This is without a doubt one of the strangest children’s albums I’ve ever run across. It tells the musical story of Clyde, an elephant who makes a living playing the guitar (excuse me, “gee-tar”) with his trunk. He makes quite a good living at it too, since he has his own club, “Clyde’s Den.” Here, I’ll let him sing about it to you.
Clyde falls in love with a girl named Phyllis, who he meets at the club. Phyllis loves him as well, but alas, their love is not to be because of their size difference. You see, Phyllis is an ant! (See, I told you it was strange!)
Phyllis spurns Clyde’s advances, so he volunteers to be shot into space after hearing that the space program was looking for volunteers, “height and weight don’t matter.” (Apparently the qualifications have changed since the time of Space Pilot Jones!) (more…)
In 1984, the movie Nightmare on Elm Street premiered and a new horror icon was born in Freddy Krueger. However, three years (and two sequels later), Freddy had already gone from being a frightening monster that killed you in your dreams to sort of a funny, smart-alecky cool guy (that, admittedly, still killed you in your dreams). Freddy seemed to be everywhere. Before you knew it, toys were even available with Freddy’s face on them. Here’s one of the more unusual products that came from the Freddy Krueger marketing blitz: an album called Freddy’s Greatest Hits.
Now, at first glance, you might think this would be just another compilation of horror-themed hits that came out every Halloween, featuring familiar songs like the umpteenth recording of “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, all “endorsed” by Freddy Krueger himself. That is where you would be wrong. What we have is an album featuring something called the Elm Street Group, doing some ’80s pop-type songs about Freddy’s exploits. The fun part here, though, is classic songs that feature Freddy Krueger himself, and those are the songs we’ll be featuring here for your Halloweening pleasure.
First we have “In the Midnight Hour.” Not a lot of participation from Freddy on this one, probably because he sounds like he doesn’t know whether to say “you and me” or “you and I.” (more…)
With the moon being in the news recently, it seemed like a good time to talk about this fun album, which talks about the great adventure we’ll have when we land on the moon. Here are a few songs from the album.
The song that starts out the festivities is “With a Great Big Noise Like Thunder,” which talks about how loud the rocket will be when it zooms into space. But don’t worry, no matter how fast it goes, cameras will catch everything. There’s some narration after the song that I was going to cut out, but I decided not to because it’s kind of charming to hear somebody talk about landing on the moon in future tense. I also like how he keeps referring to the satellite in the rocket as a “man-made moon.”
In “Meet Space Pilot Jones,” we learn that our astronaut is extremely smart and is between 5’ 2” and 5’ 10” tall. I don’t remember a specific height requirement once we got the real guys into space, but it would make a lot of sense. We also find that his space suit makes him look like a barrel. Not the look you want to pull off if you run into some foxy space ladies! (more…)
You know how I mentioned last week that you can’t stage a live rock concert with people in animal costumes? Well, it turns out that you can, as long as you’re dressed like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In 1990, after their first movie was so successful, it was decided to stage concerts with the characters. This album (which was a premium from Pizza Hut) is the soundtrack to that show. Stay tuned for a special surprise at the end of this post.
The first song here takes its title from the name of the concert tour, Coming Out of Their Shells. This sounds like some sort of acoustic Bon Jovi reject. And, while I don’t know if he was involved with this, the lead singer sounds to me like “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart.
Next we have “Pizza Power,” a song that was so identified with the Heroes in a Half Shell that it was used in the arcade game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time.
Now for the song that most kids probably skipped: April O’Neil’s “April Ballad.” It was probably put in the show in case the kids needed a bathroom break or something from the concession stand. I’ve decided to do the same favor for you. Don’t worry, she’ll probably still be singing when you get back. (more…)
Here’s another example of singing groups in the Squeaky Rodent Department: Shirley, Squirrely & Melvin. Their album Live has an interesting history (at least according to Wikipedia): In 1980 Excelsior Records released Chipmunk Punk, a new album featuring the Chipmunks put together by David Seville’s son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr. The album turned out to be an unexpected success, so Bagdasarian recorded a follow-up, Urban Chipmunk — for RCA Records. This left Excelsior holding the bag, so they supposedly took outtakes from Urban Chipmunk and an earlier Shirley & Squirrely album and came up with Live. I don’t know if I believe that story, but it’s on Wikipedia, so it must be true!
