70's UK TV Adverts

The Sweeney - Part 1

70's cop programme where the men were men and the women were extremely grateful. Erm... apparently.

70's Song - Love From A Man

Nice mellow song from the 70's for Christmas day. Merry Christmas!

The O Jay's - I Love Music

Moonshoes - Boogieland

An Audience With Donny And Marie

Watched 'An audience with Donny and Marie' on Saturday night and it was absolutely brilliant! Gotta admit it was a great show!

And what a surprise Marie O was? My goodness, I never knew she was so funny. Who'd have thought it? To look at her you wouldn't think so. Both of them were funny, really great.

And it was really quite nostalgic to see them both back together doing a show on TV again. I remember watching 'The Donny and Marie Show' back in the 70's. It was a really good show actually. Now I will say that in the 70's I was not an Osmond fan, couldn't stand them actually. But, their show was good. Very entertaining. So on Saturday night it really took me back. I found myself singing along with 'Morning Side Of The Mountain' and 'Paper Roses' at one stage! Crumbs, never thought I'd see the day! Funny how songs that you loathed decades ago become strangely appealing as you get older and the 'nostalgia' gene starts to kick in! ("Cos he lived on the morning side of the mountain, and she lived on the twilight side of the hill.....") Aah.... The only disappointment was that they didn't sing 'Make the world go away'. Back in the 70's, that was the only Donny and Marie song I had thought was anywhere near half decent! I actually liked that one. (Would have never admitted it to anyone though!) But despite this minor area of 'deprivation', the show was great. It was a pleasant surprise, I really enjoyed it. And judging by all the beaming faces and the applause throughout, so did the studio audience!

The 'Church' That Wanted The World To End In The 70's

A member of my family once had Bible study lessons with the Jehovah's Witnesses, but I was never convinced of their authenticity. And it didn't help that they made predictions of the end of the world on several occasions that failed to come true! The Watchtower Society (JWs or God's organization) predicted that 1975 would usher in the Battle of the Great Day of God the almighty at Har-Mageddon! The views held about 1975 realizing the outbreak of the Great Tribulation and Armageddon was unquestionably being developed, taught, and promoted by the Watchtower Society. And where are we now! Thirty-five years later and no Armageddon, no Great Tribulation, and the Society is acting as if nothing ever happened in those years. They now even attribute any concerns over 1975 as just trouble making by apostate opposers. The Watchtower Society is unilaterally and totally guilty of perpetrating fraudulent Biblical interpretations, false prophecy, and apostate teachings. A few quotes from the Society around the 1975 Fiasco
Awake,5/22/69,pg15 If you are a young person, you also need to face the fact that you will never grow old in this present system of things. .....all evidence in fulfillment of Bible prophecy indicates that this corrupt system is due to end in a few years. ....as a young person you will never fulfill any career that this system offers. If you are in high school and thinking about a college education, it means at least four, perhaps even six or eight more years to graduate into a specialized career. But where will this system of things be by that time? It will be well on the way toward its finish, if not actually gone!

The Jehovah's Witness religion is false. It has a hatred for this world and anyone who doesn't belong to the organisation. It is false Christianity and nothing to do with God. The whole Watchtower Society organisation (which JW's put their faith and trust in) is a complete fraud. But even after endless false predictions of the end of the world, JW still don't get it.

The Bay City Rollers

Love them or loathe them, The Bay City Rollers were the teenage phenomenon of the 1970s. To all those of you who wanted to marry a Roller, screamed at a baseball boot that once belonged to Woody or cherished a piece of Les' old fag packet, this one's for you . . .

Five young lads from Edinburgh; Alan Longmuir, Eric Faulkner, Stuart "Woody" Wood, Derek Longmuir and Leslie McKeown, took their name by sticking a pin into "Bay City" on a map (the group had previously been known as The Saxons - Saxonmania just doesn't have the same ring, does it?).

Signing to Bell Records in 1971, their chart debut was a remake of The Gentry's 1965 hit Keep On Dancing produced by Jonathan King. The record hit Number 9 in the UK charts, but their subsequent releases (We Can Make Music and Manana) were not successful.

