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1950s novelty songs
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Subject: 1950s novelty songs From: JennieG Date: 19 Oct 08 - 11:09 PM
Someone at my music club said a few weeks ago that the 1950s was the era of novelty songs; in fact one of them, "The Little Green Man/The Little Blue Man" (the colour took a few posts to resolve) is the subject of a current thread. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cluin Date: 20 Oct 08 - 12:58 AM Davy's Dinghy and other favourites by Ruth Wallis |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: topical tom Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:09 AM "A-Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed" by Little Jimmy Dickens "Out Behind the Barn" also by Little Jimmy Dickens. "The Marvelous Toy" by Tom Paxton. "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (Camp Granada)". |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Joe Offer Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:12 AM Remember those records that were little skits put together with clips from well-known recordings? A newscaster would interview a politician, and the the politician would answer with a clip from "If I Didn't Care" - stuff like that. I suppose they were all put out by the same person or group of people. Does anybody know what I'm talking about? Do I know what I'm talking about? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cluin Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:23 AM "One of These Days (Pow!)" by Jackie Gleason "Bounce Your Boobies" by Rusty Warren "The Masochism Tango" by Tom Lehrer "My Old Dutch" by Peter Sellers "Madeira M'Dear" by Flanders & Swann "Big Ten Inch Record" by Bull Moose Jackson "Rubber Biscuit" by The Chips "The Thing" by Phil Harris |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cluin Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:26 AM Are you talking about cut together bits like Buchana & Goodman's "The Flying Saucer" and Bob McFadden & Dor's "The Mummy", Joe? (trivia: "Dor" was actually Rod McKuen) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cluin Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:28 AM Sorry, "The Mummy" wasn't that kind of edits collection on second thought. It was more of a skit. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Joe Offer Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:33 AM Buchanan & Goodman's "The Flying Saucer" is exactly what I meant - but I think there were lots of them in the same format. I wonder if they all came from Buchanan and Goodman. I think "John Cameron Cameron" appeared on a number of them. I was very impressed with recordings like this when I was ten. Apparently, Dickie Goodman was the mastermind behind the operation. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cluin Date: 20 Oct 08 - 01:38 AM I wasn't around back then Joe, but I remember Dickie Goodman's "Mr. Jaws" from the early 70s. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Little Robyn Date: 20 Oct 08 - 02:12 AM 'Close the Door, They're Coming in the Window' Also Charlie Drake's songs - 'Please Mr Custer' 'My Boomerang Won't Come Back' or Benny Hill's 'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)' And don't forget Alvin and the Chipmunks. Robyn |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Little Robyn Date: 20 Oct 08 - 02:29 AM Max Bygraves - 'You’re a Pink Toothbrush', 'Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea' And was it Jimmy Edwards who sang 'Look at the monkey, funny monkey, Little Red Monkey, acting so fidgety' '(All I Want For Christmas Is) My Two Front Teeth' 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' 'Kitty in a Basket' Robyn |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Will Fly Date: 20 Oct 08 - 03:20 AM "The Railroad Runs Through The Middle of the House" - The Stargazers (in the UK) "I'm a Lonely Little Petunia in an Onion Patch" - Billy Cotton "The Ying Tong Song" - The Goons "I'm Walking Backwards for Christmas" - The Goons "Goodness Gracious Me" - Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren "Bangers and Mash" - Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren (flip side) "My Old Man's a Dustman" - Lonnie Donegan "Don't Jump off the Roof, Dad" - Jimmy Edwards "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window" - can't remember and don't actually care! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 20 Oct 08 - 03:37 AM "Shot Gun Boogie" - Tennessee Ernie Ford - 1950 :-) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: fat B****rd Date: 20 Oct 08 - 05:42 AM "Ape Call" - Nervous Norvus Little Robyn: "Little Red Monkey" was by Jimmy Edwards, Joy Nicholls and Dick Bently. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Will Fly Date: 20 Oct 08 - 05:51 AM Just remembered stuff from the Saturday morning children's radio show "Children's Favourites" (on the old BBC Light Programme!): "Sparky's Magic Piano" - Alan Livingston "Tubby The Tuba" - Danny Kaye "The Three Little Fishes" - Frankie Howerd (thought the UK original was by Maurice Denham |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,jdfrenzy Date: 20 Oct 08 - 07:34 AM The Stargazers - Close the Door: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNF_hGf627c |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Amos Date: 20 Oct 08 - 07:40 AM The Little Blue Man (I think it was Connie Francis) Green Door Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb The Witch Doctor The Purple People Eater all come flooding to mind. A |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: kendall Date: 20 Oct 08 - 08:08 AM Three Little Fishies (Kay Kyser) ? Oh What a Face (Phil Harris) Der Fuhrer's Face (Spike Jones) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Mr Red Date: 20 Oct 08 - 08:08 AM "Does the Spearmint Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?" goes way back before L Donegan. "Mairzy Doats and dozy doats, and liddle lamzy divey" Burl Ives 40's I believe. And "The Trooper Watering His Nag" in 1715 (and many years before that according to Thomas D'Urfey) - now what is a Jolly Trolley may I ask? And just how much was That Doggie in the Window? And was it him that deinged the Micro$oft flagship? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Doc John Date: 20 Oct 08 - 08:22 AM Yes, there were two types of popular songs in the 50's: novelty songs (often by artists who weren't regarded primarily as singers) and ballads, whic weren't ballads but nauseating (to a boy in the 50's) sentimental songs, as recorded by David Whitfield.Then R&R came in. Some of the so called novelty songs were actually folk songs or songs in that style and this is where I was first introduced to them. Michael Holliday sang a version of '900 Miles' and Shirley Abicaire I remember did some wonderful stuff. Doc John Mr Red: Is it: Mares eat oaks and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivey'? Doesn't make a lot of sense eitherway I suppose. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: SINSULL Date: 20 Oct 08 - 08:25 AM Little Red Rented Rowboat Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat The Chipmunk Song |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: kendall Date: 20 Oct 08 - 08:27 AM It was Arthur Godfrey who did "Oh what a face". |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Amos Date: 20 Oct 08 - 08:38 AM Beep Beep (The Little Nash Rambler) A |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: John MacKenzie Date: 20 Oct 08 - 09:16 AM Twenty Tiny Fingers I Can't Do My Bally Bottom Button Up. Don't Jump Off the Roof Dad JM |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 20 Oct 08 - 09:19 AM Dickie Goodman - gosh, yes! I remember hearing "The Touchables", and I own recordings of "Berlin Top Ten" and "Batman and his Grandmother". Great stuff! Don |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: severed-head Date: 20 Oct 08 - 10:27 AM Flash, Bang, Wallop (What a picture) - Tommy Steele "Right" Said Fred - Bernard Cribbins Gossip Calypso - Bernard Cribbins |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Folkiedave Date: 20 Oct 08 - 10:35 AM Maresy dotes and doesy dotes and little lambsy divy" Burl Ives 40's I believe. Mares eat dotes and does eat dotes and little lambs eat ivy I think... The Bee Song by Arthur Askey - covered by Roy Bailey in his 70th birthday last night......really! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: SINSULL Date: 20 Oct 08 - 10:45 AM Arthur Godfrey also did "The Too Fat Polka". |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: John MacKenzie Date: 20 Oct 08 - 10:46 AM The Dummy Song....Max Bygraves. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Lonesome EJ Date: 20 Oct 08 - 10:53 AM My Friend the Witch Doctor(oo eee oo ah ah) The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) by Alvin and the Chipmunks |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 20 Oct 08 - 10:55 AM "John Cameron Cameron" narrated Buchanan and Goodman's "In Court," among others. "The Little Blue Man" was written by John Kander or Fred Ebb, I forget which. Kander and Ebb wrote "Chicago," "Cabaret" and the current Broadway show "Curtains." Rusty Draper sang the American hit version of "The Railroad Runs Through The Middle of the House." |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Will Fly Date: 20 Oct 08 - 11:31 AM Just to nail what the words mean... Mares eat oats and does eat oats, And little lambs eat ivy, And does'll eat ivy too - wouldn't you? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: SINSULL Date: 20 Oct 08 - 11:45 AM A kid 'll eat ivy too Wouldn't you |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Will Fly Date: 20 Oct 08 - 11:59 AM So - Granny was wrong! Blast... |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 20 Oct 08 - 12:39 PM "Flash, Bang, Wallop (What a picture) - Tommy Steele" came from a stage show, that I once worked on backstage - name? damn brain is like one of things with lots of tiny holes in it that you use to separate water from other solid things... |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Will Fly Date: 20 Oct 08 - 12:48 PM "Half A Sixpence" - H.G. Wells's "Kipps" as a musical. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: John MacKenzie Date: 20 Oct 08 - 12:52 PM Little White Bull....Tommy Steele From an abysmal film called Tommy the Toreador. JM |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: dick greenhaus Date: 20 Oct 08 - 02:04 PM Bird on My Head by David Seville ("I'm just sitting in a vacant lot with a bird sitting on my head.") Grandma's Lye Soap (It's In the Book) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 20 Oct 08 - 04:03 PM Just to set the record straight, "Mairzy Doats" was written and performed during WWII, in 1943. There were many others prior to that, so the tradition is a long one. I didn't see "Hot Rod Lincoln" by Johnny Bond mentioned. "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette," written by Merle Travis, with the best known version by Tex Williams, is another from the period. What were we thinking? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Arkie Date: 20 Oct 08 - 04:37 PM Tutti Frutti (Throw) Mama from the Train (A Kiss, a Kiss) Transfusion by Nervous Norvus See You Later Alligator Be-Bop-A-Lula by Gene Vincent who also sang "Flea Brain" Hot Diggity Rag Mop - Ames Brothers and others I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts by Merv Griffin Bibbity Bobbity Boo by one of my favorites, Jo Stafford Hoop-Dee-Doo was a biggie for Perry Como which he followed up with Zing, Zing, Zoom, Zoom I Taut I Taw A Puddy Tat Wasn't that also the era of David Seville and the Chipmunks |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Arkie Date: 20 Oct 08 - 04:40 PM Oh, and also: Aba Daba Honeymoon |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 20 Oct 08 - 05:05 PM Alvin and the Chipmunks were the brainchildren of the late Ross Bagdasarian, a.k.a. David Seville. He was a Fresno, California boy with deep roots in the local Armenian community, along with fellow local, author William Saroyan. His son, Ross Jr., is keeping the franchise active. Country singer, Ray Stevens, had a list of goofball comedy songs, such as "The Streak" during the sixties. Fellow singer-songwriter Roger Miller left quite a legacy, culminating in his music for the Broadway show hit, "Big River." Along the way, he left us with "Dang Me" and "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd," among many others. The third member of this group of sixties and seventies folks was the recently departed country guitarist and singer (and sometime actor), Jerry Reed. He grew up admiring Chet Atkins and eventually became a friend and collaborator with him. He was a very respected guitarist in his own right. Who says the novelty song has gone bye, bye? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: John MacKenzie Date: 20 Oct 08 - 05:09 PM What did Delaware Boys? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: bubblyrat Date: 20 Oct 08 - 05:29 PM "May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" ( Conway Twitty ) was ----well, weird, I guess, like the name of the singer !! Del Shannon's offering "Swiss Maid" ( written by Roger Miller ) was quite a novelty song too. Of course, these may have been just after the 'fifties, but they sure kept the genre alive !! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: RangerSteve Date: 20 Oct 08 - 05:46 PM Just about anything recorded by The Coasters. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: JennieG Date: 21 Oct 08 - 02:23 AM Where did the term "novelty songs" come from, I wonder? It was probably coined to distinguish songs that weren't ballads/love songs, but why "novelty"? I remember radio (we didn't get television until much later) in my childhood as having a lot of novelty songs, and many have been mentioned, thanks for the memories. They were kids' songs that adults could sing and enjoy, and adult songs that kids could also share. Shirley Abicair recorded "Let him go, let him tarry", she was known as the 'zither girl'. There's room for fun in music....it doesn't have to be all serious! Cheers JennieG |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Dave Hanson Date: 21 Oct 08 - 02:41 AM This tops them all "They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cluin Date: 21 Oct 08 - 07:36 AM "Cigareets an' Whusky an Wild, Wild Wimmen" by Red Ingle & the Natural Seven. 1948 |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cluin Date: 21 Oct 08 - 07:51 AM A few Country Novelty cuts from 1937 can be downloaded here in MP3 format. Zeke Manners & His Swing Billies - Organ Grinders Swing Zeke Manners & His Swing Billies - Blow the Whistle Arty Hall & His Radio Rubes - Conversation with a Mule Arty Hall & His Radio Rubes - Sara Jane |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: kendall Date: 21 Oct 08 - 08:06 AM (Please) Mr. Custer, (I don't want to go)...FORWARD, HO! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Azizi Date: 21 Oct 08 - 08:50 AM Besides some of the songs mentioned already, the only "novelty" songs that pop into my head are from the 1960s, Here are some examples: The Name Game written by Shirley Ellis & Lincoln Chase, and released in late 1964. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MJLi5_dyn0 The Name Game-Shirley Ellis; YouTube clip Ellis also had a hit song in the mid 1960s "The Clapping Game, That song was based on two children's handclap rhymes {"3 6 9 the goose drank wine" and "my mother told me if I was goody"}. But, for whatever reason, I don't remember this song at all. However, I definitely remember Shirley Ellis' other big hit-"The Nitty Gritty" {1964}, though that's not a novelty song. ** I also remember: Long Tall Texan (Henry Strzelecki) Recorded by The Kingsmen - 1963, and others since ..."Well I'm a long tall Texan I ride a big white horse (He rides from Texas on a big white horse) Well people look at me and say Hurrah hurrah is that your horse? (He rides from Texas on a big white horse) Yeah"... http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/l/longtalltexan.shtml and Monster Mash {1962) and Alley Oop {1960) ** Again, sorry. I know that these songs aren't from the 1950s and therefore don't fit into the specific topic of this thread. But a lot of folks like me who were kids in the 1950s liked singing them. So that should count for something. :o) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: John MacKenzie Date: 21 Oct 08 - 09:28 AM The Clapping Song Shirley Ellis. JM |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: JJ Date: 21 Oct 08 - 09:29 AM Ross Bagdasarian was William Saroyan's nephew. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Azizi Date: 21 Oct 08 - 10:14 AM And if you want an example of a novelty song that is really old but is still going strong, there's May Irwin's Frog Song {1896}. I think that song lives on in the rhymes that are chanted during the children's handclap game "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky" {or similar sounding titles}. My comment about the possible {I think probable} connection between that song and those rhymes is posted here: thread.cfm?threadid=94034&messages=214#1815711 Origins: Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: John MacKenzie Date: 21 Oct 08 - 10:24 AM I am a Mole, and I Live in a Hole. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: severed-head Date: 21 Oct 08 - 10:44 AM What a Mouth (What a North and South) - Tommy Steele |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Arkie Date: 21 Oct 08 - 12:25 PM Homer and Jethro were active in country music during the 50s and 60s and produced a number of novelty songs. The Battle of Kookamonga was one of their songs in the 1950s. Not sure about the dates of "She Was Bitten on the Udder by an Adder". Not sure of the dates for "Let Me Go, Blubber" or "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs". "I Want One", by Jack Reno was from the 1960s. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cluin Date: 21 Oct 08 - 12:30 PM Like the more recent "I Lobster, and Never Flounder" by Pinkard & Bowden. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: cptsnapper Date: 21 Oct 08 - 01:08 PM "(How Much Is) That Doggie In The Window" was recorded by Lita Rosa who apparently hated it so much that she never sang it public. Not quite in the 50s but what about "The Ugly Duckling" by Danny Kaye? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 21 Oct 08 - 01:42 PM Homer and Jethro did a parody of "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window" that went:
"How much is that hound dog in the winder, |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: VirginiaTam Date: 21 Oct 08 - 01:48 PM It is reportedly from the 60s but I liked The Alley Cat Song. Used to do tap dance routine to it when i was a wee thing. http://www.celestill.net/the_alley_cat_song.htm |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Amos Date: 21 Oct 08 - 04:18 PM Three Little Fishies ("And they swam and they swam right over that dam...") "Since you're so very kind, sir, I'll have a bottle of ink." And other undying lines from the immortal king of novelty schmaltz, Arthur Godfrey. A |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: bubblyrat Date: 21 Oct 08 - 06:44 PM "When she was young, she bought a small mouth-organ for a tanner; She swallowed it,and ever since,they've called her Wheezy Anna.
