Archive for October, 2009


Hanna-Barbera compilation #1

Filed Under: Childrens
Oct.24, 2009

For the history of HB Records in Australia, go here

HB 4 in One

Record Label: Hanna-Barbera Records

EMI Catalogue Number:

Original Catalogue Numbers: HLP 2023 (I have no info on the other two LP’s) (e-mail me to give me the info, ta.)

Category: Childrens/Licensed Characters

Voice Cast:

Daws Butler as Yogi

June Foray (?) as Boo-Boo

Paul Frees as Huckleberry Hound

Unknown vocals as Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm

This LP is an odd duck as this is an abridged highlights and songs release

Side one contains an abridged version of the HB releases mentioned (“Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Little Red Riding Hood”) while side 2 has a short segment from Huck’s LP on Uncle Remus and all of the songs from “Lollypop”)

This is not the first LP in the series to get this treatment, EMI also released a musical highlights package of “The First Family on the Moon”, “James Bomb”, a shortened version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (starring Jonny Quest) and a fourth title.  I originally had this on cassette, but no longer have it.

This is the last post that was previously on the “Off the Record” blog (except for one post, which will appear on Christmas Day)

I had started to work on another record just prior to moving house (but never finished).  This post will appear in the next couple of days.

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Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids

Filed Under: Childrens
Oct.24, 2009

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Volume 1

Record Label: Paramount Records

Catalogue Number: PAS 6053

Category: Childrens/TV Shows

All songs written by Sherry Gaden and Richard Canada except for the theme, which was written by Ed Fournier and Ricky Sheldon, published by Shermley Music

Produced and arranged by Richard Delvy and Ed Fournier for Four Wheel Productions

Fat Albert’s Singing Voice: Michael Gray

Side 1:

Fat Albert Theme

Don’t Look Down On A Small Guy

The Hero

Friends

Playin’ Hookey

Four Eyes

Side 2:

We’re All Together

Begging Benny

The Hospital

Stage Fright

The Bully

Here is the original soundtrack LP from (most of) the first season of the CBS and Filmation series based on Bill Cosby’s creations.

This LP is probably one of the rarer kid show soundtrack LP’s ever released.  I struck this copy way back in 1981 in a bargain bin at the now long defunct Edels record store chain

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Treasure Island starring Sinbad Jr.

Filed Under: Childrens
Oct.24, 2009

For the general credits to this LP, visit the history of Hanna-Barbera Records, here

Cover Art: Treasure Island Starring Sinbad Jr.

Record Label: Hanna-Barbera Records

Distribution: EMI

Category: Childrens/Licensed Characters

EMI Catalogue Number: EMB 10338

Original HB Catalogue Number: HLP 2039

The Cast:

Sinbad Jr.: Tim Mattheson

Salty: Mel Blanc

Pegleg: Warren Tufts

Red Beard: Ted Cassidy

Side 1: Part 1

Side 2: Part 2

This is the first of the Hanna-Barbera releases that I have in my collection, and is an adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale, with Sinbad Jr. and Salty in the lead roles.

Here’s something weird for this release.  On the LP’s back cover, four songs are mentioned (Sinbad Jr., and Treasure Island on Side 1, Red Beard and Jolly Roger on side 2), however, on listening to the LP, there are no songs, just the story in it’s entirety.

I’m wondering if the songs mentioned were ever released on it’s original issue.  If anyone knows, let me know.

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Check Out the Chicken

Filed Under: What the?...
Oct.23, 2009

Check Out The Chicken

Vocalists “Grandmaster Chicken” and “D.J. Duck”

Label: Festival Records (Australia and New Zealand only)

Category: Rap/Bizarre

Release No: K 1028

Originally Released by Phonogram, B.V., The Netherlands (original catalogue Number 874 602 7)

Produced by Eddy Ouwens

“Check Out The Chicken”  Arranged by Cres Stulk

“Eggs”  Arranged by A v. Olm & Eddy Ouwens

Recorded at P&O Studios and Wisseloord Studios

Of all the records in this collection, this one is the most bizarre.  A Rap version of “The Chicken Dance” and other avian themed tunes.

Aside all of the strangeness, this actually became a top 20 hit in Oz! (reaching 19 on the ARIA national charts in March 1990!)

This single was originally released by Phonogram (PolyGram’s affiliate in the Netherlands) but strangely enough, Polygram never released the single here.

Later in the year, I will post (what I think) was the all time worst recording, and the novelty LP that spawned it.

For the history of Festival Records, go here.

