As you can see by the images this was a kids' record at some point. The crayons are a dead give away that this record was loved. When you hear it you'll hear that the record is a little trashed as well. It is still very listenable and fun. I also love the artwork. The album takes on the guise that the songs are being sung by Santa and his "Pixie Helpers." In reality what that means is a chipmunk style record knock off. So if you like that sort of thing, then this is the record for you. The funny thing to me is that it sounds like whoever the real artists are, they didn't really have the whole chipmunk thing down. Some of the dialogue and singing is really measured and not very natural. I think this is because the speaking and singing had to be done slow and then sped up which is an unnatural process. I assume that the producers of this record saw the success of the chipmunks and thought it would be easy to replicate. This record shows that it wasn't. It isn't a total disaster, but it isn't the chipmunks.
I've wanted this record for a long time. I saw it a few years back in a records store, but I didn't have the money to buy it. I found it again this past record store day. Side one is great because it has the original Snoopy vs the Red Baron and Snoopy's Christmas, which I already had on record. It also has The Return of the Red Baron, which I had never heard before, but is just as good as the other two. Side two has all songs that were new to me. These are a little more straight forward pop songs, but as you can tell from the titles they can be related to Snoopy. A song like Behind Enemy Lines works as a song on this Snoopy record, but is also works as a song on its own. Click the image to read the track listings. The image should be clear enough.
Wow, time flies again. This summer is just whizzing by and I haven't posted anything on this blog in weeks and weeks. To be honest I have been focusing a lot of my free time and energy into making at least one photo each day on my Something I Saw Today blog. I don't see that letting up any time soon. I have been having a blast and I'm really hoping I can do it consistently for a year. Still I will try and post something hear when I can.
Today's record is pretty hammered, but it has some fun stuff. I took my stab at breaking everything up into tracks so that you can skip ahead if you'd like. I'm sure this is going to bring back some good memories for a lot of people. I just barely remember watching the Captain as a kid. I don't really remember any specifics, but I remember that I loved him and that I tried to watch him when I could. I also have memories of good feelings. Listening the his records makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. He's just got one of those voices and personalities. Hope this does that for you as well.
Enjoy!
01 How The Elephant Got His Trunk (Part 1).m4a 02 A Hundred Thousand Whys.m4a 03 How The Elephant Got His Trunk (Part 2).m4a 04 My Favorite Dishes.m4a 05 How The Elephant Got His Trunk (Part 3).m4a 05 How The Elephant Got His Trunk (Part 4).m4a 06 The Elephant's Trunk.m4a 08 How The Rhinoceros Got His Skin (Part 1).m4a 09 To Bake A Cake.m4a 10 How The Rhinoceros Got His Skin (Part 2).m4a 11 Under My Skin.m4a 12 How The Camel Got His Hump (Part 1).m4a 13 The World Is New.m4a 14 How The Camel Got His Hump (Part 2).m4a 15 A Little Book.m4a 16 How The Camel Got His Hump (Part 3).m4a 17 The World Is New (reprise).m4a 18 How The Kangaroo Got His Leg (Part 1).m4a 19 This Beautiful Creature.m4a 20 How The Kangaroo Got His Leg (Part 2).m4a 21 Kangaroo Run.m4a 22 How The Kangaroo Got His Leg (Part 3).m4a 23 Just So.m4a
Captain Kangaroo - Just So Stories Side 1.zip Captain Kangaroo - Just So Stories Side 2.zip
Boy it has been far too long since I posted something. I hope someone is still reading. Before getting into the record I thought I'd give a brief explanation for the long absence. The quick story is that a few weeks ago I had a hard drive crash on me. Luckily I had the majority of everything backed up, but it had been a few months. The backed up drive worked with an older version of my itunes library that I luckily had backed up. So I've been trying to recreate and fix all the songs in my ituned library since the beginning of December. Then of course nothing is ever easy, so some links went dead when going to the new drive and so I've been fixing that stuff. I figure I have another week or two of work ahead of me, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
An interesting part of this whole saga was that I bought a couple new drives to put everything on and to have a back up. The reason being that the drive I did have that had everything backed up was already sketchy and had been crashing. So after a couple weeks of work on one of the hard drives, it starting making noises like a lawn mower. I couldn't believe it. I backed up everything I had done onto the second new drive and brought the broken drive back to Fry's Electronics. I just wanted to exchange the drive. What I found was that the drive was now $40 cheaper and so in addition to getting the drive swapped out I got $87 dollars refunded. So how lucky was that?
