By Keith Rylatt (217.137.91.8) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 02:57 pm:

In the UK there has been a trend for putting obsure Soul tracks on TV ads, Ruben - You've Been Away on a cat food ad and Frank Wilson - Do I Love You for KFC etc, does this happen anywhere else in the world? Keith

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 04:59 pm:

Keith,
Here in the USA I don't think they go for the very obscure. Some were hits that don't get played very often, but they were hits.

"Groove Me" by King Floyd was Burger King (or another fast food chain) & I think it was in another add also.

I think the rarest one was for NBA Basketball where they used a Curtis Mayfield/ or Impressions song. I don't recall the name so I don't think it gets much airplay on the radio.

In 1989, someone put "Mercy, Mercy Me" on a comercial which led me to Marvin Gaye and my interest in soul music. Marvin & the Funks music was so powerful, that I could never figure out what the add was for. Very odd!
-Steve

By Eli (172.155.185.125) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:44 pm:

Groove Me... is on a Dannon Yogurt advert.
Aint no stoppin us now..Verizon
Aint no Mountain..Verizon

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:06 pm:

I remember "Ain't No Mountain" as a car comercial back in the early to mid 80's also. How do I remember? Easy! Up until that point, I only knew the Diana Ross version of the song! I don't remember the brand, but it was your standard car ad with shots of the car driving on twisting roads at a greater than average rate of speed.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:12 pm:

Alot of soul tracks have been showing up in Car Ads lately in the U.S.
Like Areatha's "Freeway"
Eddie Holman's "Hey There Lonely Girl"
James Brown's"Ï Feel Good"
Etta James'Ät Last"
I think I recently saw an ad that played Marvin Gaye's "Lets Get It On"
A Philly Creamcheese ad that has angels eating creamcheese and the ads playing "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel"

By Sly fan (63.207.60.53) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:47 pm:

Doing It To Death, Papas Got A Brand New Bag-James Brown and The JB's (FORD)

The first soul song I remember being used in a commercial goes back to the year of 1986 when FORD used the Bill Withers standard "Lean On Me" (FORD).

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 06:01 am:

On the subject of car ad music........
A new Vauxhall (GM) TV ad here in the UK uses "Wack Wack" as it's music. Guess we can expect the Young Holt Chicago classic to be included on a upcomin comp soul CD anytime then (nearly all the cuts used by KFC recently are now available here on CD).

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Thursday, June 05, 2003 - 08:27 am:

I remember several years ago hearing The Miracles' "More, More, More Of Your Love" on an ad for some fast food franchise. I can't remember which, though.

By Keith Rylatt (217.137.89.33) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 12:38 pm:

John S I saw that too, that's what inspired me to bring it up. There are so many that are awaiting explotation....Marvin & Johnny-Cherry Pie, Trammps-Scrub Board, Tobi Lark-Sweep It Out in The Shed, Juggy Murray-Oily..... Keith

By Rasputin (68.42.158.155) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 04:23 pm:

Just finished watching an ad for Slim Fast .... that diet stuff ....using the Isley Bros.' "Twist and Shout" as background. The song damn sure got my attention!!!! (lol)

The Mad Monk .... shaking it up, baby

By ErikT.O. (64.228.108.53) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 07:16 pm:

Huh- one I'm surprised not to have seen, unless it wasn't shown in the USA- Shuggie Otis' "Strawberry Letter 23" was used to help sell cereal.
Off the soul tip, but still regarding music in ads, Iggy Pop's "Lust For Life" has been in about 600 ads since 'Trainspotting', the latest for some health related product... anyhow, I keep thinking I must not be the only one who still hears '...full of liguor and drugs' at the moment said lyric is chopped out of the ad... I think liquor & drugs can be great (some of each, anyhow) but it sort of surprises me to see 'Lust For Life' promoting a healthy life style...

By JSmith (212.39.231.20) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 02:27 am:

The Bobby Garrett cut used in the KFC ad has now been made available (again) on a 45 from Kent Records (UK).
They (Ace / Kent) aren't hapy that Kev Roberts included the track on one of his latest comp CDs. As the cut comes from the old Mirwood catalogue, Ace / Kent hold the UK rights to it not Mr. Roberts. He may be getting legal docs served on him anytime now.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 03:06 am:

Good grief! I guess that means all those Goldmine compilations with "The Duck" are for the chop! Looming insolvency? ;o)

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 03:17 am:

Hmm - I'm assuming you're referring to the new "Golden Age of Northern Soul" double, released this month on Goldmine's Bestway subsidiary label. I suspect this release may have a rather short shelf-life, as it also appears to include a couple of Motown copyrights and some Mike Hanks tracks too.

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.40.155) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 03:49 am:

Keith - nice thread. It seems that the jingle writers cannot write jingles, so rely on the great records of the past. The pop writers rely on covers, samples and loops. Don't forget about:

http://www.commercialbreaksandbeats.co.uk/

Not quite as up to date as one would expect, but still worth looking at.

By Keith Rylatt (62.253.64.6) on Friday, July 25, 2003 - 10:57 am:

In the UK yet another Soul track hits the TV screen, this time advertising a used car & credit company. "I Get the Sweetest Feeling" this version isn't by Jackie Wilson but it sounds very good and part of the ad has an extended instrumental section. Keith