Chorus: Wheezy Anna, Wheezy Anna, |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Lonesome EJ Date: 21 Oct 08 - 07:38 PM I would consider "Don't Worry; Be Happy" a pretty contemporary novelty song. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Dil Date: 21 Oct 08 - 10:27 PM Paralysed - The Ledgendary Stardust Cowboy My underwear froze to the clothes line - The Legendary Stardust Cowboy I'm happy to live in a split level head - Napoleon XIV They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! - Napoleon XIV Fish Heads - Barnes and Barnes Renta Santa - Chris Hill (using snippets from other peoples records) The Magic Roundabout - Jasper Carrot I'm in love with Angela Rippon - Bernard Wrigley I'm gonna find me a woman to hold my big toe until I have to go - Captain Beefheart I'm my own Grandpa - The Muppets (can't remember who did the original) Kinky boots - Honor Blackman and Patrick MacNee Queen of the house (send up of "king of the road") - Mrs. Miller Fish - Leona Anderson Two minute silence - John Lennon and Yoko Ono (exactly as the title suggests) Lost Sheep - Adrian Munsey (a disco version "C'est sheep" followed!) Ba! Ba! black Sheep - The Singing Sheep Tracks of my tears - Half Japanese (has to be heard to be believed) If - Telly Savalas (a UK No.1) You've lost that lovin' feeling - Telly Savalas I'm free - John Inman (as his Mr.Humphries character) When I'm 64 - John Pertwee (as his Wurzel Gummidge character) Up Je t'aime - Frankie Howard and June Whitfield |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,MarkS (on the road) Date: 22 Oct 08 - 12:03 AM Hey Azizi The Kingsmen did that on the flip side of "Louis Louis"! And am I the only one here to remember "Just Keep Walking" By, (I think) Martin Stang?? Mark |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Lonesome EJ Date: 22 Oct 08 - 12:34 AM How about the Kingsmen doing "Jolly Green Giant"? "He couldn't get Sally So he went back to the Valley and that's why the cat's so mean!" |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: severed-head Date: 22 Oct 08 - 07:14 AM Wot???? No Pinky & Perky??? Come on guys........ |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Mo the caller Date: 22 Oct 08 - 07:45 AM Was Nobody likes me everybody hates me (I'll go down the garden and eat worms) ever recorded? Or was it just a kids thing that got passed around (like nits)? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Azizi Date: 22 Oct 08 - 08:20 AM GUEST,Dil, I only knew one song on your 21 Oct 08 - 10:27 PM list. For what it's worth, the lone song that I knew was "They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" - Napoleon XIV". And the only singer names on that list that I recognize are John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and Telly Savalas {Telly Savalas, the bald headed lollipop sucking television detective Kojak made some records?!} Is your list from the UK? And are all those songs from the 1950s? Reading your list made me realize how USA centered my Rock & Roll, R&B, and pop music knowledge is. I'm ashamed to say that before Mudcat, I didn't give any thought to the fact that other countries had their own hit records that were [often?; usually?] different from American hit records. And, if I gave it any thought at all, I just assumed that everybody in the world-or at least every English speaking person in the world-would know the American hit Rock and Roll, Rhythm & Blues, and pop songs and I just assumed that people in other nations would prefer American songs over the songs that were recorded in their own country. Thanks to Mudcat, at least I now know that those assumptions were not only stupid, but they were arrogant. I'm sorry about that {or as the hip hopper say-My bad}. |
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Subject: ADDPOP: Western Movies From: Azizi Date: 22 Oct 08 - 08:37 AM Just to show that I'm not always as serious as my last post to this thread suggested, here's a "novelty song" that I remember that I think is from the 1950s-USA :o) WESTERN MOVIES {The Olympics} To save my soul I can't get a date, Baby's got it tuned on channel eight. Now Wyatt Earp and the Big Cheyenne They're comin' thru the T.V. shootin up the land. Ah...um...my baby loves the Western movies. My baby loves the Western movies, Bam, bam, shoot 'em up Pow. Ah..um..My babe loves the Western Movies. I call my baby on the telephone To tell her half my head was gone I just got hit by a great big brick She says thanks for reminding me about that Maverick Ah..um...my baby loves the Western movies. My baby loves the Western movies, Bam, bam, shoot em up pow. Ah...um... My baby loves the Western movies. Well there's Jeremy Roller and Old Cochise Jim Hardy, Jim Bowie and Sugarfoot. They all have gun will travel Give me back my boots and saddle uh huh. Here's the story of the certain Wagon Train Mccord A broken arrow has broken my heart. A Jefferson Thomas with Bat Masterson Unties my baby and the fight was won. Ah..um...my baby loves the Western movies. My baby loves the western movies. Bam bam shoot em up pow. Ah um, my baby loves the western movies. Note: (Jim Hardie was a character in the TV show "Tales of Wells Fargo" which ran from 1957 to 1962) Jim Bowie was the famous frontiersman portrayed in the show Adventures of Jim Bowie which ran from 1956-1958. From: Scott Cohen; http://www.songlyrics.com/the-olympics/western-movies/220422/ |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bat Goddess Date: 22 Oct 08 - 08:42 AM "Little Red Rented Rowboat" "The Boys' Camp Is Just Across the Lake From the Girls' Camp Where I Go" In the early '60s there was a spate of songs parodying current hits -- i.e. "Son Don't Go Near the Eskimos" -- and also story songs made up of lines sampled (I don't think they used the term then) from other popular songs. I remember one ending up with the line from Walter Brennan's song (would that one count as a novelty song, too?), "That mule, Old Rivers and me." They did continue well into the '60s. How about "The Anaheim, Azusa, And Cucamonga Sewing Circle, Book Review, And Timing Association" just for the title alone? They had a tendency to be on the radio in the summer when school was out. Linn |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Azizi Date: 22 Oct 08 - 08:50 AM GUEST,MarkS (on the road), thanks for that information. I didn't know that "Long Tall Texan" {or was it Lone Tall Texan?} was on the flip side of that hit song "Louis Louis". ** And, keeping with a western theme, here's a link to a YouTube video of a novelty song from the early 1980s {since it seems that it's okay to add songs from other decades on this thread} http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfUSIerJ-8c Rappin' Duke- Shawn Brown [a funny spoof on rap music and John Wayne] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 22 Oct 08 - 10:58 AM "Just Keep Walkin'" was titled "Ambrose," written and sung (spoken, really) by Brooklyn's own Linda Laurie. It was about a couple, Ambrose and the narrator, walking in a subway tunnel. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: NUTTIN' FOR CHRISTMAS From: VirginiaTam Date: 22 Oct 08 - 02:17 PM nuttin for christmas NUTTIN' FOR CHRISTMAS Songwriter? I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas Mommy and Daddy are mad. I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas 'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad. I broke my bat on Johnny's head; Somebody snitched on me. I hid a frog in sister's bed; Somebody snitched on me. I spilled some ink on Mommy's rug; I made Tommy eat a bug; Bought some gum with a penny slug; Somebody snitched on me. CHORUS Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas Mommy and Daddy are mad. I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas 'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad. I put a tack on teacher's chair; Somebody snitched on me. I tied a knot in Suzy's hair; Somebody snitched on me. I did a dance on Mommy's plant. Climbed a tree and tore my pants. Filled that sugar bowl with ants; Somebody snitched on me. CHORUS Oh, I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas Mommy and Daddy are mad. I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas 'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad. So you better be good whatever you do 'Cause if you're bad, I'm warning you, You'll get nuttin' for Christmas. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: MikeofNorthumbria Date: 23 Oct 08 - 06:18 AM Anyone remember "Never Do a Tango with an Eskimo"? "You can do it with a sailor from Peru or Venezuela, You can do it with a gaucho from Brazil. But once an Eskimosy tries to cuddle up so cosy, You can bet your life you're gonna get a chill!" Why do trivial lyrics stick in our memories for decades when far better ones can be so much hard to learn? The only answer I can offer is "Ee, ah, ooh-ah-ah: ting, tang, walla-walla bing bang!" Wassail! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 23 Oct 08 - 10:18 AM It's extraordinary how potent cheap music is. --Noel Coward, "Private Lives" |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bru Date: 23 Oct 08 - 10:41 AM One or two more. The Playmates - The Bubble Car Song (UK) Burl Ives - I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly Max Bygraves - When You Come to the End of a Lollipop Bernard Cribbins - Hole in the Ground Charlie Drake did a few more; I've Bent My Assagai My Boomerang Won't Come Back I've Lost The End Of My Yodel |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: open mike Date: 23 Oct 08 - 12:35 PM ooh eee ooh ah ah ting tang walla walla bing bang! monster mash will be heard some now that halloween is coming up ray stevens--gitarzan and others.. oh yes, thanks for the reminder of: They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!, ho ho... with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes... and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white suits.. (and in the end it was an ode to a dog) and on the flip side it was backwards.. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Jayto Date: 23 Oct 08 - 02:01 PM Was Li'l Red Riding Hood the 1950's or 1960's? I don't know when but I love that song. I can't even remember who did it. Maybe Sam the Sham ? Not sure can anyone help me on this? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Tunesmith Date: 23 Oct 08 - 02:17 PM Some 25 years ago, a friend of mine used to perform the "Gilly-Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea." novelty song but set to the melody of a folksong (I can't remember which one) - and it worked extremely well. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Jack Campin Date: 23 Oct 08 - 02:19 PM Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat - "We're having fun, sitting in the back seat, hugging and a-kissing with Fred". Who did that one? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 23 Oct 08 - 02:51 PM Pretty sure "The Little Blue Man" was sung by Jaye P Morgan (who was a descendant of banker J P Morgan, FWIW). Another 1950s novelty song was: "You'd never think they'd go together, But they certainly do: The combination of English Muffins and Irish Stew." Anita Bryant had a novelty song with a title something like "'Cause He Looked Like You." It was all about her having dreams where the 'hero' "looked like you," so she let him hold her, kiss her, etc. One line I remember was: "I dreamed I was Princess of Bombay Inspecting my armies (?) on Monday. A thousand men came marching by, Each looked like you, each winked his eye. I let 'em (kiss?) me, 'cause they looked like you. Then there was The Ames Brothers' "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane." Was "Ahab The A-rab" from the '50s or the early '60s. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: NaeMairSea Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:04 PM Was 'The Ballad of the Woggler's Moulie' from that far back? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:07 PM Arkie, You spelled "Ragg Mopp" wrong. It's spelled out right there in the lyrics: Rag Mop "R-a-g-g M-o-p-p, Ragg Mopp doo de doo doo de wahh ... " ;D I think Frankie Laine's "Hawkeye" ("All the fellers call me Hawkeye, 'cause I never miss a trick. I can spot a pretty chick a mile away ... ") qualifies as a '50s novelty song too. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 23 Oct 08 - 03:32 PM Stan Freberg (sp?) had a number of novelty recordings and spoofs on popular songs in the 1950s, including: The Rock Island Line Elderly Man River Yellow Rose of Texas Little Blue Riding Hood and Green Christmas Not sure all of Stan's were from the '50s, but several were. And was "Hand Jive" from the '50s or from the '60s? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 23 Oct 08 - 06:12 PM I think it was "Gilly-Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea." Then there was "The Rock And Roll Waltz" -- a song by Kaye Starr that actually was the #1 pop hit of 1954 or thereabouts. Teresa Brewer also had a song called "Skinnie Minnie Fish Tail" about a mermaid (in the mid 1950s). And The Crew Cuts had one called "The Barking Dog" (where the guy can't get a goodnight kiss from his girlfriend because her dog wakes up the house and neighbors when he takes her home, so he finally brings along a canine girlfriend for the dog and gets the dog to shut up). |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bill H //\\ Date: 23 Oct 08 - 06:42 PM I don't think anyone mentions "The Thing"---"...where did you get that _______ Get out of here with that __ ___ ___ Bill Hahn |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 23 Oct 08 - 07:11 PM Yeah, they did, Bill. But it's such a good one it's worth mentioning twice. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Lonesome EJ Date: 23 Oct 08 - 10:39 PM Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah Here I am at Camp Granada Camp is very entertaining and they say we'll have some fun when it stops raining What was that song writer's name? [Allan Sherman] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Amos Date: 23 Oct 08 - 11:06 PM ...but the only problem is that it's been raining!!" "Nashville Katz! He runs a kosher deli!! Nashville Katz!! It's the only one around!!! Nashville Katz!! It's not like you're in Brooklyn!! NAshville Katz!! He's the only one in town!!! Well there are fourteen hundred and fifty three different restaurants in Nashville. You can get anything from hominy grits to chateaux de Tourneville. But there's only one place for a good Jewish boy, if he really wants to eat well. Just tell anybody to take you to Katz's The kosher deli in Nashville!!" Alan Sherman rides again!! A |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 24 Oct 08 - 01:33 AM Lonesome, that would be Alan Sherman again. Genie |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 24 Oct 08 - 11:13 AM Sylvia Syms sang "English Muffins and Irish Stew." |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Arkie Date: 24 Oct 08 - 12:20 PM Found a number of Spade Cooley recordings on emusic recently and among them was "I Come Here to Be Went With But I Ain’t Been Yet", sung by Ginny Jackson with the Spade Cooley band. The recording was from 1949 and was from a movie soundtrack, I believe, but I have no idea how popular the song may have been. Genie, would you please check my spelling. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 24 Oct 08 - 03:01 PM Ah, yes, Cool Beans! It was indeed Sylvia Sims. I'm about equally surprised that I still remember her as the singer of English Muffins and Irish Stew (and I can still hear her accent as she sang it) as I am that I couldn't think of it when the song popped into my head. LOL |
