Music for Monday: ELO, ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ (1977)

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"Mr. Blue Sky - please tell us why..." (ELO, 1978)

‘Mr. Blue Sky – please tell us why…’ (ELO, 1978)

Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky” was written and produced by Jeff Lynne and appeared on the band’s 1977 L.P. Out of the Blue. The song was released as a single in January, 1978 and rose to #35 on the US Billboard “Hot 100” and #6 in the UK.

According to ELO.biz, a 90-minute documentary entitled “Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO” was released just last month and you can download a copy via iTunes. Below, you’ll find the 1978 promo for “Mr. Blue Sky” and a trailer for the new documentary. Have a lovely Monday.

ELO ‘MR. BLUE SKY’ PROMO VIDEO (1978)

‘MR. BLUE SKY: THE STORY OF JEFF LYNNE & ELO’ TRAILER

Previously, on Music for Monday: Kenny Nolan, ‘I Like Dreamin”

Daily 70s Spot: Hillbilly Bread (1978)

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Nothin' like a hot slice o' Hillbilly toast on a cold mountain mornin'! (Hillbilly Bread, 1978)

Nothin’ like a hot slice o’ Hillbilly toast on a cold mountain mornin’! (Hillbilly Bread, 1978)



Here’s your Daily 70s Spot to get the week rolling along. A Hillbilly Bread commercial recorded off the ol’ tele-visual box in May of 1978. This fun ad will remind you of Terry Gilliam’s animation from Monty Python. I’m guessing that’s what they were going for.

Why stop at Hillbilly Bread? Where the heck is the Clown Juice and Unicorn Butter?

Daily 70s Spot #10: Hillbilly Bread Commercial 1978

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Certs Mints ‘River Rafting’ Commercial (1972)

70s stories in the news: Star Wars, Corvette Stingray, Conrad Bain

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Sunday is a good time to catch up on the news. With that in mind, here’s a batch of scintillating 1970s-related stories that have come to light in recent days. On tap; a possible Star Wars TV series in the works, the first new Corvette Stingray since the 70s and unfortunately, numerous 70s-era notables have passed away. Read up.

ABC to look at ‘Star Wars’ live-action TV series

A farm hick and two droids walk into a bar...

A farm hick and two droids walk into a bar…

50 Star Wars TV series scripts have been gathering dust on a shelf at ABC. Now that ABC and Lucasfilm are both owned by Disney – a Star Wars TV show may have a much better shot at actually being produced. Should we be pleased or frightened?

CNN/EW.com Quote:

“Even many working in Hollywood don’t realize a live-action Star Wars TV series has been sitting on the shelf the past few years. The project was commissioned by longtime Lucasfilm producer Rick McCallum, who enlisted writers such as ‘Battlestar Galactica’s’ Ron Moore and swore them to NDA secrecy on the plot details (more on the show’s storyline below). Fifty scripts were written. McCallum once called the scripts the most ‘provocative, bold and daring material that we’ve ever done.'”

Reuters Video Story: Corvette at 60 resurrects the Stingray
Reuters has a video report on the 2014 Corvette, the first new Corvette to carry the Stingray name since 1976.

‘Lovelace’: New image from Amanda Seyfried porn drama
Entertainment Weekly has an exclusive new image from the set of Lovelace, a film about the 1970s most well-known porn actress.

Passings
Conrad Bain – Diff’rent Strokes (1978-1986) Dad & Maude regular (1978)
Roger Broggie Jr. – Disney ‘audio-animatronics whiz’
Nagisa Oshima – In the Realm of the Senses (1976) filmmaker

Other 70s-related stories you may wish to peruse:

Dodgers’ Vin Scully to be honored at annual scouts dinner

California to offer ‘legacy license plates’ (50s, 60s & 70s)

Senator Rockefeller announces retirement

Previously, on 70s stories in the news: Dirty Harry, Cathy Lee Crosby’s Wonder Woman & more

Daily 70s Spot: Certs Mints ‘River Rafting’ Commercial (1972)

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The Certs CLACK! = quality. (Certs Breath Mints, 1972)

The Certs CLACK! = quality. (Certs Breath Mints, 1972)

“Certs is two…two…two mints in one!”

Our Daily 70s Spot takes a tumbling river raft ride along with a lustful couple and a protective drop of Retsyn. Certs Mints was introducing their new “Kissing Gum,” as well as promoting their usual candied breath fresheners. Captured from the airwaves in August, 1972. Click it twice for true power.

Daily 70s Spot #9: Certs Mints ‘River Rafting’ Commercial, 1972

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Campbell’s Chicken Noodleo’s Soup commercial (late 1970s)

Daily 70s Spot: Campbell’s Chicken Noodleo’s Soup commercial (late 1970s)

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'Give me the Campbell life!' (Or give me death!?)

‘Give me the Campbell life!’ (Or give me death!?)


“There’s one thing that Pete, would just as soon eat, everyday of his life…”

Yes, that one thing is Campbell’s Chicken Noodleo’s Soup. According to Pete, they’re “Noodle-OK!” Try not to cringe. Just enjoy.

Daily 70s Spot #8: Campbell’s Chicken Noodleo’s Soup ‘Pete’ Commercial, Late 1970s

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Chevrolet Impala ‘See the U.S.A.’ commercial (1972)

Rad Ads: JET Magazine, January 16, 1973

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I haven’t hit you with any delightful, 70s-era advertisements in over a month, so let’s remedy that straight away. Here’s a fun collection of print ads from the January 16, 1973 issue of JET magazine. For those of you only vaguely paying attention, I’ll point out that that’s 40 years ago. And since JET is a weekly mag, this would be the issue in your hand four decades back.

Jet was first published in 1951 and according to their Web Site: “…is the No. 1 African-American newsweekly and has more than 7 million readers.” Soak up the flashback!
(By clicking one image you can easily enlarge and scroll through them all. Look to the lower right and click the next image link).

Duke_Sheen_Ad_Jet_Magazine_January_16_1973

Raveen_Sheen_Ad_Jet_Magazine_January_16_1973

Salem_Cigarettes_Ad_Jet_Magazine_January_16_1973

Army_ROTC_Ad_Jet_Magazine_January_16_1973

Star-Glow_Foxtail_Ad_Jet_Magazine_January_16_1973

Schlitz_Beer_Gusto_Ad_Jet_Magazine_January_16_1973

(Source: Google Books/Jet)

Previously, on Rad Ads: LIFE magazine, Dec. 03,1971