Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic
Before the “klacker toy” had been banned by federal authorities, a New York City-area beat group with two 45 releases under its belt, The 8th Wonders of the World, seized an opportunity to record a song of praise for the dangerously hyperkinetic play object marketed squarely at the teenybopper demographic.
“Sweet Touch of Love,” from the aforementioned acclaimed 1970 album, Toussaint (later named From a Whisper to a Scream), would be the A-side of a 45 that appeared not to have enjoyed any Billboard chart action from what I can see: “Sweet Touch of Love“ Allen Toussaint (1970) “Sweet Touch
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
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
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
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
Thanks to brother Bryan for tipping me to a book that, amazingly, has only been written in the last couple years: Rock ‘n’ Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip. Most of us music fanatics who live on this side of the Mississippi, sadly, have never had the opportunity to see
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
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,
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” —
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