In honor of the band’s blistering and beautiful set I witnessed on Saturday at the Cruel World Festival – here’s Devo. The band perform “Blockhead” on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert in 1979. The original tune can be found on the Duty Now for the Future LP and was written by Bob and Mark Mothersbaugh. Enjoy, spuds!
DEVO, ‘BLOCKHEAD’ (LIVE, 1979)
Previously on Music for Monday: Melba Moore, ‘I Got Love’ (Live, 1970)
More Devo: Mood Music: Devo, ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’
The vintage memories today are circa 1972 and ’73. I’ve got the usual batch of four spots for you, starting with Peter Paul’s short-lived Peanut Butter with No Jelly candy bar. Following that, you’ll find a mildly humorous Avis spot, Grecian Formula 16, and Scott’s Liquid Gold. Have a wonderful weekend!
PETER PAUL ‘NO JELLY’ CANDY BAR COMMERCIAL (1972)
Peter Paul Peanut Butter With No Jelly candy bar commercial. Spot aired in 1972 (best guess based on research).
AVIS CAR RENTAL ‘WIZARD’ COMMERCIAL (1972)
Avis car rental commercial featuring the Wizard of Avis computerized system. Spot aired October 1972.
GRECIAN FORMULA COMMERCIAL (1973)
Grecian Formula 16 & Lady Grecian Formula commercial. Spot aired October 1973.
LIQUID GOLD ‘BEAUTIFUL WOOD’ COMMERCIAL (1973)
Scott’s Liquid Gold commercial featuring a roomful of wooden furniture. Spot aired September 1973.
Previously on 70s Commercials: Lifebuoy Soap, Bumble Bee Tuna, Ex-Lax, Zenith (1970-71)
More Peter Paul Candy: 70s Spots: Almond Joy & Mounds (1977) & Trident Mints (1978)
More Avis: Daily 70s Spots #371, 372: Jack Palance For Avis, Holiday Inn (1973)
More Grecian Formula: 70s Spots: Grecian Formula 16 (1975)
More Liquid Gold: 70s Commercials: Curad Bandages, Liquid Gold, FTD Florists, Long Distance (1973)
Today’s set of commercials are circa 1970 and 1971. Starting off, it’s Christopher Hewett (Mr. Belvedere) as a posh fellow enjoying a shower with Lifebuoy Soap. After that, we’ve got Bumble Bee Tuna (with Mary Frann), Ex-Lax, and Zenith “Giant-Screen” 25-inch TVs. I hope you enjoy.
LIFEBUOY SOAP COMMERCIAL (‘MR. BELVEDERE,’ 1971)
Lifebuoy ‘Mint Refresher’ Deodorant Soap commercial featuring actor Christopher Hewett of ‘Mr. Belvedere’ fame. Spot aired in 1971.
BUMBLE BEE TUNA COMMERCIAL (1971)
Bumble Bee Chunk Light & Solid White Tuna commercial featuring a live-action mother (Mary Frann) & daughter and an animated mascot. Narration by John Connell. Spot aired August 1971.
EX-LAX COMMERCIAL (1970)
Ex-Lax laxative commercial featuring ‘chocolated’ and ‘un-flavored’ options. Spot aired Fall 1970.
ZENITH ‘GIANT-SCREEN’ TV SET COMMERCIAL (1970)
Zenith Chromacolor 100 television system commercial featuring 25-inch ‘giant-screen consoles.’ Spot aired September 1970.
Previously on 70s Commercials: Sears ‘Mother’s Day,’ ‘Pepsi Generation,’ Pinto Line-Up, Excedrin P.M. (1977-79)
More Lifebuoy: 70s Commercials: Lifebuoy Soap, Scope, Wish-Bone Rosé, General Motors (1971)
More Bumble Bee Tuna: 70s Spots: Bumble Bee Tuna (1979)
More Zenith: 70s Spots: Magnavox & Zenith TVs (Lloyd Bridges, 1971)
Welcome back, Bionic Friends. It’s time for some seventies music. Today, we’re soaking up the entertainment provided by Melba Moore in a September 20, 1970 Ed Sullivan Show performance. The song in question is “I Got Love” from the musical Purlie.
