Comments on: 1971 Woolworth TV commercial for LPs http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 04:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: teflon http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651265 teflon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651265 I don't recognize the specific track, however this sounds remarkably like other tracks produced in the same era by KPM Music. KPM was a 'Production Music House', who recorded generic jingles and tunes that advertisers could use in TV and Cinema productions for small licensing fees. If you've never heard any KPM tracks and enjoy they grooviness of the BG music, I'd recommend some digging. KPM Music made some absolutely fabulous go-go, proto-rock, pop, and lounge compositions, some of which have been released as a KPMs retrospectives. I don’t recognize the specific track, however this sounds remarkably like other tracks produced in the same era by KPM Music. KPM was a ‘Production Music House’, who recorded generic jingles and tunes that advertisers could use in TV and Cinema productions for small licensing fees. If you’ve never heard any KPM tracks and enjoy they grooviness of the BG music, I’d recommend some digging. KPM Music made some absolutely fabulous go-go, proto-rock, pop, and lounge compositions, some of which have been released as a KPMs retrospectives.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651294 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651294 I don't know who did the music (or what the name of the tune might be), but I agree that it is trying very hard to sound like Strawberry Alarm Clock, or perhaps Ray Manzarek. However, the voiceover talent really, REALLY sounds like it is probably <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQM7NOzVMu0">Paul Frees</a>. --Patrick I don’t know who did the music (or what the name of the tune might be), but I agree that it is trying very hard to sound like Strawberry Alarm Clock, or perhaps Ray Manzarek.

However, the voiceover talent really, REALLY sounds like it is probably Paul Frees.

–Patrick

]]> By: patricio http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650532 patricio Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650532 Aaaaah inflation... Aaaaah inflation…

]]> By: pinehead http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650549 pinehead Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650549 Kitschy. Somebody else might have a better answer, but I would guess the music was arranged specifically for Woolworth's. If someone knows who the composer was, you could probably dig up some more from them. Kitschy. Somebody else might have a better answer, but I would guess the music was arranged specifically for Woolworth’s. If someone knows who the composer was, you could probably dig up some more from them.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650578 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650578 Don't know the backing track, but this does take me back. Woolworths was about the only option in the small town where I grew up. The cut-out bin was fantasic!! I picked up many great, great albums for a quarter - including Sun Ra Angels and Demons at Play, and Jazz in Silouette. Anthony Braxton, etc. Those were the good days. Also, this seems to be a clue to why 8-track did not make it. 3x the price? No way! Don’t know the backing track, but this does take me back.

Woolworths was about the only option in the small town where I grew up. The cut-out bin was fantasic!! I picked up many great, great albums for a quarter – including Sun Ra Angels and Demons at Play, and Jazz in Silouette. Anthony Braxton, etc. Those were the good days.

Also, this seems to be a clue to why 8-track did not make it. 3x the price? No way!

]]> By: Teresa Nielsen Hayden http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650834 Teresa Nielsen Hayden Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650834 Spliced with "Music to Watch Girls By." Spliced with “Music to Watch Girls By.”

]]> By: Fred H http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651351 Fred H Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651351 The Strawberry Statement?!? Man, I've worked in record stores for 12 years, and have never heard that name. Also, I think my being drawn to groovy farfisa organ sounds comes from my parents watching this ad some nine months before I was born. The Strawberry Statement?!? Man, I’ve worked in record stores for 12 years, and have never heard that name. Also, I think my being drawn to groovy farfisa organ sounds comes from my parents watching this ad some nine months before I was born.

]]> By: Michael Leddy http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650845 Michael Leddy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650845 I still have Canned Heat's <i>Living the Blues</i> from Woolworth's -- a double-album for maybe $1.99. Cut-outs! Cut-outs! I still have Canned Heat’s Living the Blues from Woolworth’s — a double-album for maybe $1.99. Cut-outs! Cut-outs!

]]> By: mcmonkee http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651357 mcmonkee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651357 Dammit! I paid a whole $1 for that sesame street original cast recording album. Granted that was a couple of months ago at SCRAP, but still... Dammit! I paid a whole $1 for that sesame street original cast recording album. Granted that was a couple of months ago at SCRAP, but still…

]]> By: Featheredfrog http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651624 Featheredfrog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651624 "Blind Faith" on an 8-track cart? Wowsers, I wonder if they used the original cover art? “Blind Faith” on an 8-track cart? Wowsers, I wonder if they used the original cover art?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651633 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651633 The Association? Herb Alpert? They were trying to get rid of 1966 stock. 1971 records would be Wings, Elton John, or Jethro Tull. The Association? Herb Alpert? They were trying to get rid of 1966 stock. 1971 records would be Wings, Elton John, or Jethro Tull.