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Subject: Lyr Add: I WON'T GO HUNTING WITH YOU JAKE (Hamblen From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 24 Oct 08 - 04:39 PM I seem to recall the "sausage king" Jimmy Dean do this some time in the 1950's or later. It also appears in at least one of the old "Song Fest" publications, I think: I WON'T GO HUNTING WITH YOU JAKE (BUT I'LL GO CHASING WOMEN) (Stuart Hamblen) Oh it's springtime in the Rockies and I'm full of mountain dew, Can't even read my catalogue just like I used to do. I'm sitting in that little shack that's right behind my house And here comes Jake with all his hounds, he's gonna hear me shout. CH: "Oh I won't go hunting with you Jake, but I'll go chasing women So put your hounds back in their pen and stop your silly grinnin' The moon is bright and I'm half tight and life is just beginnin' So I won't go hunting with you Jake, but I'll go chasing women" Go brush your teeth and comb your hair, it's dang near time to start. Before we go there's just one thing, there's one that's got my heart. Don't chase that girl with the yellow hair and wearing the dress of green For that there gal belongs to me, I know she's past sixteen. (CH) Oh we'll go down to the meeting house just as they go home Them little gals from Possum Creek, they always leave alone. We'll chase them down the corn rows, them sassy little misses First we'll scare them half to death, and then we'll blow them kisses. (CH) Oh I went down to the General store and what do you think I seen They make them in the city, and they call it a magazine I turned to page thirty-four and what do you think I found Them gals wearing things we've never seen beneath them Gingham gowns (CH) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bill H //\\ Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:12 PM The Camp Granada Song was re written and re-issued as a single in 1964 with some great updated lines in it referring to the food being better since the food does not have the black spots moving in it anymore---and for entertainment Lenny Bruce will be there. I have played it a number of times on my SUnday SImcha program. Really a riot---but I doubt it can be considered a "novelty Song" along with things like Mairzy Doats or The Thing. More a satire of summer camps. Bill Hahn |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Stringsinger Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:22 PM (There’s a pawn shop on a corner in) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania This is the tune used for Malvina Reynolds' song "Little Boxes". Frank Hamilton |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 24 Oct 08 - 06:09 PM Stuart ("This Ole House," "It Is No Secret," "Beyond The Sunset") Hamblen wrote THAT!!?? ROFLMAO! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 24 Oct 08 - 06:18 PM Yeah, Frank, Malvina did indeed use part of the tune of "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" for "Little Boxes." Ever so slightly modified and actually just the first few melodic bars -- not the whole verse tune or the bridge -- but it's undeniably "lifted" from that song. Speaking of the pawnshop song, I don't know why, but that one always reminds me of the song "Dance Me Loose" -- probably because they were both popular around the same time. I can't find the lyrics to "Dance Me Loose" or an audio or video file, but it was about a young woman of Scandihoovian descent in Michigan, who was very popular with the young men, partly because they loved her accent and loved to hear her say: "I varm so eassy, so dance me loose, Dance me loose, dance me loose ... " The first line of the verse starts "Saturday night in Sheboygan ... " Maybe it's not a true "novelty song" either -- any more than "Doggie In The Window" was, but it was one of those "cute" songs that was on the hit parade for a while then basically vanished. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bill H //\\ Date: 24 Oct 08 - 07:32 PM Well, for cute songs that catch your ear---does anyone recall "The Old Master Painter"---pure schmaltz and you really had to watch your pronunciation of the title---made for many a bad joke. Recorded by Richard Hayes. Bill Hahn |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: reggie miles Date: 24 Oct 08 - 08:09 PM I've been fascinated with old novelty songs for many years and perform a great many. One of my favorite's recorded by Arthur Godfrey was, "The Man With The Weird Beard". I enjoy playing it during Halloween season. While not strictly considered novelty "songs" but rather novelty stories, Jazzbo Collins was releasing some great versions of old children's stories like, "Little Red Riding Hood", using 50s beatnik slang throughout. I'm not sure if Yul Brynner recorded this in the 50s or 60s but he recited a fairly whacky novelty story/song that included that chipmunk type vocal trick in it called, "Space Mice". He's probably got others as well. Phil Harris was reinterpreting much older novelty songs and releasing his versions in the 50s like, "Some Little Bug". |
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Subject: ADD: The Merry Minuet ^^^ From: Bat Goddess Date: 25 Oct 08 - 08:36 AM How about "Merry Minuet" recorded by the Kingston Trio in 1959 at the Hungry i? THE MERRY MINUET^^^ (Words and Music by Sheldon Harnick) Still, alas, as timely today as it was then -- They're rioting in Africa (whistling) They're starving in Spain (whistling) There's hurricanes in Florida (whistling) And Texas needs rain. The whole world is festering with unhappy souls The French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch And I don't like anybody very much! But we can be tranquil and thankful and proud For man's been endowed with a mushroom-shaped cloud And we know for certain that some lovely day Someone will set the spark off And we will all be blown away. They're rioting in Africa (whistling) There's strife in Iran What nature doesn't do to us Will be done by our fellow man. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: JennieG Date: 25 Oct 08 - 06:14 PM Thank you all very much, you have made my day(s)! And of course it wasn't only the 1950s that spawned novelty songs, they were being sung before and after too. But in my memory it's the the 1950s songs that I remember, probably because I was young at the time and they appeal to children as well as adults. I used to sing some of them to my sons - 'Beep Beep (the little Nash Rambler), 'Purple People Eater" were two they liked, also Allan Sherman's 'Hello muddah hello faddah'. Only yesterday morning the local radio played another song I remember as a kid - Danny Kaye's "Tubby the Tuba' - novelty classical music! Cheers JennieG |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Lonesome EJ Date: 25 Oct 08 - 09:59 PM It occurs that we are missing some of the best novelty tunes. Those are the ones that heavy groups like Cream might stick on an album as a lark, ie A Mother was Washing her Baby One Night, or Her Majesty's a Very Fine Girl tagged to the end of Abbey Road. Usuall you heard these once, then wanted all your friends to hear it, then didn't want to hear it again. Several Species of Small Furry Animal Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving w/ a Pict. Although it had a great beat. One of my favorites of this genre was The Gift, the John Cale composition about nerdy Waldo, who sends himself through the mail as a surprise package to his girlfried. She couldn't miss him less, since she's back from school and having loads of boy fun at home. In her attempt to open the pkg with " a large pair of metal shears", she plunges it through Waldo's head, which is not the bad an ending since Waldo is a complete twit. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Genie Date: 26 Oct 08 - 01:10 AM You can hear "Gilly-Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea." at YouTube. |
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Subject: ADDPOP: Dance Me Loose From: Genie Date: 25 Nov 08 - 03:46 AM I found the lyrics to "Dance Me Loose" - recorded by Arthur Godfrey about 1952 (?): DANCE ME LOOSE (recorded by Arthur Godfrey Also by Arthur Godfrey with The Chordettes) "I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "Don't hold my arm so extra out, Extra out, extra out, Don't hold my arm so extra out, It makes so good to spoon." The music play-ed and play-ed and play-ed, They whirled around the floor. The fellows stared, and stared and stared To hear her say once more, "I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." A little Dutch girl in Sheboygan Was perfect in English at school, But when she's excited and when she's delighted Her words get mixed up, as a rule. On Sat night in Sheboygan, There's dancing to waltzes they play. Even boys who can't dance will all take a chance Just to hear her say, "I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "Don't hold my arm so extra out, Extra out, extra out, Don't hold my arm so extra out, It makes so good to spoon." The music play-ed and play-ed and play-ed, They whirled around the floor. The fellows stared and stared and stared To hear her say once more, "I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, Dance Me Loose, I warm so easy, so Dance Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "It makes so good to spoon. It plays so nice the tune." ------------------- But the chorus is done with a faux Dutch/German/Scandihoovian accent, like this: "I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "Don't hold my arm so eggstra out, Eggstra out, eggstra out, "Don't hold my arm so eggstra out, It makes so good to spoon." The music play-ed and play-ed and play-ed, They whirled around the floor. The fellows stay-ered, and stay-ered and stay-ered To hear her say once more, "I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." A little Dutch girl in Sheboygan Was perfect in English at school, But when she's excited and when she's delighted Her words get mixed up, as a rule. On Sat night in Sheboygan, There's dancing to waltzes they play. Even boys who can't dance will all take a chance Just to hear her say. "I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "Don't hold my arm so eggstra out, Eggstra out, eggstra out, "Don't hold my arm so eggstra out, It makes so good to spoon." The music play-ed and play-ed and play-ed, They whirled around the floor. The fellows stay-ered, and stay-ered and stay-ered To hear her say once more, "I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, Danz Me Loose, I varm so easy, so Danz Me Loose, It shines so bright, the moon." "It makes so good to spoon. It plays so nize the tune." |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: fumblefingers Date: 25 Nov 08 - 04:26 PM "Pink Shoe Laces" - Dodie Stevens "Hambone" - Frankie Laine & Jo Stafford "The Gas Man Cometh" - Flanders & Swann "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" - Gayla Peevey "Stone Age Woo" - Nervous Norvus "Ricochet" - Teresa Brewer "Chinese Mule Train" - Spike Jones |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,joe_f Date: 25 Nov 08 - 09:52 PM "The Thing" is a "cleaned-up" version of "The Chandler's Wife", in which it is entirely clear what the three bangs stand for. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,N.O. Oldies Date: 03 Jan 09 - 05:01 PM Can anyone identify the author and title of the following lyrics?
"They say that Perry Mason won all his cases. [See The Joke by Reggie Hall.] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Jim Date: 04 Jan 09 - 02:59 PM Alley Oop (There's a man in the funny papers you all know...) The first talkin' blues I ever heard was The All American Boy, written and sung by Bobby Bare, but credited to someone else. It got a lot of radio play in it's day. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,winterbright Date: 04 Jan 09 - 09:00 PM Regarding "Mares eat oats.../ Mare zee doats..." I once ran across a poem from the Middle Ages (sorry, no date, no source); it went like this: "Infir taris / inoak noneis / Inmud eelis / inclay noneis / Goat eativy / mare eatoat" If that's not the ancestor of mare zee doats, I'll eat my hat! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Big Al Whittle Date: 04 Jan 09 - 09:12 PM Leslie Sarony, I Lift Up My Finger and I Say Tweet! Tweet! Was it Dale Evans sang:- I'm a little prairie flower Growing wilder by the hour No one came to cultivate me So I'm as wild as I can be [Wahoo] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Allen in OZ Date: 04 Jan 09 - 09:17 PM JR " Flash bam... alli ka zam Out of an Orange Colored Sky" AD ps .."I was walking along minding my business" etc |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Billy Date: 04 Jan 09 - 10:07 PM Guest, Jack Campin, I seem to remember Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson singing "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat" on TV but I don't know if they recorded it. They also did the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest with "Sing Little Birdie" see it here on UTube. It came in 2nd. Who woulda thunk it? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Big Al Whittle Date: 04 Jan 09 - 10:46 PM The Avons had the hit with "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat" Pearl and teddy had a brother called bryan johnson, who also did well with Eurovision with a song called Singing High High High, Singing Low Low Low |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Donuel Date: 05 Jan 09 - 06:17 PM Blue Suede Shoes. Tzena Tzena Tzena |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST Date: 06 Jan 09 - 02:34 PM "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena," is a song originally written in Hebrew by a Polish emigrant to Palestine (now Israel) and famously recorded by The Weavers somewhere around 1950, I believe. Prior to that, not many were acquainted with it. Another note on a previous post: The late Spade Cooley went to the "cooler" for killing his wife in Bakersfield, CA in the 1950's. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: NightWing Date: 07 Jan 09 - 12:44 AM Lonesome EJ mentioned some much later than the '50s. I'll add a few more from the '70s: "Saturday Night in Toledo, Ohio (is like being nowhere at all)" by John Denver. At the end of "The Serpent is Rising", by Styx, was an unlisted extra track, titled "Don't Sit Down on the Plexiglass Toilet" "Walkin' Round in Women's Underwear" (by Bob Rivers) BB, NightWing |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Billy Date: 18 Jan 09 - 11:50 PM The name of the song is "The Joke" from circa 1961. The artist's name was Reggie Hall. He went on to work with Fats Domino |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,ojibwemama Date: 21 Jan 09 - 02:49 AM Must of had a quiet childhood...some of the oldies listed do not even ring a bell. I did not see The Battle of New Orleans mentioned or(don't remember the title)but part of the lyrics were "Please Mr. Custer, I don't want to go....Forward Ho-o Love to have someone fill my blanks. ks |
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Subject: ADD: Shame and Scandal From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 21 Jan 09 - 11:39 AM The Kingston Trio, when calypso was still hanging around, did this little number at the Hungry i in San Francisco: SHAME AND SCANDAL Songwriter:? In Trinidad there was a family With much confusion, as you will see. There was a mama and a papa and a son who was young, Who wanted to marry, have a wife of his own. "You cannot marry that girl. I got to say 'No.' That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!" Chorus: Ah, woe, ah, me. Shame and scandal in the family. (Repeat) So he found a young girl who suited him nice. He went to his papa to ask his advice. His papa said, "Son, I got to say 'No.' That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!" (Chorus) As the weeks went by, the boy looked around. Soon the best cook on the island he found. He went to his papa to name the day. His papa looked at him and to him he did say, "You cannot marry that girl. I got to say, 'No.' That girl is your sister, but your mama don't know!" (Chorus) So the years went by and he wished he was dead. He had seventeen girls and still wasn't wed. When he'd ask his papa, papa would always say, "No! That girl is your sister but your mama don't know!" (Chorus) So he went to his mama and he bowed his head. He told his mama what his papa had said. His mama said, "Son, go, man, go! Your papa ain't your papa but your papa don't know!" (Chorus) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Bobbo Date: 24 Jan 09 - 10:45 PM I vaguely remember 2. One was sung (spoken) as Chester (Gunsmoke). He was going to the saloon and he says to Mr Dillon, why am I walking in front of you? Oh, I'm what you call a shield? The other was also spoken. The man says, Hey friend, has life got you down.... well step right up... and something about is your mother-in-law getting to you? Does anyone recognize either of these from the 50's Thanks |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Ferrara Date: 25 Jan 09 - 12:54 AM "(All I Want For Christmas is) My Two Front Teeth" "(The Old Prospector) Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" Little Jimmy Dickens – "Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait" "Sh-Boom" Everly Brothers - "Wake Up, Little Susie" "Maybellene" by Chuck Berry Does anyone remember Eartha Kitt's version of "All I want for Christmas"? I remember two lines and the chorus: "John offered me a ruby clip Just for a little kiss, A diamond ring and a Paris trip Just for a little kiss.... CHORUS: I'm gettin' nothin' for Christmas, Poor little Eartha is sad, I'm gettin' nothin' for Christmas 'Cause I didn't want to be bad." Great thread. