If you watched TV in the 1970s, you likely remember the phrase "20 Original Hits! 20 Original Stars!” from music compilation album commercials produced by companies like K-tel. Some of the albums included "20 Power Hits" (1973), "Gold Rock" (1975), “Far Out" (1975), and my personal favorite, “Hit Machine” (1976). The only redeemable value for me in watching these commercials is that I became quite good at "name that tune" games. In fact, I had not met anyone better at it than me… until Mark Johnson stole my crown.
I was at a business-after-hours event in Clive several years ago, and Jason Walsmith of The Nadas was performing. As he was wrapping up, he noticed a few of us playing name that tune from our phones. (This was back when music was stored on your phones rather than streamed.) Walsmith allowed us to plug into his equipment, and the game was then truly on. That’s when I realized how incredible Johnson, the director of sales and marketing at West Des Moines Marriott, was at knowing his music, beating me to the punch on nearly every song. I finally accepted that I met my match, and in my efforts to congratulate Johnson, I jokingly asked if he watched a lot of K-tel album commercials as a kid. He said, “No, but I was a DJ for a number of years.” I was appalled. That was cheating. A ringer. A hustler. A professional in an amateur’s game. I took back my proverbial crown.
As for K-tel, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1984 but seems to have found a bit of a comeback on digital platforms. Meanwhile, their original compilation albums are still worth a listen.
Have a thriving Thursday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 |
