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1950s novelty songs
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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,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: 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,Mamablues Date: 18 Nov 09 - 01:11 AM "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" |
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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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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 & 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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: 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 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: Donuel Date: 05 Jan 09 - 06:17 PM Blue Suede Shoes. Tzena Tzena Tzena |
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