From The Vault: Evel Soars On Harley ’75

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**Time to pull a classic post from the Bionic Disco vault. The following originally appeared June 19, 2011**

Here’s a totally radical magazine ad for you from 1975. Evel Knievel for Harley-Davidson – featuring “Knievel’s own XR-750” and other nifty AMF Harleys such as the FXE-1200 and the Z-90.

No, I don’t really know my bikes but Evel sure as hell did. This one time, he jumped over like 35 buses. He crashed and stuff but it was super cool.

See this arm kid? Broken in 16 places. Cool, huh?

“Follow the lead of Evel Knievel. To the AMF Harley-Davidson world of freedom.”

Check out the official Evel Knievel site for more great pics like this.

Previously on From the Vault: Rad Ads – Jimmie Walker’s J.J. Talking Toy (1975)

Classic 70s Music Ads: Wings, ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ (1972)

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Wings, ‘Mary Had A Little Lamb’ ad via Billboard, June 10, 1972

Paul McCartney and Wings released their version of the fairy tale sing-a-long “Mary Had A Little Lamb” in early summer of 1972. This non-LP single arrived in the time period between the Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway albums and grabbed the #9 spot in the UK and #28 in the US. Sing along below with rare video from the period.

WINGS, ‘MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB’ (1972)

Previously on Classic 70s Music Ads: George Harrison, ‘Living In The Material World’ (1973)

More Paul McCartney: Music For Monday: Paul McCartney & Wings, ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ (Live ’76)

70s Commercials: Kraft Mac & Cheese, Howard Cosell, Leggy Dolls (1971-72)

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I’ve got some seventies advertising for you today. Surprised? I didn’t think so.

First, two spots from 1971; Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner and Brunswick’s Blueberry Fling bowling ball. Second, from ’72; Fruit of the Loom underwear starring Howard Cosell and Leggy dolls from Hasbro.

KRAFT MACARONI & CHEESE COMMERCIAL (1971)

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner commercial aired November 1971.

BRUNSWICK ‘BLUEBERRY FLING’ BOWLING BALL COMMERCIAL (1971)

Brunswick Blueberry & Raspberry Fling bowling balls commercial featuring a runaway ball aired November 1971.

FRUIT OF THE LOOM UNDERWEAR COMMERCIAL (HOWARD COSELL, 1972)

Fruit of the Loom underwear commercial featuring Howard Cosell and roller derby players aired December 1972.

LEGGY DOLLS COMMERCIAL (HASBRO, 1972)

Hasbro Leggy dolls commercial aired in 1972 (best guess based on doll collector info and print ads of the era).

Previously on 70s Commercials: Bell Telephone, Ford Mustang, ‘Time After Time’ (1979)

More Kraft: Sunday 70s Spots: Kraft Parkay Margarine & Spaghetti Meals (1974)

More Bowling: Daily 70s Spot #406: ‘Go Bowling!’ (1972)

More Fruit Of The Loom: 70s Spots: Fruit Of The Loom Briefs & Playtex Bras (1978)

More Howard Cosell: Daily 70s Spot #388: Howard Cosell’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ Promo (1975)

More Hasbro: 70s Spots: Keebler Elves & G.I. Joe (1975-76)

Music For Monday: The Monkees, ‘Oh My My’ (1970)

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Here they come. Roarin’ down your street…

Happy Monday, all. The Monkees, at this stage a duo of Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz, released “Oh My My” in April of 1970. The song was written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim and appeared on the Changes L.P.

This fine tune only made it to #98 on the US Hot 100 and was the last Monkees song to chart until the late 1980s. Have a look & listen with an excellent quality promo film available below.

THE MONKEES, ‘OH MY MY’ (1970)

Previously on Music for Monday: New York Dolls, ‘Showdown’ (Live, 1974)

More Monkees: The Monkees’ Davy Jones Has Died

70s Commercials: Bell Telephone, Ford Mustang, ‘Time After Time’ (1979)

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Today, we’re focused on the last year of the seventies – 1979. Our quartet of spots features Bell System Telephone, the new Ford Mustangs, a childhood favorite film of mine, Time After Time, and presumably delicious Idaho Potatoes. Dig in.

BELL TELEPHONE ‘REACH OUT!’ JINGLE COMMERCIAL (1979)

Bell System telephone commercial featuring a famous jingle aired December 1979.

FORD MUSTANG ‘NEW BREED’ COMMERCIAL (1979)

Ford Mustang commercial featuring the 1979 line-up; 2-Door, 3-Door, and Ghia. Spot aired January 1979.

‘TIME AFTER TIME’ TV TRAILER (1979)

Television trailer for the motion picture ‘Time After Time’ starring Malcolm McDowell, Mary Steenburgen, and David Warner. Spot aired September 1979.

IDAHO POTATOES COMMERCIAL (HEMINGWAY, 1979)

Idaho Potato Commission commercial featuring writer-conservationist Jack Hemingway (son of Ernest). Spot aired February 1979.

Previously on 70s Commercials: Hunt’s Manwich, Tang, ‘Courtship Of Eddie’s Father’ (1970)

More Bell Telephone: Daily 70s Ad: Bell System Telephone ‘Choosey Beginners’ (1978)

More Ford Mustang: Daily 70s Spot #540, 541: Ford Mustang II Cobra & Maverick (1976)

More Malcolm McDowell: Trailer Tuesday: ‘A Clockwork Orange’

70s Commercials (Buried Treasures): Janitor In A Drum, United Airlines, Ford (1974-78)

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Here’s a batch of seventies commercials that appeared on the ol’ YouTube channel when the website was on hiatus. From 1974, we have Janitor in a Drum (how do they fit them in there?), United Airlines, and Ford’s 1975 line-up. Lastly, from ’78, a spot for Lip Quencher lipstick.

JANITOR IN A DRUM COMMERCIAL (1974)

Janitor In A Drum commercial aired February 1974.

UNITED AIRLINES ‘FRIENDSHIP’ COMMERCIAL (1974)

United Airlines commercial featuring a friendship theme and actor Sorrell Booke (‘The Dukes of Hazard’) aired September 1974.

’75 FORD LINE-UP COMMERCIAL (HUGH DOWNS, 1974)

Ford commercial featuring the 1975 line-up; Elite, LTD, and Granada. Spot aired September 1974.

LIP QUENCHER LIPSTICK COMMERCIAL (1978)

Lip Quencher lipstick commercial featuring eight new shades. The actor-model appears to be Shelley Smith. Spot aired September 1978.

Previously on 70s Commercials (Buried Treasures): Budweiser, ’20/20′, Pepsi & Chevy (1976-78)

More United Airlines: 70s Spots: United Airlines To Hawaii & Trailways Bus (1978)

More Ford: 70s Spots: ’71 Ford LTD (Rod Serling, 1970)

More Lip Quenchers: 70s Spots: Lip Quenchers Lipstick (1978)