In 1974, after a struggling seven year career with only one Top Ten hit (Keep On Dancing), their manager Tam Paton enlisted songwriters Phil Coulter and Bill Martin and dressed the band in tartan. Remember (Sha La La) was a Top 10 smash.

The Bay City Rollers were born and, for some of us, life would never be the same. By the time the band toured in October 1974 they had scored two more Top Ten hits (Shang-A-Lang and Summerlove Sensation) and 'Rollermania' had the UK in its grip.

Their debut LP, Rollin', topped the UK chart and by this stage, fans would do anything just to catch a glimpse of their idols - stand out in all weathers, waiting outside theatres, TV and recording studios.

No-one could miss the fans in their bum-freezer jackets, tartan-edged ankle-freezers (trousers at half-mast), striped socks, baseball boots and tartan scarves tied around their wrists (with the name of their favourite Roller lovingly emblazoned on the back of their jackets). They would scream, cry and sing at the top of their voices the Rollers anthem ; B-A-Y, B-A-Y, B-A-Y C-I-T-Y etc etc.

Over the next three years, The Bay City Rollers would have 10 Top Ten hits (including three Number One's), five best-selling albums, and a clutch of US hits, including one Number 1.

In 1975, the Shang-A-Lang TV series premiered on Britain's ITV (running until August 17, 1977). In the same year during a BBC1 'fun day' at Mallory Park near Leicester, England, 40 female fans tried to swim across a lake to get to the band and had to be rescued (four of them were hospitalised). The Rollers were evacuated from the site via helicopter without performing.

In September of that year the band made their US TV debut, via satellite, on Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell, and on January 3, 1976 - 13 weeks after being released in America - their single Saturday Night hit the top of Billboard's Hot 100. The Rollers were billed as the new Beatles and America was turning tartan.

In 1976, guitarist Eric Faulkner almost died after a drug overdose of seconal and valium at manager Tam Paton's house. In other incidents that year, Les McKeown was charged with reckless driving after allegedly hitting and killing a 75-year-old woman, and later found not guilty of firing an air rifle at a female fan. So much for being strictly non-smoking milk-drinking cherubs!

By the time the Rollers played a show in Shizuoka in Japan in 1978 things were falling apart within the band. Accordingly, when Les McKeown took to jumping around in a deranged fashion to attract attention, and invading other member's spotlights, Woody laid into him with punches and kicks. The Rollers' manic Japanese fans were horrified and the band split immediately.

These days the group are best remembered for their anthemic single Shang-A-Lang, press speculation as to whether the band actually played their own instruments in the studio (or on stage), and scandals involving their manager Tam Paton who was convicted on charges of drug dealing, dogged by allegations of sexual abuse and jailed for three years on a charge of gross indecency

More recently, drummer Derek Longmuir also found himself on the wrong end of the long arm of the law for alleged possession of child pornography.

Tam Paton died at his home in Edinburgh in April 2009, aged 70, after reportedly suffering a heart attack.

ELO - 10538 Overture

I have this tune somewhere but don't know where it is at the moment. Wish I could get my hands on it because I absolutely love it. Was glad to find this video online featuring the song. But in this vid, is that Roy Wood I see playing? My goodness. The Move. Wizzard. How many groups has he been in? I didn't realise he was in ELO as well! Anyway, despite his fun antics performing as part of Wizzard, he is obviously a very talented guy, along with the rest of ELO. And I really like the lead singer's voice!

(Update: I had mentioned before that I didn't know that Roy Wood had been in ELO. Well apparently ELO were formed from the ashes of the 60's group 'The Move' which Roy Wood had been in previously)

Supersonic

'A Photo from the first show of Supersonic with Linda Lewis, David Essex, Gilbert O' Sullivan, Suzi Quatro and Alvin Stardust.

