Music For Monday: Brighter Side Of Darkness, ‘Love Jones’ (1972)

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Chicago’s Brighter Side of Darkness released their “Love Jones” single in late 1972 and by February, 1973 it had reached #16 on the US Hot 100 and been certified Gold.

The tune was written by young band members Ralph Eskridge and Randolph Murph with assistance from producer Clarence Johnson. “Love Jones” appears on the LP of the same name, the group’s only album before disbanding.

You’ll likely remember Cheech & Chong’s “Love Jones” parody, “Basketball Jones,” which actually grabbed a #15 slot on the Hot 100. One place higher than Brighter Side of Darkness’ original. Oh, the irony. Here’s the band performing on Soul Train in 1973. Enjoy the slow dance.

BRIGHTER SIDE OF DARKNESS, ‘LOVE JONES’ (‘SOUL TRAIN,’ 1973)

Previously on Music for Monday: Tony Bennett, ‘Get Happy’ (Live, 1970)

70s Commercials: ‘Partridge Family’ Promo, Pontiac Grand Am Debut & More (1973)

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Today’s tenuous theme for our new batch of seventies commercials is “1973.” First up, it’s The Partridge Family with an ABC promo implying that Reuben Kincaid is a father figure. I never really looked at it that way before.

After that, it’s the debut of the Pontiac Grand Am, F. Murray Abraham for Listerine, and lastly, a spot for Total Cereal. Have a magnificent weekend!

(Visit the Bionic Disco YouTube channel for thousands more 70s commercials.)

‘THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY’ TV PROMO (1973)

ABC promo for ‘The Partridge Family’ featuring Shirley Jones and David Cassidy aired in 1973.

PONTIAC GRAND AM ‘DEBUT’ COMMERCIAL (1973)

General Motors debut Pontiac Grand Am commercial featuring a test track demonstration aired January 1973.

LISTERINE COMMERCIAL (F. MURRAY ABRAHAM, 1973)

Listerine mouthwash commercial starring Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham (‘Amadeus’) aired October 1973.

TOTAL CEREAL COMMERCIAL (1973)

General Mills Total cereal commercial featuring a waffle-loving restaurant patron aired October 1973.

Previously on 70s Commercials: Eureka Vacuum, Mazda Wagon, ‘Three Musketeers’ & More (1974-75)

More Partridge Family: Partridge Pop: ‘I Can Feel Your Heartbeat’ (1970)

More Pontiac: 70s Spots: ’75 General Motors Compact Cars (1974)

More Listerine: Daily 70s Spot: John Ritter for Listerine (1976)

More Total: 70s Spots: Total & Spoon Size Shredded Wheat Cereal (1974)

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

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**Time to pull a classic post from the Bionic Disco vault. The following originally appeared May 27, 2015**

Jimmy Walker's J.J. Talking Toy ('Ebony' magazine, May, 1975)

Jimmie Walker’s J.J. Talking Toy (Ebony magazine, May, 1975)

“Kids think J.J. is Dyn-O-mite!”

Notice the ad avoids calling the item a “doll.” Still, it’s a pretty dyn-o-mite toy. Jimmie Walker’s J.J. Talking Toy originally appeared in the May, 1975 issue of Ebony magazine.

(Source: Ebony)

Previously on Rad Ads: Jonathan Winters For Hefty (1975)

Classic 70s Music Ads: Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty, ‘We Only Make Believe’ (1971)

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Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty, ‘We Only Make Believe’ ad via Cash Box, February 20, 1971

Are you ready for “The Country Music Event” of 1971? Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty teamed up quite often and quite successfully in the seventies and the We Only Make Believe album was the pair’s first collaboration.

Only one single was released from the LP and “After The Fire Is Gone” grabbed the number one slot on the Country Music chart and #56 on the Hot 100. Catch the famed duo performing the song on TV in ’71 below.

LORETTA LYNN & CONWAY TWITTY, ‘AFTER THE FIRE IS GONE’ (LIVE, 1971)

Previously on Classic 70s Music Ads: The Marmalade, ‘My Little One’ (1971)

More Loretta Lynn: Music For Monday: Loretta Lynn, ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ (1971)

70s Commercials: Eureka Vacuum, Mazda Wagon, ‘Three Musketeers’ & More (1974-75)

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Our new batch of seventies commercials is a mix of products from 1974 to 1976 (or thereabouts). Firstly, the Eureka vacuum. Following that, Horizon Coffee with Pernell Roberts playing a bean-grower called Simon Stone. Finally, the Mazda wagon and a great film, The Three Musketeers. Have at ’em.

EUREKA VACUUM CLEANER COMMERCIAL (MID-1970S)

Eureka Sweet 16 vacuum cleaner commercial aired in the mid-1970s (best guess 1974-76).

HORIZON COFFEE COMMERCIAL (PERNELL ROBERTS, MID-1970S)

Horizon Coffee commercial starring actor Pernell Roberts (‘Bonanza,’ ‘Trapper John, M.D.’). Spot aired in the mid-1970s (best guess 1975 , give or take a year).

MAZDA WAGON ‘CLEARANCE SALE’ COMMERCIAL (1975)

Mazda wagon car commercial featuring a ‘first official’ clearance sale aired October 1975.

‘THE THREE MUSKETEERS’ MOVIE TRAILER (1974 )

TV trailer for the motion picture ‘The Three Musketeers’ starring Michael York, Oliver Reed, and Raquel Welch. Spot aired (the day before the movie opened) in March 1974.

Previously on 70s Commercials: Hasbro’s Wacky Wheel (1971), ’74 Chevy Monte Carlo & More

More Mazda: Daily 70s Ad: Mazda GLC Hatchback (1977)

Music For Monday: Tony Bennett, ‘Get Happy’ (Live, 1970)

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Music for Monday time! Here’s something to brighten the start of your week. It’s Tony Bennett performing a driving, less-than-two-minute version of “Get Happy” on The Ed Sullivan Show, October 18, 1970.

Tony Bennett is still with us and performing at the grand age of 94. His studio version of “Get Happy” appears on the 1968 LP Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Roll the clip and try not to tap your feet – it’s darn near impossible. Although the audience do seem to be doing their best to remain disinterested. Whew. Tough crowd.

TONY BENNETT, ‘GET HAPPY’ (LIVE ON ‘THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW,’ 1970)

Previously on Music for Monday: The Temptations, ‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy’ (1970)