Look Back To 1974: What Happened That Year

Two general elections, the three-day week and Abba winning Eurovision.

Here's 1974 in full - the music, the news, the screen, the sport and the ordinary details. Good for a birthday card, a party quiz round or a reminiscence session.

In the charts in 1974

• Abba won Eurovision in Brighton on 6 April with 'Waterloo', which went to number one.
• 'Tiger Feet' by Mud was the year's best-selling single.
• Mud also had the Christmas number one with 'Lonely This Christmas'.

In the news in 1974

• The three-day week ran from 1 January to 7 March.
• There were two general elections, in February and October; Harold Wilson returned as Prime Minister.
• The Birmingham pub bombings took place in November.

On screen in 1974

• Tiswas began on ATV; Porridge began on BBC One.
• The Morecambe and Wise Christmas show was the television event of the year.
• The Towering Inferno filled cinemas.

In sport in 1974

• West Germany won the World Cup; England were not there.
• Red Rum won the Grand National for the second year running.
• Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in Kinshasa in October.

Everyday life in 1974

• Petrol prices rose sharply and smaller cars started to look sensible.
• Platform soles, tank tops and wide lapels were everywhere.
• The Rubik's Cube was invented this year, though it did not reach Britain until the end of the decade.

If you were born in 1974

• Anyone born in 1974 was born the year Abba won Eurovision.
• They arrived during a year with two general elections, which is a decent pub quiz fact.
• Anyone born in 1974 turns 30 in 2004, 40 in 2014, 50 in 2024, 60 in 2034 and 70 in 2044.
• For a milestone card, the strongest line is usually the number one from the week they were born rather than the year's biggest events - it's personal, and it takes two minutes to find.
• For a reminiscence session, read one section at a time and stop on whatever gets a reaction. The point is the conversation, not the facts.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• The number one from the week they were born beats the year's headlines on a card.
• Read one section at a time in a reminiscence session and stop where the conversation starts.
• Use it as a guess-the-year round by reading three facts and hiding the date.

Where to shop next

• Look back to 1977
• Look back to 1976
• Look back to 1975
• Look back to 1973
• Look back to 1972
• Look back to 1971
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• 1970s party playlist
• 70s kids' TV shows
• 70s quiz questions
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• Kerby rules
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• The 1920s: the whole decade
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• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
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• All guides

Frequently asked questions

Where did Abba win Eurovision?

Brighton, on 6 April 1974, with 'Waterloo'.

Why were there two elections in 1974?

The February election produced a hung parliament, and a second election in October gave Labour a small working majority.

How old is someone born in 1974?

Subtract 1974 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2014, 50 in 2024, 60 in 2034 and 70 in 2044.

Do you sell anything to do with this year?

We make greeting cards, art prints and pin badges in the UK, including milestone birthday cards. This page itself is free to read and free to copy.