1978 in the Arts

1978 was an amazing year. So much was going on in the world, and there was tons happening in music,movies, television and books. Did I mention I was born in 1978? That made the year perfect. :)

Shall we take a look back together?

Note: I did not list every single song, book, movie, or tv show that came out!)

Songs of 1978

Night Fever- The BeeGees - This is just one of a ton of songs that came out by the BeeGees this year. There were tons listed due to Saturday Night Fever's success. I only listed a few.
Shadow Dancing- Andy Gibb
Stayin Alive- The BeeGees
Kiss You All Over- Exile - I often sing this song at karaoke. The only problem is the karaoke version usually leaves out the second verse.
Baby Come Back- Player - Forever made popular now by the Swiffer commercials.
Three Times a Lady- Commodores
Grease- Frankie Valli - As far as I am concerned the only good song that came out of that movie.
Emotion- Samantha Sang
Hot Child in the City- Nick GIlder
How Deep is Your Love- The BeeGees
Lay Down Sally- Eric Clapton
Just the Way You Are- Billy Joel (a fellow Long Islander)
Baker Street- Gerry Rafferty - This song is still amazing on so many levels.
It's a Heartache- Bonnie Tyler- Rod Stewart's version doesn't hold a candle to the original.
We are the champions/We will rock you- Queen - Still every high school senior's anthem!
I Go Crazy- Paul Davis
You're In My Heart- Rod Stewart
You Needed Me- Anne Murray
Dance, Dance, Dance- Chic
Hot Blooded- Foreigner- I am a huge Foreigner fan, did I mention that?
Hoplessly Devoted to you- Olivia Newton-John
Love is Like Oxygen- Sweet
Reminiscing- Little River Band
Two out of three ain't bad- Meatloaf
Last Dance- Domna Summer
You Light Up My Life- Debbie Boone
Boogie Oogie Oogie- Taste of Honey
Dust in the Wind- Kansas - Still a fun song to play.
Love will Find A Way- Pablo Cruise
Used to be My Girl- The O'Jays
Still the Same- Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
You Belong to me- Carly Simon
On Broadway- George Benson
Disco Inferno- The Trammps
Here You Come Again- Dolly Parton
Blue Bayou- Linda Ronstadt
Peg- Steely Dan
Baby Hold On- Eddie Money- Fellow Long Islander who still rocks my socks!
What's Your Name?- Lynyrd Skynyrd
Because the Night- Patti Smith - The Queen of punk!
Don't Make My Brown Eyes Blue- Crystal Gayle -I was always jealous of her hair. Still love her music.
Copacabana- Barry Manilow - I used to sing this to my dog. I just changed the words around. I'm cute like that.
Always and Forever- Heatwave - Still love singing this song.
Running on Empty- Jackson Browne
Native New Yorker- Odyssey
I Love the Night Life- Alicia Bridges
Flashlight- Parliament
The Name of the Game- Abba
Deacon Blues- Steely Dan - I got to see Steely Dan in concert a few years back. Amazing!

1978 in Books

The list for best sellers is rather short sadly, or rather the list I found.

Chesapeake by James A Michener
War and Rememberance- Herman Wouk
Fools Die- Mario Puzo
Bloodline- Sidney Sheldon
Scruples- Judith Krantz
Evergreen- Belva Plain
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah- Richard Bach
The Holcraft Covenant- Robert Ludlum
Second Generation- Howard Fast
Eye of the Needle- Ken Follett

I now have my reading list for the next year or so. I thought Ken Follett and Judith Krantz were relatively new writers, meaning they came out in the late 90s. I was wrong! See at least I can admit when I am wrong. I look forward to reading some of thee selections.

