Sorry, No Throbbing Gristle

May 31, 2007 11:08 AM

Although Industrial Musicals and their jaunty odes to corporate pride and brand loyalty have seen the same fate as the values they espoused (mostly), goofily earnest and undeniable catchy tunes like Exxon's Up Came Oil♫, General Electric's Make a Woman Out of Your Wife♫, and The Monroe Calculator Company's 1660 & 65♫ are still as potent as all get out! [More songs and albums to help you get your gray flannel funk on inside]
posted by Alvy Ampersand (24 comments total)

General Electric - Go Fly A Kite
G.E.'s Meter Business Department - MBD, We're The Best
G. E. Silicone Products Department - Got To Investigate Silicones (Previously)
J.C. Penney Company - Spirit of '66
Monroe Calculator Company - It’s A Brand New Ball Game
M. C. C. - Opportunity
Continental Assurance Co. Key Club Presents My Insurance Man
American-Standard - The Bathrooms Are Coming!
Goodyear - That's Show Biz!
Miscellaneous Product Music
Footage of a Chevrolet Sales Convention Musical c. 1955
Up Came Oil: The Music Video, by the Yes Men
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:11 AM on May 31, 2007

I've been particular to IBM's "Ever Onward, IBM" (warning: Flash) myself.

"Sing men, sing!"
posted by champthom at 11:22 AM on May 31, 2007

Holy Baby Jesus on a silver platter with carrots and fingerling potatoes! That is the most bizarre, amazing, outstanding, and offensive genre of music I had never until this moment heard of.

Flagging as fantastic.
posted by serazin at 11:23 AM on May 31, 2007

I'm a big fan of Michael Brown's "The Woolworth Manager's Working Song," myself. Download it here.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:24 AM on May 31, 2007

Dispepsi Blue?
Wonderful post!
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 11:34 AM on May 31, 2007

I came to this FPP in the hopes that Skinny Puppy or Front 242 had composed an operetta. Now I am crushed. I will go cry now.
posted by lekvar at 11:40 AM on May 31, 2007

I can't remember if I got this link from the Blue or MoFi, but here's some music for folks on the other side of the register: S. S. Kresge Company Background Music No. 123,
produced by Special Recordings Inc..

Glad you liked the post!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:47 AM on May 31, 2007

There, there, lekvar. It's going to be okay. (youtube, slight derail)
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 11:49 AM on May 31, 2007

Sadly, there weren't as many Labor musicals.

I've been particular to IBM's "Ever Onward, IBM" (warning: Flash) myself.

champthom,
Monty Python-style T.J. Watson Sr. is the funniest thing I've seen all week. Thank you.

Our products now are known/In every zone!
posted by Opposite George at 12:04 PM on May 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wow, another TG let down! 2 in 1 week is almost too much for me!
posted by rubyeyo at 12:07 PM on May 31, 2007

Thanks for that, Benjamin Nushmutt.

*wipes tears, stiffens upper lip*

Cool post, Alvy Ampersand, despite my earlier criticisms.
posted by lekvar at 12:12 PM on May 31, 2007

The really sad and slightly terrifying thing that just dawned on me is that part of the reason I am so thrilled at all of these is because I had a tricky time a few months back trying to assemble a disc of songs for cleaning the house, and I wanted songs about the kitchen floor and etcetera, and I had a heckuva a time tracking any down. Now, thanks to the glory of the Metafilter, and the faded glory of the Industrial Musical, I'll have no problem putting together playlists that will charm and titillate, even as I'm cleaning the tub.
posted by redsparkler at 12:22 PM on May 31, 2007

Oh, and the other part of the reason is that these are all pretty awesome.
posted by redsparkler at 12:23 PM on May 31, 2007

This is a terrific post. I had no idea anything like this existed. I think so far my favorite is this jaunty anti-nuclear power number. Worth it for the first 3 seconds alone.
posted by shadow vector at 12:39 PM on May 31, 2007

lekvar, perhaps you can be consoled with Blixa Bargeld reading the Hornbach catalog?
posted by wzcx at 1:57 PM on May 31, 2007

On the same, er, note: The Association of International Glaucoma Societies’ Glaucoma Hymn

... additional goodness here.
posted by diastematic at 2:17 PM on May 31, 2007

What's it all about
Alvyyyyyyyyyy?
Is it just for these excellent links?

Thanks for the great post.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:09 PM on May 31, 2007

I, for one, welcome my 1001 electrical servants.
posted by dejah420 at 3:42 PM on May 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

Countdown to a full-blown MeFi musical?
posted by Eideteker at 5:09 PM on May 31, 2007

Thank you so much. I, for one, never had any idea of this amazing sub-genre.

Any idea when the change-over took place from beautifully whimsical to nightmarish took place? I am, of course, talking about kpmg...
posted by dogsbody at 6:07 PM on May 31, 2007

So far my creepy favorite has to be the musical numbers by Ortho Pharmaceuticals salesmen. Bless you, WFMU!
posted by pernoctalian at 6:51 PM on May 31, 2007

Does anyone have any links of foreign examples of things like these? A Sony or Hyundai musical, perhaps? Surely they must exist...
posted by Sangermaine at 12:48 AM on June 1, 2007

My favorite is this one.
posted by vira at 4:48 AM on June 1, 2007

This is fantastic. What a great post, Alvy. I love me a musical -- and had no idea such a thing as an industrial musical existed.

I would love to hear the Ministry version of Make a Woman out of Your Wife (by Buying Household Appliances)
posted by Methylviolet at 1:26 PM on June 8, 2007