a rock star resident in intensive therapy with the family’s father.
Mustique Island by Sarah McCoy
During the 1970s, Mustique was an ultra-exclusive private island that played host to celebrities ranging from Princess Margaret to Mick Jagger. Sarah McCoy’s novel fictionalizes the life of a real and wealthy divorcee who sailed the world only to become enmeshed, with her two daughters, in the lavish lifestyle of Mustique.
Come Fly the World by Julia Cooke
In addition to an iconic music scene, the 70s were also the glory days of air travel. This history of Pan Am stewardesses explores not only the freedom found in a jet setting lifestyle, but also the historical role that these women played during the Vietnam War and Operation Babylift.
Nothin’ to Lose by Ken Sharp with Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons
70s music wasn’t all folksy singer/songwriters and disco, and the proof lies in this memoir about the formative years of the iconic rock band KISS. It’s an oral history of the band’s creation, and includes interviews not only with band members, roadies, and publicists, but also fellow musicians who watched it all happen, like Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and members of Black Sabbath.
Never a Dull Moment by David Hepworth
To look at the musical releases and events of 1971 is to see an overwhelming list of iconic songs, people, and moments. Here are just a select few covered in this history of the year: Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” David Bowie’s arrival in the US, The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly,” the death of Jim Morrison, Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” and the release of Carole King’s “Tapestry.”
Just Kids by Patti Smith
Legendary poet and musician Patti Smith recounts her youth, with Robert Mapplethorpe, in the heart of the New York City art scene. This National Book Award winning memoir brings that world to life as Smith tells the story of her youth, love, and friendship with artist Mapplethorpe.
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