About This Blog!

Our beloved Spock (1978-1991) is featured in the header photo, in a photo from 1979. These are some of my LPs, themed compilations, and the like. Email me with comments or questions to msuperfan1956@gmail.com – note that comments sent through Blogger DO NOT allow a personal response.

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Stalk or Defy?

 Two comps of Seventies relics.  Pretty active relics, I say!

01 - Don't Dictate - Penetration   1977  (2:54)
02 - (They Long to Be) Close to You (album version) - Carpenters   1970  (4:32)
03 - Computer Games - Mi-Sex   1979  (4:01)
04 - Gidget Goes to Hell - Suburban Lawns   1979  (2:03)
05 - Clap Your Hands - Bonnie St Clair and Unit Gloria   1972  (3:58)
06 - The Man Who Sold the World - Lulu   1974  (3:46)
07 - Convention '72 - The Delegates   1972  (5:07)
08 - Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and The Spinners   1974  (3:57)
09 - I Hate School - Suburban Studs   1978  (2:38)
10 - I Gotta Get a Fake ID - Barnes & Barnes with Friends   1979  (3:07)
11 - Overture from “Tommy” - The Assembled Multitude   1970  (2:30)
12 - Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy - Elton John   1975  (5:42)
13 - I Only Want to Be with You - Bay City Rollers   1976  (3:33)
14 - Ain't Gonna Bump No More - Joe Tex   1977  (3:32)
15 - 2000 AD - The Rezillos   1978  (3:00)
16 - Heartbreaker - Jenny Darren   1978  (3:05)
17 - The Wild One - Suzi Quatro   1974  (2:51)
18 - Baby Don't Go - Karla Bonoff   1979  (3:16)
19 - They Don't Know - Kirsty MacColl   1979  (3:02)
20 - Waldorf - Edith Nylon   1979  (2:28)
21 - Too Young to Date - D-Day   1979  (2:35)
22 - Teenarama - The Records   1979  (4:00)
23 - Part-Time Punks - Television Personalities   1979  (2:39)

***
01 - The Mel Brewer Show (edit) - National Lampoon - 1975  (0:07)
02 - Impossibilities - The Bastards - 1979  (2:55)
03 - Disco Fever - Monroe - 1978  (3:17)
04 - Rock and Roll Housewife - The Vinny Band - 1978  (3:15)
05 - TVOD - The Normal - 1978  (2:53)
06 - Don't Bother Me - Simpletones - 1979  (2:15)
07 - Hello, I Love You - Novak - 1979  (2:28)
08 - Do You Have a Job for a Girl Like Me - The Delinquents - 1979  (2:07)
09 - Disco Love - The Molesters - 1979  (2:32)
10 - Who Needs Wildlife Anyway - The Grackles - 1979  (1:56)
11 - Pogo Dancing - Chris Spedding and the Vibrators - 1976  (3:05)
12 - What Happened to the Moon - The Late Show - 1977  (2:05)
13 - Irrelevant Battles - Patrick Fitzgerald - 1978  (1:54)
14 - They Saved Hitler's Brain - Unnatural Axe - 1978  (2:49)
15 - TV Adverts - The Nerves - 1978  (2:48)
16 - One Chord Wonders - The Adverts - 1977  (2:34)
17 - I've Got a Crush on You - The Rentals - 1979  (3:06)
18 - Magazine Girl - The Rousers - 1979  (2:53)
19 - Stuck on You - The Toasters - 1979  (2:55)
20 - TV Pox - No Way - 1978  (1:46)
21 - We Are the One - The Avengers - 1977  (2:40)
22 - I Can't Stand My Baby - The Rezillos - 1977  (2:36)
23 - Life's a Gamble - Penetration - 1978   (2:57)
24 - Hedi's Head - Kleenex - 1978  (2:11)
25 - The Day the World Turned Day-Glo - X-Ray Spex - 1978  (2:50)
26 - Everybody's Happy Nowadays - Buzzcocks - 1979  (3:11)
27 - Shout Above the Noise - Penetration - 1979  (4:02)
28 - Quality Crayon Wax OK - Essential Logic - 1979  (3:06)
29 - Living in the Eighties - Blue Peter - 1979  (2:08)
30 - Faerytale in the Supermarket - The Raincoats - 1979  (2:58)

They's a lotta good music in hyar.  I used to be in the "Disco sucks" club.  Now IMO it's just a trope usually wasted on groove and not ideas.

See you on Monday, fellow refugees from the Seventies!
  

Monday, August 17, 2026

Two Spaced-Out Comps

Both of these comps contains songs about outer-space topics.
1 - (When You) See Those Flying Saucers The Buchanan Brothers 1947
2 - Rocket Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones 1957
3 - Tiny Space Man Bill Carlisle 1957
4 - The Flying Saucer Goes West    Buchanan and Goodman 1958
5 - Outer Space Santa The Lennon Sisters 1958
6 - Mope-itty Mope Boss-Tones 1959
7 - Asteroid Hop Jimmie Haskell And His Orchestra   1959
8 - Beep Beep Loiuis Prima 1959
9 - Beep, Beep Tom Glazer & Dottie Evans 1959
10 - UFOs Soul, Inc 1967
11 - Have You Seen The Saucers Jefferson Airplane 1970
12 - Supersonic Rocket Ship The Kinks 1972
13 - UFOs Undisputed Truth 1975
14 - Waiting For The UFOs Graham Parker 1979
15 - Flying Saucer Safari Suburban Lawns 1981
16 - The Alien song (for those who listen) Milla Jovovich 1994
17 - Subterranean Homesick Alien Radiohead 1997
18 - Fell In Love With An Alien The Kelly Family 1997
19 - Space Robot Five   Brave Saint Saturn 2000
20 - Outer Space Song Pinky and Perky 2002
21 - UFOs, Big Rigs And BBQ Mojo Nixon 2005
22 - Devil Woman From Outer Space Rezurex 2006
23 - Space Craze Rick McGuire 2006
24 - Pluto Clare and The Reasons 2007
25 - The Planet Mars The Corillions 2007
26 - Robot Monster Damon Alexander & the Ten Cent Rentals 2008
27 - The Ballad of Davy Crockett (In Outer Space)   They Might Be Giants 2009

