Cal Jam 1974

Didn't go as I was a young lad in High school before a drivers licence and living in Illinois.But,I remember watching it on TV.Great concert.I recall Deep Purple tearing it up.When Black Sabbath was to come on it looked like the crowd was pushing to the front and going crazy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbEk8rr-cTc  Sabbath - Children Of The Grave (you can actually understand Ozzy when he talks )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ak12PBrTuw  Purple - Smoke On The Water (When it was fairly new. Check it out. Killer)

Yep....I was there. 

I was 17 when my parents finally let me go to concerts. My boyfriend and I got tickets to got the The California Jam on April 6, 1974 at the old Ontario Motor Speedway. That anniversary is coming up in a couple of weeks for me. The speedway is no longer there but I have some of the memories of that day. A couple of my girlfriends from high school and my boyfriends brother also went.

We took off early in the morning in my boyfriends Bonneville and the closer we got to the speedway, the more chaotic traffic became. We ended up parking on some front road along the freeway and walking a long way in. Staked out a spot about halfway between the stage and the first tower of speakers. It was quite a ways back but could have been worse as 200,000 attended there we a lot of others much further back, and this was before concerts came equipped with big screens in strategic spots so everyone could at least see the show.

I remember it was hot, hot, hot. They passed out empty jugs so people could fill them up with water and keep everyone hydrated. Someone brought a big bag of oranges, which I ate a few and ended up with canker sores a few days later from all the citric acid.

My girlfriends ended up disappearing and doing their own thing for the day.

First band was Rare Earth. Don't remember too much about them but I did like some of their songs. Get Ready, Losing you, and I Just Want to celebrate were the popular songs being played on the stations back then.

Second band was Earth, Wind and Fire. Ok but not memorable to me.

Third band, this new and upcoming band, Eagles. Don't remember a thing about them. I have always thought I must have gone on the long trek to the outhouse then. Long lines to deal with and the trek back took a long time. For years I didn't even realized the the Eagles were there and have no memory of them, which disappoints me, as I really do like them.

Forth up was Seals and Crofts. Great musicians, but the music was slow and really put me in a lul. Diamond Girl (which I heard on the radio last night and took me back to this time) Summer Breeze, and Get Closer were the popular tunes of theirs at the time.

Next up was Black Oak Arkansas. I really enjoyed this band as their was a real energy that woke me up after the previous act.

Next, Black Sabbath. I had been listening to their music for awhile on my 8 track and was looking forward to seeing Ozzy and the band. Did not disappoint. Just wish I was closer. By the time they came on the sun was starting to set behind the stage.

Next was Deep Purple. Good show. At that time it was the 3rd version of the band with Glenn Hughes and David Cloverdale. Of course Smoke on the Water was the best song for me to hear.

Last was Emerson Lake and Palmer. This was the highlight of the day for me, and remember clearly the levitating piano, because I really couldn't beleive I was seeing right. The day had been one long hot, pot smoking day and thought maybe my mind was playing tricks.

Fortunately the whole day was taped by ABC for their in concert series, so there are numerous youtube videos of the show to help jog my memories. I still have my ticket stub from that day.

It was a great concert for my start in the long string of concerts I went to in the late 70's and early 80's. Just wish I had better memories of some of the other stubs I have.