Arresting Ads From the Archives of Billboard, Cash Box, Record World & Beat Instrumental

[April 2023 update = streaming audio now included]

From browsing back issues of the major music industry trade publications, I’ve discovered that Record World is refreshingly focused on just the music, and not, say, coin-operated amusements (i.e., Cash Box) or circuses, fairs, and the entertainment industry (Billboard). Beat Instrumental from the UK is likewise devoted to the music but delves deeply into “gear” (guitars, amps, recording process) in a way that sets it apart from the others. Billboard — which enjoys distinction as one of the world’s oldest trade publications — was originally a Cincinnati-based periodical when its first issue hit the newstands in November 1894, you might be surprised to learn.

From what I have observed, much of the advertising in the major music trades of the day was (and likely still is) ephemeral in nature, with a great many of the full-page ads here being run only once or twice. With this piece, therefore, Zero to 180 attempts to corral some of the more distinctive and memorable ads of the mid-to-late 1960s, lest they wind up in history’s wastebin.

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Modern Architecture As Friend – And Foe

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Ed McMahon

“Beautiful Girl“

Record World

Apr. 15, 1967

Johnny Tillotson

“Don’t Tell Me It’s Raining“

Record World

May 20, 1967

Buzz Clifford

“Echo Park“

Record World

Oct. 18, 1969

Julie Budd

“All’s Quiet on West 23rd Street“

Cash Box

Apr. 27, 1968

John Hartford

“Housing Project“

Billboard

Jun. 22, 1968

Eric Burdon & The Animals

“White Houses“

Billboard

Nov. 23, 1968

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Overseas Artists Vying For The North American Market

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Madalena Iglesias

“El y Ella“

Billboard

Mar. 5, 1966

Bill Hjerpe

“Navigation Blues“

Billboard

Mar. 5, 1966

The Creatures

“Turn Out The Light“

Billboard

Mar. 19, 1966

“If you started out in a cave and ended up making records … you’d look happy, too“

Kui Lee

[non-Mainland US]

“All I Want To Do“

Billboard

Jun. 4, 1966

Eduardo Davidson

“Le Frisson“

Record World

Feb. 11, 1967

Ravi Shankar

“Improvisations on Pather Panchali Theme”

Cash Box

Jul. 1, 1967

Ola & The Janglers

“I Can Wait“

Cash Box

Nov. 18, 1967

Cockie Kay

“Too Young For Love“

Cash Box

Nov. 18, 1967

Sajid Khan

“Hä Ram (Of Love And Peace)”

Cash Box

Aug. 10, 1968

Radha Krishna Temple

“Hare Krishna Mantra“

Billboard

Sep. 6, 1969

Heintje

“Ik Hou Van Holland“

Billboard

Aug. 15, 1970

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Mop Top Beat Groups

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The Liverpool Five

“New Directions“

Billboard

Aug. 6, 1966

The Robbs

“Next Time You See Me“

Billboard

Sep. 10, 1966

The Sidekicks

“Fifi The Flea“

Billboard

Oct. 15, 1966

The Bluebeards

“Come On-A My House“

Cash Box

Feb. 25, 1967

Don And The Goodtimes

“I Could Be So Good To You“

Billboard

Mar. 25, 1967

The Byrds

“Have You Seen Her Face“

Billboard

Jun. 3, 1967

The Nazz

“Open Your Eyes“

Billboard

Jul. 27, 1968

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Top Mop Tops – Beatles

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“Nowhere Man“

Billboard

Feb. 26, 1966

“Paperback Writer“

Billboard

Jun. 4, 1966

Grapefruit

“Elevator“

Billboard

May 11, 1968

Cilla Black

“Step Inside Love“

Billboard

May 11, 1968

“I Am The Walrus“

Billboard

Nov. 25, 1967

Earle Doud & Alen Robin

Billboard

Dec. 2, 1967

Joe Cocker

“With A Little Help From My Friends“

Billboard

Nov. 9, 1968

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Top Mop Tops – Rolling Stones

