It's Monday and it's time for music!
Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please!) Our head hostess is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and she is joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and (last but not least) me.
Why not join our music loving folks? It's so easy. All you have to do is
join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music
video (there must be a music video or your post will be subject to removal or labeling "No Music").That's all it takes!
Each month, except December, we have a guest host. For August, we welcome Adventures in Weseland for his final August guest host gig.
His theme for this week is "You Pick".
Last week's theme, "Songs I Heard on the Radio" was so much fun that I will continue with it, with some inspiration with one of the playlists created by a weekly contributor to Music Moves Me, John at The Sound of One Hand Typing.
How about novelty songs I heard on the radio during the 60's and 70's? Some of these may be a little dated but here goes anyway.
Let's start with a couple by Ray Stevens, who made a career out of these novelty songs: first, Gitzarzan, from 1969.
Next, "The Streak" from 1974. Yes, people still sometimes do this, but back then, it is something that - to use a phrase not yet invented - went viral.
I wonder if children still sing this at camp? "On Top of Spaghetti", from 1963, sung by Tom Glazer with the Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus.
Some sage advice from 1965: "You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd", from Roger Miller.
You may want to skip this next song (it was, after all, not played by at least one New York City music station when it became a hit in 1966) but I love it. Another Music Moves Me blogger (John, above) had it on his playlist last Monday and it brought back memories.
What I didn't know is that the performer of this song was a genuine singer, sonwriter and music producer by the name of Jerry Samuels.
As Napolean XIV, he wrote and sang the hit "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha Haaaaa". I read that his identify was revealed (on the radio, perhaps?) by WABC DJ "Cousin Brucie" Morrow. Both WABC and another New York City rock stattion, WMCA, stopped playing it. Samuels explains, however, that the song was about a runaway dog, and not a person with a mental health condition. Here's the song, for your enjoyment (or, again, feel free to skip it.)
Steve Martin is one of the all time comedic greats. "Dull, boring and omnipresent" entered my vocabulary years ago and remains there. This song, "Grandmother's Song" is none of them.
Let's wrap up with a medley song by a novelty group.
"Stars on 45 Medley" (mercifully shorted from the original title) by the Dutch novelty group Stars on 45 was a hit in 1981 but its music is of an earlier era.And that's a wrap!
Join us again, same time, same place, for another episode of Music Moves Me.
...they are fun, but not favorites.
ReplyDeleteI don’t remember that Steve Martin song but a lot of people follow the advice to “criticize things you don’t know about.”
ReplyDeleteI don't know the times I've sung On Top of Spaghetti as a kid, to my kids and to my grandkids.
ReplyDeleteSuch great and fun songs. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteAwesome tunes Loved all of them!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard even one of these songs. Thanks for introducing me to them, Alana.
ReplyDeleteThat was fun, Alana! ☺ I remember these tunes and the streaking craze. David Niven at the Oscars comes to mind. That streaker sure took him by surprise but he played it cool.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love Ray Stevens! I remember these songs. In our area, a local station airs his show in Nashville. I'd love to go see him. Perhaps next spring we can plan a weekend get-away to do several things in the city including his show. That would be awesome! Thanks for making me smile this morning. Have a boogietastic week, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThere was a DJ named Dr. Demento who played nothing but novelty songs. I know most of these from his show.
ReplyDeleteI expected to know them all, but quite a few fun songs seems to have gotten by me.
ReplyDeleteOh, the memories!
ReplyDeleteNever heard that Steve Martin song before, but you can bet I'm playing it for my family at the next get-together!
The Roger Miller song brings back so many memories. My parents had a reel to reel music player and we wore the reel with Roger Miller slap out!
ReplyDeleteSigh. Yes, I admit to being old enough to remember those songs.
ReplyDeleteRay Stevens is one of my favorites. Have you ever heard his version of "Misty"?
ReplyDeleteDick Biondi, when he was on WLS in the '60's, did a record of "On Top Of A Pizza," which was essentially "On Top Of Spaghetti." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu4EiTJNP1k
Jim Nabors did a cover of "You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd" as Gomer Pyle. It's a good, positive song.
Thanks for the shoutout on "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaaa!" And I had forgotten about "Grandmother's Song" (I had the album "Let's Get Small"). "Stars on 45"... ehhh... Great set!
I forgot all about Ray Stevens. And, "They're coming to take me away" was a great summer enjoyment for me. (I do recall the spaghetti song- never knew there was a recording of it...)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the smile on my face.