Today's slaylist includes Ichabod Crane, from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949), and both a mono and stereo version of Witch Doctor, as released on cheapo labels Promenade and Crown. They're the same recording, except that only the mono mix features a sped-up vocal, and then only in the first chorus. I refer to the "oo-ee-oo-ah-ah..." portion, which is sung in falsetto, and over which they obviously intended to dub the sped-up part, but didn't (except that one time). Now, I find it amazing enough to have both a mono and stereo mix of this cut-rate cover version, let alone slightly different mixes, but I speak as someone who has been collecting records for way, way too long. Please keep that in mind.
The two other cheap covers in our list--Little Blue Man and Dinner with Drac--are also Promenade covers, with the first a stereo Crown label release (like Witch Doctor). (I hope you're taking notes.) And there are three re-runs, including Durward Kirby's Crime Doesn't Pay!, and three shellac titles, including Georgie Price's 1923 version of Barney Google. The horse-race portion of the latter is revelatory, being basically the same routine used by Doodles Weaver 25 years later on the Spike Jones recording of William Tell Overture, only minus the Feetlebaum character/punchline. Never know what you'll find when you plop the needle down on an old 78 (old 78s being the most common type).
I'm Normal, of course, was an "answer" to They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! and is nearly as hilarious. "The Emperor" was Bob Hudson, of Hudson and Landry fame. You'll want to dive without delay into this tub of tingling titles:
Click here to hear: Getting Hairy Over Halloween!
SLAYLIST
SATAN AND THE POLAR BEAR--David Rose Orch., 1957.
LITTLE MONSTER--Baker Sisters, w. Hugo Peretti Orch., 1956.
ICHABOD CRANE--Lawrence Welk Orch.; vocal: Dick Hill, 1949.
WITCH DOCTOR (Stereo)--12 Top Hits (Crown CST-114)
WITCH DOCTOR (Mono)--John Logan (Promenade A-41 4)
DINNER WITH DRAC--John Logan (Promenade A-41 4)
I'M NORMAL--The Emperor (Bob Hudson), 1966.
CINDER FELLER--The Five Fellows (Melloclass 1002)
CRIME DOESN'T PAY!--Durward Kirby w. The Patriots (Davis 999)
BARNEY GOOGLE--Georgie Price (Victor 19066; 1923)
THE LITTLE BLUE MAN--12 Top Hits (Crown CST-114)
IN THE YEAR 2525--The New World
I LOVE ME--Billy Murray (Victor 19066; 1923)
MAGIC EYES--Oriole Orch. (Brunswick 2437; 1923)
WHAT A LOVELY PARTY (Greenfield-Keller)--Buchanan and Greenfield, 1964.
Lee
9 comments:
Is that Betty Johnson's Little Blue Man & David Seville's Witch Doctor?
Lee, Thank you for all your great post(s),enjoying your Halloween mood music as always.-Richard
Just stumbled on your site, can't wait to listen. Thanks!!
Saw your comment on the lack of comments. I apologize, because I've been a fan of your Halloween posts for at least a couple of years -- maybe longer -- I've lost track of time.
Thanks for all the time and effort you put into acquiring and sharing all these chilling sounds of the season. It just wouldn't be Halloween without them!
One Hep Kat,
They're cheap-label covers of their hits. And whoever they picked for "Little Blue Man" does sound amazingly like Betty Johnson!
Richard and Gary--My pleasure!
Ms. Xtro,
No need to apologize--I was just having the blogger's blues. That happens periodically, and they always pass quickly. Thanks for the kind words!
Hudson & Landry fame? I think you're reaching there. (But are you reaching with your monster hands, that's the question!)
When I do that, my typing gets all mekmseamty upstasfxt... I mean, gets all messed up.
I'm showing my age in regard to Hudson and Landry. They were big names for a little while--four gold LPs, says Wikipedia--though I reckon they've ceased to be household names. Pop culture is like that.
I mean, pop culture fame.
Lee thanks for the post's. I look forward to hearing this. Again thank you.
Bob
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