MICHAEL LANDON SINGS (sort of)

Following his performances of "Careless Love" and "Shenandoah" on the 1962 album PONDEROSA PARTY TIME! (You can hear that HERE), Little Joe recorded two singles, apparently in an attempt to become a teen idol like Bobby Sherman. Somewhere along the line he also recorded a slower, alternate version of "Linda is Lonesome." Give him a little listen . . .

007 Soundtrack 1: DR. NO (1963)

Here are the groovy, groundbreaking sounds of the first real James Bond film. Stay tuned for more. 

The Battle of DAVY CROCKETT, Round 2: Fess Parker vs. Mac Wiseman

Two more of the many BODC releases of 1955. Fess Parker recorded the ballad at least four times, but this was the first released. His was the second biggest seller of the year, following Bill Hayes'. We'll hear Fess's other efforts further down the road. Mac Wiseman recorded another (and much smoother) version later, too. 

Hear it here: THE LEGEND OF CUSTER'S LAST STAND (1967)

Here's another old LP that's been hanging around the house for a coon's age without getting a listen. Until now. It's a you-are-there dramatization of what might have gone down at the Little Old Big Horn, suitably bowdlerized for us kids. Cap'n Bob will dig it. Gobe won't. Will you? I have the "True Action Adventure" treatment of The Alamo, too. Watch this space. 

Hear it Here: The Sounds of the SILLY SURFERS and the WEIRD-OHS (1964)

In 1963, inspired by Revel''s success with a model kit of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth's; Rat Fink, the Hawk Model Company began its line of Weird-Ohs and Silly Surfers. And after Allan Sherman recorded a song about Rat Fink, Hawk answered with a whole album of tunes about their own characters. This is, as it says on the label, "Music to Make Models By." The music on Side A, the album jacket says, is performed by "The Silly Surfers with Shary Richards, and Side B is credited to "The Weird-Ohs with Shary Richards." Surprisingly, some of these songs don't stink. Give them a a listen and see. 

Near as I can tell, Hawk never issued models of "Cowabunga Surf's Up" or "Gremmie Out of Control." Did they ever intend to? Beats me. Here are pics I grabbed off the 'net of the others. As you'll see, the skill and imagination of each individual modeler has a big impact on the result.

Woodie on a Surfari

Beach Bunny Catchin' Rays

Hodad Makin' the Scene with a Six-Pack

Hot-Dogger Hangin' Ten

Digger

Drag Hag

Endsville Eddie

Huey's Hut Rod

Daddy

Davey

Hear it here: PONDEROSA PARTY TIME! (1962)

This 1962 LP was, I believe, the first appearance of any of the Bonanza gang on record. They followed up with a similar effort called "Christmas on the Ponderosa." Lorne Greene went on to record several albums of his own. Pernell Roberts did an album of folk songs. Dan Blocker released two talkers, one on his own called "Tales for Young 'Uns," and another with singer/actor John Mitchum (brother of Robert). Michael Landon did a couple of singles as an attempted teen idol. Some reviewers think this album is silly. I found it better than expected. You Be Da Judge. 

Hear it here: DAVY CROCKETT IN CONGRESS by the Plymouth Players (1956)

Since Disney couldn't slap a copyright on old Davy (except for ©Walt Disney's Official Davy Crockett), Davymania marketing was a free-for-all the '50s. One of the outfits joining in was Plymouth Records, producing three albums to complement the first three episodes of the series. Here's the second in the Plymouth series. Stay tuned for the finale,  DAVY CROCKETT AT THE ALAMO, 

This time, we find Davy breaking into song in the halls of Congress (Gee, who wouldn't?) as he patches up the crack in the Liberty Bell. The album jacket credits "Scotty MacGregor with the Plymouth Players," so I can only guess that's Scotty singing the TV theme and the rest of the songs.

For the rest of the story, you'll want to check out this great book, which I reviewed HERE, with comments by Allen J. Wiener HERE, a never-before-published letter by old Davy HERE, and more news and reviews HERE.

Woody Woodpecker Meets Davy Crockett

Remember the time Davy met Woody Woodpecker? You don't? Well, you're not alone, because Davy doesn't either. But the event is dramatized by that esteemed Thespian Mr. Mel Blanc, and carries the Bozo Seal of Approval, so you know it must be true. This comes to us courtesy of the fine folks at KiddieRecords.com. Just stab the Play button on the mp3 player to start the history lesson. It's a hair over 6 minutes long.

"Woody Woopecker Meets Davy Crockett" by Mel Blanc

Pecos Bill!

As proof of the Almanack’s redeeming social value, we invite you to enroll in this crash course in Texas History, Geology and Zoology. You’ll learn why the grizzly has no tail, why there’s gold in them thar hills, and why coyotes howl at the moon. You’ll discover the origin of the Rio Grande, how we got the Gulf of Mexico, and how the Painted Desert got its name. Professor Roy Rogers is assisted by The Sons of the Pioneers and the magical music and sound effects of Mr. Walter Disney. This record was adapted from an animated short included in the Disney feature Melody Time. Complete your enrollment by clicking right here. Once on the Kiddie Records Weekly site, begin your course by clicking on Week 15 of the list, or the Pecos Bill picture sleeve you’ll find on the right. Class time is approximately 19 minutes.

Hopalong Cassidy and the Square Dance Holdup.

I'd seen this book/album kicking around flea markets for years, but never heard it until master webcrawler Bill Crider turned me on to a site called Kiddie Records Weekly.

The site offers you the option of listening to the record, downloading it, or viewing it like a storybook. It's the next best thing to being a kid again. I hope I'm not spoiling things by revealing the moral of the story. "Well kids," Hoppy says at the end, "that's the story of the Square Dance Holdup. Next time you go to a square dance, better not check your guns at the door. Never can tell when you might need them." Words to live by.

Clicking here will take you to the index of 2009 entries. You'll find Hoppy listed down on Week 28. Click there and you're good to go. There are half a dozen other western-related records on the site. You could peek at them all right now, of course, but I'll be featuring them one at a time over the next few weeks.