Introduced,Produced & Directed by Mike MansfieldLondon Weekend Television/ITV Network1st Series: 6th September 1975- April 19762nd Series: September 1976-2nd April 1977

'Supersonic' Began in September 1975 as part of 'Saturday Scene' hosted by Sally James (When it acted as an occasional substitute for Kid Jensen's 'Rock on With 45').It was launched in it's own right on 6th september.Supersonic was a studio full of explosions,dry ice and bubbles.Debut performers included Suzi Quatro,Gilbert O'Sullivan,Linda Lewis and David Essex,then at No1 in the Charts.
· The Show Tapped into a new style of pop broadcasting,against a tired looking Top of the Pops,but after little more than a year,ratings and distribution had dwindled.The Final series began in September 1976 ,by this time 'Supersonic' had been relegated to the Midday slot as part of the newly-merged children's programme,'Supersonic Saturday Scene'.The Final Edition went out at 11.00am on 2nd April that year.The Guest Line-up included:The Kinks,Elkie Brooks,Marc Bolan,who played out with 'Soul of my Suit' and 'Sweet Little Rock'n'Roller',joined by Ray Davies,Dave Edmunds,John Lodge and Alvin Stardust.

Unusual 70's Ad

Thought I'd share this very unusual advert from the 70's. Somehow I don't think we'll be seeing any ads like this one on British television any time soon!

Lookin

Lookin was a really good 70's TV magazine. The adults had 'The TV Times' and 'The Radio Times'. The children and teenagers had 'Lookin'.

The 70's - The Era Of Public Information Films

I'll never forget the great public information films we had in the 70's. "Clunk click every trip" advised Jimmy Saville. For many people who grew up in the UK in the 70's that immortal phrase will stick in their memories for a long time yet! And what was that other one, by the green cross code man? "Look right, look left, look right again". Very sound advice indeed. I remember as a young girl navigating a busy street and waiting to cross the road. "Look right, look left, look right again" I thought to myself. Yes, I repeated that mantra many a time whilst waiting to cross a road. It really stuck in my memory and I believe did help to keep me and many other children safe on the roads. Here is a list of the 'health and safety gurus' who helped children in the 70's stay safe.
Jimmy Saville "Now then, now then. as it happens" in the seventies, Jimmy Saville persuaded the nation that it was better to "Clunk Click on Every Trip".
Green Cross Code Man
The super-hero in spandex helped a generation of kids to cross the road safely. Played by 6 ft 7 Dave (Darth Vader) Prowse.
The Green Cross Code Man made a visit to St Augustines CE primary school in Swinton.
Jon Pertwee
The Doctor Who star attempted to re-enforce the Green Cross Code message with his bizarre request for us to "SPLINK". It's been suggested that it stands for Stop at the Pavement. Look and Listen for traffic. If no traffic is Near walk across. and Keep looking and listening as you cross.

Alvin Stardust

The glam rocker told us that we "must be outta our tiny minds" if we forgot to look before we crossed the road.




Kevin Keegan

In between training

sessions for Liverpool and visits to the hairdresser, Kev still found time to get the road safety message across to his legions of fans.

Tufty

The Tufty club was launched in 1961 and has recently been modernised. Bernard Cribbins narrated the popular 1970's films featuring our road safety squirrel and his naughty friend Willy Weasel.

Public Information Film Featuring Les Gray

Sixties Pop Memorabilia

Yes I know this blog is a 70's blog but I couldn't resist including this vintage bit of Beatles memorabilia! It's a Beatles towel described like this:-

"Rare original vintage Beatles fab four unused Irish linen tea towel 1964
Superb vintage piece of fab four sixties ephemera!
The Beatles images have adorned everything from mugs and plates to toys, thermos flasks to beauty products and most things inbetween!
Here is a great item for any enthusiastic Beatles collector - an original irish linen tea towel featuring John, Paul, George and Ringo circa 1964.
Printed in black, claret and dusky pink on cream, this fab tea towel has a border of guitars and drums, and features printed signatures above the heads of each of the band.
Printed along the bottom "all pure linen, made in Ireland, Ulster, copyright, fast colours".

