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Novelties - All But Forgotten

oldies76

oldies76

Time to list those songs that made us laugh back in the 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's. Songs that were played frequently on CHR but have not been heard from since! Some are one-hit wonders, some made #1 nationally or locally and some were low charters but meant something to you, so many years ago!! If you can remember the last time you heard it on the radio, by all means, mention that.

Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys
The Streak - Ray Stevens (KRTH 1987, music specialty)
They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa - Napoleon XIV
 
Anything by Dickie Goodman, such as "Mr. Jaws" or "Watergrate."
 
Tweet and Toot - Mel Blanc
The Thing - Phil Harris
The Battle of Kookamonga - Homer and Jethro
Too Fat Polka - Arthur Godfrey
Wun'erful, Wun'erful - Stan Freberg
 
firepoint525 said:
oldies76 said:
Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys
Click to expand...
At my school (I was in high school at the time), we considered "Elvira" an unwelcome intrusion onto "our" airwaves, an unwelcome crossover from country. We certainly never considered it a "novelty" song.
Click to expand...

I suppose it was the "Giddy up, oom poppa, omm poppa, mow mow, heigh-ho Silver, away"
That was funny back in '81, as a 14 year old anyways. Referencing the "Lone Ranger" and it being a somewhat funny cowboy - country crossover made the song unique in those days.
 
oldies76 said:
firepoint525 said:
oldies76 said:
Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys
Click to expand...
At my school (I was in high school at the time), we considered "Elvira" an unwelcome intrusion onto "our" airwaves, an unwelcome crossover from country. We certainly never considered it a "novelty" song.
Click to expand...

I suppose it was the "Giddy up, oom poppa, omm poppa, mow mow, heigh-ho Silver, away"
That was funny back in '81, as a 14 year old anyways. Referencing the "Lone Ranger" and it being a somewhat funny cowboy - country crossover made the song unique in those days.
Click to expand...

You're not alone, Oldies. The Oak Ridge Boys themselves consider it a novelty song:

http://www.roughstock.com/blog/artist-spotlight-the-oak-ridge-boys

And if you go to iTunes, that's how they describe it, too.
 
Let's just look at those hitting #1 on Billboard. In addition to The Streak, we have (at least by my definition of novelty song, which I think is a bit conservative) The Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley, The Chipmunk Song, Running Bear by Johnny Preston, Alley Oop by Hollywood Argyles, Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Brian Hyland, Monster Mash by Bobby (Boris) Pickett, Ringo by Lorne Greene, and Disco Duck by Rick Dees. None recently (though an argument could be made for Macarena, I suppose, I'd just call it annoying).

That said, novelty #1s have been even more common in the UK, and more recent. (I *dare* anyone to sit through Mr. Blobby. Bob the Builder was a big hit, and as recently as 2009, you have Islands in the Stream by two actors in a TV show, in character, with Sir Tom Jones and Robin Gibb.)
 
Are we just so serious now that novelty songs just wouldn't work? If you make fun of something now, the PC police will find a way to be all over you.
 
oldies76 said:
firepoint525 said:
oldies76 said:
Elvira - Oak Ridge Boys
Click to expand...
At my school (I was in high school at the time), we considered "Elvira" an unwelcome intrusion onto "our" airwaves, an unwelcome crossover from country. We certainly never considered it a "novelty" song.
Click to expand...
I suppose it was the "Giddy up, oom poppa, omm poppa, mow mow, heigh-ho Silver, away"
That was funny back in '81, as a 14 year old anyways. Referencing the "Lone Ranger" and it being a somewhat funny cowboy - country crossover made the song unique in those days.
Click to expand...
Ah, that explains it. You were 14 at the time. I was 17. I was probably a bit "old" for it by the time it became a hit.

Of course, I should point out that certain songs that were not considered novelty songs at the time that they were hits would probably be considered "novelty" songs now. "Achy Breaky Heart" is one that immediately comes to mind.
 
Silkie said:
Roaches - The Court Jesters
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Is that the same as "Roaches" by Bobby Jimmy & the Critters (a parody of "Rumors" by Timex Social Club)?

"Elvira" was written (and originally recorded) by Dallas Frazier, who also wrote "Alley Oop"; both songs had little chanted phrases ("oom papa mau mau," "aaaalley oop, oop, oop-oop")
 
Eres Tu, by Spain's Mocedades. Sung in Spanish start to finish, yet charted well here. In that context, I guess we could include Kayu Sakamoto's Sukiyaki, still the only Japanese song ever to chart in the U.S.
 
Seems like 1981 had it's share of novelties:

"Elvira" was mentioned, how about "Shaddap You Face" - Joe Dolce and the "Double Dutch Bus" - Frankie Smith (pop-novelty)
 
oldies76 said:
Seems like 1981 had it's share of novelties:
"Elvira" was mentioned, how about "Shaddap You Face" - Joe Dolce and the "Double Dutch Bus" - Frankie Smith (pop-novelty)
Click to expand...
Country had its share of songs that became novelties from too much airplay. You mentioned "Elvira," but there was also "Swingin'" (John Anderson), "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus that I mentioned earlier, and Gretchen Wilson's "Redneck Woman." All good songs at the time that they first came out, but I doubt that there is any country music diehard out there who wants to hear any of these again.
 
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