BestOfDate

January 31, 1973

January 31, 1973, was a Wednesday. It was 51 years, 9 months, and 25 days ago. The zodiac star sign for this date is Aquarius.

Song charts

Popular songs

On January 31, 1973, the following songs were at the top of the music charts in the USA and the UK:

  • United States: "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John
  • United Kingdom: "Block Buster" by Sweet

The music charts on January 31, 1973

The following songs were dominating the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

  • Superstition - Stevie Wonder
  • You're So Vain - Carly Simon
  • Crocodile Rock - Elton John
  • Your Mama Don't Dance - Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina
  • Why Can't We Live Together - Timmy Thomas
Play the top singles from 1973
A Spotify playlist of songs from the year 1973. Take a trip back to the days of Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Deep Purple, the Doobie Brothers and Elton John.
The Poseidon Adventure

Top movie

The top movie on this day was "The Poseidon Adventure".

Facts

This date occurred 18,926 days ago. Approximately 631 months have passed. It was the 31st day of 1973, in week 05. The decade was the seventies. People who were born on January 31, 1973, are now 51 years old and belong to the Generation X generation. 210 seasons of weather have come and gone since then.

Take me back to January 31, 1973

Let's go back to the seventies.

The date is January 31, 1973, and it's a Wednesday. Babies who are born today will have the star sign Aquarius. It is "Hump Day", so many are beginning to think about the weekend ahead.

In America, the song "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John is at the top of the singles charts, while "Block Buster" by Sweet is the number-one song in the UK. Richard Nixon is the President of the United States, and the movie The Poseidon Adventure is at the top of the box office. Edward Heath is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

On television, people are watching popular shows such as "Gunsmoke", "Adam-12", "The Main Chance", and "Medical Center". In fashion, the hippie look from the 1960s is still popular. Clothing items such as tie dye shirts, bell-bottoms, midi skirts, gauchos and Mexican blouses are being worn by women. Meanwhile, men are wearing dark satin shirts, ethnic-looking tunics, bell bottom jeans, tweed sports jackets and turtlenecks. It's 1973, so radio stations are playing songs from artists such as The Rolling Stones, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Sweet, Elton John, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Marvin Gaye and Jim Croce.

If you were to travel back to this day, notable figures such as Pablo Picasso, Bruce Lee, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Gram Parsons would all still be alive. People are playing video games such as "Pong". Children and teenagers are watching television shows such as "Captain Kangaroo", "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", "The Electric Company", and "Schoolhouse Rock!".

Children are playing with toys such as Etch A Sketch, Operation, Kenner SSP Racers, and Baby Alive (doll).

Zodiac info

Zodiac

Zodiac, birthstone, and birth flower information.

Personality summary image

  • Zodiac Sign (Astrology): Anyone born on January 31, 1973, will have the star sign Aquarius.
  • Zodiac Element: Air.
  • Chinese Zodiac Animal: In the Chinese Zodiac, 1973 was the year of the Ox (Yin Wood).
  • The Life Path Number for this date is 7.
  • Native American Zodiac: January 31, 1973 falls under the Otter.
  • Birthstone: A person during the month of January will have the birthstone Garnet.
  • Birth flower (January): The Carnation and the Snowdrop.
News

News, nostalgia, and fads

These are news stories, trending topics, and fads that were popular on January 31, 1973.

  • The Watergate Scandal heats up.

    The Watergate Scandal heats up

    The Watergate scandal was heating up at the start of 1973. Two former aides to Richard Nixon were convicted of conspiracy, burglary, and wiretapping. However, the truth behind the break-in at the offices of the Democratic National Committee had not yet come to light.
  • 1973-74 stock market crash.

    1973-74 stock market crash

    Between January 1973 and December 1974, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost over 45% of its value. The UK stock market fared even worse, with the FT 30 dropping by over 70%.
  • Hitchhiking is declining.

    Hitchhiking is declining

    Although hitchhiking is still pretty common, it is beginning to decline due to people's falling trust in strangers, lower air travel prices, an increase in highways, and more affordable cars.
  • The US military is withdrawing from the Vietnam War.

    The US military is withdrawing from the Vietnam War

    During 1973, the war in Vietnam was still ongoing. However, by this stage, the US was steadily withdrawing its military from the country. Between 1972 and 1973, the number of US troops in Vietnam fell from 24,200 to 50. Although a peace agreement was signed at the start of 1973, it was quickly broken by both sides.
  • Who were the best NBA players in 1973?

    Who were the best NBA players in 1973?