1978 in Television

For me, some of the best television shows were created in the 70s and 80s. In 1978 the following shows were popular:

Carter Country - I have yet to see reruns of this show. I am dying to see them. I hear Richard Paul is hillarious!
Happy Days
Laverne and Shirley- Still think Squiggy and Lenny are hillarious.
All in the Family - Still one of my favorite shows.
Three's Company - RIP John Ritter.
Charlie's Angels - I remember watching this show when I was a kid,and I loved it. The movie that came out recently was a farce. It didn't resemble the show at all.
One Day at a Time - Valerie Bertinelli as a teenager. I loved her character !
Alice - Mel's Diner still serves it up.
Soap - Billy Crystal, also a fellow Long Islander, still makes me laugh until I pee in my pants!
Eight is Enough
The Love Boat
Barney Miller - I think this was the first cop show I ever watched. I miss it.
Fantasy Island - "Da plane boss da plane!"
Barnaby Jones
The Waltons
Hawaii Five-o - The theme song is still contageous! Someone had it as their ringtone recently!
Harvey Korman Show - I sadly never got to see reruns of this show. :(
Family
Rhoda - I still love Valerie Harper!
Welcome Back Kotter - John Travolta probably at his best! Mom and I saw Gabe Kaplan recently narrating a poker tournament on TV...was the only reason we watched the tournament too.
Chico and the Man
Ted Knight Show
The Incredible Hulk - Lou Ferigno-did I mention he is a fellow Long Islander too?--is still hot. Just thought I'd throw that in.
The Ropers - Spinoff of Three's Company of course!
What's Happening!- HEY HEY HEY!
M*A*S*H -Still one of my favorite shows!
Taxi
WKRP in Cincinatti - I'm still "livin on the air in Cincinatti. Cincinatti WKRP!"

1978 in Movies

I saved movies for last. Hollywood has in the last 10 years remade so many movies, and not always good remakes. I didn't realize some of the following were remade recently:

The Deer Hunter - I believe this one the Best Picture Oscar for the Year.
Animal House
Grease
Halloween - The Original. That's right-the original. Not the farce that came out recently! This one stars Jamie Lee Curtis.
Ice Castles
The Inglorious Bastards - Here I thought the one that came out recently was an original, but noooo.I'm not sure if it's the same concept as the original. I didn't read the blurb. However, they surely nicked the title.
The Wiz - The Original with Stephanie Mills
The Lord of the Rings- I confess that I did not know there was another version of this movie out there. I plan on finding it and watching it.
Coming Home
The Boys From Brazil
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Heaven Can Wait
Death on the Nile - Most detective dramas get remade,and we compare them on acting and merit (that is those of us who enjoy the genre. This version is with Peter Ustinov and is excellent!
Watership Down
Piranha - A few years back it was remade I think for TV.
Attack of The Killer Tomatoes - Yes, even this was remade.
Revenge of the Pink Panther
The Buddy Holly Story - This is still one of my favorite movies.
The Big Sleep
The Eyes of Laura Mars - If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend it!
La Cage aux Folles - This was remade into the Bird Cage with Robin Williams.
Return from Witch Mountain - This stars Bette Davis and Christopher Lee. Guess what? IT WAS REMADE!
The Swarm. This was remade too.
The Boys in Company C
The Cat from Outer Space - I saw this for the first time in school.
Who'll Stop The Rain
The Brink's Job- This starrerd Peter Falk and Peter Boyle! It was great!
American Hot Wax -I've seen this 90 times and I still NEVER get tired of it!
King of the Gypsies- w/ Eric Roberts and Susan Sarandon. I have to rent this movie!
The Greek Tycoon
Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
The Hound of The Baskervilles - This stars Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (not one of the better remakes).
The Bad News Bears go to Japan - Still a favorite!
The Green Room
They Died with their Boots On
The Evil - with Richard Crenna.
Avalanche ---the original. Yep it was remade.
Rabbit Test- with Billy Crystal.
The Norsemen
Tomorrow Never Comes
Taxi Driver
Jennifer
Dracula's Dog-This stars Jose Ferrer and I love cheesy horror flicks.
Moby Dick - directed Paul Stanley.
The Squeeze
A Walk in The Sun
Born Again
Beauty and the Beast as directed by Juraj Herz
Night Creature
The Fifth Floor
Superman - The good version with Christopher Reeve, not the incredibly stupid remake that came out recently.
FM
Saturday Night Fever

I have to rent most of these!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publishers_Weekly_list_of_bestselling_novels_in_the_United_States_in_the_1970s
http://www.superseventies.com/1978.html
http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1978.htm
http://www.tvparty.com/70fall77.html
http://www.imdb.com/search/title?sort=moviemeter%2Casc&start=21&title_type=feature&year=1978%2C1978