Ray Conniff Singers – Rhinestone Cowboy / Wildfire [1975]

Before there were mix DJs and technological mashups, there were mixes like this nugget of elevator goodness. I use the word goodness with a smirk. Yes it’s smooth. Yes the music and vocals are tight and well-crafted. But come on…it’s elevator music. So hard to jump out of my seat and say, “Sweet mother I LOVE this version!”

That said, Ray Conniff filled a niche that has become part of American musical legend. His soft versions of other people’s songs provided businesses and cocktail parties with inoffensive renditions of great music. Look in any thrift store and you are likely to find a treasure trove of albums emblazened with Ray Conniff Singers.

Today I share this 70s mashup of Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” and Michael Murphey’s “Wildfire.” Before I ever heard this compilation, I would have never imagined the two in one song. In some odd way, they now belong together. Smooooth…

Silver Convention – Get Up and Boogie [1975]

They’ve been telling you for three minutes and forty-two seconds, so do it already!

A Wagon Known As Super Clam

Workman Follows His Station Wagon During Testing at an Auto Emission Inspection Station in Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio – September 1975

The wagon is a full-size 1975 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser. In our house, this type of wagon is affectionately known as The Super Clam. Why? Because the tailgate rolls down into the body, and the window rolls up into the roof. Power usually came from a 455 cubic inch V8 engine. Leather or high-grade vinyl interiors were the norm. Despite getting around 12mpg, would I own one of these today?

A definitive YES.

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Original Caption: Workman Follows His Station Wagon During Testing at an Auto Emission Inspection Station in Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since January, 1975, All Light Duty, Spark Ignition Powered Motor Vehicles Must Be Checked Annually for Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbon Emissions, and Given a Safety Check. All Other Vehicles Registered in the City Must Undergo an Annual Safety Check. the Safety Check Had Been a Semi-Annual Event until the Addition of Emissions Testing 09/1975

U.S. National Archives’ Local Identifier: 412-DA-15455

Photographer: Eiler, Lyntha Scott, 1946-

Subject: Cincinnati (Hamilton county, Ohio, United States) inhabited place
Environmental Protection Agency
Project DOCUMERICA

Persistent URL: http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=557905

Best. Hat. Ever.

A Motorist Watches Gauges on an Exhaust Analyzer as His Car Is Being Tested at an Auto Emission Inspection Station in Norwood Ohio – September 1975

Original Caption: A Motorist Watches Gauges on an Exhaust Analyzer as His Car Is Being Tested at an Auto Emission Inspection Station in Norwood Ohio. Since January, 1975, All Light Duty, Spark Ignition Powered Motor Vehicles in Hamilton County Must Be Tested Annually for Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbon Emissions. Officials Predicted 185,000 of the 250,000 Registered Vehicles in Norwood and Cincinnati Would Be Tested by the End of 1975

U.S. National Archives’ Local Identifier: 412-DA-15419

Photographer: Eiler, Lyntha Scott, 1946-

Subject: Norwood (Hamilton county, Ohio, United States) inhabited place
Environmental Protection Agency
Project DOCUMERICA

Persistent URL: http://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=557869

Seattle and the Kingdome – 1975

I took this from a helicopter when I was 10 years old. The story about that flight – plus more photos – can be found here.

They Brother’s Tailor

“No, baby…it makes me feel high to wear my little brother’s tops. Not only do I look good, but I’m good at looking good too. My Eldorado is right over there…let’s go boogie.”

I guess color blindness was also the in-thing in 1975. Sadly, this picture is proof that ill-fitting sweaters get all the hot chicks.