    The best NBA players in 1973 were Dave Cowens, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, John Havlicek, Spencer Haywood, Nate Archibald and Jerry West.
  • Best soccer players.

    Best soccer players

    In 1973, the best soccer players were Johan Cruyff, Dino Zoff, Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, Billy Bremner, Kazimierz Deyna, Eusébio, Gianni Rivera, Gunter Netzer and Ralf Edström.
  • The Sting.

    The Sting

    "The Sting" won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1973.
  • Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly with His Song"

    Roberta Flack - "Killing Me Softly with His Song"

    "Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Roberta Flack won a Grammy for 1973's Song of the Year.
  • 1973 in movies.

    1973 in movies

    Movies released in 1973 included The Sting, The Exorcist, American Graffiti, Papillon, The Way We Were, Charlotte's Web, Magnum Force, Last Tango in Paris, Live and Let Die, Robin Hood, Paper Moon, The Wicker Man, The Legend of Hell House and Badlands.
  • John Sirica.

    John Sirica

    John Sirica was named Time Person of the Year in 1973. Sirica was the judge who ordered US President Richard Nixon to hand over the Watergate-related recordings.
  • 1973 in music.

    1973 in music

    The Billboard Charts in 1973 were dominated by Marvin Gaye, Carly Simon, Dawn & Tony Orlando, Eddie Kendricks, Elton John, Roberta Flack, Paul McCartney and Wings, Clint Holmes, Billy Preston, Cher, Jim Croce and Diana Ross.
  • The Co-ed Killer is targeting students in California.

    The Co-ed Killer is targeting students in California

    Between May of 1972 and April of 1973, serial killer Edmund Kemper (aka the "Co-ed Killer") was targeting female college students in California.
  • Music cassette tapes are becoming popular.

    Music cassette tapes are becoming popular

    Audio cassettes started becoming widespread from about 1972 onward. Although they lacked the sound quality of vinyl records, they were far more convenient and portable.
  • Color TV surpasses black-and-white.

    Color TV surpasses black-and-white

    Sales of color TV sets were beginning to surpass sales of the older black-and-white models. By this stage, almost all of the popular daytime networks were broadcasting in color.
  • Have a nice day!

    Have a nice day!

    The smiley face and phrases such as "Have a nice day!" and "Have a happy day!" were being plastered onto t-shirts, mugs, and badges.
  • Wallpaper.

    Wallpaper

    Wallpaper was extremely common in people's homes throughout the 1970s and 1980s. It wasn't until the mid-late 1980s that "modernism" started to creep in.
  • Office workers are using typewriters.

    Office workers are using typewriters

    Although personal computers began to emerge during the 1970s, typewriters were still the norm for most office workers.
  • The Volkswagen Beetle.

    The Volkswagen Beetle

    The Volkswagen Beetle was one of the most common cars on the road. Sales of the vehicle increased following the release of the 1968 film The Love Bug (and its subsequent spin-offs).
  • The Hippie movement.

    The Hippie movement

    The hippie counterculture reached its peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The movement, which sprung up in opposition to the Vietnam War, was centered around peace, psychedelic music, sexual liberation, bright colors, and drugs such as LSD and marijuana.
  • Lava lamps are all the rage.

    Lava lamps are all the rage

    Sales of lava lamps increased in the late 1960s. It wasn't until the second half of the 1970s that they started to go out of fashion.
  • The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity.

    The afro hairstyle is at its peak in popularity

    The afro hairstyle took off during the 1960s and early 1970s. Public figures such as Angela Davis, Pam Grier, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jackson 5 were among those who sported the style.

Personality traits

Check out our personality summary for people who were born on January 31, 1973.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

View Personality Summary

Events

What happened around this time?

News stories, pop culture trends, and other events that happened around January 31, 1973.

  • January 5, 1973: Aerosmith release their first album.
  • January 7, 1973:
    • Serial killer Edmund Kemper murders 18-year-old student Cynthia Ann Schall.
    • 23-year-old Mark Essex shoots and kills 9 people at the Howard Johnson's hotel in New Orleans.
  • January 13, 1973: The last episode of the American Western series "Alias Smith and Jones" is aired on ABC.
  • January 14, 1973:
    • Super Bowl VII: The Miami Dolphins defeat the Washington Redskins 14-7 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
    • Elvis Presley performs his concert "Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite".
  • January 22, 1973:
    • Boxing: George Foreman defeats Joe Frazier to become the new heavyweight champion.
    • Former US President Lyndon B. Johnson passes away.
    • Roberta Flack releases the single "Killing Me Softly with His Song".
  • January 27, 1973: US involvement in the Vietnam War comes to an end.
  • This date: January 31, 1973
  • February 5, 1973: Serial killer Ed Kemper murders Rosalind Heather Thorpe and Alice Helen Liu on the UCSC campus in Santa Cruz, California.
  • February 19, 1973: Dawn and Tony Orlando release the song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree".
  • February 21, 1973: 108 people are killed when Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 is shot down by an Israeli fighter plane.
  • March 1, 1973: Pink Floyd release their album The Dark Side of the Moon.