Stick with this one. It starts out slow but ends as an upbeat belter. Well worth your time.
MELBA MOORE ‘I GOT LOVE’ (LIVE, ‘THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW,’ 1970)
Previously on Music for Monday: The Everly Brothers, ‘Bowling Green’ (Live, 1971)
With Mother’s Day fast-approaching in the US, I’ve rescued a Sears spot from the dumpster of time and displayed it below. It looks like this commercial for Kenmore dishwashers likely aired in both 1978 and ’79. You can also ingest spots for Pepsi (with an oh-so-hot competitive Frisbee tournament), the Ford Pinto line-up for ’79, and Excedrin P.M..
Have a lovely weekend. See you back here in a few.
SEARS DISHWASHER ‘MOTHER’S DAY’ COMMERCIAL (1979)
Sears Kenmore dishwasher commercial featuring a Mother’s Day sale. Spot aired May 1979 (produced in ’78).
PEPSI GENERATION ‘FRISBEE’ COMMERCIAL (1979)
Pepsi Cola commercial featuring the ‘Pepsi Generation’ theme and competitive Frisbee players. Spot aired April 1979.
’79 FORD PINTO LINE-UP COMMERCIAL (1978)
Ford Pinto commercial featuring the 1979 model ESS, Cruising Wagon, Squire, Cruising Sedan, and Pinto Wagon. Spot aired October 1978.
EXCEDRIN P.M. COMMERCIAL (1977)
Excedrin P.M. night time pain reliever commercial featuring a woman heading out for a bicycle ride. Spot aired August 1977.
Previously on 70s Commercials: Plymouth Volaré, Ore-Ida Fries, United Airlines, The Perfect Cup (1976)
More Sears: Rad Ads: Sears ‘Free Spirit’ 10-Speed Bike (1976)
More Pepsi: 70s Spots: ‘Have A Pepsi Day!’ (Sigourney Weaver, 1977)
More Pinto: 70s Spots: ’73 Ford Pinto ‘Back To Basics’ (1972)
More Excedrin: Daily 70s Ad: ‘The Excedrin Headache’ (1977)
We’re going to linger in 1976 today and soak up a collection of finely-designed, “comfortable” commercials. First, we have the all-new line-up for Plymouth Volaré featuring spokesperson Sergio Franchi. Following that, it’s Ore-Ida Golden Crinkle fries, United Airlines, and The Perfect Cup.
PLYMOUTH VOLARE LINE-UP COMMERCIAL (1976)
Chrysler-Plymouth Volaré line-up commercial featuring a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, and a wagon. The spokesperson is singer-entertainer Sergio Franchi. Spot aired January 1976 (likely produced in 1975).
ORE-IDA FRENCH FRIES COMMERCIAL (1976)
Ore-Ida Golden Crinkles French Fries commercial featuring a couple at the dinner table. Spot aired March 1976.
UNITED AIRLINES ‘FREEDOM FARE’ COMMERCIAL (1976)
United Airlines commercial featuring a baker and a ‘Freedom Fare’ offer. Narrator sounds like Burgess Meredith. Spot aired March 1976. *I’m fairly sure (having grown up down the street) this was filmed at Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles.
THE PERFECT CUP ‘COFFEE HISTORY’ COMMERCIAL (1976)
General Foods The Perfect Cup reduced caffeine coffee commercial featuring ‘Milestones in Coffee.’ Narrator may be Karl Weber. Spot aired in 1976.
Previously on 70s Spots: Tang, Brim, International Coffees, Borden Slices (1974-75)
More Plymouth: 70s Spots: Plymouth Volaré ‘Comfort’ (1976)
More Ore-Ida: 70s Commercials: Ore-Ida Tater Tots, Kitten Chow, Bell System, Miller High Life (1976-77)
More United Airlines: 70s Spots: United Airlines To Hawaii & Trailways Bus (1978)