So to the record. This is one weird Bugs record. I'm pretty sure this isn't Mel Blanc doing the voice and so Bugs sounds a little weird. I'm not even sure the record was produced in America. There are some goofy songs like "The Bus Song", "Cricket", "Merry is The Month Of May" and "London Oh London", but the best song selection for my money is "The Bunny Hop". Is has a little groove to it and stands up to repeated listens. There is one part in the song that is driving me crazy because it reminds me of a sample from an 80's rap record and I can't think what it is. I keep thinking it is Run-DMC, but I'm not sure. I know it isn't the actual sample, but it is pretty close to whatever sample is used in the 80's record that I can't place. Give it a listen and if you know it please let me know.
The runner up for 2nd best song is "London Oh London". I could see this as being a good song for a elementary school choir singing. It has some slight educational value and it is kind of catchy.
Enjoy!
01 London, Here I Am.m4a 02 Meet PC 37 1_2.m4a 03 The Bus Song.m4a 04 Buckingham Palace & Taxi Ride.m4a 04 Buckingham Palace.m4a 05 Taxi Ride.m4a 06 Lords Cricket Ground.m4a 07 Cricket.m4a 08 River Thames.m4a 09 Kew Gardens and Hampton Court.m4a 10 Merry Is The Month Of May.m4a 11 London Pub.m4a 12 The Bunny Hop.m4a 13 To The Airport.m4a 14 London Oh London.m4a
Bugs Bunny - Bugs Bunny Comes To London side 1.zip Bugs Bunny - Bugs Bunny Comes To London side 2.zip
ADDENDUM
I'm adding to the post because I did finally figure out what Run DMC song I was thinking of. It is "Christmas In Hollis" which has a sample from Clarence Carter's "Back Door Santa" which is actually the horn phrase that reminds me of a section of "The Bunny Hop"
Another very popular post from last year is the "Christmas Adventure In Disneyland" record. Just in the last couple days I've had several requests for the "Jingle Bones" song that is on this record. While that track is a standout as being amazingly great, the whole record is fun for sure. Read last years post here.
If you are too lazy to even click on that link I'll recap the track listings here for you.
01 All Aboard For Disneyland 02 Disneyland At Last 03 The Storybook Tree 04 Fantasyland 05 Once Upon A Dream 06 Jingle Bones 07 Escaping The Witch 08 Frontierland 09 Adventureland 10 The Jungle Tree 11 Tomorrowland 12 The Futuristic Christmas Tree 13 Home At Last On Christmas Morning
Picked up this record a while back not knowing anything about Hap Palmer. I just knew i loved the cover and the thought of a song about a waltzing worm sent my mind spinning.
As you might have guessed Hap Palmer writes children's songs. And some of them are quite catchy. I did a little research into Hap and found that he is still actively performing. In fact he's got some performances coming up here in the LA area. Check out his website fir details. www.happalmer.com
Hap studied music in school and while working at the Hollywood YMCA began singing folk songs for kids. He tried his hand at writing songs for adults, but found that writing for children was far more liberating. When you think about it is quite true. Most pop songs are only about a couple topics. Falling in love and breaking up. Sure there are a few other topics like partying or social issues, but you don't hear many songs about worms or parts of you body (unless is it breasts or booties). The one biography I read inferred that one of the innovations Hap brought to his children's song writing was to write songs that incorporated movement for the kids. He figured why fight against a child's need to move. Use that energy to get them involved in the song. My gut tells me that he wasn't the first to think of this, but he has obviously been successful with the formula.
This record sounds like an 80's record (lots of cheap synths) and I would have bet dollars to dimes that this would be out of print, but it isn't. You can find new and used copies on Amazon and I bet Hap is hocking them on his website too.
So if you are going to check out these tracks, you of course must check out "Walter the Waltzing Worm". Also the opening track "What A Miracle" and "A Genius Of Course" are quite catchy too. I also like some of the songs about jumping and stretching and such near the end. The music though is sooooo cheeseball. Reminds me of walking by the old organ stores that were in malls in the late 70's and early 80's with the guy playing along with programed rhythms at the front of the store.
The last comment I want to make about the album is about the last track. It kind of stands out as a real misfit. It doesn't sound like a children's song at all. It gets real dissonant and after the main part with lyrics it sounds more like a soundtrack to a thriller from the 70's. I can't imagine what a kid thought when listening to this record. You have all these upbeat songs about twisting and jumping and moving and then at the very end it gets super dark like you're watching a Hitchcock or perhaps even a David Lynch movie. Strange. But it's yet another reason to check this out.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
01 What A Miracle.m4a 02 Walter Te Waltzing Worm.m4a 03 A Genius Of Course.m4a 04 Slide Whistle Suite.m4a 05 Flick A Fly.m4a 06 Song About Fast, Song About Slow.m4a 07 Swing, Shake, Twist and Stretch.m4a 08 All The Ways Of Jumping Up And Down.m4a 09 Surprise Song.m4a Hap Palmer - Walter The Waltzing Worm.zip
So yesterday I gave you an album full of Christmas hymns for a traditional Christmas eve. Today, for the grand finale of the season I'm going the opposite direction. Christmas at Disneyland. By the way, I've been living in Southern California for over a decade and I still haven't gone to Disneyland in December. This record is the closest I've gotten. That is sad.
