50-Years-Ago This Week: Aretha Franklin, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ ad via Record World, April 10, 1971
Aretha Franklin’s version of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” appeared on two of her 1971 LPs; Live At Fillmore West and Aretha’s Greatest Hits. Franklin’s take on this #1 hit made it to #6 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart. If you’re weary, pull up a pew and have a listen.
ARETHA FRANKLIN, ‘BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER’ (LIVE, 1971)
There’s a pair of future TV stars in today’s batch of seventies commercials. You’ll spy Sherman Hemsley from The Jeffersons in a spot for NyQuil and Cathryn Damon from Soap in one for Big Wally. You can also take in commercials for Kraft and Budweiser. Let ’em roll.
KRAFT CARAMEL APPLES COMMERCIAL (1971)
Kraft Caramels candy commercial featuring candied apples aired November 1971. Narration by Ed Herlihy.
VICKS NYQUIL COMMERCIAL (SHERMAN HEMSLEY, 1972)
Vicks Nyquil commercial starring actor Sherman Hemsley (‘The Jeffersons’) aired in 1972.
BIG WALLY SPRAY CLEANER COMMERCIAL (CATHRYN DAMON, 1974)
Johnson Wax Big Wally spray-on cleaning product commercial starring actor Cathryn Damon (‘Soap’) aired March 1974.
BUDWEISER BEER ‘BICENTENNIAL’ COMMERCIAL (1976)
Anheuser-Busch Budweiser beer commercial featuring an American Revolution theme. Spot aired during the “Bicentennial Fever” era 1975-1976.
Michael Nesmith & The First National Band, ‘Nevada Fighter’ ad via Record World April 10, 1971
50-years-ago this week, Michael Nesmith & The First National Band’s “Nevada Fighter” single was released as a teaser for the album of the same name. The track was written and produced by Nesmith and made it to #70 on Billboard‘s Hot 100. Lend an ear.
MICHAEL NESMITH & THE FIRST NATIONAL BAND, “NEVADA FIGHTER” (1971)
I’ve got an eclectic collection of ancient seventies commercials for you today. Click the ol’ play buttons for spots from AMF, Ford, Wish-Bone, and Marx. Have a wonderful weekend, Bionic friends!
Here’s a great find that just may make your day. George Clinton and Funkadelic costumed up and in super-psychedelic mode dancing across New York City in 1973.
The band are performing “Cosmic Slop” from the album of the same name. The song, written by Clinton and Bernie Worrell, was released as a single so it’s fairly safe to assume this outing was captured to create what we’d now call a music video. The description by the YouTube poster, reelblack, sums things up perfectly: “George Clinton on LSD. Central Park in the 1970s. A Can of film. That was that was needed to make history.” Roll ’em!
Jeff Beck ‘Blow By Blow’ ad via Billboard April 5, 1975
Jeff Beck’s Blow By Blow LP was released in the spring of 1975 and grabbed a very respectable #4 on the album charts. This platinum-selling record of instrumentals was produced by George Martin and features a cover of the Beatles’ “She’s A Woman” and contributions by Stevie Wonder. Let’s have a wee listen.
