Friday, November 13, 2009

Funky Friday the 13th - In Case of Emergency...

Like park keepers, comb-overs, weigh-your-own-cereal shops and Sunday morning car mechanics Public information films seem to have been left in the Land That Time Forgot. Perhaps I'm just not there when they air, as PIFs were the last piece of the programming puzzle, scrunched into some scheduling oddspot. Typically lunchtime and closedown, or used to glue up gaps in the listings.

Classic PIFs are pin-sharp snapshots of their time reflecting fashions, fads, interior/graphic design and date-stamped health and safety concerns: Polystyrene ceiling tiles, seat belts, Rabies

So whatever you're up to this Friday the thirteenth - get in the swim, look left and right before crossing the road, and follow the country code or it could go...

The Creation - Biff Bang Pow



The Alan Bown Set - Emergency 999



G. Davis & R. Tyler - Hold On Help Is On The Way





Billy Blunders - son of Mr and Mrs Blunders, possibly the neighbours from hell. Watch the ol' charmer in action at 00:26



13 comments:

entrailicus said...

Hadn't even realized it was the 13th.

davyh said...

I'm going to have nightmares about conflagrations of glosspaint-dripping poly tiles now, you rotter.

Always tell your Mummy.

planet mondo said...

I only remembered after my cab arrived several minutes late Ent'. The driver who'd plonked himself outside the wrong house up the road , blamed it on the date.

PS I don't usually get cabs, but it was chucking it down, and there's a twenty minute walk to the station.

If you want to see something really scary Davy, have a peep at Donald Pleasance doing Lonely Water. You'll never want to swim in a water-filled gravel pit again. (Waddya mean you've never wanted to swim in a water-filled gravel pit anyways)

Please tell me you've got the Charley Says compilation DVD? All the classics are on the tracklist

Keith said...

It wasn't until I saw it this morning on tv that I even realized the date was the 13th. Not sure how that escaped me. Watch out for Jason today. :-)

Cocktails said...

Biff Bang Pow by The Creation?

Biff Bang Pow is Alan McGee's old band!

*Indie light bulb going off in head.*

Top song too.

Mondo said...

Yes watch your step Keith (I almost posted the Bobby Parker tune with that title - but am saving it for something else)

You must check out The Creation's How Does It Feel - it's probably why Alan McGee signed Oasis, all their tunes sound like that Creation number. The guitarist Eddie Phillips was the first to use a bowing technique later nicked by Jimmy Page. Pete Townshend invited him to join The Who as second guitarist, and Ron Wood was in the ranks for a while..not bad for a forgotten band.

PS - randomly Painter Man was covered by Boney Man

davyh said...

Friday 13th Update! Just minutes after I posted the link to Charley, the school called to say eldest daughter had smacked into someone during PE and broken her nose. Cue rush to hospital and general trauma. I stand chastened.

(It's just a small break and the bleeding's stopped. She's playing Club Penguin with her sister. I think she'll be OK. Still, just goes to show....).

Mondo said...

Oh no! The poor thing. Club Penguin should be working it's distractive magic soon. And pour yourself a glass of song something strong Davy.

Lucozade (in cellophane wrapped bottle) and a packet of Mackintosh's tooty frooties was the parents prescription in my day

ally. said...

what's club penguin ? . now i'm so distracted there's an accident happening any second
x

Gabbi said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gabbi said...

Fun theme Mondo!! I should've seen this one earlier... might have kept me from getting stung by a bee over the weekend :)

Mondo said...

A bee sting!Yikes ~ never had one of those Gabbi. I got a wasp one near the eye when I was a tot. Not nice..

Furtheron said...

OMG! Just recognised the final photo in this post... Corgi catalogue circa 1967 I'd wager!

I had the little mini with the dog handler and the German Beetle that you could steer via the light on top!!!