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.
You can”™t have a Batman album without featuring the Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker. For some reason, this song seems to have the same intro as “Casper the Friendly Ghost.” I don”™t know why, other than the fact that they both have white faces. If I was more creative, I”™d edit together scenes of the Joker (Heath Ledger) from 2008’s The Dark Knight and incorporate this song. Anybody else want to try it?
Now, a song about the Penguin: I like “A Penguin Caper” because it”™s actually a little musical story about the squat villain and his gang planning to rob a bank. It makes robbery, mayhem, and skulduggery sound like so much fun. (SPOILER ALERT! Batman and Robin catch the Penguin at the end.)
And who”™s the final character to get a set of songs? The Riddler? Alfred? Commissioner Gordon? No, it”™s the Batmobile, described here as “The Battiest Car Around”! I like how they sing that “There”™s never been a car on wheels like the wonderful Batmobile.” Aren”™t all cars on wheels?
Anyway, if you like these songs you”™ll want to get the entire album. Luckily, you can do that here!
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