Exlie smooching earholes, 1978
Exile released “Kiss You All Over” in the summer of 1978 and it rose to the top of the Billboard “Hot 100” charts by September. Please slip into a sexy mood and enjoy these hairy gentlemen playing their biggest pop hit.
The Funky Phantom's Mudsy & Boo, 1971
Hanna-Barbera’s The Funky Phantom made its debut on ABC in September of 1971 and ran until September ’72, encompassing 17 episodes.
The show featured the Hanna-Barbera staple of a trio of teens (Skip, Augie and April) and a pet (Elmo). The young crew befriends a Revolutionary War-era ghost named Jonathan Wellington “Mudsy” Muddlemore and his ghost cat, Boo. Daws Butler provides the Snagglepuss-esque voice of Mudsy, Don Messick is Boo and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees plays Skip.
Enjoy the show’s intro and have a fantabulous Funshine Friday!
The joyriding Phantom crew in action
(Thanks, YouTube poster ClassicTelevisionFan)
Karen Carpenter, 1976. Sure, she had the voice of an angel - but she could still beat the hell out of the drums
Time for some drum-heavy Mood Music to get our day pounding along. Here’s Karen Carpenter performing a fun drum solo on The Carpenters’ Very First TV Special which aired on December 8, 1976.
Keep your eyes peeled for an appearance in the marching band by special co-star John Denver. Far out!
The Carpenters Wiki
(Thanks, YouTube poster CrescentNoon.)
Boo! Scary berry cereal time, 1972
General Mills introduced Boo Berry cereal in 1972. The “market’s first cereal that tasted like blueberries,” was third in the line of the company’s monster-themed breakfast cereals, the first two being Franken Berry and Count Chocula. Enjoy what seems to be the first Boo Berry commercial introducing the Peter Lorre-esque mascot voiced by Paul Frees.
*Note: The YouTube poster lists the spot as originating in ’73, and it may indeed have been recorded then, but the official General Mills site lists Boo Berry as being introduced in ’72 – so, I’ll go with that.
(Thanks, Youtube poster CountChoculatte)
Gene Wilder creating a world of pure imagination, 1971
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory was released 41 years ago this month in 1971. I adored the movie (based on Roald Dahl’s book) from the moment I caught it on TV in the early 70s. In fact, I’ve yet to meet anyone who grew up in the 70s who isn’t a fan.
I’ve followed Gene Wilder’s career ever since and was also enamored with Jack Albertson (who played “Grandpa Joe”.) I met Albertson (who I also knew from The Poseidon Adventure and Chico and the Man) in the late 70s at Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles. I recognized him and asked for an autograph. I must have been around 10-years-old. I don’t remember much about it except that he asked me to wait for him to make a phone call first before he signed his name on a slip of paper. I remember thinking it was taking a long while as I watched him chatting in the phone booth. Phone booth, yeah. Remember those?
Regretfully, years later, I lost that slip of paper. Albertson passed away in 1981.
Jack Albertson, quintessential grandpa of the 70s
Rick Derringer gettin' koo koo, 1973
Rick Derringer wrote the tune “Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo” and it was first recorded and released by Johnny Winter in 1970. Derringer released his own version of the song in 1973 for his All American Boy L.P. and it rose to #23 on the Billboard US “Hot 100” charts.
Enjoy this Derringer video from 1973 and enjoy your first Monday in June.