Insights, observations, cheap gags.
Here’s an oldie but a goodie – from 1963, it’s “Mr. Bass Man” by the late Johnny Cymbal. I dare you to listen to this and not crack a smile.
Told you so.
The Bass Man in question is Ronnie Bright, an R&B/doo-wop singer who was in groups such as the Valentines, the Cadillacs, the Deep River Boys, and the Coasters. But what I want to know is, is he the mystery man behind this vintage Ajax commercial?
A few years ago I stumbled across a product I never thought I’d see – A two-DVD set of nothing but old TV commercials. Now, to most people this probably sounds like the dumbest concept in the history of ever. But to me, finding this was better than finding 10 bucks behind the sofa. In a testament to my bizarre notion of what is entertaining, I think I’ve watched it at least 5 or 6 times already. I don’t know if this could really qualify as nostalgia for me, since the bulk of these commercials originally aired years before I was born. So it’s not as if I’m using these to return me to my childhood.
The set is priced at $9.99 for a reason. The video quality of a lot of these commercials is marginal, which is understandable. A 30 or 40-year old Hamm’s Beer commercial doesn’t exactly warrant the same push for preservation as an original print of “Birth of a Nation.” But if you have the right sensibilities, there is much enjoyment to be found here. The two discs are seemingly organized into handy categories like “Toys” and “Automobiles,” but like speed limit signs they’re more suggestions than anything else. But the first section, “Cigarettes & Cigars,” is appropriately named.
Yakety Yak