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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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