The first song we’ll feature here is the Sam & Dave/Blues Brothers classic “Soul Man.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song pushed so hard when it’s sung. Apparently, Squirrely thinks “soul” translates to “Sing like you’re constipated.”
Next, SS&M reveal their country side with “The Gambler,” an odd pick since Alvin, Simon, and Theodore covered the same song on Urban Chipmunk, although they changed a few words — “soda” instead of “whiskey,” and instead of bumming a cigarette, the gambler “asked for a Twinkie, and offered me a bite.” I guess SS&M get extra points for performing the song as written. Their version also features special guest star Denny Richards. (Never heard of him. Have you?)
Last week, we talked about ’60s icons the Beatles. Now let’s talk about an icon from the ’70s. That’s right — I mean Arthur Fonzarelli, better known as Fonzie from TV’s Happy Days. Here’s a (most likely unauthorized) tribute album to the Fonz from 1976, performed by a girl group called the Heyettes.
Since this was an election year, they had to put in an obligatory “Fonzie for President” song, even though Fonzie wouldn’t have been old enough to be President. Unless, of course, you figure him being in his late teens/early twenties around the time the show takes place. Then, by 1976, he would be 15-20 years older and old enough to run. But who wants to be ruled by an old Fonzie?
Here’s “The Fonz Song,” which goes on and on about what a wonderful guy Fonzie is and features a guy that almost, but not quite, sounds entirely unlike the Fonz himself.
Zoom was a children’s show on PBS (or whatever they called PBS back then) from 1972 to ‘78. The big draw of the show was that it was for kids, by kids: you could write a story or play or any sort of interesting idea and send it in, and there was a chance the cast would perform it on TV. They also sang a lot on the show; Come On and Zoom is a collection of some of those songs.
Of course we have to start things off with the show’s peppy theme song. I may be wrong here, but I seem to remember somebody taking Zoom’s producers to task for the line “We’re gonna teach you to fly high,” citing it as a drug reference. I think they may have changed the lyric in later years, but here’s the original version:
Zoom was good at featuring songs that got stuck in your head, and “Piccolomini” was no exception: interspersed with some tongue twisters is the cast singing the word “piccolomini” over and over. It’s a bit annoying but very catchy (but why they’re singing about an Italian nobleman’s family in the 13th century is beyond me).
Here’s another album to go with the Superman and Batman ones I talked about earlier. Although they aren’t credited, these songs are most likely performed by the Merriettes again. This album features the entire Justice League. Unlike the Superman and Batman albums, this actually has songs and stories on it, but since we’re all about the music here, let’s take a listen to the songs.
We’ll start things off with the Justice League’s song. The line-up here is Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Metamorpho, and Plastic Man. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that this particular incarnation of the Justice League never existed. In fact, I don’t think Plastic Man was ever in the League until a few years ago. I really like this song’s swinging organ accompaniment. Listen for the Justice League roll call: Wonder Woman sounds like a guy speaking in falsetto and Batman sounds like an old Jewish man!
This album also features a song about each of the individual heroes (except for Batman and Superman who, as you know, had their own records). Here’s the song about the Flash. Many of these songs seemed to work from a checklist: give the hero’s true identity, explain his power, and mention something special about him. The first verse is about how fast the Flash is; the second verse covers his real name (Barry Allen), that he works for the police, and that he keeps his Flash costume in a ring on his finger. What else do you need to know?
Here’s a wonderful record of songs featuring Batman and some of his DC Comics cast of characters, sung by a group called the Merriettes. Like the Children’s Treasury of Superman Musical Stories, each character gets two songs.
