When “Mad Men” returned to our TV screens on Sky Atlantic HD last week, I was thrust back into the 1960s, not by the storyline of life in the 1960s Madison Avenue advertising agency, but by the clever and imaginative scheduling of retro adverts in the commercial breaks!!

I revelled in the commercial breaks as some of the most iconic retro adverts of the 1960s and 1970s were resurrected. The first two ad breaks were black and white commercials, and then the third ad break burst into a flourish of colour, like daffodils in Spring. Appropriate therefore that one of the commercials was the original Cadbury’s Flake Girl advert, where she is seen cavorting across a field of sunflowers before reaching the romany caravan.

Other classic TV commercials that were showcased were a Tetley Tea advert with Prunella Scales and “Go to Work on an Egg” with Tony Hancock, which was broadcast in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Although this was before my time, others were not and I was transported back to my childhood by the Cadbury Milk Tray ad with the James Bond styled Milk Tray Man. You remember the advert……..it was the one where the hero dressed in black and under the cover of night, went to extreme lengths with death defying stunts to deliver the box of confectionery….”All because the Lady Loves Milk Tray”.

Perhaps the most memorable commercial was the Fairy Liquid advert with Leslie Ash as the young girl helping her mother wash up, accompanied by the catchy jingle “Mild Green Fairy Liquid”. The success and enduring appeal of this advert is very much down to the popular jingle. It seems to me that the soundtracks of TV commercials in the 1960s and 1970s were better than they are today. Many of them could have been chart hits and indeed some of them went on to chart success. Remember these?

Top 5 TV Commercial Jingles that became Chart Hits

1)  New Seekers – I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing  – No 1  1972  ( Coca Cola Advert )

2)  Honeybus – I Can’t Let Maggie Go – No 8  1968 ( Nimble Bread Advert )

3)  Guys & Dolls – Only Lovin’ Does It – No 42  1978 ( Oxo Advert )

4)  Bobby Goldsboro – Hello Summertime – No 14  1974 ( Coca Cola Advert )

5)  David Dundas – Jeans On – No 3  1976 ( Brutus Jeans Advert )

You can immortalise your favourite TV commercial soundtracks or TV show themes, by ordering the vinyl record or CD; single, album or album cover; framed and mounted as a picture disc. ORDER NOW by clicking on…….. http://www.myfirstrecord.co.uk/

Alternatively this would make a unique present or original gift for a special celebration  ie a Wedding ( Wedding Song ), an Engagement Party, a House Warming Party, a 21st, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th Birthday, a Silver, Ruby or Golden Wedding Anniversary, Father’s or Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day!! THE PERFECT PERSONALISED PRESENT!!