********
01 - Friction Heat - Bonnie Lou with Lew Douglas, His Orchestra and Chorus - 1958  (2:12)
02 - Science Friction - XTC - 1977  (3:12)
03 - Zoom, Zoom, Zoom - The Mask - 1967  (2:29)
04 - Our Spaceman Did Come Back - Jeff Hughes - 1963  (2:37)
05 - U.F.O. - Gene McKown - 1968  (2:19)
06 - Something Going On - The Unknown Band - 1979  (3:38)
07 - Florida Rocket (Number Ninety-Nine) - Charlie Hines - 1959  (2:00)
08 - Space Shuttle Stowaway - X-Dreams - 1984  (1:43)
09 - Journey to Mars - The Perfectors - 1979  (1:58)
10 - Satellite No 2 (unissued) - Carl Mann and the Kool Kats - 1957  (2:15)
11 - Space Ship Blues - Billy Lane - 1962  (2:26)
12 - Rockin' in the Rocket Room - Frances Langford - 1956  (2:33)
13 - Space Rock - Danny Valentine - 1960  (2:06)
14 - Man on the Moon - Shelly Stuart - 1976  (3:07)
15 - Strangers from the Sky - Kim Fowley - 1967  (2:55)
16 - The Last Astronaut - Slick Slavin - 1962  (3:43)
17 - Twisting on the Moon - Sammy Marshall - 1966  (1:55)
18 - A Surprise Visitor from Outer Space - The Five Crowns - 1959  (1:54)
19 - Monkey on the Moon - Gene Hall - 1962  (2:32)
20 - Gonna Build a Rocket - Galen Denny - 1958  (2:08)
21 - Rocket Ship - Vernon Green & the Medallions - 1960  (3:00)
22 - U.F.O. - The Monos! - 1979  (3:42)
23 - Moon Doll - Ralph Young - 1961  (2:30)
24 - Energy in Northampton - Linda Jardim - 1980  (3:23)
25 - Sirius - United Balls - 1980  (2:49)
26 - Girl from Mars - Rudy Gaddis and His Lone Star Rangers - 1954  (2:08)
27 - A Menacing Glow in the Sky - Player (1) - 1979  (3:06)
28 - Secret Saucer Man - Barry McGuire - 1968  (2:45)

Be aware that since these sources are physical media, surface noise is present in places!

Track 4, “Our Spaceman Did Come Back” is a riff on “My Boomerang Won’t come Back.”

Albert van Strongheart, “The Last Astronaut”  of Track 16, seems an impersonation of Jack Benny’s voice.

When you make it back from orbit, come back on Thursday for more music from the Excellent Eighties.
  

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Lucky for You

 Who says Thursday the 13th is always bad? Here are two comics-related comps that make ME feel fortunate, at least!

01 - Meet Clark Kent - The Fans - 1984  (3:58)
02 - Spiderman - Grinder - 1979  (3:41)
03 - Popeye the Sailor Man - Jack Mercer and Sammy Lerner - 1960  (1:26)
04 - (Zap Pow) Do the Batman - Gate Wesley & Band - 1966   (2:32)
05 - The Fantastic Four Song - Ray Wall Band - 2005  (2:51)
06 - Big Batman - The Pacers - 1966  (2:55)
07 - Spiderman - Katrina and the Waves - 1983  (3:12)
08 - Felix the Cat - Warsaw Poland Brothers - 2002  (1:54)
09 - Captain America - Alexis Korner - 1974  (3:55)
10 - Batman Theme - The Sensational Guitars of Dan & Dale - 1966  (2:11)
11 - Captain Marvel Jones - The Super Dupers - 1966  (3:34)
12 - Black Superman (Muhammad Ali) - Johnny Wakelin & the Kinshasa Band - 1975  (3:35)
13 - Batman Rides Again - The Invisible Burgundy Bullfrog - 1967  (3:50)
14 - Jungle Superman - The Individuals - 1959  (2:36)
15 - Batman Theme - Sheena and the Rokkets - 1979  (0:58)
16 - Lois Lane - Holly Long - 2003  (3:38)
17 - Batman - Skeletal Family - 1984  (4:41)
18 - Superman - Celi Bee and the Buzzy Bunch - 1977  (3:47)
19 - Batman - The Plunderers - 1966  (2:48)
20 - I'm Your Superman - The All Sports Band - 1981  (4:04)
21 - Color Cartoons - The Goldenrods - 1958  (2:23)
22 - Never Pick a Fight with Popeye - Jack Mercer - 1957  (1:43)
23 - Captain Gorgeous - Jimmy Bowen - 1966  (2:30)
24 - Superman - Ides of March - 1970  (2:55)
25 - Comic Strip Rock N Roll - Robert Ashley - 1959  (2:08)
26 - I'm a Superman for You Baby - The Cliff Dwellers - 1966  (2:10)
27 - Excelsior - The Adventurers - 1960  (2:05)

***
01 - Batusi - The Cartoons - 1965  (2:53)
02 - Even Batman - Jenny Clay - 1966  (1:56)
03 - Betty Boop Theme Song - Jack Hylton & His Orchestra - 1932  (2:30)
04 - Robin - Robin the Boy Wonder - 1966  (2:41)
05 - Fly Superman Fly - Randy Johnson - 1967  (2:40)
06 - Bat Beat - The Perfectors - 1980  (2:17)
07 - Automatic Man - Bad Religion - 1989  (1:40)
08 - That Man Batman - Mike & Bernie Winters - 1966  (2:45)
09 - Superman - The Clique - 1969  (2:31)
10 - Batmobile - The Squires - 1966  (2:12)
11 - Batman - The Who - 1966  (1:25)
12 - The Lean Hornet - Rudy Wesley & the Palace Aides - 1966  (1:45)
13 - Batman Theme - Joel McNeely / Royal Scottish National Orchestra - 1997  (2:28)
14 - Felix the Cat - Fernand Gravey - 1930  (2:36)
15 - Superman - Pete the Meat and the Boys - 1978  (2:38)
16 - Batman & Robin - Adam West - 1976  (3:15)
17 - Nobody Loves the Hulk - The Traits - 1969  (2:59)
18 - I Bizarro - The Bizarros - 1978  (1:54)
19 - Batman Theme - Baltimore Marching Band - 2003  (2:12)
20 - Comic Book Hero - Scandal - 1979  (4:20)
21 - Batman to the Rescue - Lavern Baker - 1966  (2:17)
22 - Kryptonite (live) - Judies Fixation - 1978  (4:00)
23 - Green Hornet - Mr Unique & the Leisure Class - 1979  (2:43)
24 - Batman - Sam Chaplin - 1966  (1:47)
25 - Popguns and Green Lanterns - The Accelerators - 1979  (2:22)
26 - So All the Superheroes - The Thought Criminals - 1979  (3:00)
27 - Batskinner - Robin and the Batmen - 1966  (2:19)
28 - Cartoon Network - KJ-52 - 2003  (3:57)