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 25 Jan 09 - 11:50 AM Bobbo, your second one is from "The Old Philosopher," a 1956 opus by actor-comedian Eddie Lawrence. There's more about him on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Lawrence |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: bankley Date: 25 Jan 09 - 02:16 PM yeah Homer and Jethro constantly did parodies of popular songs, except when they did killer swing instrumentals... Merle Travis had quite a few.... like 'When My Baby Double Talks to Me'. '(That) Fat Gal (of Mine)', 'Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette', 'Divorce Me C.O.D.', on and on.... except when he did the coal songs and killer instrumentals... |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 26 Jan 09 - 09:09 AM GUEST,Bobbo, on 24 Jan 09 - 10:45 PM , asked about ... "The other was also spoken. The man says, Hey friend, has life got you down.... well step right up... and something about is your mother-in-law getting to you?" I remember somthing like this - someone asked a series of questions like this, after which they asked something like "Is that what's troubling you, bunky?" Then there was much fanfare as the narrator urges the person in question to cheer up, using a number of cliche phrases, and then ends with a punchline. One punchline I remember was "And remember, what this country needs is a five cent nickel!" That's all I recall. Don |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: DADGBE Date: 26 Jan 09 - 02:24 PM Just a little background - Napoleon XIV, the maker of "They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" was actually Jerry Samuels. He was (and may still be) an amazingly skilled engineer at the Associated Recording Studios in New York; a crazy man and all around good guy. That was at the time that they had a full four track board in the control room and were the envy of most other studios. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: JennieG Date: 26 Jan 09 - 07:20 PM Guest TJ in San Diego, I had forgotten this Kingston Trio song, it brings back such memories.....it was considered a tiny bit risque in its day, I'm sure. And 'Alley Oop' was a schoolyard hit! Cheers JennieG |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs & 60s & 70s From: Gene Date: 26 Jan 09 - 08:19 PM Cow Patti - Jim Stafford Wildwood Weed - Jim Stafford /Written by Don Bowman Chit Akins Make Me A Star - Don Bowman Welfare Cadillac - Guy Drake (Please) Mr. Custer - Larry Verne Two-Toned Chevrolet - can't recall WHODUNNIT I Still Write Your Name In The Snow - Chet Atkins (yes he did!) Roger Miller & Roy Clark - Smokin' The Green Green Grass Of Home Fertilizer - Leo Teel Sneakin' Things Across The Border - Forgot Who |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 27 Jan 09 - 08:28 AM A couple of people have mentioned "Alley Oop". I also remember a follow-on record called "Annie Fannie", done in more-or-less the same style as, and with a similar melody to, "Alley Oop", but singing the praises of Ms. Fannie, whose comic strip appeared in Playboy magazine. Don |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Bobbo Date: 29 Jan 09 - 12:39 AM Cool Beans- Thank you. I followed your link and then googled his name. I was able to buy it on Amazon.com. (Dr Demento's 25th). |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE ARROWS From: JohnInKansas Date: 29 Jan 09 - 06:32 PM Maresy dotes and doesy dotes and little lambsy divy" Burl Ives 40's I believe. A lyric fragment for this one was written in my mother's high school autograph book by one of her classmates. Mom graduated in 1934, so the song might have been popular then or a couple of years earlier - and there's nothing suggesting it might not have been around for a bit longer. In style, it seems like probably a "flapper song" from early to mid 20s. (Kids in Kansas probably didn't hear about prohibition and all that wild carryin' on for about a decade back then, and the state appears to have slipped most of a full century behind by now.) Just yesterday the local "classic country" station, KFDI-AM (pronounced Ka-Foo-Dee locally), played an oldie that might (IIRC) have been a fifties "novelty" titled "Little Arrows." I didn't recognize the singer but did remember the song after perhaps half a century. LITTLE ARROWS (Attributed to Skeeter Davis, also done by Leapy Lee and by Sha Na Na) There's a boy a little boy shooting arrows in the blue And he's aiming them at someone but the question is at who Is it me or is it you it's hard to tell until you're hit But you'll know it when they hit you cause they hurt a little bit Here they come pouring out of the blue little arrows for me and for you You're falling in love again falling in love again Little arrows in your clothing little arrows in your hair When you're in love you'll find those little arrows everywhere Little arrows that will hit you once and hit you once again Little arrows that hit everybody every now and then (wow oh oh the pain) Some folk a run and others hide but there is nothing they can do And some folk put on amour but the arrows go straight through So you see there's no escape so why not face it and admit That you love those little arrows when they hurt a little bit Here they come pouring out... Here they come pouring out... John |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 30 Jan 09 - 04:19 PM The Kingston Trio also did "The Tattooed Lady," apparently an old favorite of Nick Reynolds' dad, a retired Navy captain. One other artist came to mind - Stan Freberg, better known as a pioneer of early U.S. television comedy; writer, voice-over genius and creator of some very funny and effective early radio and TV advertising. Stan did some great parodies, one of which was a take-off on the commercialization of Christmas. Done to the tune of "The Twelve Days...," what else, it was called "Green Christmas." |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mkebenn Date: 30 Jan 09 - 07:17 PM Jayto, yes, Li'l Red Riding Hood was Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Amos, that fish song is called Three Little Fishies, and must be at least 40's, 'cause my mother sang it to me in 1950. What do you do with songs like Patches, Running Bear, Ebony Eyes, The Last Kiss, et al.? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: robomatic Date: 30 Jan 09 - 07:36 PM Ted Snag & The Buckets: "Gary Cooper Movie Five Yep" Heard once on the Doctor Demento Show and memorized! also: Oh, your red scarf matches your eyes. You closed your cover before striking. Father had the shipfitter blues. Loving You Has Made Me Bananas. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Allen In Oz Date: 30 Jan 09 - 08:10 PM "My Voice Keeps Changing on Me" "Gimme Crack Corn and I Don't Care" "The All American Boy" 1960s I think They just kept a comin .. AD |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Dents4fun Date: 07 Feb 09 - 04:31 AM Does anybody remember a funny country song that had a line in it something like ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ah ha ha ha. I think it had to do with some guy who would turn loose like he was calling up hogs or something |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: goatfell Date: 07 Feb 09 - 08:05 AM Patty Paige did "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window" |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST Date: 08 Feb 09 - 07:13 AM Haven't seen "Splish Splash" anywhere
Rolf Harris sang "I want my Mummy" |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Guest JKA Date: 03 Apr 09 - 06:22 PM I only heard this on WKRC in Cincinnati,OH (model for WKRP) in the early 50's.It went like this: There's a New Sound, the newest sound around, the newest sound you ever heard. Not like a wild boar or a jungle lions roar, not like the cry of any bird. But,this new sound ...... I thought for years that Nervous Norvus did this,but it wasn't the case I found. No one seems to have clue what I'm talking about. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,guest Date: 08 May 09 - 06:16 PM someone at the laundromat puts in too much detergent and it over flows.it ends with him running around yelling 'get some buckets 'it all belongs to me'.Who and what is this? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Neil D Date: 08 May 09 - 11:17 PM I know that 1963 isn't the 1950s. it just sounded like it was. Anyhow this is Surfin' Bird |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 09 May 09 - 10:09 AM Guest, guest: It might be "Leader of the Laundromat," which was a spoof of "Leader of the Pack." I can't recall the plot of "Leader of the Laundromat," though. All I remember is the refrain "I've got a date tonight with the leader of the laundromat." Perhaps some more enlightened 'Catter can enlighten you. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,J Date: 06 Jul 09 - 05:27 PM My dad used to sing a jingle about brushing your teeth...with words like "you will have a winning smile." Anyone know this? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Tug the Cox Date: 06 Jul 09 - 08:15 PM "Susannah's a Funniful Man" takes a lot of beating. Also "Hole in the Ground" (Bernard Cribbins) All the early sixties songs by Mike Sarne ("Come Outside", "Will I What?", "Just for Kicks") "I saw a mouse.--Where?--There on the stair" ["A Windmill in Old Amsterdam" by Ronnie Hilton] Speedy Gonzales by Pat Boone, Harvest of Love, by Benny Hill. Guest J, I think that was an advert for Gibbs S.R. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 07 Jul 09 - 08:33 AM GUEST,Dents4fun asked: Does anybody remember a funny country song that had a line in it something like ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ah ha ha ha. I think it had to do with some guy who would turn loose like he was calling up hogs or something You might be thinking of "That's My Pa" by Sheb Wooley. Back when I was "GUEST,Don", I started a thread about it, misspelling Pa as "Paw". Don |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE THING (from Phil Harris) From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 07 Jul 09 - 01:29 PM And here is "The Thing," as performed by the late Phil Harris in the early 1950's. Believe it or not, the song was actually a little controversial in its time, considered "suggestive" because of the sound effects that substituted for the identity of the "Thing." Folks were truly a bit more uptight back then. (Charles R. Grean) While I was walkin' down the beach One bright and sunny day I saw a great big wooden box A-floatin' in the bay I pulled it in and opened it up And much to my surprise Oh, I discovered a...(three drum beats or other sound effects) Right before my eyes Oh, I discovered a... Right before my eyes I picked it up and ran to town As happy as a king I took it to a guy I knew Who'd buy most anything But this is what he hollered at me As I walked in his shop "Oh, get out of here with that... Before I call a cop" "Oh, get out of here with that... Before I call a cop" I turned around and got right out A-runnin' for my life And then I took it home with me To give it to my wife But this is what she hollered at me As I walked in the door "Oh, get out of here with that... And don't come back no more" "Oh, get out of here with that... And don't come back no more" [Instrumental Interlude] I wandered all around the town Until I chanced to meet A hobo who was lookin' for A handout on the street He said he'd take most any old thing He was a desperate man But when I showed him the... He turned around and ran Oh, when I showed him the... He turned around and ran I wandered on for many years A victim of my fate Until one day I came upon St Peter at the gate And when I tried to take it inside He told me where to go Get out of here with that... And take it down below Oh, get out of here with that... And take it down below The moral of this story is If you're out on the beach And you should see a great big box And it's within your reach Don't ever stop and open it up That's my advice to you 'Cause you'll never get rid of the... No matter what you do Oh, you'll never get rid of the... No matter what you do |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Donuel Date: 19 Oct 09 - 02:11 PM Spike Jones 'Der Fuehrer's Face' may have been in the late 40's but many of his songs came out in the 50's Spike inspired Dr. Demento to start looking for fun songs and it turned into a lifelong obsession. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Songbob Date: 19 Oct 09 - 02:33 PM Comic songs were always a staple of the musical stage. For example, "Der Deitcher's Dog," by Septimus Winner (author of "Listen to the Mocking Bird") from around 1845. One verse still is known, but the original was a "stage German" song. And old Sep even created an answer song (remember those?) in which he allowed as how sausages must be made from dog meat, since the singer ate a sausage last week and he's still barking. So novelty songs came from the earliest days of American musical theater, for sure, and have a long history. The name "novelty song" goes back for sure to the early days of 78-rpm recordings ("Clancy's Wooden Wedding" and other hits), and may even go further back to billings in vaudeville (those placards with the artist's name they put on the easel on stage probably said, "Eddy Foy / Novelty Songs and Patter" or something similar). To me, not all funny or comic songs are automatically "novelty" songs, and some listed above wouldn't be in my list. But I do like 'em, for sure. And, except for Weird Al's parodies, you don't hear very many on the air or on CD. Too bad. Bob |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bettynh Date: 19 Oct 09 - 02:52 PM Probably 60's but how about; "The Name Game" by Shirley Ellis "Yakety Yak" and "Charlie Brown" by the Coasters "Splish Splash" by Bobby Darin |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,ek Anne Date: 19 Oct 09 - 04:01 PM Does anyone remember
"She Wears Red Feathers" and a hula hula skirt x 2
It was sung by Guy Mitchell with a lovely swing, in the 1950's And I think he also had another at about the same time which I later realised was based on an older more traditional song -- but I can't recall it! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bryn Pugh Date: 20 Oct 09 - 10:12 AM Is it only me who remembers "Oo Bang Jiggly Jang" ? O, some have money and some have looks ; Some drive cars and some read books But my boy's got that Oo Bang Jiggly Jang. (and he can keep it, for me :-) ). |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Rusty Dobro Date: 20 Oct 09 - 11:39 AM I thought I'd be the only one who remembered 'The Cat Came Back', but the first time I sang it, the audience joined in straight away (well, the older ones did!). What a great song - OK, so it was written by Harry S Miller in 1893, but it only reached the UK when I was a small but rather beautiful child, so that makes it 1950's in my book. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,tkhering Date: 21 Oct 09 - 10:16 PM Is this the song "Worms?" I don't know the details. ========== Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Guest JKA Date: 03 Apr 09 - 06:22 PM I only heard this on WKRC in Cincinnati, OH (model for WKRP) in the early 50's. It went like this: There's a New Sound, the newest sound around, the newest sound you ever heard. Not like a wild boar or a jungle lions roar, not like the cry of any bird. But,this new sound ...... |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,tkhering Date: 21 Oct 09 - 10:24 PM Eddie Lawrence recorded probably dozens of these narrations, under the series title "The Old Philosopher." ============= Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 26 Jan 09 - 09:09 AM GUEST,Bobbo, on 24 Jan 09 - 10:45 PM , asked about ... "The other was also spoken. The man says, Hey friend, has life got you down.... well step right up... and something about is your mother-in-law getting to you?" |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Suffet Date: 22 Oct 09 - 09:10 PM Here is one from the 1960s: If I Had It to Do All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You by Bob Dylan. Recorded by Dave Van Ronk and the Red Onion Jazz Band. --- Steve |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bob Hitchcock Date: 23 Oct 09 - 06:08 PM I remember as a kid in the 50's listening to "Childrens Favorites" on the BBC every Saturday. "Uncle Mac" was the DJ and he played "The Laughing Policeman" every week without fail. Trivia...Uncle Mac retired to our village in Sussex and during the 60's I used to deliver his paper every morning, I never had the desire to stop and talk to him as everyone said he was a miserable bastard. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,rob k Date: 25 Oct 09 - 09:39 PM How about "The Hula Hoop Song" Hula hoop, hula hoop, everyone is playin with the hula hoop Look at them spin, trying to win Anyone can play from three to a hundred and ten Hoop-hoop hoop-hoop Hoop-hoop hoop-hoop Georgia Gibbs, her last hit, in 1958. I was looking for a novelty song publisher and came across this site. Love it! Alas, Jan and Dean's "Popsicle" (1966) didn't make the cut! Rob K |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,John C. Date: 26 Oct 09 - 12:06 AM Part of the words for The Battle of New Orleans. In 1814 we took a little trip, along with Colonel Jackson, down the mighty Misisip. We took a little Bacon, We took a little Beans and headed on down to New Orleans. ............ We fired one shot and there wasn't as many as there was before, We fired once more and they began arunnin, .... Gulf of Mexico
That is all that I can remember right now, The other song that I believe your are referring to is the Alamo Song, sung by a Mexican Soldier.
