Look Back To 1975: What Happened That Year

Bohemian Rhapsody, the EEC referendum and Fawlty Towers.

Here's 1975 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 1975

• Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' went to number one in November and stayed there into the new year.
• 'Bye Bye Baby' by the Bay City Rollers was the year's best-selling single.
• Rollermania was the teenage craze of the year.

In the news in 1975

• The referendum on 5 June voted to stay in the EEC by roughly two to one.
• Inflation reached its post-war peak during the year.
• Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative Party in February.

On screen in 1975

• Fawlty Towers began in September; The Good Life also started.
• Jaws was the film of the year.
• Colour sets finally outnumbered black and white licences by the middle of the decade.

In sport in 1975

• West Ham United won the FA Cup.
• Arthur Ashe beat Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon.
• David Steele's debut Ashes summer gave England a cult hero.

Everyday life in 1975

• Space hoppers, Evel Knievel toys and Action Man were the Christmas list.
• The first Betamax recorders appeared abroad; VHS followed the next year.
• Sex discrimination and equal pay legislation came into force.

If you were born in 1975

• Anyone born in 1975 shares a birth year with Fawlty Towers and 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
• They were one during the 1976 heatwave, so they missed it.
• Anyone born in 1975 turns 30 in 2005, 40 in 2015, 50 in 2025, 60 in 2035 and 70 in 2045.
• 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 1978
• Look back to 1977
• Look back to 1976
• Look back to 1974
• Look back to 1973
• Look back to 1972
• The 1970s: the whole decade
• 1970s party playlist
• 70s kids' TV shows
• 70s quiz questions
• British Bulldog rules
• Kerby rules
• Sweets that disappeared
• Test card, Ceefax and three channels
• The 2020s so far
• The 2010s: the whole decade
• The 2000s: the whole decade
• The 1990s: the whole decade
• The 1980s: the whole decade
• The 1960s: the whole decade
• The 1950s: the whole decade
• The 1940s: the whole decade
• The 1930s: the whole decade
• The 1920s: the whole decade
• Decade calendar: every year from 1920
• Decade trivia: fun facts by era
• Decade trivia game: play for points
• Decade guides: books, films and TV by era
• Decade recipes: dishes and food trends by era
• Decade travel: destinations and holidays by era
• Decade tech: gadgets and computers by era
• Decade films: best movies and directors by era
• Decade art: artists, styles and trends by era
• Decade books: best novels, authors and reading trends
• Music by decade: albums, artists and songs
• Decade fashion: clothes, hair and accessories by era
• Nostalgia gift shop
• Retro party supplies
• Nostalgia birthday party by decade
• Nostalgia hamper and gift ideas
• Guess the year quiz
• Care home reminiscence quiz
• Reminiscence gifts for grandparents
• Milestone birthday cards
• Shop birthday cards
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What was the 1975 referendum about?

Whether the UK should remain in the European Economic Community. Held on 5 June 1975, it returned a clear vote to stay.

How long was 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at number one?

Nine weeks from November 1975, over Christmas and into 1976.

How old is someone born in 1975?

Subtract 1975 from the current year. They turn 40 in 2015, 50 in 2025, 60 in 2035 and 70 in 2045.

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.