The seller is asking for £70.00, which may seem a bit steep for a bit of cloth but aah, this ain't any old bit of cloth. This is a bit of cloth with the mugshots of the Beatles on it, which makes all the difference, and mightily increases it's value! I remember when I was a fan of a pop group in the 70's, anything with their faces on I just had to have! It was the same with other fans, and fans of other pop groups or singers in the 60's and 70's - even in the 80's. A young girl's love for a pop group or star is such a powerful thing, it takes over every aspect of her life. She lives, eats, sleeps and dreams this boy band or singer and will buy anything she can get her hands on that has anything to do with them, if possible! And it is this phenomenom that makes the discovery or management of a young boy band or boy singer so lucrative. As long as the boy band or singer is popular and they still have hordes of teenage, (or pre-teen) obsessional (and very hormonal!) fans chasing after them anything featuring them will sell. Why else do talent scouts or managers continually hope to discover the latest boyband! As a source of money, what can rival them? (well of course there are some things but I can't think of them at the top of my head) Because like I said, once a young girl is in love with a boy band or singer she will buy virtually anything that features them - whether records, magazines, posters, badges, bags, watches and yes, even tea towels.

Guy Williams From Lost In Space

I remember watching 'lost in space' in the 70's. It was a sci-fi programme for children and it was great! I loved it! Carried on watching it even when I was in my late(ish) (well 15 or 16) teens. And the man who played the dad in it was absolutely gorgeous, so handsome. Anyway, here's his original screen test to get the part. Sorry he smokes in this, but that was how it was in those days.

Lost In Space Trailer

The pop music stars who rocked the fashion world with their popular looks

The Bay City Rollers’ flares and tartan scarves were listed among the most iconic looks in music history yesterday.

The style – adopted by thousands of fans of the Scots group at the height of Rollermania in the 1970s – was voted eighth in the list of iconic looks from the music industry.

Top was the Punk style pioneered by the Sex Pistols, followed by Michael Jackson’s single glove and Madonna’s cone bra – her Jean Paul Gaultier-designed Blonde Ambition look from 1990.

Others included ABBA’s all-white outfits; Kylie Minogue’s hot pants; Frank Sinatra and his tailored suits; and Spice Girl Geri Halliwell with her Union Flag dress.

Edinburgh group The Bay City Rollers – whose hits included Shang-a-Lang, Summerlove Sensation and Bye Bye Baby – were ahead of the famous black-and-white look of KISS and the Parka jackets worn by Oasis.

More than 2000 people across the UK were surveyed for the research, which was carried out by PRS for Music.

The research revealed that 41% of men and 39% of women let their music tastes influence their choice of clothing.

Ellis Rich, chairman of PRS, said: “Since the rise of pop music, it has become more common for the public’s dress sense to meet their music tastes. While bands like ABBA got the ball rolling back in the 1970s, there has been an incredible emergence of new trends blossoming out of the music industry.

“From the New Romantics’ make-up to the alternative Indie lovers, we’ve seen it all.”



Dressed to thrill


The top ten iconic looks are:



1. Sex Pistols - Punk

2. Michael Jackson - Solo glove

3. Madonna - Cone bra

4. ABBA - All white outfits

5.Kylie Minogue - Hot pants

6. Frank Sinatra - Smart suit

7. Geri Halliwel - Union Flag dress

8. Bay City Roller - Tartan

9. KISS - Black and white

10. Oasis - Parka jackets


_________________________________________________________________
8th? Should've been 1st! But then again I am biased.

70s Television

The Goodies

The show was an excuse for Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor to do just about anything they liked. They were three odd job men who did anything, anytime, anywhere including launching a rocket to the moon, sailing to a lost island, and house-sitting a lighthouse. 'The Goodies' was a great show; BO, GG and TBT were all really funny and very talented comedians. It was always great when the Goodies came on telly, you were always guaranteed a good laugh! Nothing like them these days. The show is best remembered for hit song 'The Funky Gibbon'.

BCR Book Review

Saw this review by an American journalist for a Bay City Roller book recently:-

"Tam Paton's sensational inside story of Britains No. 1 pop group. The most popular singing band to come from England since the Beatles!"

Seems our precious cousin from across the pond hasn't cottoned on to the fact that the BCR came from Scotland. Or maybe he was just being mischievous! And in case anyone's wondering, no, Scotland is NOT in England!!! And at the moment it's also still in the UK - just about!