Please Santa Anna, I don't wanna go, Please Santa Anna, I don't wanna die. It was pretty popular in the early '60's That is all that I can recall right now. Arnie Woo Woo Ginsburg used to play it a lot on the Night Train Show on WMEX Boston and I would stay up and listen. |
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Subject: New to the forums From: GUEST,maibeObergO Date: 17 Nov 09 - 07:27 PM Hi , Im new here and just wanted to stop by and say hi :) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: beeliner Date: 18 Nov 09 - 12:10 AM My gawd, this could go on for HUNDREDS more posts, the list is endless. The poster who mentioned " 'Just Keep Walkin' by Martin (sic) Stang" is probably thinking of "Ambrose, Part Five" by Linda Laurie. The unidentified voice of Ambrose does sound a little like character actor ARNOLD Stang. (There were no parts 1-4.) David Seville was William Saroyan's COUSIN, not nephew. "Oh, What a Face" was by Phil Harris, but there were lots and lots of cover versions back then, so it's possible that Arthur Godfrey could have recorded it also. Godfrey also covered Oscar Brand's "Teterboro Tower". Lots of the Coasters' records have good novelty B-sides which never got much radio play, "Shoppin' for Clothes" by Leiber & Stoller being probably the best. The original "I'm My Own Grandpa" was, I believe, by Lonzo and Oscar, with lots of cover versions. "The Little Blue Man" was by Betty Johnson, who was the wife of Charlie Grean (sp?), who wrote her hit "I Dreamed" and Phil Harris's hit "The Thing", which was indeed based on "The Chandler's Wife" as another poster noted. Did anybody mention the Hoosier Hotshots' "From the Indies to the Andes in His Undies"? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Mamablues Date: 18 Nov 09 - 01:11 AM "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 18 Nov 09 - 09:02 AM I enjoyed "Walkin' my Cat named Dog" quite a lot. I don't think of it as a novelty song, in spite of the "novelty title". Don |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,E Man Date: 18 Nov 09 - 03:42 PM Haunted House by Jumpin' Gene Simmons "Don't be here when the morning comes." Just reissued on John Fogarty's new album |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 19 Nov 09 - 08:14 AM Linda Laurie herself did Ambrose's voice on "Ambrose, Part 5." It doesn't sound anything like Arnold Stang. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,seth in Olympia Date: 19 Nov 09 - 10:20 AM Mudcat helps me appreciate where I grew up (Cleveland), when I grew up (fifties and sixties) and my dad. He used to bring home 78's that he thought were funny for his kids. What a great dad! Among the treasures that I played until they broke were all the early Stan Freburg stuff (Dragnet, St. George and the Dragon), Spike Jones, Red Buttons (Strange Things Are Happening, The Laughing Song), Danny Kaye, Phil Harris ("The Thing"), and other great stuff. "Who Stole the Kishka?" by Frankie Yankovic was a smash in Cleveland. In addition to Alan Freed, immortal DJ, was another DJ, Pete "Mad Daddy" Myers, who did a two(?)-hour nightly show, non-stop rhyming jive talk, playing all manner of fifties novelty songs mixed with R&B and jazz--it was like heaven to my little 1958 white-boy ears. His sign off tune was the old Lil Green standard "Romance in the Dark" which at the time I thought was the hippest, coolest song I had ever heard. If it hadn't been for him and Mad magazine, who knows what would have happened? seth |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: beeliner Date: 19 Nov 09 - 03:38 PM Here is a link to "Ambrose, Part 5": [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8Z4SFc3uho[/url] I said that Ambrose' voice sounded A LITTLE like Arnold Stang. Now that I hear it again, I am of the same opinion. Other posters can listen and judge for themselves. I never implied that Mr. Stang actually supplied the voice, and it may well have been Ms. Laurie herself; if so, she has quite a range. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: beeliner Date: 21 Nov 09 - 12:44 PM Three more that I don't think were mentioned previously: "Mister Grillon" by the Archibald Players (Gunsmoke spoof with a great 'shaggy dog' punch line'). "Chaos, Parts 1 and 2" by (Bob) Arbogast and (Stan) Ross. (Sendup of Top-40 radio and screaming DJ's). Bob Arbogast passed away earlier this year. "Ling Ting Tong" by the Charms (now, what could "eye-sum-o-kum-boo-dye-ay" possibly have meant?). |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,RGS Date: 12 Feb 10 - 03:11 PM Heard a novelty song that sounded something like 'Abdul the bull bull emir'.[Abdul Abulbul Amir by Percy French] The'bull bull' won't be right but it might give a clue as to it's title?? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bainbo Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:27 PM Abdul Abulbul Amir. I have it on a recording by Frank Crumit, but loads of people have done it. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mousethief Date: 12 Feb 10 - 08:46 PM I'm surprised nobody seems to have mentioned "Istanbul, Not Constantinople" by the Four Lads. And the group that did the remake of this song in 1990 shows the novelty song is not dead yet. O..O =o= |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: MGM·Lion Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:52 AM "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena," is a song originally written in Hebrew by a Polish emigrant to Palestine (now Israel) and famously recorded by The Weavers somewhere around 1950, I believe. Prior to that, not many were acquainted with it. Guest 6 jan 09 ====== ========= I learned the Hebrew version, then new I think, in 1946 -- Phonetically — Tze-na tze-na tze-na tze-na, Ha-banot, oo-rena Chyalim ba moshavah Al-na al-na al-na al na Al-na tit-chabeh-na Mi-ben chayil, ish tzavah [ch pronounced as a guttural thruout] Rough translation: Please come out [x4] girl recruits, & see the young recruits in the village. Please do not [x5] hide yourselves from the young soldier, man of the army. (Just in case anyone interested ~ Michael) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mousethief Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:29 PM Is Tzena Tzena Tzena a novelty song? O..O =o= |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: MGM·Lion Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:42 PM Someone adduces it as one above. Depends what you mean by a novelty song, as we have been saying thruout this thread. It's hardly mainstream or standard pop, I suppose. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Joe Offer Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:48 PM I just came across a link to a now-dead Website, and found it at archive.org: FROGGY'S NOVELTY SONG LYRIC COLLECTION. Anybody know if this site has a new home? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: BobKnight Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:50 PM "Too Pooped To Pop" - Chuck Berry "You’re a Pink Toothbrush" - Max Bygraves "Nellie The Elephant" - ? "The Laughing Policeman" - ? "There Is A Bairnie In The Hoose" - Jimmy Logan "Stop Yer Tickling Jock" - Harry Lauder I also remember a song by Jimmie Logan with the line, "Tell me this my dearie, whit's a whigmaleerie, Well, it's something that ye widnae want to know." |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: John on the Sunset Coast Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:22 PM Some of these may have been listed amongst the hundreds noted so far, but these come from the deep recesses of my memory-- HOT ROD LINCOLN - Johnny Bond, and others TRANSFUSION - Nervous Norvus THE RAILROAD RUNS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE HOUSE - Rosemary Clooney? I'VE GOT TEARS IN MY EARS FROM LYING ON MY BACK IN MY BED WHILE I CRY OVER YOU PURPLE PEOPLE EATER - Sheb Wooley THE LITTLE BLUE MAN - Betty Johnson CLEO AND ME-O - Jill Corey and The Four Lads BOTCH-A-ME - Rosemary Clooney IF I KNEW YOU WERE COMING I'D'VE BAKED a CAKE - Eileen Barton MONEY, MONEY, MONEY ? Not to be confused with , much later, ABBA |
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Subject: RE: 1950s and earlier novelty songs From: GUEST,Aristotle Date: 26 Jun 10 - 10:41 AM I am 81 years old and am tickled pink that there are so many other people who remember these songs. How dull the music front is these days. How about Walter, Walter Lead Me to the Altar? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Larry The Radio Guy Date: 26 Jun 10 - 01:04 PM GUEST,N.O. Oldies - PM Date: 03 Jan 09 - 05:01 PM Response to N.O. Oldies: Can anyone identify the author and title of the following lyrics? "They say that Perry Mason won all his cases. Yeah, but that's not so, he sold shoe laces. They say that Old Cheyenne shot up the land but he really was a real estate man. They say that Robin Hood lived in the forest. Yeah, but that's not so, he was a lawyer. They say that Jesse James had him a gang, but he really had a rag time band." It has a 50's kind of Coasters sound. Any suggestions? Yes, the song is called The Joke, and it's by Reggie Hall. On Chess records, I believe. I have a copy of the 45. I don't believe it ever made the hitparade charts. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: eddie1 Date: 27 Jun 10 - 01:43 AM I never cease to wonder at Spotify! Just for the hell of it, I typed "Reggie Hall" and there is "The Joke" on an album called "New Orleans Twist Party! Eddie |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mousethief Date: 27 Jun 10 - 02:22 AM I think these are from the 1950s but it may be the early 1960s * Baby Sittin' Boogie * Mr Bass Man * Who Put the Bomp in the bomp sh-bomp sh-bomp * Monster Mash My favourite 1950s novelty song I've only heard on Dr Demento and can't find a copy of the 78 (one was mailed to me from eBay but the moron packed it as if it were an LP and it arrived in about 20 pieces. He wouldn't refund my money and the post office wouldn't pay the insurance because it wasn't packaged properly. Grrrr.). I have an album version but it's not the same recording session as the 78. Sigh. The song is "Wong Has the Largest Tong in China" [="Wong Song"] and now I can't remember the artist's name! :( "Walking 'Round in Women's Underwear" is by Bob Rivers (a local DJ here in Seattle who makes hundreds of novelty songs, mostly spoofs of existing songs which may be cheating). His best are probably "I Saw Her Leaning There" (about Sir Paul's second wife) and "Janet's Coconut" (about the "wardrobe failure" to Harry Nilssen's tune). Sh-Boom is not a novelty song The Fab Four did a number of novelty songs including: * Maxwell's Silver Hammer * Why Don't We Do It in the Road * Octopus's Garden and the best of all * You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) * Don't Pass Me By (interesting that 2 are written by Ringo, as he wrote so very few!) and maybe * Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey There's a New Sound, the newest sound around, I know this from Dr. Demento! Tony Burrello. 1952. "Your red scarf matches your eyes, close the cover before striking, your father got the shipfitter's blues, Loving You Has Made Me Bananas"! I remember this one from Dr Demento also! The tune is as catchy as the lyrics are weird. Leader of the Laundromat plot: Boy loves laundry girl, but his parents say he has to go to a different laundry because daddy's shorts came back brown. (Oh, sure, blame the laundress!) Girl's heart is broken and she runs into the street, directly into the path of a runaway garbage truck. The best line: "Who's that banging on the piano?" "I don't know." Great stanza from The Battle of New Orleans: We fired our cannon till the barrel melted down So we grabbed an alligator and we hauled another round We filled his head with cannonballs, we powdered his behind And when we touched the powder off, the gator lost his mind! From the 40s I think: Hitler had only one big ball.... I think "Tennessee Bird Walk" is 60's but I love it! From the 70s: Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout by Shel Silverstein There were a lot of novelty songs in the 80s and 90s, the pack being led by Weird Al Yankovic. But few of them got much airplay. That's the difference, I think, between the 50s and later decades: fewer and fewer novelty songs became radio hits. Chuck Berry's only #1 hit was a novelty song: My Ding-a-Ling. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mousethief Date: 27 Jun 10 - 02:24 AM And of course most of the early stuff by They Might Be Giants. My fave is probably Birdhouse In Your Soul. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mousethief Date: 27 Jun 10 - 02:36 AM Two other Beatles novelty songs: * Back in the USSR (a spoof on the Beach Boys' California Girls) * Happiness is a Warm Gun |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: sonoftheseventh Date: 25 Jul 10 - 06:27 PM I have loved reading about so many of the songs I knew then and many I had never heard or heard of before now. I graduated in '51. I just wish I could hear or even obtain copies of many of those listed in this thread. But does "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" qualify or did it come on too late? How about "Tony The Dago, A Son of The Beach" which was contemporary with "Der Fuehrer's Face," Spike Jones' "Beedlebaum," and "Tea For Two?" Then there is "Ballad of Thunder Road," from the Robert Mitchum movie of the same name; Frankie Laine's "Mule Train," and "Ghost Riders In The Sky." How about "John and Marsha," on which nothing is ever said but those two words? By the way, I believe this is the correct wording of "Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton. I had this on an eight track cassette that I used as a test while servicing those popular machines in my electronics business in 1970 and must have heard it a thousand times:
"In 1814, we took a little trip,
"Well, we fired our cannons and the British kept a'comin,'
