70s Spots: Vintage Wal-Mart, Honeycomb Cereal

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The latest advertising time capsules are up on the Bionic Disco YouTube channel and below. Tune in for Wal-Mart, The Chisholms, Post Honeycomb cereal, and the 1979 Fiat Strada.

Vintage Wal-Mart Commercial (1979)

Wal-Mart “Super Inflation Buster Sale” commercial aired February 1979.

‘The Chisholms’ Series Finale Promo (1979)

CBS promo for the mini-series finale of The Chisholms starring Robert Preston. Spot aired April 1979. The show returned in Jan. 1980 as a short-lived regular series.

Honeycomb Cereal ‘Billy Big & Crunch Crunch’ Commercial (1978)

Animated Post Honeycomb cereal commercial featuring Billy Big and Crunch Crunch aired in 1978-79.

’79 Fiat Strada Commercial (1978)

1979 model Fiat Strada (aka Fiat Ritmo) commercial filmed in Italy. Spot aired December, 1978.

Previously on 70s Spots: Greg Brady For Shasta & More

More Honeycomb cereal: 70s Spots: Post Honeycomb Cereal (The Hulk, 1977)

More Fiat: 70s Spots: Fiat Strada ‘Italy’ (1979)

Hot Songs – Feb. 22, 1971: George Harrison, Aretha Franklin

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Opening a 50-year-old copy of Cash Box magazine and feasting our eyes on the Top 100 song chart for this week, February 20, 1971, we find some rather amazing tunes making their debut.

Coming in at #46 it’s George Harrison with “What Is Life.” This track from the 1970 LP All Things Must Pass features wall-of-sound guitar assistance from Eric Clapton and three members of Badfinger.

George Harrison, “What Is Life” (1970)

At #47 it’s Aretha Franklin with “You’re All I Need To Get By.” Aretha’s cover of the Marvin Gaye-Tammi Terrell tune appeared on the 1971 collection Aretha’s Greatest Hits.

Aretha Franklin, “You’re All I Need To Get By” (1971)

Next up, at #55 it’s The Fifth Dimension with “Love’s Lines, Angels And Rhymes” from the 1971 LP of the same name.

The Fifth Dimension, “Love’s Lines, Angels And Rhymes” (1971)

At #66 it’s Marvin Gaye with one of the greatest songs of all-time, “What’s Going On.” You’ll find Gaye’s signature song on the 1971 LP of the same name.

Marvin Gaye, “What’s Going On” (Live, 1972)

And rounding out the five, highest-charting debut songs for this week 50-years-ago, we have at #71, Chicago with “Free.” This tune appeared on the 1971 LP Chicago III.

Chicago, “Free” (Live, 1974)

Previously on Hot Songs: Feb. 15, 1974: McCartney & Wings

70s Spots: Greg Brady For Shasta & More

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Lots of fun to be had in today’s quartet of seventies commercials. You’ll find Barry “Greg Brady” Williams dancing in a suit of armor for Shasta, the famed “Burger King And I” jingle, Pillsbury’s Figurines, and the Pontiac Grand Prix.

(For thousands more 70s commercials visit the Bionic Disco YouTube channel)

‘Burger King And I’ Song Commercial (1978)

Burger King commercial aired March 1978.

Shasta Orange Soda Commercial (Barry Williams, 1977)

Shasta commercial featuring Barry Williams (‘The Brady Bunch’) and narration by Casey Kasem aired August 1977.

Pillsbury Figurines Commercial (1976)

Pillsbury Figurines commercial featuring Carla Borelli aired March 1976.

’76 Pontiac Grand Prix Commercial (1975)

General Motors Pontiac Grand Prix commercial aired October 1975.