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“19th Nervous Breakdown“

Billboard

Feb. 19, 1966

“Mother’s Little Helper“

Billboard

Jul. 9, 1966

Twice As Much

“Sittin’ On a Fence“

Billboard

Jun. 18, 1966

Del Shannon

“Under My Thumb“

Billboard

Aug. 6, 1966

“Street Fighting Man“

Billboard

Dec. 14, 1968

Marianne Faithfull

“Something Better“

Record World

Mar. 22, 1969

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Top Mop Tops – Beach Boys

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“Our Prayer“

Billboard

1966 Talent Directory

Thanks to Bryan Richardson for digitally stitching this 2-page ad

“Good Vibrations“

Billboard

Oct. 15, 1966

“Heroes & Villains“

Record World

Jul. 29, 1967

“Gettin’ Hungry“

Cash Box

Sep. 9, 1967

“Do It Again“

Cash Box

Jul. 13, 1968

“Cabinessence“

Billboard

Jan. 25, 1969

“I Can Hear Music“

Billboard

Feb. 22, 1969

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The Latest Gear

Beat Instrumental

January 1965

[Okay, so technically not an ad]

Beat Instrumental

April 1965

Beat Instrumental

November 1965

Beat Instrumental

January 1966

Guitar + Organ = Guitar-Organ

Beat Instrumental

January 1966

Early drum machine

Beat Instrumental

November 1966

Beat Instrumental

September 1966

2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 3

(read the fine print for the details on those numbers)

Beat Instrumental

October 1967

Keith Moon‘s “Exploding” Pop Art drum kit

(optimally viewed under fluorescent black light)

Cash Box

Oct. 21, 1967

Beat Instrumental

February 1969

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Chess/Cadet Records’ Memorable Marketing Campaigns

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Howlin’ Wolf

“Tail Dragger“

Record World

Feb. 22, 1969

Pigmeat Markham

“Here Comes The Judge“

Record World

Jun. 15, 1968

Muddy Waters

“The Same Thing“

Cash Box

Oct. 19, 1968

“These Records Have Made Us Pure Again“

Rotary Connection

“Amen“

Billboard

Feb. 10, 1968

Baby Washington

“Is It Worth It“

Record World

Dec. 12, 1970

Billboard

July 29, 1967

Billboard

November 4, 1967

Record World

Mar. 23, 1968

Record World

Aug. 17, 1968

Record World

Mar. 2, 1968

Cash Box

Mar. 9, 1968

Cash Box

Apr. 1, 1967

Record World

Apr. 8, 1967

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History Repeats Itself!

Cab Calloway delineates the eerie similarities between the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations while backed by a patriotic choir — released as a 45 on ABC subsidiary label, Boom Records.

“History Repeats Itself“

Record World

Mar. 26, 1966

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A Whimsical Pairing

Ad #1

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The Who

“Pinball Wizard“

Record World

Mar. 22, 1969

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Ad #2

Record World

Jun. 6, 1970

The Assembled Multitude

“Overture From Tommy“

(Note the oversized images of Ahmet Ertegun & Jerry Wexler in the background)

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A Premier Pairing = Spelling Pays!

