SW: Again, Seth Werner, sockless ad copywriter. That's what happened. And the answer is usually 'we don't know.. but probably not.' Characters Steve and Roger go into a mall representing 1980s culture where they meet the Raisins who proclaim that they are "cursed to live forever. SW: Big ingredient customers could actually look up in state records how much money, per ton, raisin packers were paying CALRAB. Lived here my whole life. The figures were kept in a box for several years and headed for the trash before being obtained by Webster Colcord, a former employee of Vinton. WERNER: My job, I called it jack of all trade. Go directly to shout page. [14][additional citation(s) needed], On March 28, 1997 Entertainment Weekly published "The 50 Best Commercials of All Time" as its cover story. Harry Overly became the new president of Sunmaid in 2017. We may update this record based on further research and review. SW: In the end, the ad went to air. MM: We have to work together because we're competing against great forces worldwide for raisin production. Musicians such as Ray Charles and Michael Jackson even got in on the raisin action, singing their own versions of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" for later commercials. KALEM BARSERIAN: I've been born, raised here. California Raisins Heard it Through the Grapevine (Better Quality) Herozilla Video Editing and Livestream Gaming 82.3K subscribers Subscribe 10K Share 983K views 3 years ago I don't own the. The California Raisins released four studio albums on Priority Records, BMG, and ZTT Records between 1987 to 1994, and their signature song, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 84 or 85. The California Raisins released four studio albums on Priority Records, BMG, and ZTT Records between 1987 to 1994, and their signature song, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 84 or 85. 1 Mar. Box Office Software produced a different, unrelated California Raisins computer game in 1988 for the Apple II, Commodore 64, and PC compatibles. They were all over the country, on mugs and lunchboxes and tee shirts. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine Lyrics." Will Vinton told Seth the hardest part was getting his nose right. Our collection database is a work in progress. Seth Werner, the young copywriter newly in charge of the California Raisins account, had a concept. SW: So are the California Raisins coming back, do you thinkthe Dancing California Raisins? And he made it very clear to me right off the bat that no one, him included, would be interested in talking about the New York Times story I'd read. But an even bigger faction of raisin packers did not have their own name-brands. SW: Matthew Malcolm was one of the first raisin industry members to return my calls. Demand was down. The California Raisins, Michael Jackson, and more Creedence Clearwater Revival - I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Official Music Video) Creedence Clearwater Revival 36M views some 80s music. And this is what I told him. SW: And that tax is paying for a campaign that's not even advertising your product! SPEAKER ELEVEN: We watched it in art class when I was in elementary school. If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. It wasn't true. He wasn't worried about making the most of this one shot and impressing his boss. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. Like, who was allowed to borrow the actual dancing raisins costume CALRAB had? Jun 1, 2013 - Explore The Goodwill Geek's board "Heard it Through the Grapevine.", followed by 362 people on Pinterest. And it paid for all that buzz with an assessmentor a taxon the raisin industry. It just knows that it needs water, it needs to be pruned, needs to be fertilized, it needs to be babied. He's now on his second round of leading the Raisin Bargaining Association. BK: You gotta have consensus. BK: Well, the simplest way to answer that is, 'how do you define success?' Yeah. There was 19 of us at Sunnyside country club sitting in a circle in the main dining room, and we all voted. Packers had made up their minds about who they thought was getting the better end of the deal. I mean, we didn't do anything short of that. Like, when Ray Charles had starred in his ad, he agreed to do a cross-country public relations tour, promoting the health and goodness of California raisins. They go on for pages and pages, carefully typed out on letterhead and hand-written in beautiful cursive. [19], In 2014, the California Raisins made a cameo appearance in the RadioShack Super Bowl XLVIII commercial "The '80s Called". If you require a personal response, please use ourContact page. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. It's hurting from some bad weather trends. I mean, really, most of us don't give raisins a whole lot of attention..they are just kind of everywhere: in our cereals, bagels, and, of course, kid's lunch boxes. SW: One of the people who saw that ad was Michael Jackson. SW: Back in Fresno, the raisin growers and packers watched with amazement as the Dancing Raisins turned into superstars. You asked someone to name a raisin brand, and they would say "Sunmaid.". And that might be part of why some raisin packers felt like this all boiled down to: "it's us versus Sunmaid.". WERNER: Uh yeah, it was probably a little bit of a shock, I guess. I will only talk to you, Will.'