This first track has an intro reminiscent of the Batman TV show’s theme, which I would assume was the reason for the album in the first place. I did find one thing odd, though: on the show, I thought the Caped Crusader was always referred to as Batman, but on this record he’s always called the Batman. I know he’s called that occasionally, but I didn’t think it was happening yet in the ’60s.
Here’s the second song featuring (the) Batman. It’s a sprightly little tune, even though they sing about “When someone tries to plot a holdup or a killin’.” Yeah, I know they just used the word to have something to rhyme with “villain,” but that’s still a bit more intense than I’d expect on a children’s record!
The next song features Robin the Boy Wonder. (At least they don’t call him “the Robin.”) In this one they sing about all the amazing things Robin can do. Heck, if he’s “an acrobat, a pugilist, mechanic, wizard, and scientist,” what does he need Batman for? I do like the jazzy little instrumental break in the middle, though.
This week’s Way Out Wednesday is dedicated to Popdose’s own D.W. Dunphy who left this comment on my very first post back in January: “When are we getting those Kid Stuff Pac-Man songs?” Well, today’s the day! This album is Pac-Man’s Amazing Adventures and it’s produced by Kid Stuff Records, whose records one site describes as sounding like “children’s music made in a condemned elementary school boiler room, under the influence of extremely heavy psychedelics.” Considering the subject of my previous entry, E.T. I Love You and Other Extraterrestrial Songs, was also from Kid Stuff, it’s hard to argue that point!
The story is wacky enough, but I’m highlighting the really oddball songs here. First we have the “Pac-Man Theme.” Remember that fun little ditty that used to play right before you started your game? How can you make that song sound annoying? How’s about making it sound like it’s playing on an old warped record? (more…)
This is without a doubt one of the strangest children’s albums I’ve ever run across. It tells the musical story of Clyde, an elephant who makes a living playing the guitar (excuse me, “gee-tar”) with his trunk. He makes quite a good living at it too, since he has his own club, “Clyde’s Den.” Here, I’ll let him sing about it to you.
In 1984, the movie 
With the moon being in the news recently, it seemed like a good time to talk about this fun album, which talks about the great adventure we’ll have when we land on the moon. Here are a few songs from the album.
You know how I mentioned 
Here’s another example of singing groups in the Squeaky Rodent Department: Shirley, Squirrely & Melvin. Their album Live has an interesting history (at least according to Wikipedia): In 1980 Excelsior Records released 
Last week, we talked about ’60s icons the Beatles. Now let’s talk about an icon from the ’70s. That’s right — I mean Arthur Fonzarelli, better known as Fonzie from TV’s Happy Days. Here’s a (most likely unauthorized) tribute album to the Fonz from 1976, performed by a girl group called the Heyettes.
Zoom was a children’s show on PBS (or whatever they called PBS back then) from 1972 to ‘78. The big draw of the show was that it was for kids, by kids: you could write a story or play or any sort of interesting idea and send it in, and there was a chance the cast would perform it on TV. They also sang a lot on the show; Come On and Zoom is a collection of some of those songs.
Here’s another album to go with the 
This first track has an intro reminiscent of the Batman TV show’s theme, which I would assume was the reason for the album in the first place. I did find one thing odd, though: on the show, I thought the Caped Crusader was always referred to as Batman, but on this record he’s always called the Batman. I know he’s called that 
This week’s Way Out Wednesday is dedicated to Popdose’s own D.W. Dunphy who left this comment on my very first post back in January: “When are we getting those Kid Stuff Pac-Man songs?” Well, today’s the day! This album is Pac-Man’s Amazing Adventures and it’s produced by Kid Stuff Records, whose records one site describes as sounding like “children’s music made in a condemned elementary school boiler room, under the influence of extremely heavy psychedelics.” Considering the subject of my previous entry, E.T. I Love You and Other Extraterrestrial Songs, was also from Kid Stuff, it’s hard to argue that point!