Yippee Haw and up, up, and away, fellow fantasizers!  See you Monday.
  

Monday, August 10, 2026

Listen to the Mirror

... And you might be looking ... instead of listening ... to Recursive Rock!

That's the core of these two compilations.  The songs all reflect a bit of media awareness.  They're about toys, or rock music itself, or TV or magazines ...
01 - Rock Show - Excel - 1980  (3:30)
02 - I Slept in an Arcade - Black Randy & the Metrosquad - 1979  (2:28)
03 - Caught on Tape - Zom Zom - 1985  (1:49)
04 - I'm in the Charts - The Radio Rhythm Boys - 1980  (2:36)
05 - Townshend Nose - Mikes House - 1987  (2:29)
06 - Kill the Bee Gees - The Accidents - 1979  (2:52)
07 - James Bond - Ralph and the Ponytails - 1980  (2:22)
08 - Television Screen Heroes - MI5 - 1980  (4:06)
09 - Late Show - The Dark - 1981  (3:46)
10 - Disneyland (live) - Come On - 1980  (1:53)
11 - Parasites - The Tyros - 1980  (3:15)
12 - Adventures in Modern Recording - The Buggles - 1981  (3:39)
13 - Sorry About That, Chief - Spiny Norman's Mind Games - 1981  (2:16)
14 - The TV Made Me Do It (Blame It on the Quasar) - Lip Service - 1982  (3:59)
15 - TerrorVision - The Fibonaccis - 1986  (3:42)
16 - American Bandstand - The Seat Belts - 1981  (2:06)
17 - (Let's Get Let's Get) Tammy Wynette - The Maggots - 1980  (1:33)
18 - New Heroes - Noise Annoys - 1981  (1:28)
19 - November 22, 1963 - Destroy All Monsters - 1989  (4:18)
20 - Dead Rock n' Rollers - Detention - 1983  (1:37)
21 - I'm in Love with the Girl on the Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk - The Freshies - 1980  (2:49)
22 - Beatiful Pictures - Fatal Microbes - 1979  (1:49)
23 - I Wanna Kill James Tailor - Ivan and the Executioners - 1979  (2:49)
24 - (I Work for) K.A.O.S. - The Spliffs - 1987  (2:57)
25 - Disco Pop Stars - Altered Images - 1982  (2:35)
26 - Jackie Onassis - Human Sexual Response - 1980  (3:45)
27 - Modern Time's Pop - Mad Tea-Party - 1980  (2:10)
28 - Elvis Impersonator Blues - Beasts of Bourbon - 1988  (2:54)

***
01 - Please Stand By - The Shivvers - 1980  (3:13)
02 - Pornography - The Revenge - 1978  (2:33)
03 - Amplitude Modulation - The Modulators - 1980  (2:54)
04 - Scratched Blue Vinyl - Juveniles - 1980  (2:21)
05 - Stuck on the Grid - Martha and the Muffins - 1986  (4:12)
06 - Stop the Presses (from Tabloid) - The Signal - 1989  (2:46)
07 - Sound of the 80s - Peer Pressure - 1978  (2:19)
08 - Media Junkie - 63 Monroe - 1982  (3:14)
09 - On the Phone - Stryker - 1980  (2:50)
10 - TV Commercial - Johnny Parker and the Zirkons - 1962  (2:29)
11 - Waiting for Stardom - The Shy Tots - 1980  (2:10)
12 - Neil Young - John Bartles - 1992  (1:35)
13 - Record Man - The Ferrets - 1987  (3:08)
14 - Just a Camera - The Keys - 1980  (3:56)
15 - Recorded in England - Rod Bernard - 1986  (2:21)
16 - Disco's Dead - Sgab from the Planet Zed - 1980  (2:11)
17 - TV Patrol - Art Kritics - 1987  (3:09)
18 - Gimme Mick (live) - Candy Slice & the Slicers - 1979  (4:11)
19 - When the Phone Stops Ringing - Eighth Wonder - 1987  (3:58)
20 - Songs Like These - The Crew - 1981  (2:15)
21 - Raggedy Ann - Margaret Lewis - 1964  (2:15)
22 - Child Star - The Diodes - 1977  (1:57)
23 - Sitting in a Disco - Kirsty and the Husbands - 1980  (1:49)
24 - Shakespeare Rock - The Eligibles - 1958  (1:49)
25 - TV on Tap - The Limps - 1980  (3:10)
26 - One More Record - The Relations - 1980  (3:08)
27 - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape - The Teenage Filmstars - 1980  (2:58) 

Maybe these songs can help YOU escape for awhile -- at least until Thursday.  See you then!
  

Thursday, August 6, 2026

Words from the Eighties

 Something about the song titles and words, be be a little more accurate.

