Artificial Radio Hour with Rev. Dr. Dr. Phill: Artificial Radio Hour with Rev. Dr. Dr. Phill Part 43g

It's the Halloweekend, so it's time for part 43g!

Some of these ones might be familiar. Some of these you've never heard before.

Mysterious Mose is that tune. That one tune? You'll know it when you hear it. The sneaking-up music. In cartoons? You'll know it.

If you've ever heard Teddy & Darrel before I'd be surprised. It's kind of an amazing song. Gay-surf-horror?!? A three-way novelty song. Teddy & Darrel's record "These Are the Hits, You Silly Savages" was basically gaysploitation. It was released in 1965 on (future Lieutenant Governor under Brown, and noted "leading conservative supporter of gay rights") Mike Curb's Mira record label. Supposedly it was a scheme to track homosexuals by finding out where it sold. "The plan didn't work because record sales were just too spread out".

Darling Pet Munkee is a concept band. A supergroup composed of the guitarist from Axemunkee and members of a "The Prisoner" (Patrick McGoohan TV show) tribute band called Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, they are named after the headline of an advertisement for live spider monkeys that used to appear in comic books. Each one of their songs is based on a real advertisement that appeared in comics or magazines in the 60s & 70s, and in some cases into the 80s.

"The Phantom" really isn't kidding around with that name. I couldn't find any information about who that person was. There are a few masked and anonymous musicians, and The Phantom is one. (Maybe I'll do a show featuring others? Somebody ask me to do that. I will.)

"Mr. Ghost Goes To Town" is a great tune by a vocal group called the 5 Jones Boys. (They weren't really named Jones.) I'm not sure what it was called in 1937 (maybe just vocal jazz?), but it definitely seems like a precursor to doo-wop.

The Frugal Gormets'[sic] first record was a tape called Home Cookin'. They were two 14-year=olds messing around with a busted tape recorder they used to alter their voices. From this recording, it sounds like it got real crazy. (A note: I censored this. I know, that's odd considering all the murder stuff in that previous show, but I felt weird about the transphobia in this clip. While not surprising coming from 14-year-olds from Indiana in 1985, it isn't the kind of thing I want to put out. Although you can probably hear where I edited, and easily figure out what I obscured.)

illustration by Drew Friedman

Raymond Scott was a very interesting composer. His intricate jazz compositions were used in many Warner Bros. cartoons. Later in his career, he created electronic instruments and recording techniques to achieve the precise sounds he was looking for. Members of his Quintette, like drummer Johnny Williams (father of composer John Williams), chafed at the methods Scott employed:

"All he ever had was machines, only we had names." Williams, explaining Scott's (commercially successful) penchant for recording rehearsals and using the reference discs to develop and finalize his compositions, said, "He didn't write anything, but he edited everything. We would work these things up and we would never change them, ever. We had to do them note for note. It was highly unsatisfactory, and it sold like hell."

Nilbog: The Band is my friend Bret's band. They play covers of music from horror movies, primarily music by the Italian band Goblin. This piece, recorded live at Cinefamily, is the main title theme for 1984's The Return of the Living Dead. It's called "Trioxin Theme" and was composed by Francis Haines.

Hot Blood was a German studio act. The members were Stefan Klinkhammer, Penny Duke, and May Ambruster. Klinkhammer was a musician and arranger for groups like Boney M, but that's about all I can find out. They released this single (backed with "Sans Dracula") and one more album of horror-themed disco. Also, the Japanese sleeve for the 12" is fantastic. It's credited to H. Masuyama, design, and I. Sansui, illustration.

Wiley Wiggins is an actor and filmmaker from Autin, TX. He is also a blogger and sometime musician, which is where this Muppets cover comes from. He posted it on his blog (at wileywiggins.com) in 2006. This cover has seeped into my brain, so know when I hear Kermit singing the original Paul Williams version I start hearing these "alternate" lyrics instead. Creepy!

That's all for today, the slog continues tomorrow!

Enjoy!

-Rev. Dr. Dr. Phill