The Missles (pseud. of The Cadillacs), "Space Ship" c/w "We Belong Together," Novel N-200 (rel. 3/1960)
Novelty records have been part of the music scene since the dawn of audio. Many of the early novelty records are ethnic slurs and other harsh all-American posturing. Said records contain a high irritant factor beyond their racist or crass outlooks. Some brilliant novelties emerged over the years. Some performers (Spike Jones, Al Yankovic) made careers from novelty records. The best novelties ("There's a New Sound" by Tony Burello, e.g.) retain their impact and, like some, are quite strange/inscrutable.
In the early rock 'n' roll era, Dickie Buchanan was the king of the break-in novelty. In these singles, which Buchanan self-released on one-record labels, a comedic situation builds to moments copy-and-pasted from hit records of the day to make a punchline. Some of these are real stretches, gag-wise, and the legality of it all was contentious. Did two seconds from a hit single constitute fair use?
With Bill Buchanan, Goodman created a sensation with "The Flying Saucer," a two-part send-up of 1956's pop hits that got on the charts. Clever editing gives the record a certain comedic rhythm. The young satirists were sued by various music publishers, but a judge ruled in favor of satire and social commentary, and B & G were enabled to continue. They never equaled the #3 chart showing for "Flying Saucer."
By 1960, the formula had grown thin, and somehow or another top Black vocal group The Cadillacs were drafted to pose as 'The Missles' on a scarce 1960 single. The group seized the chance to spoof rival hitmakers The Coasters, whom they nail on "Space Ship." Their send-up of the group is spot-on, and has caused confusion ever since. This rollicking narrative of a UFO the singers encounter is peppered with samples from:
With Bill Buchanan, Goodman created a sensation with "The Flying Saucer," a two-part send-up of 1956's pop hits that got on the charts. Clever editing gives the record a certain comedic rhythm. The young satirists were sued by various music publishers, but a judge ruled in favor of satire and social commentary, and B & G were enabled to continue. They never equaled the #3 chart showing for "Flying Saucer."
By 1960, the formula had grown thin, and somehow or another top Black vocal group The Cadillacs were drafted to pose as 'The Missles' on a scarce 1960 single. The group seized the chance to spoof rival hitmakers The Coasters, whom they nail on "Space Ship." Their send-up of the group is spot-on, and has caused confusion ever since. This rollicking narrative of a UFO the singers encounter is peppered with samples from:
* "Uh Oh," The Nutty Squirrels
* "Handy Man," Jimmy Jones
* "Handy Man," Jimmy Jones
* "Teen Angel," Mark Dinning
* "Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop, "Little Anthony & The Imperials
* "Hound Dog Man," Fabian
* "Running Bear," Johnny Preston
* "A Summer Place," Percy Faith's Orchestra
* a song I can't identify; perhaps you can
Silly, yes, but with an A-list group having a lark at their peers, "Space Ship" has the highest entertainment value of any Dickie Goodman effort. For what that's worth.
Silly, yes, but with an A-list group having a lark at their peers, "Space Ship" has the highest entertainment value of any Dickie Goodman effort. For what that's worth.
Given all the worthier records released in March 1960, it seems silly that Billboard pegged this as one of their "Very Strong Sales Potential" specials in one issue's reviews. Lawsuits would soon discourage break-in' novelties like these. I'm sure it was just another session for The Cadillacs, whose parody of The Coasters is most impressive.
"We Belong Together" is not the lowrider classic by Robert & Johnny. It's somewhat like a recent Cadillacs song, "Jay Walker" (Josie 45-857, rel. 2/1959). It's given a different vibe; looser, like The Coasters' songs, with hearty harmony singing by group leaders Earl "Speedo" Carroll and Bobby Phillips. Bandleader Jesse Powell provides a slink sax break a la King Curtis, and it's a side worthy of the group's real releases of the day.
This single showed up in a dollar bin and I'm glad I took a chance on it. It's nice that the B-side is a genuine song.
This single showed up in a dollar bin and I'm glad I took a chance on it. It's nice that the B-side is a genuine song.
Tomorrow: our week of tribute ends with a killer early single by The Platters, from before their smooth pop hits. Bongo fury exudes on this 1954 Federal Records platter.
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