Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic

Discoveries of a Pop Music Archaeologist

Tag: Music in adverts

"Bike Beat"
Zeroto180

Joe Meek’s Bike Anthem of ’64

Hey, just in time for summer:  here’s a catchy bicycle-themed dance step “Bike Beat” from 1964 that was actually a work-for-hire product by Joe (“Telstar“) Meek for Raleigh Bicycles and was only released on flexi-disc! Providing the backing track are Joe Meek’s house band, The Outlaws, disguised as “The Rally

Read More »
Advertising +/- marketing in popular music
Zeroto180

Frank Zappa’s Clio Award

Animator, Ed Seeman — who would later film the Mothers of Invention’s legendarily infamous shows at New York City’s Garrick Theater (and quite a bit more over the course of thirteen months) — initially joined forces with Frank Zappa when he formally contracted the bandleader and composer to provide the

Read More »
"Nobody Bothers Me"
Zeroto180

Nobody Bothers Nils Lofgren

Long-time DC music fans are likely very familiar with this remarkably tuneful work-for-hire product (“Nobody Bothers Me“) created by none other than Nils Lofgren for Jhoon Rhee Self Defense.  But for everyone else, this might be a revelation, especially those who seek out examples of advertising jingles that bring honor

Read More »
Advertising +/- marketing in popular music
Zeroto180

This Record Could Win You $1 Million?

Insidious 1980s McDonald’s campaign that used music for crass commercial purposes: This musical ad immediately brings to mind last August’s piece about the history behind Jimmy Radcliffe‘s gospel-flavored “R&B” take on “You Deserve a Break Today” for McDonald’s in the 1970s. Radcliffe, by the way, would release at least eight

Read More »
60s/70s rock +/- pop
Zeroto180

Dusty Springfield Sings Grain’s Praises

Dusty Springfield once served as a musical “pitchman” for Mother’s Pride bread in this adorable ad, where she travels door-to-door each morning as a “happy knocker-upper” delivering “a cuppa” and “tasty Mother’s Pride” fluffy white bread to the townsfolk: This Yank would likely have never encountered this ad had it

Read More »
60s/70s rock +/- pop
Zeroto180

Rolling Stones — 1964 Cereal Advert

According to Video Beat, Brian Jones wrote this Rolling Stones Rice Krispies jingle (shown only in the UK) with the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, who created this 30-second spoof of pop music TV show, Juke Box Jury: Billboard reported in its April 2, 2012 edition: On Sunday’s Mad Men,

Read More »
"Philadelphia - Greatest Little City in the USA"
Zeroto180

Philadelphia’s Rebirth Begins Here

WCAU, one of Philadelphia‘s earliest radio stations (first broadcast:  May 22, 1922), could not sit idly by and allow Philadelphia’s less-than-stellar reputation go unchallenged — so it went on the offensive.  The result:  Just a Philadelphia Minute. WCAU — “a CBS-owned station, represented nationally by CBS Radio Spot Sales” —

Read More »
"Wine and Grine"
Zeroto180

“W[h]ine and Grine”: Rocksteady with Pre-Fame Jeremy Sisto

<Spotify LINK to Prince Buster Mix> Thanks to Dave Katz‘s feature article about Prince Buster in the June 2008 issue of Mojo for leading me to this 1998 Levi’s ad that stars a young Jeremy Sisto before the HBO series, Six Feet Under, made him a breakout star: * Video clip

Read More »
"You Deserve a Break Today"
Zeroto180

Jimmy Radcliffe Deserves a Break Today

Revisiting those iconic images of the world’s peoples joined together on a hillside singing as one — while sipping a Coke — brought to mind The Hillside Singers, whose non-denominational plea for unity, “We’re Together,” I had always assumed was the inspirational basis for what would later get turned into

Read More »
60s/70s rock +/- pop
Zeroto180

Music Goes Better with Coca-Cola

A number of notable names in pop music have recorded jingles for Coca-Cola, and — incredible as it might seem — a few of them came out surprisingly well. Sydney, Australia’s Easybeats pull off the nice hat trick of writing an unabashed ode to a soft drink that is –

Read More »
All Categories
Archives