TV Dinners by ZZ Top

Album: Eliminator (1983)

Charted: 67

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TV dinners were developed from "Strato-Plates," the brainchild of former American serviceman William Maxon, who also devised a small cooking stove to use on aircraft - the Maxon Whirlwind Oven. He founded his company, Maxon Food Systems Inc, in 1944. Maxon died in July 1947, just as his innovation began to take off with the American public.

In 1954, another American, Gerry Thomas, took the concept one stage further, and a convenient meal for servicemen and aircraft passengers became a national and then an international institution. The deprecation of ready meals by food "connoisseurs" and pundits has not been shared by the public worldwide, but although songs about food are not uncommon, few people have had the inclination to sing the praises of convenience food in such a literal fashion. This slightly whimsical song runs to 3 minutes 50 seconds, and was released as as single backed by "Cheap Sunglasses." A group composition - Hill, Gibbons and Beard - it was recorded in 1982 and released the following year, produced by the aptly named Bill Ham. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 5

Bart Muley from Sweetlips TennBarry, .98 cents in 1953? You sure that’s right? That was like 10 bucks back then.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 10th 1953, Swanson sold its first 'TV dinner'; the cost $0.98 and and 10 million TV dinner were sold the first year...
Thirty years later in 1983 "TV Dinners" by ZZ Tops reached #38 on Billboard's Top Rock Tracks chart.
Dane from Lima,ohio, FlAn underated ZZ Top song.Good groove,nice changes,even tho this is a product of the 80's.The other killer song off Eliminator is "I need you tonight".
Ricky from Ohsweken, -In the video did anyone notice the known hazard which involved putting a foil TV dinner in a microwave? As a rule you NEVER put ANYTHING reflective or metallic in a microwave and then run it.
Thomas from Somerville, AlI was in my early twenties and living by myself when this song hit the radio. I was eating a lot of TV Dinners. Would you believe that this song made me a little nausous and I learned how to cook?

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