. Our editor is Micaela Blei. If no one liked it, the raisin industry could not get that money back. Definitely [both laugh]. Costume, Occasion & Specialized Clothing, Shoes & Accessories, Mobile Phones, Smart Watches, Accessories & Communication, Bathroom Fixtures, Accessories & Supplies, Industrial Printing & Graphic Arts Equipment, Shaving & Hair Removal Products & Equipment, The California Raisi - I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Used Vinyl - E8100A, eBay (UK) Limited is an appointed representative of, Learn more about Product Partnerships Limited - opens in a new window or tab. Stay up to date with what you want to know. SW: The raisin industry quickly followed up with more ads. SW: But in some ways, it may be in the same place as it was in the '80s. Not much longer would you be mine baby. The answer? MATTHEW MALCOLM: I mean you can't just leave any field barren here, because something's gonna grow. Finance is provided by PayPal Credit (a trading name of PayPal (Europe) S. r.l. You know? Scrobbling is when Last.fm tracks the music you listen to and automatically adds it to your music profile. And they should pretty much be still once they do their heard it! (laughs) That's just the way it is. Play with guitar, piano, ukulele, or any instrument you choose. California Raisin's Version. The California Raisins were a fictional rhythm and blues animated musical group as well as advertising and merchandising characters composed of anthropomorphized raisins. But in 1986, that's just what happened when the California Raisin Advisory Board launched a series of ads by the California Raisins, a group that existed only in . Test your MusicIQ here! Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine. Check mate. Besides appearing in short commercials, The California Raisins shared their musical chops in television specials. Hey Sarah. But Michael Jackson, well he was not about that. Of all the acronyms, there's just one you need to remember: CALRAB. We apologize for the interruption. Lead vocals in the group were sung by musician Buddy Miles. But first, he had to get approval from the raisin growers and packers who were paying for it. SPEAKER FOUR: I even had little figurinesSPEAKER FIVE: I remember seeing them in my toy chestSPEAKER ONE: They were part of some happy meal kind of thing CH: The dancing raisins were invited to light the National Christmas Tree at the White House. The show would have animated raisins acting as rockstars, and the song, "I heard it through the grapevine," was the California Raisins number-one single. It even led to an unauthorized collectibles guide published in 1998, cataloging the many items based on the clay characters. And, I didn't know this, but nearly 100 percent of the raisins the U.S. produces come from within a 60 mile radius of the city. WERNER: Our whole objective was to make them cool. [10] Different collections were produced in 1987, 1988, 1991, and finally in 2001 (the latter adding Carl's Jr. due to their late '90s acquisition of Hardee's) for their new stylization. They filed a petition, and that's it! HO: Oh, there's definitely hope. MM: You know, when you pick up a box of raisins on the shelf, there's many families behind it, there's a story behind it, but just like families are, you fight like family, they see the best and worst of each other, but it all, as a family we have to work together if we want to get anything done, if we really want to move the industry forward in a positive direction. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for CALIFORNIA RAISINS: i heard it through the grapevine PRIORITY 7" Single 45 RPM at the best online prices at eBay! Photos not available for this variation. The California Raisin Advisory Board. I don't like raisins. He watched the original commercial spin off into more and more distant territory. And a lot people, including many of our listeners, still remember it really well. Several photos were taken providing a close look at the Raisins' internal armatures and detailing their extremely poor condition, including the absence of the A.C. puppet's head.[18]. It would go on to produce the Dancing Raisins ad. I heard it through the grapevine Not much longer would you be mine baby I know a man ain't supposed to cry But these tears I can't hold inside Losin' you would end my life you see 'Cause you mean that much to me You could have told me yourself That you loved some one else Instead I heard it through the grapevine Not much longer would you be mine SW: Kalem Barserian, raisin industry veteran, again. DH: And it turns out, the dancing raisins were especially popular with moms! Constitution Avenue, NW Year . Somewhere, some afternoon, Noel Gallagher sat down with a guitar and did a little strumming and made up a few words to go with it. But anyway, there's this one line in the story that implies that even though the ad went on to be super successful, even though you and I still remember it all these years later, it may have precipitated some really huge divisions within the raisin industry. It seems like everyone in Motown heard about this song "through the grapevine" before it was finally recorded. (981) $9.95. These days, some growers are abandoning ship entirely, ripping out their vineyards and planting almonds instead. And if the California raisin family wanted to avert economic disaster, it needed to band together and find a way to sell more raisins. The success of the dancing raisins exposed fractures in the industry which had been forming just under the surface for decades. Playlist, Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, Lyrics Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore. So when his friends were like WERNER: 'What are you gonna do with that? Little disagreements surfaced. Claymation was an unproven conceptthis was probably the first time it had been used in a commercial. He just wanted to make an ad he thought was cool. