1975: The worst year ever?

Let me clarify.  Obviously, the years of the Civil War, (1861-65)  the year 1968, (Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated) and the years of World War Two, (1941-45) were pretty horrible.  But I'm a selfish creature.  Those years were either before I was born, or occurred before I can accurately remember.  So while I give them their collective due, those years didn't impact me directly. 1975, however,  that one I still remember pretty accurately, and I don't remember it as being very good.

Pete Rose understood what fashion meant in 1975...it was all about the collar! (Associated Press)

From a foreign policy standpoint, 1975 was not a particularly strong year for the United States.  Both Cambodia and South Vietnam fell to the Communists.  It reflected a decade of failed policy by Democrats and Republicans alike.  Economically, the U.S. suffered from significant inflation.  How bad was it you ask?  It was so bad, that unelected President Gerald Ford issued an Executive Order that all Americans had to wear one of these:

These were known as "WIN" buttons. "WIN" stood for "Whip Inflation Now". According to the Congressional Budget Office, "WIN" buttons had zero impact on the economy. (Associated Press)

In fairness to Ford, he did inherit this mess.  He was only President because both President Ricard Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew were forced to resign in disgrace.  I believe we had a right to demand more from two candidates who ran on the issue of "law and order".

"They can't get rid of both of us....can they"?  (Associated Press)

Musically, 1975 was a peculiar year to say the least.  "Punk Rock" hadn't quite made its way over from London, "Disco" was in its infancy, and something called "Glam Rock" was approaching its death rattle.  So who were the top selling artists of 1975?  Well, here they are...turn your head and cough:

1. The Captain and Tennille - "The Captain", aka..Daryl Dragon was one of the top keyboardists in his band
2. Glen Campbell - Imagine if Billy Ray Cyrus didn't have a mullet and had talent
3. Elton John - How popular was "Sir Elton" in the mid 1970s.  He once accidentally coughed up phlegm and it landed on the recording machine...it came in at #9 on the Billboard charts.
4. Freddy Fender - He sounds more like a Mafia "hit-man".  "Yo, it's Freddy the Fender"!

Other notables included at #8, Neil Sedaka.  Sedaka was not only a craftsman when it came to songwriting, but his "East coast vs. West coast" feud with his Kosher Butcher left several Passover Seder Plates without Lamb Shanks.  I would also caution you not to forget Carl Douglas at #13 with his mega-hit, "Kung-Fu Fighting":

(Editor's note: This is a really bad song)

While popular music may have hit a bit of a trough, television was in a new golden age.  Look at the top shows for 1975, and I defy you to name any show today, particularly a comedy that compares:

1. "All in the Family" - A hilarious show made with brutal honesty.  You can make an unlimited amount of "boner" jokes today on "Big Bang Theory", but god forbid a program today tries to have an honest conversation about race.
2. "Sanford and Son" - Ok, this one didn't exactly break down racial stereotypes, but it was funny.  By the way, two of the head writers for this African-American comedy starring Redd Foxx were Saul Turteltaub and Bernie Orenstein.  There's nothing wrong with that...is there?
3. "Chico and the Man" - I preferred Jack Albertson caressing the recently deceased Shelly Winters in the "Poseiden Adventure" personally, rather than him exchanging quips with a very young and sadly tragic Freddie Prinze.
4. "The Jeffersons" - The Jeffersons were like an upscale version of "Sanford and Son".  Once again, a black male was the leading character and was the butt of most of the jokes.  I don't think that would fly today.  I also think the reason nobody is named Louise anymore is because they don't want to called "Wheezie".
5. "M*A*S*H" - A comedy about war.  I doubt you would see that today either.  In fact, even "M*A*S*H" tired of trying to make fun of war.  By the last three seasons, it was pretty much a drama with most episodes including lines like, "Damn-it B.J., they're just children!"

The sports scene, in the New York City/Metropolitan area anyway saw an interesting if depressing anomaly.  Because of various construction projects, 1975 witnessed a bizarre once-in-a-lifetime home field disadvantage for New York City's baseball and football franchises.  Can you guess what it was?  Well, the New York Jets, Giants, Mets, and Yankees all shared the same home field.  All four teams played their home games in that "Mecca" of sports refuge...Shea Stadium.  The Mets and Jets both played their home games at Shea Stadium anyway, but with the "new" Yankee Stadium still being refurbished, and Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands still being completed, all four teams would play their home games at Shea.  By the end of year, the infield looked like a Staten Island landfill.  Fortunately, there was no impact on the post-season.  None of the four teams made the playoffs, further cementing 1975 as a year filled with disappointment.

The grounds crew tries in vain to get the field back in playing shape after a rare September quadruple header featuring the Jets, Giants, Mets and Yankees. Spoiler alert...they all lost! (Getty Images)

For me personally, 1975 was a traumatic year.  I was eleven years old, and  I was going into 6th grade, and I couldn't have been more excited.  At my Elementary School, (Robert E. Picken Elementary School), 6th grade was the top grade.  Beginning in kindergarten, everybody waited those long six years so they could achieve the status known as "king of the school".   The 6th graders always looked so dangerous and cool.  It looked like they shaved and smoked...at the same time!  However, fate was about to play its hand.  Fate, and changing demographics.

 The Plainedge School District, located in scenic North Massapequa, was experiencing a decline in its population as the "Baby-Boom"  generation began its final cycle through the school system.   The Board of Education announced that the district needed to close one of their Elementary schools.  They logically decided to close the newest and nicest school in the district.  (Personally, I think it was because of the name.  Kids from Schwarting Elementary were always saying that "Picken, picks their nose".  The retort, "Schwarting, Scwartz their nose",  just never caught on)  Now that our grade was being robbed of its birthright as "Kings of the School", we were shipped off to Packard Middle School along with all 400 other 6th graders in the district.  In exchange for our heartache, they gave us a Jukebox in our cafeteria.  This however was just the beginning.  From 5th grade through 9th grade, I proceeded to attend 5 different schools.  Robert E. Picken, Packard, Southedge, back to Packard and finally Plainedge High School for 9th grade.  I believe this is one of the main reasons I didn't end up attending an Ivy-League school.  This and an appalling lack of ability.

Fortunately, 1975 wasn't a leap year, and the blase' year mercifully came to an end as all year's must.  I knew things were beginning to turn around in early 1976 when my eyes beheld a most magical moment.  I turned on my television, and I became witness to one of the great cultural events of my lifetime.  The Bicentennial Minute!

Even Tennessee Williams, perhaps through the kindness of strangers, participated in the "Bicentennial Minute"! (Getty Images)