01 - Radio Teeth - Scissor Fits - 1981  (2:16)
02 - Idiot Dancers - Industrials - 1980  (1:53)
03 - Twinkling Stars - Nine Circles - 1982  (4:09)
04 - Girlfriend's Girlfriend - The Elevators - 1980  (2:48)
05 - Another World - Scarlet Party - 1983  (3:12)
06 - Pretty Girl - The Liggers - 1980  (2:57)
07 - Running Scared - The Fools - 1981  (2:23)
08 - Lullaby Cheat - Ludus - 1980  (4:38)
09 - The Girls - Famous Five - 1982  (3:07)
10 - Macho Man - Fladge 200 - 1981  (2:41)
11 - Video Kids - Prototype - 1983  (3:31)
12 - Games Up - Rank Amateurs - 1981  (3:54)
13 - Top Secret - The Last Words - 1980  (1:53)
14 - Kanal Banal - Gina X - 1984  (3:15)
15 - TV Eyes - The Voices - 1981  (3:30)
16 - Girl Games - Manchester Mekon - 1982  (2:32)
17 - Monkey Monkey - Boys Boys - 1980  (1:53)
18 - American Cheez - Nice Lawns - 1982  (2:11)
19 - Midnight Rain - Die Hausfrauen - 1981  (4:22)
20 - TV Talks - Mo - 1980  (2:50)
21 - Air Attack (live) - Kujira - 1983  (4:14)
22 - Blood Vessel - Details at Eleven - 1986  (3:29)
23 - Throw Away - Helicopters - 1982  (2:54)
24 - Lost Fight - Locusts - 1981  (2:37)
25 - Insect lounge - The Mutants - 1980  (2:56)
26 - Psychic Magic - G I Orange - 1985  (3:04)

Yup, all of the above songs have two-word titles.  So many fun songs!  BTW, Track 25 was the source of the title of KCSC's student-run radio show back in the early Eighties.  A little more about "The Insect Lounge" from an outdated blog post here.  Have no fear, MA-119 will be reposted!

***
01 - Popstar - Afraid of Mice - 1981  (2:31)
02 - Paradise - Sophie and Peter Johnston - 1983  (3:52)
03 - Alive - Sandii and the Sunsetz - 1981  (4:29)
04 - Meaningless - Gary Myrick & the Figures - 1980  (3:07)
05 - Shuffle - Fictions - 1980  (2:42)
06 - Fool - The Tearjerkers - 1982  (3:07)
07 - Savage - The Nuns - 1981  (2:16)
08 - Vertigo - Standing Waves - 1981  (3:56)
09 - Photoplay - Tahnee Cain and Tryanglz - 1984  (3:31)
10 - Media - The Verdix - 1981  (3:02)
11 - Warm - Family Fodder - 1980  (3:46)
12 - Subliminal - Drinking Electricity - 1981  (4:07)
13 - Time - Pauline Murray - 1989  (4:38)
14 - Unwind - UK Decay - 1981  (3:27)
15 - Darkness - This Eternal Waiting - 1987  (4:10)
16 - Opposite - Chandra - 1980  (3:51)
17 - Prams - Vital Disorders - 1981  (2:16)
18 - Danceability - National Euphoria - 1983  (2:53)
19 - Shame - Trigger and the Thrill Kings - 1984  (4:09)
20 - Fire - Occult Chemistry - 1980  (2:09)
21 - BOYS - Unit 3 with Venus - 1981  (2:25)
22 - Monotone - Les Anglaises - 1985  (3:15)
23 - Video - Jeff Lynne - 1984  (3:24)

See you on Monday for more recovered music!
  

Monday, August 3, 2026

Welcome to ANTHOLOGY AUGUST 2026!

 First off is a spacey one.

1 - Rockin' Chair on the Moon Bill Haley 1952
2 -  My Satellite Jesse Belvin 1956
3 - Red Planet Rock Don Lang and His Frantic Five  1957
4 - Planetary Run Joe Montgomery 1957
5 - Rocket To The Moon   Tony Perkins 1957
6 - Rock It To The Moon Jackie Góetroe and The Scamps 1958
7 - Satellite Rock Joe Tate and the Hi Fives 1958
8 - Rocket To The Moon    Lenny Welch 1958
9 - Light My Rockets Neil Alan 1958
10 - Sputnik Dance The Equadors 1958
11 - Rockin' On The Moon Deacon and The Rock & Rollers 1959
12 - Like Out Of This World Rockin' Charlie 1959
13 - Satellite City Earl Wrightson 1960
14 - People From Another World Jive Five 1961
15 - Signals From Saturn Rose DuBats 1962
16 - First Man To Stand On The Moon  Buck Griffin 1963
17 - Countdown The Crescendos 1963
18 - Rocket Ship Don Drummond 1964
19 - Space Race Gene and The Esquires 1965
20 -  I'll Send You to the Moon Les Baroques 1966
21 -  Hippy, Skippy Moon Strut (Opus #1) The Moon People 1969
22 -  Santa's Rocket Tim Dinkins 1969
23 -  I’m a Stranger Here Five Man Electrical Band   1973
24 -  Galaxy War 1977
25 -  Eye In The Sky Alan Parsons Project 1987
26 -  Books about UFOs Husker Du 1987
27 -  Interplanet Janet Man or Astro-Man  1996
28 -  Return of the Attack of the Curse of the Son of the Astro Squid Part XIV Chapter 6   The Amino Acids    2004
29 -  Hot Rod Ride to the Moon Hi-Fly Rangers 2006
30 -  Martian Rendezvous Alu 2008

By the way, Track Five's performer is that Tony Perkins, the guy who a few years later worked for Mr Hitchcock on a little black-and-white exploitation film.