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The Muppet Show Music Hall

Filed Under: Comedy
Oct.23, 2009

The Muppet Show Music Hall 45 RPM EP by Pye Records

Record Label: Pye Records

Category: TV Show

Release Number: 7NX 8004

Produced by Jim Henson with the assistance of Peter Harris and Philip Cason

Recorded by Ted Scott and Roger Knight

Producer for Pye Records: Jed Kearnes

Remix Engineer: Larry Bartlett

Sleeve Design: Paul Chase

Orchestra Conducted by Jack Parnell

Musical Associate: Derek Scott

Starring Frank Oz as Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear and Jim Henson as Kermit The Frog, with the entire Muppet Audience

Side 1: Don’t Dilly Dally On The Way, Waiting at the Church

Side 2: The Boy In The Gallery, Wotcher Knocked ‘Em In The Old Kent Road

Copyrighted: 1977

The Muppet Show (1976-1981) was a half hour of music and mayhem from the creative mind of Jim Henson. and each week would have an international guest star joining in the madness.

Historically, there were three volumes of the Muppet Show released : Volume 1 (UK: NSPH 19, AU: SPLP 1502), Volume 2 (UK: NSPH 21, AU: SPLP 1527) and “The Muppet Show Music Album” (UK: PRAT 18613, AU: SPLP 1580)

However there was one final record, a 45 RPM extended play LP featuring four Music Hall numbers, three performed by Miss Piggy, and one performed by Fozzie Bear

This EP featured songs that originally appeared in the U.K. versions of season 3 of “The Muppet Show”.

My copy was an import EP, and as far as I know, was never released outside of the U.K.

Muppet Show Music Hall - Back Cover

For a history of Pye Records in Australia, go here

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Audio Fidelity’s First Component Series Test Record

Filed Under: Spoken Word/Sound Effects
Oct.22, 2009

for the history of Audio Fidelity in Australia go here.

Audio Fidelity's First Component Series Stereo Test Record. - Mid 1960's pressing.

Record Label: Audio Fidelity

Categories: Audiophile, Test Record

Catalogue Number: FCS 50,000

Cover Art: Not known, possibly illustrated by Irving Sloane

Copyrighted: 1959

Side 1 – The Tests: Metronome, 1Khz Sine Wave Test Tone, 25 Seconds of Silence, High Frequency Sine Wave Test Tones, Low Frequency Sine Wave Test Tones, Sweep Test Tone 70 to 15 Hz, Phasing (white noise signals), Musician’s “A” – 440 Hz, U.S. Government Standard,  3KHz Left channel and 800 Hz Right Channel, 800 Hz Left Channel and 3 KHz Right Channel.

Side 2 – Music Selections by the Virtuoso Symphony of London: Rakoczy March, March From “Aida”, Polovetzian Dances, March From Coq d’ Or, Russian Sailor’s Dance.

The First Component Series Stereo Test Record (released by AF in 1959) is a more or less standard issue test record, but there is something unusual about the mastering on side 1 that I don’t think any other test record has done.

Each test is in it’s own individual track, but there is no link between each test, so instead of the normal 1 continuous groove on side 1, it has instead 10.

The closest we ever had since then was an “anti skid band” on British Decca’s 1960’s LP “How To Give Yourself A Stereo Check Out” (SKLA 4861)

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Star Trek – Volumes 1 and 2

Filed Under: Childrens
Oct.22, 2009

Star Trek Volume 1 (Power Records, release number 8158)

Star Trek Volume 2 (NZ Pressing) (TRO 207, originally 8168)

Record Label: Power Records division of Peter Pan Industries

Category: Childrens (licensed characters)

LP Info (Volume 1, original U.S. pressing, Volume 2, New Zealand pressing)

Catalogue No.: 8158 (Volume 1) TRO 207 (Music World N.Z. pressing) and 8168 (original catalogue number for volume 2)

Cover illustrations: not known.

Release 1976 (Australia), c. 1976-1977 (New Zealand)

Release No. 8158

Side 1: Passage To Moauv, The Crier In Emptiness (Part 1)

Side 2: The Crier In Emptiness (Part 2), In Vino Veritas

(Writer Credits not known)

Release No. TRO 267 (U.S. 8168)

Side 1: A Mirror For Futility (Written by Alan Dean Foster), The Time Stealer (Written by Cary Bates and Neil Adams)

Side 2: The Logistics For Stampede (Written by Alan Dean Foster), To Starve A Fleaver (Written by Alan Dean Foster)

These are the first two (of a series of three) LP’s based on the Star Trek series produced by the Power Records division of Peter Pan.

I’m not sure whether Gene Roddenberry (creator of the Star Trek series) had any input into any of the LP’s,. I would also be interested to find out if the artwork could have been done by Filmation for Paramount.

It seems to me that they seem to have approximated the voices of the original cast for both of these LPs.

Two episodes from volume 1 were later re-packaged as book and record sets (“Passage To Moauv” (which I originally had up until the late 70’s) and “The Crier In Emptiness” (which I still have, I’ll have to dig through my record library and post in a later update))

One thing about the New Zealand pressing of volume 2, is that it misses out on the excellent artwork (at the bottom of the post, I have a scan of the back cover art from volume 1.  The N.Z. pressing had a repeat of the track listing and a listing of other releases in the series.)

