Grand Funk ‘The Loco-Motion’ ad via Billboard March 03, 1974
Grand Funk (aka Grand Funk Railroad) released their cover of Goffin & King’s “The Loco-Motion” in early 1974 and it climbed to #1 on the Hot 100 – just like Little Eva’s version in 1962.
This rocked up take on the famed dance tune was produced by Todd Rundgren and appeared on Grand Funk’s Shinin’ On LP of March ’74. Feel the Funk.
There’s a special celebrity surprise in each seventies commercial today. All of the spots aired in 1974 and you’ll find Teri Garr, Joe DiMaggio, Charles Durning, and Chuck McCann. Prepare to be amazed and whatnot.
United Airlines Commercial (Teri Garr, 1974)
United Airlines commercial starring actor Teri Garr (‘Young Frankenstein,’ ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’). Narration by Burgess Meredith. Spot aired March 1974.
Joe DiMaggio For Mr. Coffee (1974)
Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker commercial starring baseball great Joe DiMaggio (New York Yankees). Spot aired March 1974.
Ty-D-Bol Commercial (Charles Durning, 1974)
Automatic Ty-D-Bol toilet bowl cleaner commercial starring actor Charles Durning (‘Tootsie,’ ‘The Sting’). Spot aired March 1974.
Post Raisin Bran Cereal Commercial (Chuck McCann, 1974)
Post Raisin Bran cereal commercial starring actor Chuck McCann (‘Far Out space Nuts,’ Sonny the Cuckoo Bird). Spot aired March 1974.
Betty Wright‘s “Pure Love” was released as a single on the Alston label in 1970 and it hit #40 on the R&B chart. To my mind, this soul classic should have hit the pop singles Hot 100 as well. The tune, written by Clarence Reid & Willie Clarke, later appeared on Wright’s I Love The Way You Love LP in 1972.
I’m familiar with the album version of “Pure Love” and I’m not sure if it differs from the single. Sadly, Wright passed away in May of 2020. – let’s spin the track in her honor.
Lots of seventies-related stories in the news the past week or so – let’s have a look-see.
THE FANTASTIC FANNY
Highly recommended 70s rock band Fanny are the subject of an upcoming documentary The Right To Rock. The film, directed by Bobbi Jo Hart, is set for release later this year. Details are a bit scarce at the moment but you can read more at Documentary.org and watch a fantastic trailer below.
Documentary.org Quote: “FANNY: The Right to Rock reveals the incredible, untold story of three Filipina American teens who self-founded a garage band in the 1960s that morphed into the ferocious California rock group Fanny, the first band comprised of women to release an LP with a major record label (Warner/Reprise/1970). Despite releasing Top 40 hits and five critically-acclaimed albums between 1970 to 1974, counting David Bowie as one of their biggest fans and touring extensively with bands like CHICAGO, Steely Dan and other major groups, Fanny’s groundbreaking impact in music has been lost in the mists of time… until now.”
‘FANNY: The Right to Rock’ Trailer
BUY BRADY
Eve Plumb raises a mug to your health at the PlumbGoods website 2021
Eve Plumb aka Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch has launched a company, PlumbGoods, offering items for the home including 70s style flower mugs and scented candles.
Eve Plumb Quote: “Filming HGTV’s ‘A Very Brady Renovation’ brought back a flood of nostalgia for the vibrant color and textures of the ’70s. As a teenager I distinctly remember decorating my bedroom door with stickers – and the brightest and most iconic was the bright crazy daisies that I still love to this day!”
Mr. Knight keeping California cool at the Christopher Knight Brands website 2021
Also in Bradyland: You no doubt remember the worldwide sensation that was Oprah’s interview with Harry and Meghan. It turns out that the furniture everyone was parked on during that chat came from Chris “Peter Brady” Knight’s company Porkchops & ApplesauceChristopher Knight Brands.
Boing Boing Quote: “The patio chairs that Harry and Meghan sat in to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey got noticed by the millions of viewers…Next thing? Immediate sell out of the wicker and acacia Burchett Outdoor Club Chairs sold on Overstock.com and Amazon from Christopher Knight Brands.”
RINGO’S NEW THINGO
Ringo Starr & Paul McCartney in Ringo’s ‘Here’s To The Nights’ video December 2020
Varietytalks with Ringo Starr about recording Zoom In, his very first solo EP. Yep, an Extended Play, not a single or an album. Also discussed is Peter Jackson’s upcoming Beatles doc Get Back. Zoom In is available now.
Variety Quote: “Everyone assumes there will be a boxed set of the ‘Let It Be’ album sessions to go with the film. You’ve talked before about how happy you are to have the familiar studio songs remastered as well as having the outtakes, partly because of the clarity of the drums.
Ringo: I mean, it’s interesting for people who follow us and follow music as to how we got to the final one. But, you know, take four wasn’t bad either. [Laughs.] It’s a boxed set and you have to put in what you believe in, and that is to just show you where it goes. But the greatest things about the remastering is, as you’ve said, you can hear the drums now. Giles (Martin) is doing a great job; he loves drums, and I love Giles. And now they’ve got the Atmos mixes. It’s moving on from those mono days, I’m telling you.”
I’ve got an eclectic assortment of seventies commercials for you today. We start with a 1973 spot for the ’74 Subaru and move on to Harley-Davidson, Liquid-Plumer with a Bionic Disco fave, Allan Melvin, and top it all off with Snoopy’s Doghouse. Have a nice trip down the yellow brick road.
Tina Turner “Acid Queen” ad via Cash Box March 08, 1975
Tina Turner appeared as The Acid Queen in Ken Russell’s film version of Tommy, belting out the tune in question. A version of Turner singing the Pete Townsend-penned tune can be found on The Who’s Tommy soundtrack of 1975.
Turner released an album entitled Acid Queen that same year which would be her last as a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. The LP contained a different version of the track. Instead of simply listing to an audio file, here’s Turner whipping the song into submission on TV in 1978.