Previously on 70s Spots: Rerun & The Lockers, Tickle, Dentyne

More Burger King: 70s Spots: ‘Burger King And I’ (1978 & ’79)

More Shasta: 70s Spots: Shasta Root Beer & Sunkist Oranges (1976)

More Pillsbury: Sunday 70s Spots: Quaker Oats & Pillsbury Swirl Cake (1979)

More Pontiac: Daily 70s Ad : Pontiac Safari Wagon (1978)

70s In The News: Bootsy Collins, McDonaldland & More

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Bootsy Collins photo via TheBootCave.com

BOOTSY LOOT-SEE

NPR.org has posted a chat with seventies funk superstar Bootsy Collins. Bootsy talks about his years with Parliament-Funkadelic and James Brown and plays tracks from his personal collection of recordings.

NPR Quote:
“The funk legend’s latest album is called The Power of the One. That title comes from a simple but powerful musical trick he learned from James Brown — a trick he then introduced to George Clinton.”

GRIMACE BRINGS A SMILE

Grimace character sheet from 1975 via Filming In McDonaldland

Boing Boing points us towards Filming In McDonaldland – a gallery of images compiled by the ad exec who invented the imaginary fast food destination. There’s great shots on display from the sixties, seventies, and beyond. A must-see for 70s kids.

Filming In McDonaldland Quote:
“‘Get Yourself Ready for a Trip Through McDonaldland.’
Filming McDonaldland TV commercials from 1970 through 2001.
Created by a ridiculously silly assortment of creative writers & art directors.”

THAT THRILLING SHILLING

Old British coinage via British Pathé newsreel, 1970

Lastly, NPR reports on the 50th anniversary of the UK and Ireland’s switch over to a new decimal-based system of currency in 1971. Away with the bobs and bits!

NPR quote:
“The Royal Mint Museum sent boxes with the old coins to nursing homes, where they brought back memories for the residents, the BBC reported. Though it’s been a half-century, one resident remembered the old system immediately.

“That’s two and six,” she said.

Links:

Bootsy Collins Shares Recordings From His Personal Archives

Filming in McDonaldland: rare behind-the-scenes from McDonalds commercials

U.K. And Ireland Celebrate 50 Years Since ‘Decimal Day’

Previously on 70s In The News: SF Photo Archive & VCR Dating

Classic 70s Ads: George Carlin, ‘FM & AM’ LP (1972)

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Comedian George Carlin releases the FM & AM album representing his turn away from characters in favor of self-expression. Hilarity ensues.

Carlin quote:
“It’s called FM & AM because FM represents my newer, freer approach to comedy and AM is the older, more rigid style I’m coming away from.”

The ad appeared in the March 04, 1972 issue of Cash Box magazine.

*Warning: Recording contains adult language.

Previously on Classic 70s Ads: Carpenters – ‘Solitaire’ (1975)

70s Spots: Rerun & The Lockers, Tickle, Dentyne

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I’ve got a powerhouse batch of commercials on offer today. Four seventies time capsules that will bring back the memories. We start with Dentyne and move on to Fred Berry and The Lockers poppin’ for Schlitz Malt Liquor, Tickle antiperspirant, and a classic animated Clairol Herbal Essence spot. Bon appétit!

(For many more 70s commercials hit up the Bionic Disco YouTube channel)

Dentyne Gum Commercial (1976)

Dentyne commercial aired March 1976.

Schlitz Malt Liquor Commercial (Rerun & The Lockers, 1976)

Schlitz commercial with Fred ‘Rerun’ Berry and The Lockers aired March 1976.

Tickle ‘Giggle’ Commercial (1977)

Tickle antiperspirant commercial aired July 1977.

Clairol Herbal Essence Shampoo Animated Commercial (1977)

Clairol Herbal Essence shampoo commercial aired July 1977.

Previously on 70s Spots: Jolly Green Giant & Pepperidge Farm Pound Cake

More Fred “Rerun” Berry: Show Toppers: What’s Happening!!

More Tickle: 70s Spots: Tickle & Ban Deodorant (1976 & ’77)

More Clairol: Daily 70s Ad: Clairol ‘Looking Good’ (1970)