Anyways, this record is a mix of story telling and songs. I love this record. The story is interestingly weird and contrived. There are a few absolutely great tunes as well, "Jingle Bones" being my favorite. So once all your presents are open and the afternoon boredom sinks in, escape to Disneyland with this record.
On a side note I just wanted to say, that this past month has been very fun sharing all of these records. I've gotten some of my best feedback and comments. It has been great hearing from people that I've helped make their Christmas or that I've brought back some great memories. It has already got me excited for next year. I have a lot more records to share and I've already started digitzing for next years extravaganza.
As for the regular blog, I hope to get back to posting pretty soon. I'll probably take a few days off, but I will be back soon. I've definitely got a great record to share for New Years. Anyways until then...
Enjoy!
01 All Aboard For Disneyland.m4a 02 Disneyland At Last.m4a 03 The Storybook Tree.m4a 04 Fantasyland.m4a 05 Once Upon A Dream.m4a 06 Jingle Bones.m4a 07 Escaping The Witch.m4a 08 Frontierland.m4a 09 Adventureland.m4a 10 The Jungle Tree.m4a 11 Tomorrowland.m4a 12 The Futuristic Christmas Tree.m4a 13 Home At Last On Christmas Morning.m4a
This is one of those records that when I got it I knew that I would share it with whoever I could. I knew that there had to be plenty of people of my generation who had fond memories of Captain Kangaroo and especially Mr. Green Jeans. This record has plenty of banter between Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans and will bring back all those fond memories.
I wish this copy was in better condition, but oh well. I'll take what I can get. Its scratchy and pretty beaten up, but it is still very listenable and fun. There are lots of fun tracks. "I Want A Hippopotomous For Christmas" is one of my favorites. "Crackerjack Christmas" by Mr. Green Jeans is great just because it has the word Lolapolooza in it. "Santa's Other Reindeer" is pretty good. It is sung by Santa's reindeer. Who knew they had such fine vocal talents. I also like hearing the Captain's quick version of "Charles Dicken's Christmas Carol". Short and sweet. Have a listen. Find out which ones are your favorites.
A little break from the music today. Here are three Christmas stories for you to enjoy. Don't really have much to say about them. I'm sure they are all familiar to you. The Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is quite a fun listen and is the longest taking up all of side 1.
This will be a real Gem to some of you readers who are children of the 80's. I wasn't really ever into care bears, but I do remember how big they were. They are experiencing a resurgence so that even my daughter is aware of them.
This record has plenty of kitsch to be enjoyed by everyone no matter what decade you grew up in. I love Christmas records like this that mixed story telling and music. So have a listen and spend Christmas with the Care Bears.
Here's one to slow things down. It's calming and friendly. Nice poems by A.A. Milne put to music by Camarata. If you have little ones, they might like this one.
Enjoy!
01 Politeness.m4a 02 Daffodowindilly.m4a 03 Disobedience.m4a 04 The Four Friends.m4a 05 Twinkletoes.m4a 06 Happiness.m4a 07 The Mirror.m4a 08 Market Square.m4a 09 Sand-Between-The-Toes.m4a 10 Vespers.m4a
Before even posting this I’ve had a good reaction to this record. I was playing a few tracks for someone at work and that person mentioned it to someone else. That person was very excited to hear the record because she listened to it as a little girl. It brought back from good memories for her.
I have no memory of this record. I just got it within the last year and I really only listened to it a few months ago when I digitized it. I’m hoping though that this posting will bring back good memories for other people out there.
The record is of course Frank Oz as Miss Piggy riding the wave of aerobatic records and videos from the 80’s. The twist here is more than just a muppet singing the songs. The extra twist is that it is Miss Piggy and all the exercises she sings about aren’t really exercises. They are more like things for lazy people and people who like to eat. Then add on to that Miss Piggy’s faux French and you’ve got a pretty fun record. Sure you’re not going to listen to this every day, but it will bring a smile to your face.
This is easily one of my favorite records in my entire collection. When I picked this up I was like a kid on Christmas, giddy with excitement. I could hardly wait to get home and spin it.
After buying it "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron" quickly made its way onto a mix tape that was played constantly in my car. Then when I got into ripping vinyl to my computer it made its way onto a mix CD. And then when I got an Ipod of course this one was an essential song.