They ran through the briers and they ran through the brambles, Slight correction to Mousethief's preferred stanza, "...till the barrel melted down, then we grabbed an alligator and FOUGHT another round." I was born to a soldier father in the Seventh Cavalry which was George Armstrong Custer's outfit at the time of his great faux pas on the Little Big Horn, hence my sobriquet, sonoftheseventh. Therefore, all things Custer and Seventh Cavalry are special to me, as "Please, Mr. Custer, I Don't Want To Go." Also the "Garryowen," an ancient Irish drinking song for which I was named, became the Seventh's regimental march, battle cry, and motto as depicted in the movie, "They Died With Their Boots On," starring Errol Flynn. Probably not an exact match to the title of this thread, but perhaps you will forgive me. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Allen in Oz Date: 25 Jul 10 - 07:29 PM JR Does "The Rock Island Line" rank as novelty ? A good song anyway AD |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: beeliner Date: 26 Jul 10 - 03:25 AM Abdul Abulbul Amir. I have it on a recording by Frank Crumit, but loads of people have done it. General, later President Dwight D. Eisenhower, arguably the most anti-war warrior in American history, called it his favorite song, though he gave the title as "Ivan Skavinsky Skavar", who was, of course, the other character in the story. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Patsy Warren Date: 26 Jul 10 - 07:03 AM Mums and Dads, Mums and Dads, Funny Mums and Dads:- not quite sure who the children were who sang that but always loved it though. The Runaway Train, Michael Holiday I've Lost My Mummy, Rolf Harris Woodman, Spare That Tree, Phil Harris There were green alligators and long necked geese, Some humpy back camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats and elephants but sure as you're born, The loveliest of all was the Unicorn:- The Batchelors theory on the demise of the Unicorn. Tommy Steele's 'Dream Maker' and also 'Little White Bull' 'New Fangled Tango' Lena Horne, funny to watch. 'You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd' - Roger Miller. It was just so silly but I always sang along to it as a child. I saw a mouse (where, there on the stair, where on the stair, right there, a little mouse with clogs on: I think it was Ronnie Hilton singing about A Mouse in A Windmill in Old Amsterdam. '(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window' Lita Rosa Stanley Holloway did a monologue song (if that counts) I can't quite remember the title but it was a boy who got too close to a lion in a cage disobeyed and got eaten. It was a droll Northern funniness and I loved it. [=The Lion and Albert] There were so many little gems. These songs were typical things that were regularly played on the radio on the Home Service on Sunday while my mother was cooking lunch or on a Children's Favourites programme before the birth of radio 1 |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Graham Date: 10 Aug 10 - 06:23 AM Then there was "Close The Door (They're Coming in the Window)" and "Who Is It? (It's the Milkman)", both by the Stargazers ("The Stargazers are on the air..........) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 10 Aug 10 - 09:17 AM On 26 Jul 10 - 07:03 AM, GUEST,Patsy Warren wrote Stanley Holloway did a monologue song (if that counts) I can't quite remember the title but it was a boy who got too close to a lion in a cage disobeyed and got eaten. It was a droll Northern funniness and I loved it. That was variously titled "The Lion and Albert" or "Albert and the Lion", written by Marriott Edgar. It was, as usually performed, a recitation rather than a song - certainly that's the way Stanley Holloway performed it (I can't rule out the possibility that someone performed it as a song.) I first heard it performed by Tony Barrand. I love performing it, and do so every chance I get, even though some would argue that someone with a Washington D.C. Southern drawl should not be attempting a Lancashire accent. Don |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Patsy Warren Date: 10 Aug 10 - 10:34 AM The 'Ying Tong Song', by the Goons. 'Goodness Gracious Me' Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren 'Bangers and Mash' I think Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren again. 'Pedro the Fisherman' Julie Andrews. 'Never Smile at a Crocodile' I think this was Jerry Lewis. 'Just One More Cigarette' Sheila Hancock which was am anti-smoking song at the time. 'I'm a Little Christmas Cracker' Pinky and Perky 'The Monster Mash' The Crypt Kicker 6? 'Six White Boomers' Rolf Harris 'Sun Arise' Rolf Harris. I call this a novelty song because the sound was so different for the time. 'Three Wheels on My Wagon' The New Christy Minstrels |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Snuffy Date: 10 Aug 10 - 05:32 PM Don, I have been known to sing The Lion and Albert: it goes very well to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean There's a famous seaside place called Blackpool, That's noted for fresh air and fun, And Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom Went there with young Albert, their son. Al-bert, Al-bert, Went there with young Albert, their son, their son Al-bert, Al-bert, Went there with young Albert, their son. A grand little lad was young Albert All dressed in his best; quite a swell 'With a stick with an 'orse's 'ead 'andle The finest that Woolworth's could sell. Wool-worth's, Wool-worth's The finest that Woolworth's could sell, could sell. Wool-worth's, Wool-worth's The finest that Woolworth's could sell. And similarly with all the remaining verses - about 8 minutes worth in all IIRC! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mousethief Date: 10 Aug 10 - 10:33 PM Has anybody mentioned "Green Door" by Jim Lowe? Maybe that was early 60s. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,josep Date: 11 Aug 10 - 12:21 PM Mule Skinner Blues by the Fendermen (although I think this might be 1960) Mule Skinner Blues on YouTube. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Bettynh Date: 11 Aug 10 - 02:13 PM I've had a bit of an earworm for "The Prune Song" recently (no matter how young a prune may be, it's always full of wrinkles...). Just goes round and round in my head, and I know it'll play itself out eventually. But I don't know how I know it. I grew up in the fifties, and listened to radio a lot, but the only recordings I can find are from the 30s. We may have sung it in Girl Scouts, but I remember the music, too (probably Harry Reser's version). Was there a 50s or early 60s recording? Or, more likely, some local DJ (Boston) played it a lot. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 11 Aug 10 - 08:29 PM Anybody remember "You're Standing on me Foot, Captain"? - maybe not the title, but the most easily remembered line from it.... had a more or less nautical theme ... something about a ship sinking, I think. Not making this up, which is why I have reposted it after it vanished from the thread the other day ... |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: fumblefingers Date: 11 Aug 10 - 08:31 PM Bill Carlisle:
Is Zat You Myrtle Louvin Bros.: Cash on the Barrelhead Sheb Wooley:
The Chase |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Errol Fellows Date: 13 Aug 10 - 04:35 AM I recall a song about a guy who finds something ( a box? ) on the beach and , no matter how hard he tries, he can't get rid of it. The chorus went something like; get outta here with that ( Boom Boom-Boom on drums) before I call the cops. What was it called, who wrote it and who recorded it? [=The Thing] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 13 Aug 10 - 06:50 AM I think its - Get Out Of Here With Your Boom Boom Boom [=The Thing] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mousethief Date: 13 Aug 10 - 09:52 AM It's called "The Thing" and was sung by Phil Harris, who did the voice of Baloo the Bear in Disney's Jungle Book. It was recorded and released in late 1950 and spent 14 weeks on the charts, peaking at #1. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Oliver Dashwood Date: 29 Aug 10 - 08:38 PM I never smoked and I never gambled, I never drank at all -- Until I met my two good amigos, Nick Teen and Al K. Hol! Coom Pretty One (1934) written by Leslie Sarony Wheezy Anna (Leslie Sarony) and a whole host of others by S.R. Busy Doing Nothing (Bing Crosby!) various songs by Michael Flanders and Donald Swann (At the drop of a hat) Then from the musicals "Salad Days" and "Free as Air":- Cleopatra; We're Looking for a Piano; The Holiday Island; Geraldine. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Oliver Dashwood Date: 29 Aug 10 - 09:10 PM re mousethief and "Hitler he had a big ball" I have heard, but not as a recording, just as a group of "naughty boys" singing to the march Colonel Bogey. Hitler he only had one ball Goering had two but very small Himmler was somewhat simla and poor old Goebbels had no balls at all |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Oliver Dashwood Date: 29 Aug 10 - 09:25 PM From "Free as Air" Holiday Island Well here we are on Tehru, so called because when the Romans landed they said it was too good to be T---Rue. Ha! Ha!, bon my latin! Oh gosh it will be fun to be blistered by the sun there's a sunshine competition simply waiting to be won breakfast is at six, its compulsory to mix and remember we are jolly, a jolly bunch of sticks! We'll be hikin', we'll be bikin', no matter what the weather and everything we will do, we will do together! Don't give in to early gents and answer me this simple question are we happy? No! No! No! On a happy holiday island we would all be very unhappy every chance of joy would be gone we would wakey wakey wakey with the dawn! Just imagine it, just imagine it Think of all the tourists and the trippers just imagine it just imagine it think of all the oranges and kippers! (from memory of the 1950's LP of Free as air, which I last heard 50 years ago when I was 13.) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: MGM·Lion Date: 30 Aug 10 - 12:54 AM I have always suspected that "The Boom-boom-boom, aka "The Thing" derived from the Suffolk song "The Farm Servant" that Bert Lloyd used to sing, where the narrator's organ was euphemised as three stamps or knocks on a table-top. Stanza 1 went When I was a farm servant I liked a bit of fun So I minded the master's business as servants have always done; And whenever the master went away and left me alone with the farm I'd be round the backdoor with me {knock knock knock} And never a thought of harm, I hadn't, No, never a thought of harm. He goes on to seduce the mistress, who assures him, ...Your master no more for me For he can't manage that {knock knock knock} not half so well as thee ... and so forth. Anyone agree this as a possible source for "The Boom-boom-boom, or "The Thing"? ~Michael~ |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Oliver Dashwood Date: 30 Aug 10 - 08:42 AM Then of course there is Gilbert and Sullivan, though from the 1880's, various songs from Iolanthe and the Mikado can be made topical, and indeed have been made so. For example "I've Got a Little List" 1950's would include something like ".. the Elvis impressionist, I've got HIM on the list!", just as the addition of a prohibitionist placed it in the 1930's |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 30 Aug 10 - 10:13 AM Other threads on Mudcat have traced the origins of "The Thing" to the comical "The Chandler's Wife," about the joys of illicit you-know-what (and which has the boom-boom-boom's in the right spots), and "The Chandler's Wife" to the earlier "The Lincolnshire Poacher," which is about the joys of illegal hunting. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,jim Date: 03 Oct 10 - 10:33 AM the name of the song was "The Thing" sung by phil harris |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Bobbo Date: 27 Oct 10 - 03:15 PM Cool Beans, Earlier this year I was looking for two novelty songs from the 1950's. You id'd one for me (The Old Philosopher - Eddie Lawrence). The other was Mr. Dillon. I just wanted to let you know that I finally found it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOhKqWMhVVI. Recorded by, beleive it or not, Skitch Henderson! Thanks again for your help. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Allen in Oz Date: 28 Oct 10 - 08:46 AM JR Would "On Top of Spaghetti" (all covered with cheese) get a gurnsey in this thread? AD |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Cool Beans Date: 28 Oct 10 - 09:44 AM Bobbo, thanks for the shout out. Allen, "On Top of Spaghetti" would count but I'm pretty sure it's from the 60s. Singer-songwriter Tom Glazer once told me he was inspired by hearing a bunch of children singing a ditty that began "On Top of Old Khrushchev". |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Seth from Olympia Date: 28 Oct 10 - 11:50 PM I recently found a song I've been looking for for about twenty years: The Prayer done by Ray Scott, written by Redd Foxx. A black preacher sends out his wishes for the late Gov. Wallace of Alabama. You can find it on YouTube. Warning!!! do not listen to this while driving as you may start laughing so hard you get into a wreck. I found it by entering the phrase "If that's not bad enough for the governor" |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Pei Xibo Date: 26 Nov 10 - 11:57 PM Does anyone remember a novelty tune from the early/mid 50s called "Wild Bill Hiccup"? Part of the words are:
Who's a-knockin' at my door? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: LadyJean Date: 27 Nov 10 - 01:45 AM My last year at O.U. I lived across the hall from two girls from Hong Kong, who had a number of records of American songs recorded in the language of their homeland. You really haven't heard "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" until you've heard it in Chinese. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,steve geng Date: 29 Jan 11 - 05:16 PM Grew up in Philly in the forties and early fifties. "Stranded in the Jungle" was considered novelty, as well as certain Bo Diddley ("Bo Meets the Monster") and Screamin' Jay Hawkins tunes. Lots of novelty tunes about cars that I can't remember, like (I think) the Coasters "No Money Down"--"I want two-dollar deductible, TV and a phone, so I can talk to my baby when I'm cruisin' all alone" (paraphrase) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Taconicus Date: 29 Jan 11 - 08:06 PM "Counting Flowers on the Wall" (YouTube) (I think that one was from the 60s). The mythology of the time (and it may have been true), was that it was banned from radio back then because it was considered offensive to the mentally ill. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Taconicus Date: 29 Jan 11 - 09:28 PM Whoops - memory lapse. It was "They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" that was banned from radio as offensive to the mentally ill. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,margie0507 Date: 15 Jun 11 - 11:01 AM I remember this song! My sister had it in her collection. No one remembers it but me. And you. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 16 Jun 11 - 08:43 AM GUEST,margie0507, I remember both "They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" and Counting Flowers on the Wall. Don |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: reynard Date: 16 Jun 11 - 09:06 AM Swamp Girl. Or is this too "serious" to be classed as a "novelty song"? I'd never heard this until I recently stumbled over it on Spotify so perhaps it was not released in the UK. The link below claims to be the lyrics to the (inferior) Charles Manson cover but is in fact a video of the audio of the brilliant original by Frankie Laine. http://www.uppercutmusic.com/artist_c/charles_manson_lyrics/swamp_girl_lyrics.html |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: The other Hank Date: 16 Jun 11 - 12:23 PM Google Dr. Demento. He had a radio show that featured novelty songs. Some of them absolute classics! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST Date: 19 Jun 11 - 06:09 PM Dies anyone remember who sang mr and mrs Coconut???? |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: dick greenhaus Date: 19 Jun 11 - 11:20 PM Tom Lehrer's best-remembered songs were from the 50s. As were The Hut-Sut Song and the earliest Chipmunk ones such as "Standing all alone in a vacant lot with a bird sitting on my head" [=Bird on My Head] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Greg B Date: 24 Jan 12 - 02:04 PM Lou Monte had a spate of them in the 50's: "Lazy Mary (Luna Mezza Mare)" among others named here. (Hee-haw hee haw.) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,nikinez Date: 27 Jan 12 - 05:48 PM does anybody know the lyrics to the song the barking dog by the crewcuts back in 1954? it was a cute novelty song |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: NightWing Date: 28 Jan 12 - 01:48 AM GUEST,J (back in 06 Jul 09) asked My dad used to sing a jingle about brushing your teeth...with words like "you will have a winning smile." Anyone know this?
I remember The Billboard Song:
As I was walking down the street a billboard caught my eye. I don't suppose that's what he was thinking of, but it reminded me of this.
Back in 21 Oct 09, GUEST,tkhering asked:
Is this the song "Worms?" I don't know the details. It is indeed Worms, by Tony Burrello and Tom Murray.
There's a new sound, the newest sound around,For a few others, how about
"Splish Splash"Does anybody remember Wet Dream? Kip Addotta does a talkin' blues loaded with fish puns, then a female chorus comes in with the chorus: simply "Wet Dream". One of the early bits
My Barracuda was in the shop, so I was in a rented Stingray, and it was overheating.has always been one of the funniest lines ever and I've used "For the halibut" ever since I first heard it in this song. (According to the wiki on him, he also did a similar one with vegetable puns? Never heard that one!)
Certainly, Worms and Wet Dream were from the '60's. But The Billboard Song should certainly qualify.