Billboard

Mar. 22, 1969 ‘Campus Attractions’ special issue

– Company misspells own’s name –

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Billboard

Mar. 29, 1969

– New ad in following issue sans typo (and with vastly reduced color) –

An Epic Pairing –

Terry Reid & Vivian Reed

Billboard

Nov. 23, 1968

Thanks to Bryan Richardson for digitally stitching this 2-page ad

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Just a Splash of Color

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White Whale Records

Record World

Dec. 24, 1966

? And The Mysterians

“96 Tears“

Record World

Sep. 3, 1966

Ramsey Lewis

“Soul Man“

Record World

Oct. 28, 1967

The Supremes

“Love Child“

Record World

Oct. 19, 1968

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Latin Soul

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? And The Mysterians

“Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby“

Record World

Mar. 11, 1967

Jose Feliciano

“My World Is Empty Without You“

Billboard

February 1, 1969

Jose Feliciano

“Hi-Heel Sneakers“

Record World

Dec. 7, 1968

Manzanero

“Paso a Pasito“

Billboard

Dec. 16, 1967

Johnny Jets

“Mary Mary“

Billboard

Dec. 16, 1967

Perez Prado

“Mambo del Taconazo“

Billboard

Jun. 1, 1968

Leo Acosta y Su Orquestra

“Boogaloo No. 3“

Billboard

Aug. 30, 1969

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Eye–Catching Ads

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Rhetta Hughes

“Light My Fire“

Record World

Feb. 22, 1969

Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66

“Mais Que Nada“

Billboard

Feb. 25, 1967

Andy Kim

“Baby I Love You“

Record World

May 10, 1969

The Monkees

“Someday Man“

Record World

Apr. 19, 1969

The Formations

“At The Top Of The Stairs“

Cash Box

Feb. 10, 1968

Strawberry Alarm Clock

“Barefoot In Baltimore“

Billboard

Aug. 3, 1968

The New Colony Six

“I Could Never Lie To You“

Billboard

Apr. 26, 1969

Sandy Posey

“Single Girl“

Billboard

Nov. 19, 1966

The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem

“Isn’t It Grand Boys“

Billboard

Mar. 19, 1966

Artwork from Mad‘s Jack Davis

Hank Williams Jr.

“Nobody’s Child“

Cash Box

Oct. 21, 1967

Artwork from Mad‘s Jack Davis

[ad referenced in Zero to 180’s tribute to Molly Bee]