1970s fashion

Photographs of 1970s fashion and hairstyles.

1970s fashion

Television shows

Television shows in January 1973

In January 1973, TV audiences were watching the following series:

TV shows from January 1973.

Barnaby Jones
Barnaby Jones
Last of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine
M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H
The Bob Newhart Show
The Bob Newhart Show
Ghost Story
Ghost Story
The Waltons
The Waltons
Maude
Maude
The Rookies
The Rookies
Emergency!
Emergency!
Sanford and Son
Sanford and Son
Upstairs, Downstairs
Upstairs, Downstairs
Soul Train
Soul Train

Cars in 1973

1974 saw the introduction of cars such as the Ford Mustang (second generation), the Mitsubishi Lancer, the Toyota Starlet, the Chevrolet Chevelle Laguna, the Buick Regal, and the Volkswagen Passat.

Cars in 1973.

Children TV shows

Cartoons and children's TV shows in January 1973

If you were a kid on January 31, 1973, then you were probably watching the following cartoons and TV shows:

Schoolhouse Rock!
Schoolhouse Rock!
Lassie's Rescue Rangers
Lassie's Rescue Rangers
The Adventures of Black Beauty
The Adventures of Black Beauty

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan
The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan
The Electric Company
The Electric Company
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!
Archie's TV Funnies
Archie's TV Funnies
All in the Family
All in the Family
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Toys

Toys in 1973

If you were a child on this date, then you may have had some of the following toys:

Baby Alive (doll)
Baby Alive (doll)
Shrinky Dinks
Shrinky Dinks
Magnavox Odyssey
Magnavox Odyssey
Kenner SSP Racers
Kenner SSP Racers
Big Jim (action figure)
Big Jim (action figure)
Uno (card game)
Uno (card game)
The Rock Flowers dolls
The Rock Flowers dolls
Weebles
Weebles
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
VertiBird (toy helicopter)
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
G.I. Joe Adventure Team
Nerf Balls
Nerf Balls
Frisbee
Frisbee
Video games

Video games

Popular video games that people were playing in January 1973.

Pong 1972
Pong

Were you born on January 31, 1973?

If you were born on this date, then it is unlikely that you will remember anything from the year 1973.

This is because humans find it difficult to retrieve memories of their early childhood.

If you are looking for some childhood nostalgia, then you should check out January 31, 1979, instead.

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrity birthdays

Celebrities, historical figures, and other notable people who were born on January 31.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson

Baseball player Deceased
Born on January 31, 1919
He was not alive on this date.

Giant Gonzalez

Giant Gonzalez

Wrestler Deceased
Born on January 31, 1966
He turned 7 on this day in 1973.

Justin Timberlake

Justin Timberlake

Singer
Born on January 31, 1981
He was born exactly 8 years after this date.

Gemma Collins

Gemma Collins

English media personality
Born on January 31, 1981
She was born exactly 8 years after this date.

Josh Richards

Josh Richards

TikTok user
Born on January 31, 2002
He was born exactly 29 years after this date.

USA

US President

Richard Nixon was the President of the United States on January 31, 1973.

UK

UK Prime Minister

Edward Heath was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Ireland

Irish Taoiseach

Jack Lynch was the Taoiseach of Ireland.

Conception

Conception dates

Conception estimates for this date.

  • A baby that was born on January 31, 1973 was most likely conceived around May 10, 1972.
  • The due date for a baby that was conceived on January 31, 1973 is close to October 24, 1973.

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Stats for January 31, 1973

Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics about January 31, 1973:

  • 18,926 days have passed since this date.
  • 2,703 weeks have passed.
  • 1,635,206,400 seconds have passed since January 31, 1973.
  • If you were born on this day, your heart has beat approximately 1,907,740,800 times.
  • Since then, the Earth has traveled approximately 843,766,502,400 miles through space.
  • If you were born on this day, your eyes have blinked approximately 272,534,400 times.
  • You have taken approximately 140,627,750 steps. That's roughly 62,501 miles.
  • 19,622,477 meteors have entered the Earth's atmosphere.
  • How many years ago was 1973?

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