Redartz: Season's greetings, one and all! For a bit of a holiday indulgence, today we've pulled the ol' Retro Metro out of the garage for a trip back to the middle of December, 1976. Just to get a taste of the festive excitement and cultural diversion we all enjoyed waaaay back then...
First off, here's a look at the popular music that might have been playing while we eagerly scoured the Sears Wishbook for Christmas treasures . But to be honest, at that time I wasn't actually wishbooking, I was going out on my very first date (yes, with an actual girl; took her to see "2001: A Space Odyssey" at the local cinema; might explain why I never got a second date with her).
Popular on the US Billboard charts:
"Tonight's the Night" by Rod Stewart
"The Rubberband Man" by The Spinners
"Muskrat Love" by The Captain and Tennille
"More Than a Feeling" by Boston
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" by Elton John
Apparently the impact of the holiday season on the US pop charts in 76 was minimal. Although, the Captain and Tennille hosted a televised Christmas variety special , joined on the schedule by Bing Crosby's White Christmas Special and Perry Como's Christmas in Austria.
Meanwhile, across the big pond...
High on the UK Music charts:
"Under the Moon of Love" by Showaddywaddy
"When a Child is Born" by Johnny Mathis
"Somebody to Love" by Queen
"Portsmouth" by Mike Oldfield
"Bionic Santa" by Chris Hill
At least in the UK there was some holiday spirit represented on the audio airwaves. Johnny Mathis for the traditional types. And "Bionic Santa" for the more contemporary. I'd never heard of this, and had to investigate. So here it is...
Quite amusing; much like the 'break in' comedy records of Dickie Goodman that chuckled up the pop charts in the early to mid 70's.
Of course the Christmas season was well in evidence on the television airwaves by mid-December. 1976 saw the debut "Rudolph''s Shiny New Year", a sort of sequel to the classic 1964 Rankin/Bass "Rudolph".
If you were scanning the channels during those wintry weeks, you also might have caught Frosty the Snowman, and the Grinch.
You just gotta love Jimmy Durante belting one out in the snow!
And everyone knows that you don't get to watch all that tv wonderment without paying the price in commercial advertising. So here are several such ads that would have been running back then. How could anyone ever forget the Norelco Santa riding his shaver?
Ronald McDonald gets into the holiday act, along with a few friends...
Next up, a familiar tune from the folks at Coca Cola...
And finally, for all those who invited 'Andre for the holidays'...
Meanwhile, down the street at the local magazine vendor, the spinner racks were full of four color holiday fun. Archie and the 'kid' books were more winter themed, but Marvel certainly had some spirit. Always loved that Spider-Man cover. Incidentally, DC was kind of sparse with the Christmas covers this season...
And there you have it, folks: Hope this evoked a few fond memories for those of us who were around at the time. I also hope you share some of those memories, thoughts, impressions, good feelings and bad jokes. From your friends at BitBA to all of you, the very best of wishes for the holidays and the year to come!
