*Note: I originally posted this performance on the site eight years ago but it shouted at me to play it again. I happily comply.
Here’s a mind-bender and a toe-tapper. The fantastic Iggy Pop making punk rock happen in the Netherlands by refusing to mime along to “Lust for Life” on Dutch TV’s TopPop on October 08,1977.
“Lust for Life” was co-written with Pop’s pal, David Bowie and appeared on the LP of the same name in August of ’77. Play loud!
Happy Funshine Friday! Just for you, here’s a fresh batch of exciting seventies commercials. We begin with good ol’ Vivian Vance as Maxine in a spot for Maxwell House. Vance did a whole series of these Maxwell House spots late in the decade.
Following that, you’ll enjoy commercials for Hush Puppies shoes, The Great Gassers toy racers, and Goodyear. See ya on Monday.
MAXWELL HOUSE INSTANT COFFEE COMMERCIAL (VIVIAN VANCE, 1976)
Maxwell House Instant coffee commercial starring Vivian Vance (‘I Love Lucy’) as Maxine. Spot aired in or around 1976.
HUSH PUPPIES ‘FADED BLUES’ COMMERCIAL (1974)
Hush Puppies shoes commercial featuring the Faded Blues style and a Elvis-like singer. Spot aired March 1974.
THE GREAT GASSERS TOY RACERS COMMERCIAL (1973)
Hasbro The Great Gassers commercial featuring internal combustion toy race cars and a banked track. Spot aired in 1973 (Best guess based on research. Could also be a year earlier or later).
’70s CAR LOGOS: GOODYEAR RADIALS COMMERCIAL (1973)
Goodyear Steelgard Radial tires commercial featuring American car logos of the early seventies; Mustang, Gremlin, Camaro, Corvette, and more. Spot aired December 1973.
Married couple, Tammy Wynette and George Jones, released “We Go Together” in 1971 where it appeared on the album of the same name and as the B-side to the “Take Me” single. The song, written by Danny Walls and Norro Wilson, is a real “Aw, shucks” toe-tapper and you’ll likely find yourself singing along before it’s all done. Catch a performance from the era just below.
TAMMY WYNETTE & GEORGE JONES, ‘WE GO TOGETHER’ (1971)
Here we have an outdoorsy, stylish ad for the Ford Ranchero and Bronco enticing customers with toting, towing, power steering, and Cruise-O-Matic options. The ad ran in the October 13, 1972 edition of Life magazine.
If you’re wondering why yesterday’s Music for Monday entry was missing, apologies for that. I was out of town and couldn’t get back to the ol’ computer in time. I’m back in the official nostalgia chair now and ready to provide you with some freshly unearthed commercials.
The spots today run from 1974 to 1977 and feature a classic Hanes pantyhose jingle, the Rival Crock-Pot (with spokesperson Joe Garagiola), the Baggies alligator (crocodile?) mascot, and Smucker’s Grape Jelly.
I had forgotten about the Baggies mascot but was pleased to see him again. Anything on TV that was even vaguely cartoon-like was primo television for the nine-year-old me. Roll ’em!
‘GENTLEMEN PREFER HANES’ JINGLE COMMERCIAL (1974)
Hanes pantyhose commercial featuring a famous jingle. Spot aired March 1974.
RIVAL CROCK-POT COMMERCIAL (JOE GARAGIOLA, 1975)
Rival Crock-Pot stoneware slow cooker commercial starring baseball player-announcer Joe Garagiola. Spot aired December 1975.
BAGGIES ALLIGATOR MASCOT COMMERCIAL (1976)
Animated Baggies ribbed sandwich bags commercial featuring an alligator mascot. Spot aired Spring 1976.
SMUCKER’S GRAPE JELLY COMMERCIAL (1977)
Smucker’s Grape Jelly commercial featuring a mother & daughter and a 2 lb jar. Narration by Mason Adams. Spot aired September 1977.
For today’s batch of commercials let’s stick with the early seventies. From 1972, you’ll find spots for Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats (with an under construction World Trade Center in the background) and Canada Dry Club Soda. From 1973, we have Laurence Olivier for Polaroid and a spot for General Motors car roofs.
Have a very good weekend and I hope you’ll join in the seventies-drenched fun again on Monday.
Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal commercial featuring singers on the John F. Kennedy ferry in NYC. Note the World Trade Center still under construction in the background. Spot aired September 1972.
CANADA DRY CLUB SODA COMMERCIAL (1972)
Canada Dry Club Soda commercial featuring a 48-hour bubble test. Spot aired December 1972.
LAURENCE OLIVIER FOR POLAROID CAMERAS (1973)
Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera commercial starring actor Laurence Olivier. Spot aired October 1973.
GENERAL MOTORS ‘CAR ROOFS’ COMMERCIAL (1973)
General Motors “full-size” Colonnade car roof commercial featuring a California colonnade influence for 1974 model Chevrolets, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, and Buicks. Spot aired October 1973.