BB, |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Kevin b Date: 10 Apr 14 - 12:48 PM I'm ur coffee I'm ur tea better save all ur sugar for me. Better watch who ur giving ur love to cause I'm plum papa'd over u. T'Ain't Nice |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,guest:oregon Date: 05 Jun 16 - 05:20 AM I heard a recording by an unknown artist that was identical to Chuck Berry's No. 1 hit in 1972 "My Ding-a-Ling". It could have been Chuck Berry but this was in the late 50's. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BIRD ON MY HEAD (David Seville) From: Jim Dixon Date: 04 Aug 16 - 01:24 AM Dick Greenhaus mentioned this song on 20 October 2008. In the following transcription, the "bird's" words are enclosed in parentheses. BIRD ON MY HEAD As recorded by David Seville (whose real name was Ross Bagdasarian Sr.), 1958. I'm just sittin' in a vacant lot with a bird sittin' on my head. I'm just sittin' in a vacant lot with a bird sittin' on my head. Wicked, wicked, cruel, cruel world, what have you done to me? I belong in someone's arms (and I belong in a tree). Wicked, wicked, cruel, cruel world, this is no kind of life. I should have a house and bed (and I should have me a wife). We're just sittin' in a vacant lot and we haven't got a dime. The bird and me, lonely as can be, we're together all the time. Wicked, wicked, cruel, cruel world, what have you done to me? I belong in someone's arms (and I belong in a tree). Wicked, wicked, cruel, cruel world, what I say is no lie. We've been sittin' here so long (that I forgot how to fly). I'm just sittin' in a vacant lot (and I'm sittin' on his head). The things we want we haven't got; (need a tree and house and bed). Wicked, wicked, cruel, cruel world, what have you done to me? (He belongs in someone's arms) and he belongs in a tree. Wicked, wicked, cruel, cruel world, this is no kind of life. (He should have a house and bed) and he should have him a wife. Wicked, wicked, cruel, cruel world, what have you done to me? I belong in someone's arms (and I belong in a tree). FADE. [This was David Seville's second novelty record—the first was "Witch Doctor"; the next was "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Fred Maslan Date: 04 Aug 16 - 10:20 AM May have missed it, but no one seems to have mentioned "Johnny Fedora and Alice Blue Bonnet" a love song between two hats. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST, DTM Date: 04 Aug 16 - 02:00 PM "Where Will the Dimple Be?" - Rosemary Clooney "Well I Ask Yew" - Fred Walking Stick with the Electric Wireless Orchestra "I've Been Carrying a Torch for You So Long That I Burned a Great Big Hole In My Heart" - Nino Tempo & April Stevens |
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Subject: Lyr Add: I WANT ONE (Jack Reno) From: Jim Dixon Date: 04 Aug 16 - 02:47 PM Arkie mentioned this one on 21-Oct-2008: I WANT ONE As recorded by Jack Reno, 1968. 1. I'll never forget the first time I ever saw one. I knew right then that I just had to have one. And though you say I wouldn't know what to do with one, If it's the last thing I ever do, I'm gonna get one. CHORUS: I want one. I need one. And you would too if you had ever seen one. Oh, I want one. 2. Mama told me my great-grandmother owned one. And I once met a man who claimed that he'd lost one. Wouldn't we make a fortune if we could make one? But woe unto the man who tries to steal one. CHORUS. 3. I know all there is to know about one, And I'm gonna search this whole world over until I find one. People will point at me and say: "He has one" And I'm gonna give all o' my friends a chance to see one. CHORUS |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Senoufou Date: 04 Aug 16 - 06:36 PM In the fifties (and into the sixties) there was a BBC radio programme called 'Uncle Mac's Children's Favourites' presented by Derek McCulloch. It's available nowadays on Amazon.co.uk, and called 'Hello Children Everywhere'. There are over 40 songs, most of which are novelty/comedy/catchy and very typical of the age. If one accesses Amazon, the playlist is set out and all the titles can be seen. Examples are:- The Railroad Runs Through The Middle Of The House (Alma Cogan) The Laughing Policeman (Charles Penrose) "Gilly-Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea." (Max Bygraves) You’re a Pink Toothbrush (Max Bygraves) (my all-time favourite) The Runaway Train When Father Papered The Parlour Little White Duck (Danny Kay) and several by Burl Ives (I Know An Old Lady and Big Rock Candy Mountain for example) I have the cassettes still! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mike gouthro Date: 04 Aug 16 - 06:52 PM House Of Blue Lights - by Chuck Miller (1955) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mkebenn Date: 05 Aug 16 - 08:26 AM Without rereading the thread, I must have missed "Tie Me Kangaroo Down", right? Mike |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: clueless don Date: 05 Aug 16 - 09:05 AM This isn't from the 50s, but I'm remembering the following fragment that I overheard: I knew a man Abramowitz he sold to you ... worn-out shoes! It may not have been anything more than this throwaway line. Don |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE JOKE (Reggie Hall) From: Jim Dixon Date: 06 Aug 16 - 09:56 PM GUEST,N.O. Oldies quoted from this song on 03-Jan-2009. It can be heard on YouTube. THE JOKE As recorded by Reggie Hall, 1962. Here's a story I'm gonna tell, And it's a joke that I know real well: They say that Wyatt Earp rode a horse, But that's not so; he drove a car. They say that big Cheyenne shot up the land, But he really was a real estate man. They say that Rudolph Valentino was a lover, But that's not so; it was his brother; Sayin' Jesse James had a gang, But he really had a ragtime band. They say that ol' Bat Masterson carried a cane, But that's not so; he drove a plane. They say that big Cheyenne shot up the land, But he really was a real estate man. They say that ol' big Paladin have gun will travel, But that's not so; he shoveled gravel; Sayin' Jesse James had a gang, But he really had a ragtime band. They say that Perry Mason won all his cases, But that's not so; he sold shoe laces. They say that big Cheyenne shot up the land, But he really was a real estate man. They say that Robin Hood lived in the forest, But that's not so; he was a lawyer; Sayin' Jesse James had a gang, But he really had a ragtime band. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S A NEW SOUND (Tony Burrello) From: Jim Dixon Date: 09 Aug 16 - 12:55 AM This has been mentioned a few times in this thread, but with the wrong title. This song can be heard on Spotify and YouTube. It consists of only this one verse, repeated several times, sung in a near monotone, but modulated upwards each time, interspersed by Chipmunk-like vocal sounds, representing, I suppose, the sound of worms.
THERE'S A NEW SOUND
There's a new sound, the newest sound around, |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BIG TEN INCH RECORD (Bull Moose Jackson) From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 Aug 16 - 01:13 AM This was mentioned by Cluin on 20 Oct 2008: BIG TEN INCH RECORD As recorded by Bull Moose Jackson, 1952. 1. Got me the strangest woman. Believe me, this chick's no cinch, But I really get her goin' When I take out my big ten-inch— CHORUS: Record of the band that plays the blues, The band that plays the blues. She just loves my big ten-inch Record of her fav'rite blues. 2. Last night I tried to tease her. I gave her a little pinch, But she said: "Now stop that jivin', And get out that big ten-inch—CHORUS 3. I cover her with kisses When we're in a lovers' clinch, And when she gets all excited, She begs for my big ten-inch—CHORUS 4. My gal don't go for smokin', And liquor just makes her flinch. Seems she just goes for nothin' Except my big ten-inch—CHORUS |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE RED MONKEY (Mel Blanc) From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 Aug 16 - 08:07 AM This was first mentioned by Little Robyn on 20-Oct-2008. This was the only vocal version I found on Spotify, although there are several instrumental versions: LITTLE RED MONKEY As recorded by Mel Blanc, 1953. Look at the monkey, funny monkey, Little red monkey, acting so fidgety. Look at the monkey, funny monkey, Little red monkey, cute as can be. Where is his mama, papa, sister, Brother, cousin, rest of the family? Little red monkey, on his ownsome, Very lonesome monkey is he. Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah! If you get him into a zoo, He'll do all of his tricks for you. Won't you drop him a line or two, Inviting him to the zoo, For if you do, He'll be a happy snappy monkey, Little red monkey acting so merrily. I hope you like this little red monkey. He's so funny, cute as can be. [REPEAT, SUBSTITUTING FOR LAST LINE:] For that funny money is me, Little red monkey, little red monkey, nobody else but me! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: LadyJean Date: 20 Aug 16 - 09:30 PM In college I lived across the hall from two girls from Hong Kong. You have not heard Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini until you have heard it in Chinese, which I have. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST,Senoufou Date: 21 Aug 16 - 04:28 AM Jim, Little Red Monkey sung by Mel Blanc is on Youtube. I don't myself like this version, he sounds like a character from The Hobbit! I prefer Rosemary Clooney (also on Youtube) |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: GUEST Date: 22 Aug 16 - 01:56 AM TheAnimals? |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE RED RENTED ROWBOAT (Joe Dowell) From: Jim Dixon Date: 22 Aug 16 - 05:15 PM First mentioned by SINSULL on 20-Oct-2008 above: LITTLE RED RENTED ROWBOAT Written by Marvin J. Moore & Bernie Wayne. As recorded by Joe Dowell, 1962. CHORUS: Little red rented rowboat, Little red rented rowboat, Not much better than no boat, But at least it'll go when I row, row, row, At least it'll go when I row. I saw two pretty girls sunbathin' on a pier. They wore bikinis way down to here. I waved; they waved. They said they'd like a ride, So I helped them climb inside. To share my—CHORUS 'Long came a sailboat big enough for two. The skipper saw the girls; I knew what he would do. He waved, and they waved. Then he helped them* inside. Just one girl to ride— There in my—CHORUS Hot rod motorboat roared up behind. A girl took a look and I could read her mind. She waved, and he waved. He helped her climb inside, Leavin' me with wounded pride. One hour later I saw them again, Motorboat out o' gas, sailboat out o' wind. The girls waved and I waved, And then I passed them by, With my nose held way up high. Me and my—CHORUS [* He clearly sings "them" but it should be "one"; otherwise, the math doesn't add up.] |
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Subject: Lyr Add: I AM A MOLE AND I LIVE IN A HOLE From: Jim Dixon Date: 22 Aug 16 - 07:31 PM This was mentioned by From: John MacKenzie on 21 Oct 2008. There are several copies of this recording on YouTube: I AM A MOLE AND I LIVE IN A HOLE As recorded by the Southlanders, 1958. I'm not a bat or a rat or a cat. I'm not gnu or a kangaroo. I'm not a goose or a moose on the loose. I am a mole and I live in a hole. I'm not a cow or a chow or a sow. I'm not a snake or a hake or a drake. I'm not a flea or a wee chimpanzee. I am a mole and I live in a hole. Yarg, yarg! Quark, quark! Fried, boiled, or roast, You're the slick chick I dig the most. I'm not a ram or a clam or a lamb. I'm not a hog or a frog or a dog. I'm not a bus or a hippopotamus. I am a mole and I live in a hole. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JOLLY GREEN GIANT (The Kingsmen) From: Jim Dixon Date: 22 Aug 16 - 08:11 PM Suggested by Lonesome EJ on 22 Oct 2008:
JOLLY GREEN GIANT |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: Joe_F Date: 22 Aug 16 - 08:27 PM If you hold up one big green ball in your left hand and another big green ball in your right hand, what have you got? A Jolly Green Giant. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: NEVER DO A TANGO WITH AN ESKIMO (A Cogan) From: Jim Dixon Date: 23 Aug 16 - 12:57 AM This was quoted by MikeofNorthumbria on 23 Oct 2008. I found it on Spotify. NEVER DO A TANGO WITH AN ESKIMO Written by Tommie Connor. As recorded by Alma Cogan, 1955. You must never do a tango with an Eskimo. No, no, no! Oh, dear, no! When a lady from Nebraska's At a party in Alaska, She must never do a tango with an Eskimo. You can do it with a Latin From Manila to Manhattan. You can do it with a gaucho in Brazil, But if once those Eskimoses Start to wiggle with their toeses, You can bet your life you're gonna get a chill. You can never do a tango with an Eskimo. No, no, no! Oh, dear, no! If you do you'll get the breeze up And you'll end up with a freeze up. You must never do a tango with an Eskimo. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! You must never do a tango with an Eskimo. No, no, no! Oh, dear, no! When a lady from Nebraska's At a party in Alaska, She must never do a tango with an Eskimo. You can do it with a sailor From Peru to Venezuela. You can do it with Apaches in Paree, But if once an Eskimozee Starts to cuddle up so cozy, You'll find your passion cooling, yessiree. You can never do a tango with an Eskimo, No, no, no! Oh, dear, no! If you do you'll get the breeze up, And you'll end up with a freeze up. You must never do a tango with an Eskimo. No, no, no, oh no, no, no! Never do a tango with an Eskimo. No, no, no! |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: mkebenn Date: 23 Aug 16 - 08:01 AM "There's no room to Rumba in a sports car" Elvis, from one of his high art movies. Mike |