************
01 - George of the Jungle - Scott Shaw - 1989  (2:24)
02 - Peter Parker - The Great Luke Ski - 2002  (3:23)
03 - Official Suburban Superman - Suzy Quatro - 1973  (3:06)
04 - Look Out for the Batman - Tony Eira - 1966  (2:39)
05 - Super Heroes - The Model - 1981  (3:11)
06 - Aquaman - Grandpa Griffith - 2006  (3:36)
07 - Barney Google - The Mellomen with Thurl Ravenscroft - 1949  (1:56)
08 - Superman - Allison McCallum - 1972  (2:29)
09 - Green Hornet - Mr Unique and the Leisure Class - 1984  (2:43)
10 - Parker - Victor Banana - 1989  (2:10)
11 - Lois Lois - Superman's Girlfriend - 1979  (4:53)
12 - Comic Strip Wobble - Joe Capp and the Starfires - 1962  (2:24)
13 - Dick Tracy - The Chants - 1961  (2:16)
14 - Magilla Gorilla - The Family Goat - 1969  (2:37)
15 - Up Up and Away - Jivin' Jean & the Jokers - 1959  (2:36)
16 - Dr Strange - Paul Roland - 1982  (2:56)
17 - Captain America - Jimmy Buffett - 1970  (3:20)
18 - Spiderman - Stikky - 1988  (0:54)
19 - Superman - Joyce Davis - 1962  (2:31)
20 - L'Invincible Batman - Batman - 1966  (2:30)
21 - The Phantom - The Super Dupers - 1966  (3:35)
22 - Iron Man - Vitamin Lounge - 2002  (3:55)
23 - Superman Love - Chet Bolins - 1981  (2:37)
24 - Deputy Dog - Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs - 1966  (2:49)
25 - Help Help! and I Had a Hamburger Dream - Jack Mercer, Mae Questel, and Jimmy Carroll - 1964  (2:16)
26 - (I Saw) Batman (In the Launderette) - The Shapes - 1979  (2:38)
27 - Supergirl - Readymades - 1977  (1:46)
28 - Stop Talkin' About Comic Books or I'll Kill You - Ookla the Mok - 2006  (1:46)
29 - Capt Kangaroo - Suburban 9 to 5 - 1968  (1:57)

Pay no attention to Track 28.  Keep talkin'!  See you Thursday.
  

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Round Up the Cowpokes

We're concluding this year's JULY SPOCKEBRATION with some nods to the Old West of lore and legend.
01. Red River Valley (3:24)
02. Polly Wolly Doodle (2:26)
03. Oh, Susanna (2:13)
04. Billy Boy (2:42)
05. Little Brown Jug (2:02)
06. She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain (2:56)
07. Turkey in the Straw Square Dance (1:56)
08. Clementine (2:44)
09. Chisholm Trail (2:06)
10. Jesse James (3:06)
11. Big Rock Candy Mountain (2:25)
12. Home on the Range (2:31)
13. Hand Me Down My Walking Cane (2:08)
14. Good Night Children (0:39)

This 1963 offering is credited to Slim Jim Wishbone with the Texas Twisters.  Seems legit!

****
01. Harry Jackson - Morning Grub Holler (0:18)
02. Harry Jackson - Round-up Cook (0:49)
03. Tex-I-An Boys - Chisholm Trail (3:00)
04. Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston - Whoopie-Ti-Yi-Yo, Get Along Little dog (3:02)
05. Cisco Houston - Little Joe the Wrangler (2:39)
06. Harry Jackson - Little Joe the Wrangler's Sister Nell (3:28)
07. Harry K. McClintock - Utah Carl (1:31)
08. Tex-I-An Boys - Put Your Little Foot (1:26)
09. Peter LaFarge - Trail to Mexico (2:28)
10. Peter Hurd - Las Chapparreras (1:22)
11. Woody Guthrie - Buffalo Skinners (3:15)
12. Ray Reed - Zebra Dun (3:52)
13. Harry Jackson - Some Cowboy Brag Talk (1:35)
14. Roger Welsh - Horse Wrangler (3:08)
15. Harry Jackson - Strawberry Roan (4:55)
16. John A. Lomax - Texian Boys (1:53)
17. Leadbelly - Cow Cow Yicky Yicky Ya (1:33)
18. Woody Guthrie - Jesse James (Leadbelly's version) (3:00)
19. Pete Seeger - Home on the Range (1:52)
20. Rosalie Sorrels - Empty Cot in the Bunkhouse Tonight (2:13)
21. Leadbelly - Springime in the Rockies (3:04)
22. Dave Fredrickson - Lone Star Trail (2:54)
23. Peter LaFarge - Rodeo Hand (1:48)
24. Woody Guthrie & Cisco Houston - Philadelphia Lawyer (2:31)
25. Cisco Houston - The Dying Cowboy (3:02)
26. Hermes Nye - The Devil Made Texas (2:08)

A more rip-snortin' jeans-rippin' collection ye ain't gonna find, podner!

See you on Monday for a month of compilations.  It's a date!
  

Monday, July 27, 2026

A Marchin' Jubilee

Some may find it funny to find American music played by Her Majesty's Royal Marines.
01. King Cotton (2:37)
02. Hands Across the Sea (2:51)
03. Solid Men to the Front (3:57)
04. The Gladiator (2:36)
05. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers (2:34)
06. Marquette University (2:46)
07. The Rifle Regiment (3:17)
08. Semper Fidelis (2:35)
09. The Legionnaires (2:47)
10. The Northern Pines (3:38)
11. The Belle of Chicago (2:13)
12. The Daughters of Texas (3:19)
13. The Gallant Seventh (2:32)
14. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (3:20)
15. The Invisible Eagle (3:25)
16. Golden Jubilee (3:33)
17. New York Hippodrome (3:56)
18. Manhattan Beach (2:10)
19. The Pride of the Wolverines (3:41)
20. The Gridiron Club (3:21)
21. The Liberty Bell (3:20)

Listen to this 1992 release and decide how funny it is.

****
01. The Irish Washer Woman (A Jig) (1:59)
02. Cripple Creek (1:19)
03. Father O'Flynn (A Jig) (1:30)
04. Harvest Home (A Hornpipe) (1:29)
05. Star of the County Down (3:02)
06. Sweet Betsy from Pike (1:58)
07. Ook Pic Waltz (An Alaskan Song) (2:54)
08. When I First Came to This Land (1:48)
09. Liberty / St. Anne's Reel (2:22)
10. Simple Gifts (2:44)
11. Polly Wolly Doodle / Crawdad Song / Shortin' Bread / Sourwood Mountain (1:42)
12. Mockin' Bird Hill (2:08)
13. Blue Tail Fly / Little Brown Jug (1:17)
14. Under the Double Eagle (3:28)
15. Ghost Riders in The Sky (2:59)

Others might find it funny that the first track on an "Americana Jubilee" is named for an Irishwoman.