As a kid I had a Snoopy album that had this song on it. I loved that record. My wife had the same experience and so we've passed that love down to our kids. The song itself is pure pop bliss. It's catchy, the lyrics are funny and very memorable. The song is less that 3 minutes and so when it is over, you are ready to listen to it again.
Today when I'm really into the whole garage band sound, I really appreciate this song, because to me it has a lot of that flavor to it. The song when it was released was wildly successful. It peaked at number 2 on the charts. It may not be number 1, but that is pretty amazing fo a song about a dog flying a plane, shooting down Germans. This was of course when Snoopy was at the peak of poularity. For more on the Royal Guardsmen here is a link to a pretty informative site.
The "B-Side" isn't Snoopy themed at all. It is just a nice garage ballad and I like it quite a bit. If you've never hears any of the Guardsmen's non Snoopy songs, I think this one will surprise you. These guys were good.
I love collecting old Disney records. I really like these story book ones. When I first saw this I didn't know anything about the orange bird, but as you have probably gatherer by now, that doesn't stop me from buying something. If fact many times that is the very reason I will buy something.
As it turns out the Orange Bird was a character Disney created for Disneyworld in Florida. The orange growers of Florida sponsored the citrus pavillion and as part of the promotion for that the Orange bird was created. He appeared on commercials with Anita Bryant at the time. This record and story book tells his story.
As you can see from the pictures he is a little bird with an orange for a body. His wings are little green leaves. He couldn't sing or speak, but he could make his thoughts appear in little clouds of orange smoke. The "Orange Bird" song tells you all you need to know.
I've included the whole record here and scans of all the pictures so you can enjoy the whole experience.
An interesting piece of trivia is that the little boy on the record is Ron Howard. Between Mayberry and Milwaulkee he did some voice work for Disney records. He is on the Haunter Mansion record which I'll probably post closer to Halloween and this record. I think he did some others, but that record and this one are the ones I own. This was Ron's last thing he did for Disney.
There was a 7" 45 of the Orange Bird song, which I don't own. What I have done is take the song from this record and add a little fade out at the end before the narration kicks back in so you can enjoy the song on its own on your Ipod.
Lots of articles have been written about this record, the orange bird and Anita Bryant. You can also find some video on youtube.
01 Introduction.m4a 02 Little Orange Bird.m4a 03 The Story Part 1 (Picnic Park).m4a 04 Sing All Day.m4a 05 The Story Part 2 (Picnic Park Birds).m4a 06 I'll Fly The Sky Way.m4a 07 The Story Part 3 (The City).m4a 08 A Cat Don't Like....m4a 09 The Story Part 4 (The City).m4a 10 The Perfect Picnic.m4a 11 The Story Part 5 (The Family).m4a 12 Orange Tree.m4a
Or you can grab it all in one file 01 The Orange Bird (Complete Album).m4a
Or broken up into sides. 01 The Orange Bird Side 1.m4a 02 The Orange Bird Side 2.m4a
Here is a link to the higher res scans on Flickr. You'll be able to read the words to the story. The hi res images are also imbeded in the audio files so you can click on the artwork in Itunes and read the story.
Today I'm taking a little vacation from the music with this G.I. Joe story album. It's pretty good for a laugh.
I didn't have this record as a kid, but I did have a Batman and Superman story album from Peter Pan. I loved that record. This is in the same vein.
I bought the record in hopes of finding some comedy gem for Halloween with the "Secret Of The Mummy's Tomb". I think there may be an excerpt that I can use on this year's Halloween mix. We'll see.
The other two stories are also great. "The Secret Mission to Spy Island" is pretty funny. There is a bit where Joe is cornered and he sets a time bomb and then to stall for time he and the Russians get into a bit of an Abbott and Costello routine. Then when the bomb does go off isn't so big that it injured Joe, who is only a few feet away from the Russians that he blows up, but it is big enough to set off a volcano on the island that blows up the whole island.
"The Rescue From Adventure Team Headquarters" is equally good in it's absurd, yet inventive climax. The story involves Joe rescuing the "Prime Minister" off an island of headhunters. What country the Prime Minister is from is never stated and why the Prime Minister would be flying to meet Joe and his buddy Mike at Adventure Team headquarters is also just blown over. Anyways, in the end Joe sends in his remote control adventure vehicle to scare the headhunters and he asks Mike to broadcast something really loud. Mike plays some crazy go-go music which scares the headhunters. Then the last lines of the story go something like this.
Mike: You forgot to thank me. Joe: For what? Mike: For my record collection.
How great is that? A record collection saved the day. I'm sure you can understand why I love this ending. Maybe someday my record collection will be used to save a head of state. I can only hope.
So put on you PJ's get some popcorn and maybe your favorite G.I. Joe figure and have fun with this G.I. Joe trilogy.
