Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Apollo-Themed 45 Releases

When I was in 11th grade, the unthinkable happened:  I received two Fs in the same quarter!  One of the Fs was in Physics class, an absolute nightmare.  Thankfully, Paul Guinnessy of the American Institute of Physics has helped me deprogram from this hellish experience, thus empowering this historian-in-training to gather up the courage to take on new musical challenges — in this case, showcasing 45 single releases that celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of the Apollo moon landing program:

45 Single Releases from 1969

Three images below formatted in Hyperspace mode

“Audio highlights of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Mission”

Note:  “Record comes with 2, 3 page wrap round sleeves and with a 4 page insert.  Pressed exclusively for News of the World readers.”

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

“Audio highlights of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Mission”
Narrated by Peter Thomas.

Link to 45Cat catalog record

Note:  7″ record at 33 1/3 rpm

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Note:  Issued as a flexi-disc

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

Note:  “Swedish reporter interspersed with original NASA soundtrack of the first moon landing 1969”

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Note:  Sole release from South Africa’s Rory Blackwell Sound.

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Note:  Produced by DC’s WWDC — compliments of the Washington Senators; “Baseball Is More Than a Game” by The John Bahler Singers on the flip side.

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Note:  In no way was MGM involved in staging the moon landing.

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

Note:  US picture sleeve = ‘Future ShockTypeface in Popular Music

Note:  French picture sleeve = song produced/written/arranged by Rick Shorter

LINK to Discogs catalog record + streaming audio

Note:  Band from Belgium.

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

Note:  Band from France.

LINK to Discogs catalog record + streaming audio

Note:  B-side of “Time of the Season” instrumental cover.

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

“Apollo 11” backed with “Moonwalk”

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

“Apollo 11” backed with “Mission Control”

LINK to 45Cat catalog record 

Note:  Moon Boys = Hippy Boys (i.e., future rhythm section for The Wailers)

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

Side One title:  Moments In Space History
Side Two title:  The Actual Voyage Of Apollo 11

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

Note:  Promo 45 only

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Note:  Produced by CBS News with Walter Cronkite and Joel Heller.

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Let’s Do It On the Moon” backed with “Moon Shot

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Johnny Harris Orchestra — German picture sleeve

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Johnny Harris Orchestra — French picture sleeve

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

Note:  Sole release by German band, Gordon Young and the California Brass.

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

German picture sleeve

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

Moon Mission” backed with “Astronautical”

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

The Cape Canaveral Construction Company — Spanish picture sleeve

LINK to 45Cat catalog record

The Cape Canaveral Construction Company — UK release

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

LINK to 45Cat catalog record + streaming audio

Featured song:

Moon Flight” by Vik Venus [break-in record]

Buddah issued this Japanese picture sleeve in August, 1969.

Honorable mention:  “Apollo 13” by French composer/bandleader Caravelli

LINK to Zero to 180’s  “Duke Ellington Meets Apollo 11” from 2017

Also worth noting:  “Man on the Moon” by saxophonist Ornette Coleman

France – 1969

Apollo = Canadian label (1969-1970)

Early reggae blank promo 45 by unknown harmony group!
Man Discovering the Moon” – 1969 – Jamaica

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