Go figure, this is America!  See you Thursday.
  

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Hope Your Pride Ain't Raggy

From the Salvation Army comes our first selection:
01. America the Beautiful (3:19)
02. Yankee Doodle Boy (1:34)
03. Medal of Honor (3:45)
04. Pioneer Spirit (4:16)
05. Simple Gifts (3:16)
06. Stars and Stripes Forever (1:48)
07. Battle Hymn of the Republic (3:04)
08. Dixie (4:38)
09. When Johnny Comes Marching Home (3:06)
10. American Dream (4:06)
11. Grand Old Flag (1:41)
12. Hail to the Chief (1:18)
13. My Country 'Tis of Thee (1:28)
14. Yankee Doodle (1:41)
15. Old Glory (2:59)
16. Star Spangled Banner (1:59)

This begins as an OK synth panorama from 1998.  A sense of humor and/or a little spriteliness is detected, and welcome.  A couple of tracks, like 3 and 4, might be originals.  But they are sufficiently tropish to work … until we get to the vocals on “Battle Hymn,” a track which runs right over the edge into cynical sentimentalism for me.

Unfortunately, the overacting comes out again in the oh-so-flamboyant vocals for the last track, our National Anthem.  Just like a political speech, passion should be used sparingly, not vomited all over the carpet.

***
01. Solace (A Mexican Serenade) (4:23)
02. Something Doing - a Ragtime Two-Step (3:34)
03. Augustan Club Waltz (4:27)
04. Heliotrope Bouquet - a Slow Drag Two-Step (3:51)
05. Pleasant Moments - a Ragtime Waltz (3:06)
06. Stoptime Rag (2:07)
07. Daddy Won't You Please Come Home (3:48)
08. Troublesome Ivories - a Ragtime Rag (2:39)
09. My Handyman Ain't Handy No More (4:07)
10. Baltimore Todolo (2:52)
11. Memories of You (3:55)
12. Poor Katie Red (Eubie's Slow Drag) (4:22)

This is some pretty good music, presented in a crummy way on cassette in 1984.  That is, one of the songs on side 2 (Track 10 in this file) wasn't even listed on the cassette liner!

See you Monday for the final week in our salute to our fine nation.
  

Monday, July 20, 2026

You May Cringe ...

... but this is part of our history too.
01 - Opening March: Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight - Swanee River - The Company  (1:27)
02 - Medley: Old Dan Tucker - Mandy Lee - Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair - Old Folks at Home - Camptown Races - In the Evening by the Moonlight - The Company  (9:57)
03 - Sweet Sixteen - Gilbert Smith, The Southland Chorus  (3:24)
04 - Shine on Harvest Moon - The Company  (2:39)
05 - The Preacher and the Bear - Robert Lamb  (2:56)
06 - My Gal Sal - The Southland Chorus  (6:09)
07 - Lassus Trombome - The Sliphorn Four  (2:48)
08 - Asleep in the Deep - Warren Biggs  (2:36)
09 - Grand Finale: Hello, Ma Baby - Honeymoon - I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now - Goodbye My Lady Love - The Company  (5:42)

It's been a while since I listened to this.  According to Discogs, it was released in 1958, long before appearing in blackface or other things were considerations.
* * *
This one's a 1993 release.
01. Daisy Mae Round (4:53)
02. Red River Valley (3:31)
03. Spanish Cavalier (4:38)
04. My Little Girl (4:42)
05. Hurry Hurry (3:41)
06. Good Old Country Music (Billy Boy) (4:29)
07. Virginia Blues (Figure 8) (4:10)
08. Wabash Theme (Square Dance Tonight!) (3:17)
09. Golden Slippers (5:01)
10. Soldiers' Joy (3:32)

See you on Thursday with more refractions of America.
  

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Sweethearts on the Trail

A couple of yee-haws for you today, ladies and gentlemen ...
01. Long Journey Home (3:01)
02. Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms (2:29)
03. Oklahoma Sweetheart (2:59)
04. Never Ending Love (2:43)
05. It May Be Silly, But Ain't It Fun (2:11)
06. Fallen Angel (2:43)
07. Smokey Mountain Smoke (2:34)
08. The Angel Song (4:02)
09. I Over Looked an Orchid (3:31)
10. Long Black Veil (4:02)
11. I'll Fly Away (3:22)
12. Heaven Bound Train (2:08)
13. I'm Free (2:51)

Scotty was inducted into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

Bar D Wranglers - 50 Years on the Trail:
01. The Wild and the Lonely (4:33)
02. Remember the Alamo (2:07)
03. Moving Slowly (2:35)
04. The Same Ole Range (3:27)
05. The Alpine Cowboy (2:01)
06. I'm My Own Grandpa (2:34)
07. 16 Tons (2:41)
08. A Cowboy Has to Sing (2:41)
09. The Possum Song (2:10)
10. I'm an Old Cowhand (2:43)
11. Texas Plains (2:36)
12. The Yellow Rose of Texas (2:37)
13. The Strawberry Roan (3:45)
14. Old Matt Palmers Farm (4:41)
15. Around the Old Chuckwagon (2:34)
16. The Devil Went Down to Georgia (3:28)

The Wranglers are pretty much the house band for a cowboy-type experience in Durango.  I imagine they sell their CDs at the show.  Track 9 is a cute rearrangement of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”  Yum!  Track 11 is a rearrangement of “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart.”

See you on Monday for some possibly uncomfortable relics of past American musical life.
  

Monday, July 13, 2026

Dancing on the War Floor

Music for recent and older martial doings.
America's Favorite Patriotic Songs:
01. America, the Beautiful (2:40)
02. God Bless America (3:44)
03. This Land Is Your Land (2:18)
04. The Star Spangled Banner (2:15)
05. Armed Forces Medley (4:05)
06. My Country 'Tis of Thee (2:08)
07. God Bless the USA (3:18)
08. The Battle Hymn of the Republic (3:49)
09. If My People (4:27)
10. God Save America (3:43)
11. The Stars and Stripes Forever Medley (2:42)

Regarding the above, you will acknowledge these songs as your favorites, or the chirpy choir and importunate orchestra will smother you with good cheer!  Yes, YOU!