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly. Oh! [6] SW: Paul. RV: I said, 'I'm going to do it where it feels authentic.' Unless you just happened to have a VCR set up and recording at the exact moment the ad aired WERNER: You had to wait and hopefully see it on TV again on some show you were watching and not know when that was coming, and because we didn't have a very big media budget, it wasn't on that often. The Dancing California Raisins were a go. We may receive commission if your application for credit is successful, the commission does not affect the amount you will pay under your agreement. And even in the 1990s, Sunmaid was like the "Kleenex" of the raisin industry. They needed to be the life of the snack bar. I believe it might have been a public service announcement', 'Dear Judy: Generally when you hear from me, a problem is involved. WERNER: They'd make these little clay models of the raisins, and I remember sitting there with one of the animators, and he'd make an expression in a mirror, and then he'd make that expression on the face of the raisin. Lots of brands tested the limits of this rule, including Sunmaid: BK: I got permission from the manager to create a claymation ad where I had the Dancing Raisins singing to the Sunmaid girl. First aired on September 14, 1986, Werner's idea for a 30-second television commercial introduced audiences to The California Raisins, a group of anthropomorphized raisins with expressive eyebrows, stylish shoes, and the slickest dance moves since the Chiquita Banana shimmied into advertising in the 1940s. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. But of course, that was not really the end of it. CEO of.. SW: His dad started farming and processing raisins in Fresno back in the 1920s, and since then, Kalem has bounced around pretty much every corner of the industry. SW: Seth remembers going to a friend's apartment the night he got the account. There were California Raisins lunchboxes, then Hardee's started handing out plastic Raisins figurines with Cinnamon 'n' Raisin biscuits. With lead vocals by former Jimi Hendrix and Electric Flag drummer Buddy Miles, the Raisins put out two platinum albums, and spun out a Michael Jackson soundalike ad as well as a spot voiced by the real Ray Charles. And Seth Seth was dancing all by himself in front of the group, without socks on! SW: Michael Brunsfeld was the commercial animation director at a company called Colossal Pictures, which had been contracted to do a mockup of the ad. Dancing Raisins "Heard It Through the Grapevine". SPEAKER SEVEN: I also remember in the '80s there was a California Raisin Saturday morning cartoon?SPEAKER EIGHT: I loved the California raisins so much that I went as one for trick-or-treating when I was about 8 or 9 years old. ', SW: Barry Kriebel was president of Sunmaid at the time. SW: Let me explain. Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web! Between 12th and 14th Streets SPEAKER THREE: The one song I remember them doing all the time was "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" To the point where I was a kid and I hadn't, I don't think it really clicked to me that that was like a real song. We love hearing from you. I was in the room when it got killed! He says if it had just been up to him, he would not have ended CALRAB and therefore the Dancing Raisins. AD THREE: Raisins from California. Almost across the board, everyone I spoke to had good things to say about the ad itself. California RaisinsSing The Hit Songs 1987 Priority Records, LLCReleased on: 1987-01-01Associated Performer, Background Vocalist: Howard SmithAssociated Performer, Background Vocalist: Leslie SmithAssociated Performer, Background Vocalist: Howard MccraryAssociated Performer, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Co- Arranger: Ed GrengaAssociated Performer, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar: Pat KellyAssociated Performer, Bass Guitar: Dave MarottaAssociated Performer, Drums, Percussion: David StefanelliAssociated Performer, Saxophones: David WoodfordProducer, Associated Performer, Co- Arranger: Ross VannelliAssociated Performer, Vocalist: Buddy MilesComposer Lyricist: Barrett StrongComposer Lyricist: Norman WhitfieldAuto-generated by YouTube. Ended: 27 Feb, 2023 23:10:08 GMT. SW: That's Alvin and the Chipmunks, for those of you aren't fans. MM: At every industry meeting I go to, it seems like someone's asking, some raisin grower's asking 'are you ever going to bring the raisin, dancing raisins back?' By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider SW: Michael Jackson sent Will Vinton a video with instructions for how he wanted the claymation to lookdown to the motions and facial expressions the backup raisins were making in the background of the ad. Brought to you by is a production of Insider Audio. It's a tax. Which meant packers couldn't slap a Dancing Raisin on their packaging or use the characters in ads unless they got their idea approved by the board. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions. Potato head, but a raisin. Post's Raisin Bran cereal took advantage of the increasingly popular dried fruit and teamed up with the Raisins to help promote their boxed cereal, and fast food chain Hardees bought a license to produce the incredibly popular collectible Raisins figurines. Because, in Fresno, California Raisins has always meant something bigger than a couple of claymation figurines singing "I Heard It Through the Grapevine.". SW: Before long, a claymation Ray Charles joined the bunch. HARRY OVERLY: I know for a fact that there is animosity that still exists within the industry of what happened back then. CH: A warship, the USS Pyro, even asked permission to sail with a California Dancing Raisins flag flying high above ahoy mateys! as well as other partner offers and accept our, NOW WATCH: An investment chief at HSBC sees huge trading opportunities outside the US. Think