"Weird" Songs That Were Hits

[dougjwray]

I never thought “novelty” songs, as defined by most(but not all)titles mentioned above, were weird, just musical comedy bits, audio cartoons. The instrumental “Popcorn” was mentioned…That was just the sound of the future coming at you; one of, if not the, first all-synthesizer pieces aimed at the pop charts. However, even in the aftermath of psychedelia, Richard Harris’ “McArthur Park”, with its odd operatic structure and overwrought vocal(forget the cake in the rain business)struck me as a little off for Top 40 radio at the time.

The writer of that article was really reaching for an angle to dress up essentially an obit piece with not much else to say, and failed miserably. They missed what should have been at the top of the list. It came and went in a matter of two weeks when I was a kid, skyrocketed to number one, and disappeared almost immediately, either due to over-saturation or banning, but it appealed to many with a warped sense of humor, and introduced a slang phrase…

It was perfect… parents and authority figures hated it.
The B-side of the 45 was just the track backwards, and there eventually was an entire album of similarly themed songs, many quite orthodox and witty, if you weren’t offended by the subject matter.

"They're Coming to Take Me Away" was the first song I thought of when I saw this thread."

 

[Prof.Dr.Metz]

I was at a promotional event for that in LA; saw Jackie DeShannon and a reunited Standells perform, and chatted a bit with Ruthann Friedman, the woman who wrote “Windy”. Rhino always did box sets right.

Wow! Any event with Jackie DeShannon is worth it, then, now, whenever! You're a lucky guy! I agree with you about Rhino as well.

 

[Brother Goose]

Highly doubtful that the vocal performer is Paul Shaffer. In some other, later context, I might have presumed it to be a poor imitation of Shaffer, at best. Also, when and where was this version a hit?

I just felt like sharing

 

[factory presets]

One of the reasons the world was so ready to embrace Motown...

Donald where's your trousers Ahab the Arab Big bad John Sink The Bismarck Alley Oop Western Movies Along came Jones Yakkety Yak Camp Grenada My old man Purple people eater Sheb Wooley "The Purple People Eater" (Official Video) - YouTube Music Charlie Brown Charlie Brown - YouTube Music

 

[LUpton]

Let’s do Chuck….

 

[Tom Bomb]

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[Tom Bomb]

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[Jeremy Crockett]

 

[Jaygetsreal]

On the topic of hits.
Great explanation here by Howard Kaylan about writing one.


Tangentially, Howard and Mark on management.

This vid from 1.15 onward should be watched by every aspiring young musician while they are still playing in their parents garage. Sheesh!

 

[Guitalia]

Abba Zabba is much deeper than most people realize. Quoting from the link below:

“Babbette Baboon” is an ape-like creature on the brink of “comin’ over pretty soon” to a more humanoid existence – if she can survive being eaten by a tiger or choked to death by smoke and volcanic ash ("tobacco sky"), or caught by a mysterious stalker.

The original lyrics went on for pages, but Don had the good sense to whittle them down to just a few puzzling lines and repeated phrases. But occasionally, the POV shifts to her fellow-proto-human stalker (who "can’t lose, with the stuff he use" – namely, tools), who eventually catches Babette, they copulate ("go-zoom!"), and go off for a walk in the sun ("two shadows at noon") – a kind of furry Adam and Eve, the parents of the human race. (End quote.)

By the way - from what I've read about the song, it appears that Don Van Vliet was a big fan of Abba Zaba candy when he was a kid and found the artwork on the wrapper fascinating. His original concept for the Safe As Milk album cover art was to reproduce the wrapper artwork, but the company refused permission, so he had to settle for using the yellow-and-black-checkerboard design of the modern wrapper for the back cover.

(Here's a link to a page that shows the 1940's-era Abba Zaba candy artwork that inspired the song.)

Abba Zaba song notes from Gary Marker

 

[DownRound]

Yowza!
Thanks for the deep Abba Dabba dive, Guitalia!

Neat-o background story.
(I couldn't figure out how to include a flagging quote with the arrow like you did at the top there.)

 

[ardgedee]

(I couldn't figure out how to include a flagging quote with the arrow like you did at the top there.)

click the "Reply" button near the "Like" button. The post will be auto-quoted in the text box. Then start typing - just make sure your own comment stays below and outside of the [/QUOTE] section.

 

[DownRound]

click the "Reply" button near the "Like" button. The post will be auto-quoted in the text box. Then start typing - just make sure your own comment stays below and outside of the

Ahh...thanks ardgedee...it was not staying out of the [/Quote] section that was causing the problems.

(Hey...wait a minute....izzat fearsome lawman Tricky Prickears there? Brings to mind the epic battle between Fat Freddy's Cat and the cockroaches. Man that cockroach general was a tactical genius.)

 

[DownRound]

From the era of Big Bad John.
Actually, it is pretty much the exact same song.
It was just kind of in the air at that time - kind of novelty, kind of genre.
Like the aforementioned hit by Walter Brennan - actors narrating story songs, usually western-themed.
Lorne is kind of almost singing here, though.
Well, at least he's talking kind of expressively, and changing pitch.
(I don't think this one has been posted yet.)

 

[Timmy Liam]

 

[DownRound]

Double like on that Mr. Bass Man.
So many classic elements.

 

[DownRound]

The fact that these weren't hits is to me pretty compelling evidence of the possibility of a higher being that is sometimes benevolent.

(Jeeezuuzz...what the hell was Shatner reaching for at the end there....I know he musta had some kind of artistic intention in mind.)

Mr. Zimmerman, listening to these interpreations of his work....

 

[DownRound]

Memory gong triggered by Mr. Bass Man.
Not weird, not novelty.... it was simply 1966.

 

[DownRound]

Jeez, I maybe should go back and read that original article (I haven't yet).
It must have mentioned this one.
If not, a big miss on this hit.

 

[DownRound]

Big Voo Doo.
These guys, doing something like reverse minstrelry, turning cliche around and hitting hard.

-Dang...Jay Hawkins is just killin' it.
That scream, it's desperation, not controlling boast..."I love you...I love you...I love you anyhoooow... I don't care...if you don't want me...I say.. I'm yours right now".