John Lennon ‘Power To The People’ / Yoko Ono ‘Open Your Box’ via Cash Box March 20, 1971
Being the 50th anniversary of this Plastic Ono Band release (Mar. 12 ’71 UK/Mar. 22, ’71 US), let’s listen in to John Lennon’s “Power To The People” and Yoko Ono’s “Open Your Box.”
“Power To The People” was recorded, with Phil Spector producing, during sessions for Lennon’s Imagine album. The anthem hit #11 in the US and #7 in the UK. The song has an undeniable sing-a-long and stomp your feet quality but doesn’t really rank up there with Lennon’s best. The artist himself later admitted to being a bit embarrassed by the tune.
Yoko Ono’s “Open Your Box” faced some controversy due to its racy lyrics and Capital Records refused to release it in the US. It was replaced by the tune “Touch Me.” “Open Your Box” was produced by Lennon-Ono and features Lennon on funky guitar.
The star of our block of seventies commercials today is Heinz Ketchup featuring Carly Simon’s “Anticipation.” I’m sure you remember this running series of spots featuring the tune. You’ll also find the Body Buddies, Jeanne and Bernie Ernst, syndicated TV fitness instructors, Revlon, and the ’79 Ford Futura. I’ve arranged them in chronological order for your viewing pleasure.
Revlon Super Lustrous Cream-On Shadow makeup commercial featuring a model flying a helicopter aired March 1976.
Heinz Ketchup ‘Anticipation’ Commercial (1977)
Heinz Tomato Ketchup commercial featuring Carly Simon’s “Anticipation” aired August 1977. Narrator is Casey Kasem.
Win’s Super Belt Commercial (‘Body Buddies,’ 1978)
Trim With Win Super Belt commercial featuring syndicated TV fitness instructors, Dr. Bernie & Jeanne Ernst – the ‘Body Buddies.’ Spot aired May 1978 (produced in ’77).
Ford Futura ‘Now!’ Commercial (1979)
’79 Ford Futura commercial featuring actor Morgan Brittany (‘Dallas’) disco dancing aired February 1979.
I’ve gathered up a few seventies-related stories from the past week for you to peruse. I hope you find them retro-actively enlightening. Is that a thing?
LET’S TALK MEGO’S 2-XL TALKING ROBOT
Boing Boing has some fun chatter (an article & podcast) analyzing Mego’s 2-XL Talking Robot toy from 1978. This charming little fellow provided minutes of quality entertainment!
Boing Boing quote:
“So what you’re looking at, actually, is not a robot but a VERY clever use of eight track tapes. The 2-XL has four buttons, which are the same buttons you’ll find on an 8-track player. The data cartridges inside the 2-XL were merely 8-track tapes, and the 2-XL is really just an 8-track player with blinking eyes – but that shows the brilliant idea on how to use the format for something interactive.”
The article contains a commercial for the 2-XL from 1981 – so, here’s a bonus commercial from 1978. I have a need to keep things 70s-centric. Thank me later!
Mego 2-XL Robot Commercial (1978)
LOOK WOT HE DUN!
Dave Hill and Slade (1974)
The Guardianchats with Slade guitarist Dave Hill and the memories flow like strawberry wine and foot-stompin’ glitter.
The Guardian Quote: “…Lead guitarist Hill was always the crazy one. He was famous for his pudding-basin fringe, glittering face, gold capes, mighty stacks (disguising his diddy, 5ft 4in stature) and ray-gun-shaped guitar called Super Yob. In his heyday, he drove a silver Jensen Interceptor and a gold Rolls-Royce with the number plate Yob 1. Hill was marketed as the yob’s yob.”
HAMILL? HE’S HORRIFIED
‘An elegant weapon.’ Star Wars (1977)
There’s a quick little piece at the Hollywood Reporter on Mark Hamill’s reaction to a viral Star Wars meme and some on-set photography.
Hollywood Reporter Quote: “‘This makes me cringe every time I see it,’ said Hamill of the meme, adding, ‘I don’t remember doing this in the movie. I think it’s just an on-set production still, otherwise Obi-Wan wouldn’t look so remarkably unconcerned.’ And he is correct. In the film, Luke does not look at the lightsaber as he does in the meme.”
BUNNY WAILER PASSES
Bunny Wailer at Rototom Sunsplash (2015)
It’s likely you caught the news of reggae master Bunny Wailer’s passing at age 73 last week. However, it’s worth jumping over to Rolling Stone for a nice overview of why Wailer is so revered.
Rolling Stone Quote: “While Marley and Tosh served as the Wailers’ primary singers and songwriters, Livingston played an indispensable role in providing harmonies to the trio’s songs. The Wailers next teamed with Perry and his Upsetters for 1970’s Soul Rebels and 1971’s Soul Revolution; around that time, Livingston wrote and recorded one of his signature songs, ‘Dreamland,’ a track he revisited when he released his solo LP Blackheart Man in 1976.”
Time to put on our bulky headphones, take out a vinyl LP, and pop it on the turntable for another Hidden Gem. Today, as you may have surmised from the headline, we’re going to enjoy a melodic and funky tune from The Manhattans entitled “Strange Old World.”
“Strange Old World” was written by the group’s Richard Taylor and first appeared on their 1972 album A Million To One. The song was so good it showed up again on the The Manhattans 1974 LP That’s How Much I Love You. Soak it up.
1973 is the theme for today’s quartet of commercials. Click the clickers below for vintage spots for Buc-Wheats cereal, Jockey underwear with Yogi Berra, AMC, and Philco.
Buc-Wheats Cereal Commercial (1973)
General Mills Buc-Wheats cereal commercial featuring a stone-grinding water mill aired October 1973.
Jockey underwear commercial with baseball great Yogi Berra and his sons; Dale, Tim, and Larry aired September 1973.
AMC Car Comparison Commercial (1973)
AMC Buyer Protection Plan (Gremlin, Hornet, Javelin, Matador, Ambassador) commercial featuring a comparison to Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Spot aired December 1973.
Philco Ford TV Set Commercial (1973)
Philco Ford television set commercial featuring a 2-year guarantee aired October 1973.
Sammy Johns – “Chevy Van” ad via Cash Box March 08, 1975
Sammy Johns‘ “Chevy Van” was originally released in 1973 and didn’t cause much of a stir. However, when a re-release hit the airwaves in early 1975 it climbed all the way to #5 on the Hot 100.
It doesn’t get much more seventies than this one. We even get to enjoy instrumentation by the legendary studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew. Rev your engines and have a listen.