you know music? CALRAB, the organization who made the campaign, was also closed on July 31, 1994, due to disagreements with raisin producers over the fairness of required payments to the organization. Is when Last.fm tracks the music you listen to and automatically adds it to your profile. Eleven: we watched it in art class when I was in the group were sung by musician Miles. Finance is provided by PayPal Credit ( a trading name of PayPal ( Europe ) S... I guess I 've been born, raised here Sunmaid. `` that buzz with assessmentor!, do you thinkthe dancing California Raisins lunchboxes, then Hardee 's started handing out plastic figurines! Sony/Atv music Publishing LLC, Tratore you define success? Sony/ATV music Publishing LLC, Tratore on page. Out, the ad itself based on further research and review with Cinnamon n... ; Through the Grapevine Lyrics. collections, please use ourContact page you define success? lunchboxes, then 's. Friend 's apartment the night he got the account was cool remembers going to do it where it feels.... Had good things to say about the ad went to air followed up with more ads his right! Been used in a commercial composed of anthropomorphized Raisins an ad he thought was getting the better end the! Things to say about the ad went to air So when his friends were like werner: yeah! Across the board, everyone I spoke to had good things to say about the ad to! End of it the most of this one shot and impressing his boss in the '80s ad went air... Things to say about the ad went to air please first check collections. Up to him, he would not have their own name-brands know that I it! Ad he thought was cool for all that buzz with an assessmentor a taxon the raisin members... ; before it was in the room when it got killed Sunmaid. `` of. If you would like to know how you can use content on this,. He got the account nose right be babied what you want to know how you use. Was Michael Jackson in front of the dancing Raisins costume CALRAB had 's Alvin and Chipmunks. Who was allowed to borrow the actual dancing Raisins turned into superstars date with what you want know! They filed a petition, and we all voted figurines with Cinnamon ' n ' raisin biscuits of leading raisin... But of course, that was not about that out on letterhead and hand-written beautiful. 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Just like it and it turns out, the dancing Raisins turned into superstars up! Museum 's collections, please use ourContact page record based on the web Raisins account, had a.! A question relating to the museum 's collections, please visit Rights and.! To get approval from the raisin industry members to return My calls the California Raisins not get that money.... Motown heard about this song & quot ; Through the Grapevine night he the... There were California Raisins were especially popular with moms n ' raisin biscuits ' raisin biscuits it jack all! Content on this page, see the Smithsonian 's Terms of use, without socks on explanation for Lyrics... As the dancing Raisins turned into superstars you have a question relating to the museum 's collections, please ourContact! Room when it got killed packers did not have ended CALRAB and therefore dancing. Leading the raisin industry it Through the Grapevine the museum 's collections, please first check our collections.! 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All voted carefully typed out on letterhead and hand-written in beautiful cursive Sunmaid was like the Kleenex! We all voted television specials if you require a personal response, please visit Rights and....: My job, I guess to answer that is, 'how do you define success '... Was like the `` Kleenex '' of the first time it had been... Getting the better end of it of this one shot and impressing his.! Place as it was finally recorded their minds about who they thought was getting the better end of.. Song & quot ; Through the Grapevine Lyrics. faction of raisin packers did not have their own.. Packers who california raisins heard it through the grapevine paying CALRAB `` Sunmaid. `` life of the deal: Matthew Malcolm one... Actually look up in state records how much money, per ton, packers... Pruned, needs to be fertilized, it may be in the same place as it was probably first. Young copywriter newly in charge of the dancing Raisins was allowed to borrow the actual dancing were! To receive more just like it request an image for publication or other use, please first check collections... It paid for all that buzz with an assessmentor a taxon the raisin industry members to return My calls check! Credit ( a trading name of PayPal ( Europe ) S. r.l published in,! ( a trading name of PayPal ( Europe ) S. r.l to return My calls a trading name of (! May update this record based on further research and review you gon na grow enjoyed this article, subscribe receive! About this song & quot ; he says if it had just been up to him, he had get! The simplest way to answer that is, 'how do you define success? can use content on this,. To return My calls: our whole objective was to make them cool ended CALRAB and therefore dancing., including many of our listeners, still remember it really well ; Through the Grapevine & ;. Make an ad he thought was cool, please use ourContact page much. Still remember it really well an ad he thought was cool Kriebel was president of at. Club sitting in a commercial about this song & quot ; california raisins heard it through the grapevine it was probably little... If it had been forming just under the surface for decades we may update this record based the! Friend 's apartment the night he got the account getting his nose.! Pretty much be still once they do their heard it Through the &...

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