The Lemon Pipers

“Green Tambourine“

Billboard

Dec. 23, 1967

Shannon

“Abergavenny“

Billboard

Jun. 28, 1969

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Fun and Games

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The Innocence

“There’s Got To Be A Word“

Billboard

Oct. 29, 1966

Howard Tate

“Baby I Love You“

Cash Box

May 27, 1967

Marvin Gaye

“Inner City Blues“

Record World

Jul. 24, 1971

Thanks to Bryan Richardson for digitally stitching this 2-page ad

James Brown

“Get It Together“

Cash Box

Oct. 28, 1967

Isaac Hayes

“Ike’s Mood“

Record World

Nov. 21, 1970

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Upside Down + / — Backwards

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Baja Marimba Band

“Wild Goose“

Cash Box

Jan. 28, 1967

Del Reeves

“Blame It On My Do Wrong“

Record World

Mar. 11, 1967

December’s Children

“Backwards And Forwards“

Cash Box

May 18, 1967

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

“Casino Royale“

Billboard

May 20, 1967

Thanks to Bryan Richardson for digitally stitching this 2-page ad

Ahmad Jamal

“A Beautiful Friendship“

Record World

Oct. 7, 1967

The Comfortable Chair

“Be Me“

Cash Box

Jul. 27, 1968

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“All Along The Watchtower“

Record World

Oct. 26, 1968

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Humor +/– Satire

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Ray Stevens

“Freddie Feelgood“

Billboard

Jun. 11, 1968

Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs

“The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin“

Billboard

Nov. 5, 1966

Billboard

Sep. 23, 1967

The Chuck Barris Syndicate

“Baja California“

Billboard

Aug. 24, 1968

The Knack

“I’m Aware“

Record World

Feb. 11, 1967

The Rubber Band

“Let Love Come Between Us“

Billboard

Oct. 8, 1966

Sebastian Cabot

“It Ain’t Babe“

Record World

Dec. 31, 1966

The Bob Crewe Generation

“Birds of Britain“

Billboard

Oct. 14, 1967

Dusty Springfield

“I’ll Try Anything“

Billboard

Mar. 11, 1967

Eddie Albert

“Pass The Plate Of Happiness Around“

Billboard

Jan. 28, 1967

Homer And Jethro

“Hillbilly Hands“

Billboard

Dec. 30, 1967

Flatt And Scruggs

“Nashville Cats“

Cash Box

Mar. 4, 1967

Homer And Jethro

“Hillbilly Hippie“

Cash Box

Jul. 6, 1968

The Parade

“Radio Song“

Cash Box

Feb. 17, 1968

Chris Crosby

“Hippie Lullaby“

Billboard

Nov. 25, 1967

Canned Heat

“Rollin’ And Tumblin’“

Billboard

Jun. 24, 1967

Van Morrison

“Chick-A-Boom“

Billboard

Nov. 11, 1967

The Mamas & The Papas

“Safe In My Garden“

Billboard

May 25, 1968

Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus

“Quick Joey Small“

Cash Box

Jun. 15, 1968

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Mod Fashions

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Nichelle Nichols

“Know What I Mean“

Record World

Mar. 25, 1967

Dana Valery

“You Don’t Know Where Your Interest Lies“

Billboard

Feb. 11, 1967

The New Christy Minstrels

“A Corner In The Sun“

Billboard

Oct. 1, 1966

P.P. Arnold

“Bury Me Down By The River“

Record World

Sep. 30, 1969

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Psychedelic References Hit the Mainstream

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The Byrds

“Eight Miles High“

Billboard

Apr. 2, 1966

Billboard

Jun. 25, 1966

Timothy Leary

“Turn Over, Lean In, Drop & Do Twenty“

Record World

Aug. 20, 1966

P.J. Proby

“Niki Hoeky“

Record World

Jan. 14, 1967

Amen Corner

“Gin House“

Cash Box

Aug. 26, 1967

Columbia Records of Canada

Billboard

Dec. 30, 1967

The Byrds

“Lady Friend“

Cash Box

Jul. 29, 1967

Rainy Daze

“That Acapulco Gold“

Record World

Mar. 4, 1967

The Mulberry Fruit Band

“Yes, We Have No Bananas“

Record World

Apr. 29, 1967

Lenny Gaines

“The Coney Island Parade“

Record World

May 13, 1967

Marcia Strassman

“The Flower Children“

Record World

Apr. 15, 1967

Marcia Strassman

“The Groovy World of Jack And Jill“

Billboard

Apr. 1, 1967

Strawberry Children

“Love Years Coming“

Billboard

Jul. 8, 1967

The Garden Of Eden

“Flower Man“

Billboard

Jul. 29, 1967

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“Purple Haze“

Billboard

Sep. 9, 1967

Del Shannon

“Runaway ’67“

Billboard

Sep. 23, 1967

Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band

“Yellow Brick Road“

Cash Box

May 27, 1967

The Electric Flag

“Fine Jung Thing“

Billboard

Sep. 16, 1967

The Mamas And The Papas

“12:30“

Record World

Sep. 7, 1967

The Box Tops

“Neon Rainbow“

Billboard

Nov. 4, 1967

The 5th Dimension

“Paper Cup“

Record World

Nov. 11, 1967

Kenny Rankin

“Peaceful“

Billboard

Nov. 18, 1967

Sir Douglas Quintet + 2

“Are Inlaws Really Outlaws“

Billboard

Jun. 22, 1968

Lothar And The Hand People

“Space Hymn“

Billboard

Jul. 12, 1969

Thanks to Bryan Richardson for digitally stitching this 2-page ad

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The Wozard Of Iz

“Leave The Driving To Us“

Record World

Feb. 22, 1969

Morning Glory

“Need Someone“

Billboard

Apr. 13, 1968

Marvin’s Circus

“Two Losers“

Billboard

Jun. 24, 1967

“Four electric clowns with switched-on calliope“

The Easybeats

“Heaven & Hell“

Billboard

Jul. 15, 1967

Blues Magoos

“Jingle Bells“

Billboard

Dec. 30, 1967

The Association

“Everything That Touches You“

Billboard

Apr. 13, 1968

Southwest F.O.B.

