Daily 70s Spot: The Isley Brothers “Showdown” promo (1978)

Posted on by

'The Isley Brothers - Showdown. You better be there!' (Wherever fine records and 8-track tapes are sold)

‘The Isley Brothers – Showdown. You better be there!’ (Wherever fine records and 8-track tapes are sold)



Here’s a late night promo for The Isley Brothers “Showdown” album. This soulful commercial was captured from the television airwaves in May of 1978. The ‘Brothers are gonna take you to the next phase – so get your azzingear!

Daily 70s Spot #6: The Isley Brothers “Showdown” promo (1978)

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Bell System ‘Super Switcher’ commercial (Late 70s)

Mood Music: Lenny and the Squigtones, ‘StarCrossed’

Posted on by

Prehistoric Spinal Tap (Lenny and the Squigtones rock 'Laverne & Shirley,' 1976)

Prehistoric Spinal Tap (Lenny and the Squigtones rock ‘Laverne & Shirley,’ 1976)



According to my once-young mind, many of the best moments on TV’s Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983) involved the lovable morons known as Lenny and Squiggy. The characters were created and perfectly played by Michael McKean and David Lander. You probably remember this well.

What you may not remember is that McKean and Lander released an L.P. entitled Lenny & Squiggy Present Lenny and the Squigtones in 1979. I was a proud owner of that slab of wax and a darn fine collection of humorous music and banter it was. Here’s a clip of Lenny and Squiggy from the first season of Laverne & Shirley, where they perform the tune “StarCrossed,” which later appeared on their album.

Lenny and the Squigtones perform ‘StarCrossed’ on Laverne & Shirley, 1976

Previously, on Mood Music: Wings, ‘Goodnight Tonight’

Daily 70s Spot: Bell System ‘Super Switcher’ commercial (Late 70s)

Posted on by

Your laptop probably outruns this thing now. (Bell System 'Super Switcher' computer, late-1970s)

Your laptop probably outruns this thing now. (Bell System ‘Super Switcher’ computer, late-1970s)


“What you are about to see is the world’s most revolutionary telephone switching invention…”

Here’s a great spot for ancient technology fans. A late 1970s-era commercial for the new computerized Bell System ‘Super Switcher’ telephone service. It cost Bell over 400 million smackers. Hope you appreciated it.

Daily 70s Spot #5: Bell System ‘Super Switcher’ Commercial (Late 70s)

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Western Airlines ‘Lion Tamer’ commercial (1975)

Trailer Tuesday: Escape from the Planet of the Apes

Posted on by

'The time is 1973. The place is Earth. How did they get here?' ('Escape from the Planet of the Apes,' 1971)

‘The time is 1973. The place is Earth. How did they get here?’ (‘Escape from the Planet of the Apes,’ 1971)



We took a look at Conquest of the Planet of the Apes a long while back. Today, let’s look at the film that preceded it, Escape from the Planet of the Apes. EFTPOTA was released in May of 1971 and ended up as the 16th highest-grossing film of the year. The movie follows the ape-team of Cornelius (Roddy McDowall) and Zira (Kim Hunter) as they land on modern-day Earth and become media sensations. Complications arise when the government decides Zira’s baby, Milo is too much of a threat to mankind to be left alive.

I can remember seeing Escape from the Planet of the Apes with my mother, sister and our family friend, Bernie, when I was a mere four-and-a-half-years-old. We all enjoyed the socially-relevant adventure story and for years afterward, Bernie’s high-pitched imitation of the baby ape saying “Mama!” never failed to make us giggle. Roll the trailer.

Escape from the Planet of the Apes Theatrical Trailer 1971

Escape from the Planet of the Apes Wiki, IMDb

Escape_From_The_Planet_Of_The_Apes_1-sheet_1971

Previously, on Trailer Tuesday: Gene Hackman in ‘The Conversation’

Daily 70s Spot: Western Airlines ‘Lion Tamer’ commercial (1975)

Posted on by

'The only way to fly!' (Western Airlines, 1975)

‘The only way to fly!’ (Western Airlines, 1975)



Today’s Daily 70s Spot is for Western Airlines (which went out of business in 1987).

This animated commercial, captured in November of 1975, features the “Wally Bird” mascot well-known for his catchphrase “Western Airlines. The oooonly way to fly!”

Daily 70s Spot #4: Western Airlines ‘Lion Tamer’ Commercial (1975)

Previously, on Daily 70s Spot: Wendy’s Hamburgers ‘Hot & Juicy’ campaign, ‘Cowboy’ (1979)

Music for Monday: Kenny Nolan, ‘I Like Dreamin’

Posted on by

'I like dreamin' - 'cause dreamin' can make you mine.' (Kenny Nolan, 1977)

‘I like dreamin’ – ’cause dreamin’ can make you mine.’ (Kenny Nolan, 1977)



You may remember the song “I Like Dreamin’,” but before you saw the headline for this post could you have named the writer and singer of the tune? If you knew it was Kenny Nolan, give yourself a cookie.

“I Like Dreamin'” was recorded in 1976 and slowly climbed the US Billboard “Hot 100” chart, reaching a high of #3 in March of 1977. The song is Nolan’s most-successful single under his own name but he also co-authored Frankie Valli’s “My Eyes Adored You” (#1) and Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade” (#1), among others.

Here’s Nolan performing his easy listening classic on American Bandstand in January of ’77.

Kenny Nolan ‘I Like Dreamin’,’ American Bandstand, 1977

Previously, on Music for Monday: B.J. Thomas, ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head’