Below are some more gritty nationalistic sentiments.
01 - War Dance - Ponca
02 - New War Dance Song - Taos
03 - Slow War Dance - Kiowa
04 - Fast War Dance - Kiowa
05 - Knife's Warrior Song - Arikara
06 - Chief's Honoring Song - Sioux
07 - Old Glory Raising on Iwo Jima - Navajo
08 - Korea Memorial Song - Sioux
09 - Mountain Spirit Song - Apaches
10 - Lightning Song - Apaches
11 - Sun Dance Song - Cheyenne
12 - Sun Dance Song - Arapahoe
13 - Sun Dance - Ute
14 - Song of  the Black Mountain - Papago
15 - Song of the Green Rainbow - Papago

Sure wish we could appreciate the sentiments without emulating them.  




Thursday, July 9, 2026

Colors, We Got Colors

Here are two releases reflecting the great eclectic strength of our wonderful nation!
01. Aaron Copland - Street in a Frontier Town (1:25)
02. Aaron Copland - Mexican Dance (2:17)
03. Aaron Copland - Gun Battle (2:24)
04. Aaron Copland - Celebration Dance After Billy's Capture (2:05)
05. Aaron Copland - The Open Prairie (1:38)
06. Charles Tomlinson Griffes - The White Peacock (5:51)
07. Morton Gould - Tropical (3:15)
08. Howard Hanson - 01 - Symphony No 2, "Romantic" (14:15)
09. Howard Hanson - 02 - Symphony No 2, "Romantic" (7:05)
10. Howard Hanson - 03 - Symphony No 2, "Romantic" (7:36)
11. Charles Tomlinson Griffes - The Pleasure-Dome of Kubla Khan (11:02)
12. Aaron Copland - Hoe-Down (3:11)

Many of these selections are played at a more rapid clip than you might expect.  But there's indeed a passel of greatness in these here sound waves!

01. Powell - Pretty Sally (2:36)
02. Powell - At the Foot of Yonders Mountain (3:01)
03. Hovahness - Sonata #3 - Prelude (1:11)
04. Hovahness - Sonata #3 - Cantando (3:02)
05. Hovahness - Sonata #3 - Dance (1:26)
06. Hovahness - Sonata #3 - Lullaby (1:50)
07. Hovahness - Sonata #3 - Andante Dolce (0:55)
08. Campbell - Nocturne, Op. 27/2 (10:41)
09. Stringfield - Pastorale Scene (3:59)
10. Stringfield - Chipmunks (3:21)
11. MacDowell - To a Wild Rose (1:49)
12. Kreuzer - Crushed Violets (3:14)
13. Broeders - Milonga (2:15)
14. Broeders - Romanza (2:42)
15. Tillery - Simple Things (3:30)
16. Maganini - Caprice Terpsichore (3:57)
17. Stern - Mosaico (3:36)
18. Spelman - Rondo (8:48)
19. Stringfield - Indian Serenade (3:32)

In this 2001 release, some of this classical music is less melodic than the top album.  But both releases are just a smidgen of the breadth of intriguing, lush, stark, or spare american music.

See you on Monday!
  

Monday, July 6, 2026

Swing to Freedomland

Freedomland was a theme park, and this is its soundtrack. Read more in the 2011 post.
01 - Overture to "Freedomland"
02 - Little Old New York
03 - Satellite City
04 - Danny the Dragon
05 - The Jalopy Song
06 - Pine Country
07 - Johnny Freedom
08 - On the Showboat
09 - San Francisco Fran
10 - So Long, Ma
11 - The Chicago Fire

01. Osage Stomp (3:05)
02. Spanish Two Step (2:57)
03. A Maiden's Prayer (3:08)
04. Mexicali Rose (3:18)
05. Old Fashioned Love (3:22)
06. Sittin' on Top of the World (3:23)
07. Steel Guitar Rag (2:49)
08. Blue Yodel #1 (2:23)
09. Silver Bell (2:40)
10. That's What I Like 'bout the South (2:39)
11. I'll See You in My Dreams (2:25)
12. The Waltz You Saved Me (2:32)
13. Corrine Corrina (3:04)
14. Time Changes Everything (2:53)
15. Big Beaver (2:50)
16. Honey What You Gonna Do? (2:57)
17. I Found a Dream (2:43)
18. Take Me Back to Tulsa (2:55)
19. New San Antonio Rose (2:48)
20. I Knew the Moment I Lost You (2:58)
21. Twin Guitar Special (2:50)
22. Mississippi Delta Blues (3:00)
23. Roly Poly (2:52)
24. Brain Cloudy Blues (3:01)

This is a 1973 cassette, possibly of transcription discs.

Enjoy more of your all-American July, campers!  See you Thursday.
  

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Welcome to 2026's JULY SPOCKEBRATION!

We're gonna begin this month's celebration of this great and aspiring-to-be-greater country, with two patriotic comps.
MA-73 - American Favorites:
01. The Star-Spangled Banner - Jerry Goldsmith (1:22)
02. This Land Is Your Land - Peter, Paul & Mary (2:27)
03. Let' s All Be Americans Now - Arthur Hall (3:05)
04. People Like You and Me - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (3:46)
05. The Stars and Stripes Forever - The US Army Ceremonial Band (3:33)
06. Home On The Range - Roy Rogers & the Sons of the Pioneers (2:41)
07. God Bless America - Kate Smith (2:04)
08. Variations on 'America' - Charles Ives (7:10)
09. The House I Live In - Frank Sinatra (3:39)
10. The Magnificent Seven Main Title - Elmer Bernstein (1:59)
11. Pleasant Moments - Scott Joplin (3:02)
12. Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash (3:08)
13. No Restricted Signs (Up in Heaven) - Golden Gate Quartet (2:59)
14. You're a Grand Old Flag - James Cagney (5:39)
15. High Noon - Tex Ritter (2:47)
16. Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me) - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (3:11)
17. Battle Hymn of the Republic - John Williams & The Boston Pops (5:01)
18. A Lincoln Portrait - Aaron Copland (15:44)
19. The Stars and Stripes Forever - Vladimir Horowitz (4:00)

Special mention:  Track 1 is a great arrangement of our national anthem, and it's heard in Poltergeist as a TV station signs off.  Track 13 is a great idealization of our country's promise of fair treatment for all; can we live up to it in our personal lives?  Track 18 is an off-the-air recording of an unknown performance, but the spoken words are recited by the composer, Aaron Copland himself!