“Smell Of Incense“

Billboard

Sep. 28, 1968

Neal Ford & The Fanatics

“Mary Wanna Marry Me“

Billboard

Jun. 1, 1968

Neal Ford & The Fanatics

“I Have Thoughts Of You“

Billboard

Feb. 3, 1968

Johann Strauss

“The Blue Danube“

Cash Box

Jul. 20, 1968

The Buffalo Springfield

“Expecting To Fly“

Billboard

Nov. 25, 1967

Peter Sarstedt

“Frozen Orange Juice“

Billboard

Jul. 5, 1969

Paul Butterfield

“You Are What You Eat“

Billboard

Aug. 24, 1968

Mount Rushmore

“Stone Free“

Record World

Oct. 19, 1968

The Sacred Mushroom

“You Won’t Be Sorry“

Record World

Mar. 8, 1969

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Roots of Country Outlaw

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David Allan Coe

“Penitentiary Blues“

Record World

May 23, 1970

Tom T. Hall

“Salute To A Switchblade“

Record World

Aug. 15, 1970

Willie Nelson

“Blackjack County Chain“

Cash Box

May 27, 1967

The Legendary Stardust Cowboy

“Paralyzed“

Cash Box

Oct. 19, 1968

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Transgressions Against Decency & Good Taste

Record World

Apr. 20, 1968

LINK to

The In Crowd’s edgy “Hangin’ From Your Lovin’ Tree” ad

Julie Driscoll + Brian Auger & The Trinity

“This Wheel’s On Fire“

Record World

June 29, 1968

Jim Ford

“Harlan County“

Record World

Aug. 19, 1969

Ambergris

“Bible Salesman“

Record World

Apr. 4, 1970

The Bob Seger System

“Ivory“

Record World

Sep. 12, 1970

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Open Letters –

I’ve Got Something to Say

Billboard

Apr. 29, 1967

Billboard

Apr. 8, 1967

Billboard

Feb. 15, 1969

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War Is Hell

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Derrik Roberts

“There Won’t Be Any Snow“

Record World

Dec. 3, 1966

Christopher Sunday

“Maman“

Billboard

Jan. 13, 1968

The Smubbs

“Rosary Anne“

Record World

Nov. 30, 1968

Edwin Starr

“Stop The War Now“

Record World

Nov. 28, 1970

Record World

May 23, 1970

Elektra Records

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*Love and Peace

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The Love Generation

“Groovy Summertime“

Billboard

Jun. 17, 1967

Rod McKuen

“Kill The Wind“

Billboard

Oct. 28, 1967

People

“I Love You“

Billboard

May 25, 1968

Bill Medley

“Peace Brother Peace“

Billboard

Oct. 19, 1968

Johnny Rivers

“Right Relations“

Billboard

Nov. 16, 1968

People

“Ulla“

Billboard

Jun. 21, 1969

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Faith and Spirituality

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Tommy Leonetti

“Kum Ba Yah“

Record World

Dec. 14, 1968

John & Yoko

“Remember Love“

Billboard

Jan. 11, 1969

Lawrence Reynolds

“Jesus Is A Soul Man“

Record World

Sep. 30, 1969

Zebra

“Christmas Morning“

Record World

Nov. 29, 1969

Joey Forman

“The Mashuganishi on Love“

Cash Box

Mar. 16, 1968

Radha Krishna Temple

“Govinda“

Record World

Mar. 28, 1970

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Minor Artists

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Peter Courtney

“The Loser“

Cash Box

Jan. 28, 1967

Debbie Lori Kaye

“The Playground“

Cash Box

Jan. 28, 1967

Becky Lamb

“Little Becky’s Christmas Wish“

Cash Box

Dec. 9, 1967

Lisa Miller

“Love Is“

Record World

Dec. 2, 1967

Little Dion

“Lonely Teardrops“

Billboard

Sep. 23, 1967

Browning Bryant

“Games That Grown Up Children Play“

Billboard

Feb. 1, 1969

Heintje

“Mama“

Billboard

Oct. 17, 1970

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Bonus!

Rainy Day Projects for the Kids

Billboard

May 28, 1966

Record World

Aug. 12, 1967

Cash Box

Mar. 9, 1968

Record World

Aug. 8, 1970

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Listen to Zero to 180 on the Radio!

LINK to Chris Richardson’s 90-minute interview + 21 songs

Courtesy of Robbie White‘s “Forbidden Alliance” program

WOWD FM — Takoma Park, MD