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Subject: Lyr Add: I COME HERE TO BE WENT WITH BUT I AIN'T… From: Jim Dixon Date: 24 Aug 16 - 01:41 AM Mentioned by Arkie on 24-Oct-2008: I COME HERE TO BE WENT WITH BUT I AIN'T BEEN YET Words by Delmar Smith Porter & Donnell Clyde Cooley; music by Carl Hoefle. As recorded by Ginny Jackson with Spade Cooley, 1950. I come here to be went with, but I ain't been yet. I come here to be kissed with, but I ain't been yet. He promised he would meet me in the middle of the block. We made a date for half past eight and now it's twelve o'clock. I come here to be went with, but I ain't been yet. I come here to be hugged with, but I ain't been yet. But I'll keep on right on waiting; gee, I hope he don't forget. I come here to be went with, but I ain't been yet. I come here to be went with, but I ain't been yet. I come here to be smooched with, but I ain't been yet. That boy had better hurry if he plans on thrilling me, 'Cause I've been waiting here so long my feet are killing me. I come here to be went with, but I ain't been yet. I come here to be squeezed with, but I ain't been yet. I miss the kissin' that I'm missin' cause I'm all upset. I come here to be went with, but I ain't been yet. Ho hum! I guess I'll go back home. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: JennieG Date: 24 Aug 16 - 02:28 AM Real gems there, Jim! |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD MASTER PAINTER (Frank Sinatra) From: Jim Dixon Date: 24 Aug 16 - 02:52 PM Mentioned by "Bill H //\\" on 24 Oct 2008. I don't see why this is called a novelty song, though. THE OLD MASTER PAINTER Words by Haven Gillespie, music by Beasley Smith. As recorded by Frank Sinatra, 1949. [1] The old master painter from the faraway hills Painted the vi'lets and the daffodils. He put the purple in the twilight haze, Then did a rainbow for the rainy days, Dreamed up the murals on the blue summer skies, Painted the devil in my darlin's eyes, Captured the dreamer with a thousand thrills— The old master painter from the faraway hills. [2] Then came his masterpiece, and when he was through, He smiled down from heaven and he gave me you. What a beautiful job on that wonderful day! The old master painter from the hills far away. [Repeat 2, 1, 2.] (Far away.) Far away. (Far away.) Far away. [FADE] [Also recorded by Snooky Lanson, Richard Hayes, Bob Crosby, Mel Torme, Phil Harris, Dick Haymes, Geraldo and His Orchestra, and others.] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: leeneia Date: 25 Aug 16 - 12:21 AM Does anybody remember the name of a charming instrumental piece that featured a melody on a flute accompanied by the sound of a horse's hooves? Would have been 1950's or early '60's. I'm pretty sure the instrument was a flute. Could have been something else. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: JennieG Date: 25 Aug 16 - 01:23 AM I can remember "Swinging shepherd blues" - I think that was on flute? Don't remember the horses though. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: leeneia Date: 25 Aug 16 - 10:14 AM I remember "Swinging shepherd blues" too, now that you mention it, Jennie. Thanks! The tune with the horse sound was major. SSB was bluesy. |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: leeneia Date: 25 Aug 16 - 10:25 AM "Swinging shepherd blues" was composed and recorded by Moe Koffman of Canada. He doesn't seem to have a connection with the tune with flute and horse's hoof sound. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about Moe: "During a career spanning from the 1950s to the 2000s, Koffman was one of Canada's most prolific musicians, working variously in clubs and sessions. With his 1957 record 'Hot and Cool Saxophone' on the New York-based Jubilee label, Koffman became one of the first Canadian jazz musicians to record a full-length album." You can find SSB on YouTube. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: DIVORCE ME C.O.D. (Merle Travis) From: Jim Dixon Date: 26 Aug 16 - 08:52 PM Bankley mentioned this on 25 Jan 2009, but he missed the mark by a few years. It's a clever song, though. DIVORCE ME C.O.D. Written by Merle Travis & Cliffie Stone. As recorded by Merle Travis, 1946. I just bought me a great long ticket I'm gonna use at four p.m. So you can call your secret love and tell the news to him. You thought your little romance was on the strict Q.T. If you want your freedom P.D.Q., divorce me C.O.D. I won't be around To hear you cry. I'm Texas bound, And by and by— You can reach me down in Dallas, general delivery. So if you want your freedom P.D.Q., divorce me C.O.D. [instrumental break] Now there's gonna come a day, gal, when you'll be feelin' blue. You're gonna find that you can't pay your bills with a little ol' I.O.U. This dynamite that you're a-messin' with may be T.N.T. So if you want your freedom P.D.Q., divorce me C.O.D. When the winter comes, I hope you freeze While I twiddle my thumbs, Layin' around in my B.V.D.'s. Well, now, I ain't no college p'fessor; I ain't got no Ph.D. But if you want your freedom P.D.Q., divorce me C.O.D. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY, HA-HAAA! From: Jim Dixon Date: 26 Aug 16 - 10:02 PM This was first mentioned by Dave Hanson on 21 Oct 2008, and then mentioned again by several others. With that kind of demand, I have to transcribe it, right? But again, people looking for 50's songs have missed the mark by a few years. THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY, HA-HAAA! As recorded by Napoleon XIV [=Jerry Samuels], 1966. 1. Remember when you ran away and I got on my knees and begged you not to leave because I'd go berserk? Well— You left me anyhow, and then the days got worse and worse and now you see I've gone completely out of my mind, Then— They're coming to take me away, ha-ha! They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-ha! To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time, and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats, And they're coming to take me away, ha-haaa! 2. You thought it was a joke and so you laughed; you laughed when I had said that losing you would make me flip my lid. Right? You know you laughed; I heard you laugh; you laughed; you laughed and laughed and then you left, but now you know I'm utterly mad— And— They're coming to take me away, ha-ha! They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-ha! To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes, And they're coming to take me away, ha-haaa! 3. I cooked your food; I cleaned your house and this is how you pay me back for all my kind unselfish loving deeds, Huh? Well you just wait; they'll find you yet, and when they do, they'll put you in the A.S.P.C.A., you mangy mutt! And— They're coming to take me away, ha-ha! They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-ha! To the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time, and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats, And they're coming to take me away, ha-ha! To the happy home with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes, And they're coming to take me away, ha-ha! To the funny farm....[etc. FADE.] |
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Subject: Lyr Add: YOU'RE A PINK TOOTHBRUSH (Max Bygraves) From: Jim Dixon Date: 29 Aug 16 - 12:30 AM Little Robyn mentioned this first on 20 Oct 2008, then a couple more people did. YOU'RE A PINK TOOTHBRUSH As recorded by Max Bygraves, 1953. My mummy bought a toothbrush; it was a lovely pink, And when it looked across at dad's, I'm sure I saw it wink. That night I had a funny dream while fast asleep in bed. Two toothbrushes were holding hands, and this is what they said: You're a pink toothbrush; I'm a blue toothbrush. Have we met somewhere before? You're a pink toothbrush, and I think, toothbrush, That we met by the bathroom door. Glad to meet, toothbrush; such a sweet toothbrush! How you thrill me through and through! Don't be hard, toothbrush; I'm a soft toothbrush, 'Cause I can't help loving you, Ev'ry time I hear you whistle, [whistling] It makes my nylon bristle. [whistling] You're a pink toothbrush; I'm a blue toothbrush. Won't you marry me in haste? I'll be true, toothbrush, just to you, toothbrush, When we both use the same toothpaste. [Repeat from "Ev'ry time...." to end.] |
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Subject: RE: 1950s novelty songs From: eftifino Date: 29 Aug 16 - 12:59 AM Don't know if anyone mentioned the Goon's Songs: "I'm Walking Backwards for Christmas" "You gotta go OWWWWWW" "Ying Tong" |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BABY SITTIN' BOOGIE (Buzz Clifford) From: Jim Dixon Date: 29 Aug 16 - 02:13 PM Mentioned by mousethief on 27 Jun 2010: BABY SITTIN' BOOGIE Words and music by Johnny Parker, 1960. As recorded by Buzz Clifford, 1961. My girl babysits for someone on her block; Then I come up to join her and we start to rock. The baby hears the beat an' man, it is a shock When he goes: [baby-talk gibberish] A rockin' type o' boogie is the kind o' song That makes this little baby want'o sing along, And though he maybe gets the tune a little wrong, He still goes: [baby-talk gibberish] He isn't too young to really feel the beat. He rocks back an' forth in his little seat. He claps both his hands an' he taps his feet, And he sings: [baby-talk gibberish] He is a holly-dory(?) bouncin' baby boy. You know the record player is his fav'rite toy, And don't forget he's ev'rybody's pride an' joy When he goes: [baby-talk gibberish starting "ooh, ah!"] I know there isn't anyone to take the bet, But surely he's the youngest teenager yet, And probably the hippest of the diaper set, As he goes: [baby-talk gibberish resembling: "Go man! I like that!"] He strolls in his stroller with the radio on. He doesn't go to sleep until the music's gone. He imitates the singer in the group With the low-down voice: [baby-talk gibberish] And when it's time to tuck him in his little bed, With all that music runnin' through his sleepy head, The little fella doesn't say goodnight; instead, He says: [baby-talk gibberish starting "booga-booga-booga..."] [The gibberish in this song sounds like it was genuinely recorded from a baby. Sometimes the baby seems to be trying to imitate actual words, but it's hard to make them out.] |
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Subject: Lyr Add: WHAT KINDA DEAL IS THIS (Bill Carlisle) From: Jim Dixon Date: 29 Aug 16 - 11:26 PM Mentioned by fumblefingers on 11 Aug 2010: WHAT KINDA DEAL IS THIS Written by Wayne C. Gilbreath. As recorded by Bill Carlisle, 1965. Now me an' Liz was on our first date. We was a-settin' at this red light a-havin' to wait, 'N' this ol' boy walked up with a big possum grin, An' he just opened the car door an' crawled right in, An' I thought, what kinda deal is this? You know, the thing that was a-gettin' me the most Was the way this ol' boy seemed to feel his oats. Man, he was really getting under my skin, A-settin' over there with that big stupid grin, And I thought, what kinda deal is this? I got to wonderin' about this friend o' Liz, But I figgered in a minute she'll tell me who he is, But as we drove along I thought, man, oh, man, 'Cause me an' him an' Liz was all three a-holdin' hands, And I thought, what kinda deal is this? I ain't too smart, but I could still see This whole deal looked all fouled up to me, So I thought I'd better stop it; man, it's goin' too fur, 'Cause she was a-huggin' me an' he was a-huggin' her. I thought, what kinda deal is this? Well, I knew it wadn't right, but what could I say? I thought I'd just kinda let it go along that-a-way, But purty soon I seen I was out on a limb. I couldn't kiss her without kissin' him, An' man, I thought, what kinda deal is this? So I stopped the car an' I said: "Looka here, Liz. You'd better tell me who this guy is." She said: "I don't know him! I thought he was your friend." I said: "Well, if you don't know 'im, what's he doin' here then?" I thought, what kinda deal is this? So I grabbed 'im by the collar an' I jerked him out o' the car. I said: "Buddy, I ain't never seen nobody like you are. How come you pull these kind o' jokes?" He said: "Well, sometime it works; sometime it don't." An' I thought, what kinda deal is this? Well, I drew back my fist to hit 'im in the face. He broke a-loose an' outrun a snake. So now here I stand just a-lookin' at Liz, An' both of us are wonderin' who this guy is. Now what kinda deal do you think this is? If you find out, I wish you'd let me know. Man, it's tore me up like a sow's bed. You ain't never been tore up till you been tore up like a sow's bed. You'll know what I mean then. FADE. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: IS ZAT YOU MYRTLE? (Carlisle, Louvin) From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Aug 16 - 10:53 PM Also mentioned by fumblefingers: IS ZAT YOU MYRTLE? Written by Bill Carlisle, Charlie Lovin, and Ira Louvin. As recorded by Bill Carlisle, 1953. CHORUS: "Is zat you, Myrtle?" "Did I hear Papa?" "Is zat you, Myrtle?" "Just a minute!" Is zat you, Myrtle? Is zat you, Myrtle? I guess you better send that scalawag home. (I guess you better send that scalawag home.) 1. I took my gal to the picture show. She promised me a kiss when we got home. My heart was a-drummin' an' I couldn't hardly wait To get her in my arms, but her daddy was awake. CHORUS 2. One night we was settin' in the old porch swing. I tell you it was the squeekin'est thing. Ever' time I tried to move in close, I could hear them big feet hit the floor. CHORUS 3. I figured out a plan all of my own. We pulled off our shoes about a mile from home. Soon as we turned in off o' the street, B'lieve to my soul he heard the patter of our feet. CHORUS |
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Subject: Lyr Add: NO HELP WANTED (Catlett, Ball, Carlisle) From: Jim Dixon Date: 30 Aug 16 - 11:42 PM Also mentioned by fumblefingers: NO HELP WANTED, a.k.a. YOU'LL NEED MY HELP Words by Betty Jo Catlett & Noel Ball, music by Bill Carlisle. As recorded by The Carlisles, 1952. 1. Now I've got a gal from New Orleans, Cutest little thing that you ever have seen. She got a cute little walk with a hippity-hop, Big at the little and bottom at the top. [sic] CHORUS: "Do you need any help?" "Huh-uh, no help wanted." "You could use a little help." "No, no, no help wanted." "Just call on me if you need any help. Do you need any help? Do you need any help?" "No, I can handle this job all by myself." 2. Now she calls me her little piggly-wiggly. I call her my little thingamajiggy. When I ask her for a kiss, …voice sounds something like this: CHORUS 3. Now I love my baby; she's a little bitty booger, Cute as a button and sweet as sugar. I'm a-gonna buy her a diamond ring. We'll get married in the spring. CHORUS 4. Now I'm a-gonna take her honky-tonkin' tonight. We're gonna do ever'thing up right. When the music starts to swing and sway, We'll dance till the break of day. CHORUS |
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Subject: Lyr Add: LUKE THE SPOOK (Sheb Wooley) From: Jim Dixon Date: 31 Aug 16 - 01:07 AM Also mentioned by fumblefingers: LUKE THE SPOOK As recorded by Sheb Wooley, 1960. Who's always first to make the scene? Wears tennis shoes and old blue jeans? Who chases all the girls around? Who is the coolest cat in town? Charlie Brown? Not that clown. Well then who? Luke the spook. Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke the spook! Spook, spook, spook, spooky Luke! He's got all the funny ways. Still, he's got ev'ry girl in school goin' crazy. (And still he's got ev'ry girl in school goin' crazy.) Who's always strollin' at the hop? Who wears his hair just like a mop? Who's always gettin' in a fix With all his jokin' and his tricks? Tall Paul? Not at all. Well then who? Luke the spook. Luke, Luke, Luke, Luke the spook! Spook, spook, spook, spooky Luke! He likes to pass the time away Standing on the corner watchin' all the girlies. (Standing on the corner watchin' all the girlies.) Who likes to cuddle in the car? Who knows where all the parties are? Who drives a hopped-up model A? Who ditches school 'most ev'ry day? Leroy? Not that boy. Well then who? Luke the spook. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: T'AIN'T NICE (Bill Carlisle) From: Jim Dixon Date: 01 Sep 16 - 10:59 AM This was quoted by Kevin b on 10 April 2014: T'AIN'T NICE (TO TALK LIKE THAT) Written by Bill CarlisLe and Charlie & Ira Louvin. As recorded by Bill Carlisle, 1953. 1. Now I'm your coffee and I'm your tea. You better save all your sugar for me. You better watch who you give your lovin' to, 'Cause I'm plumb popeyed over you. CHORUS-1: [Woman:] You know it ain't nice to talk like that. [Man:] Yeah, I know it ain't nice to talk like that, But I'm hog wild and that's my style, And I get a kick out o' talkin' like that. 2. Ever' time I see you walkin' down the street, My heart does a hootchie-kootchie and skips a beat. You're my cute little sugar plum, And I'm a-gonna squeeze till the cows come home. CHORUS-1 CHORUS-2: [Both:] Now, we know it ain't nice to talk like that, But we're gonna keep on a-talkin' like that, 'Cause we're hog wild and that's our style, And we get a kick out o' talkin' like that. 3. If you'll be my little lovin' hugger, I'll be your little sugar burger. I love you, my little koochie-koo. I'm gonna squeeze the fool out o' you. CHORUS-1 4. I'm a-fishin' for you, baby, with the right kind o' bait, And I'm a-gonna catch you if my line don't break. It's me for you and you for me. I'm a-gonna squeeze you till you holler "Whoopee!" CHORUS-1, CHORUS-2 |
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Subject: Lyr Add: OH WHAT A FACE (Sticks McGhee) From: Jim Dixon Date: 05 Sep 16 - 10:37 PM This was first mentioned by kendall on 20-Oct-2008: OH WHAT A FACE As recorded by Sticks McGhee, 1951. 1. He carries her picture in his pocket. It was taken the day he went to sea. He carries her picture in his locket, Though she is as ugly can be. CHORUS: Oh, what a face! (Oh, what a face!) It's a disgrace (it's a disgrace) To be showin' it in any public place. 2. One mornin' he took her to a pig farm. He told her to wait down by the rail, But when he returned he couldn't find her. The farmer had put her up for sale. CHORUS 3. A tragedy occurred when she got married. A bridal veil her face did fully hide. She lifted it to kiss her lovin' husband. He screamed and committed suicide. CHORUS |
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