01 - The Star-Spangled Banner - Reuben Guevara - 1978  (3:45)
02 - Long Long Ago - Merry-Go-Round Records - 1959  (2:45)
03 - There's a Service Flag Flying at Our House - Sterling Trio - 1918  (3:09)
04 - On the 4th of July - James Taylor - 2002  (3:24)
05 - America, Communicate with Me - Ray Stevens - 1970  (3:12)
06 - American Flag on the Moon - Brad Paisley - 2014  (3:49)
07 - Yankee Doodle Blues - Billy Murray & Ed Smalle - 1922  (2:56)
08 - Dixie & The Bonnie Blue Flag - Classical Brass - 1991  (2:25)
09 - Where the Stars and Stripes and Eagle Fly - Aaron Tippin - 2001  (3:44)
10 - Because All Men Are Brothers - Peter, Paul and Mary - 1965  (2:09)
11 - Only in America - Jay and the Americans - 1963  (2:01)
12 - National Emblem March - Tommy Dorsey - 1943  (3:00)
13 - Cool Water - Sons of the Pioneers - 1959  (2:08)
14 - America - Waylon Jennings - 1984  (3:24)
15 - Brother, Can You Spare a Dime - Rudy Vallee and His Connecticut Yankees - 1931  (3:39)
16 - The Immigrant (dedicated to John Lennon) - Neil Sedaka - 1975  (3:46)
17 - We Must Be Vigilant (American Patrol) - Hour of Charm All-Girl Orchestra - 1942  (2:51)
18 - Bugle Call Blues - Jack Pettis and His Pets - 1929  (2:42)
19 - It's America - Rodney Atkins - 2009  (3:29)
20 - Barnum and Bailey's Favorite - United States Army Band - 2012  (2:26)
21 - America Is My Home, Part 1 - James Brown - 1968  (3:20)
22 - Melting Pot - Blue Mink - 1969  (3:47)
23 - Alexander's Ragtime Band - Joe “Fingers” Carr - 1956  (2:07)
24 - Home on the Range - Gene Autry - 1947  2:37)
25 - Battle Cry of Freedom - John Williams and Chicago Symphony Orchestra - 2012  (2:14)
26 - Country Dances - The Swingle Singers - 1991  (3:30)

I hope you can take heart from these two panoplies of the wonders of American musical expression.  Sah-LOOT!

See you on Monday.
  

Monday, June 29, 2026

File Under Spy!

Here are a couple of olde tyme albums of covers of spy tunes.  They be lotsa fun.
You can thank Columbia Special Products for this one.

1)  Percy Faith - Thunderball    
2)  Mel Tormé - Secret Agent Man    
3)  Village Stompers - From Russia With Love    
4)  John Barry - The James Bond Theme    
5)  David Lloyd - 007    
6)  Bobby Vinton - Goldfinger    
7)  John Barry - Ipcress File    
8)  Ray Conniff - Third Man Theme    
9)  David Lloyd - On Her Majesty's Secret Service    
10)  Orchestra U.S.A. - The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 

According to contemporary photos, the guitar of Billy Strange was no larger than normal.

1 Thunderball
2 A Man Alone
3 9th Man Theme
4 I Spy
5 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme
6 The James Bond Theme
7 Our Man Flint
8 The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
9 Run Spy Run
10 Get Smart
11 007 Theme
12 Goldfinger

If you're like me, you can still get some big thrills from these ole platters.

PS see you Thursday, when we'll begin this year's JULY SPOCKEBRATION, celebrating our country's birthday!
  

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Wish I Could Perform Like That

Prepare to be amazed!

The Performing Piano (55:20)

01 - Minuet in G - Paderewski - performed by  Ignace Paderewski  (3:50)

02 - The Beautiful Blue Danube - Strauss   (arr Schulz-Evler) - performed by  Josef Lhévinne  (8:41)

03 - La Campanella (The Bells) - Paganini   (arr Liszt) -performed by  Josef Lhévinne  (5:08)

04 - Scherzo, Op 39, No 3 - Chopin -performed by  Sergei Rachmaninoff  (10:03)

05 - Invitation to the Dance - von Weber -performed by  Artur Schnabel  (7:25)

06 - Hungarian Rhapsody 2 - Liszt -performed by  Alfred Cortot  (7:58)

07 - Mazeppa - Liszt - performed by  Erwin Nyiregyházi  (8:04)

08 - Prelude in C Sharp Minor - Rachmaninoff - performed by  Sergei Rachmaninoff  (4:12)


 The Performing Piano II (70:14)

01 - Moonlight Sonata 1 - Beethoven - Lhévinne (6:35)
02 - Moonlight Sonata 2 - Beethoven - Lhévinne (1:58)
03 - Moonlight Sonata 3 - Beethoven - Lhévinne (5:24)
04 - Valse Caprice in Eb - Rubinstein - Rosenthal (5:41)
05 - Gypsy Rondo - Brahms - von Dohnányi (6:15)
06 - Valse Leute - Delibes - von Dohnányi (5:18)
07 - Spinning Song - Mendelssohn - Rachmaninoff (1:57)
08 - Were I a Bird - von Henselt - Rachmaninoff (1:58)
09 - Troika - Tchaikovsky - Rachmaninoff (3:45)
10 - Barcarolle #2 - Rubinstein - Rachmaninoff (4:54)
11 - Etude #6 - Rachmaninoff - Rachmaninoff (3:04)
12 - Concerto in A Minor 1 - Grieg - Volavy (10:59)
13 - Concerto in A Minor 2 - Grieg - Volavy (5:19)
14 - Concerto in A Minor 3 - Grieg - Volavy (7:07)

These early piano rolls provide astounding musical realities from long ago. See you Monday!