]]> By: Robert http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650622 Robert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650622 Groovy! In more ways than one! Ah, for the days of pastel-colored uniforms. Groovy! In more ways than one! Ah, for the days of pastel-colored uniforms.

]]> By: mr_josh http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650623 mr_josh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650623 Man, I've gotta find a time machine to go back to 1971 and get me some-a-them cartridges! Man, I’ve gotta find a time machine to go back to 1971 and get me some-a-them cartridges!

]]> By: Holden_Caufield http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650902 Holden_Caufield Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650902 Ahhh Woolworths! man that brings back memories of Fedco, Gemco and Zody's. I miss those simple times indeed. Ahhh Woolworths! man that brings back memories of Fedco, Gemco and Zody’s. I miss those simple times indeed.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650661 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650661 I had a couple copies of the 45 for "Journey to the Center of Your Mind" by the Amboy Dukes, still sealed in cardboard backing "hangers", with old Woolworth's price tags on them, priced like $1.78 or something ridiculous. I had a couple copies of the 45 for “Journey to the Center of Your Mind” by the Amboy Dukes, still sealed in cardboard backing “hangers”, with old Woolworth’s price tags on them, priced like $1.78 or something ridiculous.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650686 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650686 I totally had that Sesame Street album back in '72 or '73. I totally had that Sesame Street album back in ’72 or ’73.

]]> By: braininavat http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651203 braininavat Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651203 I don't know the tune, but based on the organ stylings, that has to be Klaus Wunderlich, probably from one of his many Hammond Pops albums, available at better Sally Anns everywhere. I don’t know the tune, but based on the organ stylings, that has to be Klaus Wunderlich, probably from one of his many Hammond Pops albums, available at better Sally Anns everywhere.

]]> By: Steaming Pile http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651205 Steaming Pile Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651205 The artwork appears to be the work of Peter Max. The artwork appears to be the work of Peter Max.

]]> By: Steaming Pile http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651210 Steaming Pile Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651210 So did we. I hear they're hot collector's items nowadays. So did we. I hear they’re hot collector’s items nowadays.

]]> By: purefog http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-656084 purefog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-656084 Children, "The Strawberry Statement" was a 1970 SF-college-scene exploitation movie. The Strawberry Alarm Clock was a psychedelic (or, perhaps, faux-psychedelic) band, best known for the song "Incense and Peppermint." Children, “The Strawberry Statement” was a 1970 SF-college-scene exploitation movie. The Strawberry Alarm Clock was a psychedelic (or, perhaps, faux-psychedelic) band, best known for the song “Incense and Peppermint.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-650716 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-650716 sounds like an instrumental ripoff of "Incense and Peppermints" sounds like an instrumental ripoff of “Incense and Peppermints”

]]> By: pkazee http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651754 pkazee Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651754 Woolworth was responsible for my being able to build my 1st record collection (45rpm, natch). I would go every weekend to peruse the selections. One of my faves things they had there were mystery bundles of 45rpm records... stacks of ten that one could purchase for $1 (the records at the top and bottom of the bundles were the only ones visible). Most of what one got was immediately disposable, but "treasures" obtained in these stacks included records by Elephant's Memory, Pacific Gas & Electric and a fun little novelty record titled Flop Top Beer. Woolworth was responsible for my being able to build my 1st record collection (45rpm, natch). I would go every weekend to peruse the selections. One of my faves things they had there were mystery bundles of 45rpm records… stacks of ten that one could purchase for $1 (the records at the top and bottom of the bundles were the only ones visible). Most of what one got was immediately disposable, but “treasures” obtained in these stacks included records by Elephant’s Memory, Pacific Gas & Electric and a fun little novelty record titled Flop Top Beer.

]]> By: JIMWICh http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-651254 JIMWICh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-651254 Love the artwork on this. Reminds me of my school notebook from around that time. Also, this commercial bears that awesome thing that prevalent in the early '70s, which was to put '7(n) at the end of anything. Like "Match Game '70". As a kid, I thought it added some up-to-date cachet to whatever it was attached to, but in later years it made me wonder if there was something particularly different about that era (coming at the end of the upheavel of the '60s and the landing on the Moon, etc.) that made everyone feel like the '70s were truly like being in the future. Love the artwork on this. Reminds me of my school notebook from around that time.

Also, this commercial bears that awesome thing that prevalent in the early ’70s, which was to put ’7(n) at the end of anything. Like “Match Game ’70″.

As a kid, I thought it added some up-to-date cachet to whatever it was attached to, but in later years it made me wonder if there was something particularly different about that era (coming at the end of the upheavel of the ’60s and the landing on the Moon, etc.) that made everyone feel like the ’70s were truly like being in the future.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/11/30/1971-woolworth-tv-co.html#comment-652022 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-652022 Yeah, the Strawberry Statement doesn't appear to be a real band. Yeah, the Strawberry Statement doesn’t appear to be a real band.

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