Back cover for Volume 1

For a complete history of Peter Pan records, go here

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the Monster Mash (Peter Pan Records)

Filed Under: Childrens
Oct.21, 2009

for a more or less complete history of Peter Pan records go here

Monster Mash - Released locally by Landfall Press

Record Label: Peter Pan Records

Category: Children’s

Locally manufactured in Australia by Landfall Press

Catalogue Number: LF 2032

Original PPI Catalogue Number: (8126)

Cover Illustrations: George C. Peed

Australian Release year: 1976

Side 1: Monster Mash, Purple People Eater, Feet Up, Pat ‘Em On The Po-Po, Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Little Blue Man

Side 2: Witch Doctor, (A) Dinner With Drac, Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavour On The Bedpost Overnight, Mama Look A Boo-Boo, Big Bad John

A fun collection of cover songs originally made famous by Bobby (Boris) Pickett, Sheb Wooley, Ross Bagdasarian (David Seville), Lonnie Donnegan, Harry Belafonte and others.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this LP would have been originally released under the Power Records label, but I could be wrong.

All the cover art (except for the Power Records licensed character series (a few of which I will show a bit later on in the week, or early next)) for the label during this period were drawn by George C. Peed (who is releated to Disney story man Bill Peet)

You will see a bit more of George’s work down the track in the blog.

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Spike Jones and his City Slickers

Filed Under: Comedy
Oct.21, 2009

Over the next couple of days, I will be publishing posts that I previously had done on the “Off the Record” blog between June 2007 and August 2007.  There will be approximately 2 posts every day until I have completed the archive

Spike Jones and his City Slickers - Jass Records (JASS 2)

Record label: Jass Records

Category: Compilation

Release No: JASS 2

A Howard Melton Production

Source recordings from Henry Schmidt, Jr.

Sound: Carl Seltzer

Artwork: Milton Knight

Design, Lettering and inking: Collin Kellogg

Copyrighted: 1986

Side 1: My Gal Sal (Vocal, Del Porter), Ugga Ugga Boo Ugga Boo Boo Ugga (Vocal: Ding Bell), Molasses (Vocal: George Rock), Dance of the Hours (Commentary: Doodles Weaver), Yakka Hula Hickey Dula (Vocals: Del Porter and Eddie Metcalf, Guitar: Freddy Morgan), Oh! By Jingo (Vocal: Del Porter), Down in Jungletown (Vocal: Paul Judson, Freddy Morgan and the Headhunters), Daddy Won’t You Buy Me A Baby Brother (Vocal: George Rock)

Side 2: The Ringmaster (Vocals: The Ensemble), Drip! Drip! Drip! (Vocal: Del Porter), April Showers (Vocal: Doodles Weaver), Charlie My Boy (Vocal: Del Porter), Too Young (Vocals, Paul Frees and Sara Berner), Shortning Bread (Vocal: Doodles Weaver), Ballet For Bosun’s Mate (Liszt), Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue (Vocal: Del Porter)

This compilation LP from Jass is a rare collection of studio performances by Lindley Armstrong (Spike) Jones, and his City Slickers.

Most (if not all) of these recordings were originally made for radio broadcast, and to my knowledge only two have recently appeared on CD (Ugga Ugga Boo… for one) and the Slickers demolition of the song “Too Young”

For cartoon fans, the cover art was done by the legendary Milton Knight. (the only LP to date that has Milt’s wildly imaginative artwork that I have in my collection at the moment)

I have the image of the back cover.  click on the cover below to see a larger version

The Back Cover - Spike Jones and his City Slickers (JASS 2)

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Hanna-Barbera Records

Filed Under: Labels
Oct.20, 2009

Hanna-Barbera Records

This is the record label of Hanna-Barbera Productions (around 1963 until 1967).

Prior to the label being started up, HBP released a number of LPs under Columbia’s Colpix Records.  In the mid 1960’s the label was founded, releasing original productions, and adaptations of book classics starring the HB characters (not always with the original voice cast, for example, Paul Frees as the voice of Huckleberry Hound instead of his original voice, Daws Butler)

As far as I know, none of the Colpix releases were released in Australia.

Hanna-Barbera’s releases were originally released throughout Australia by Astor Records.  In 1977, EMI re-released a number of these records under their own label in the Drum series. (All LP’s listed here are the 1977 re-issues)

A couple of titles were re-released on cassette in 1981 by Rainbow Products (the most notable being “Huckleberry Hound tells stories of Uncle Remus”)

Below, are all the general credits listed on all HB re-releases by EMI in 1977.

Credits

Writer and Director: Charles Shows

Art Direction: Harvard Pennington

Hand Lettering: Richard Schaeffer

Mastering:Joe Leahy and Dave Diller

Songs Arranged by Al Capps and Stan Ferber

Original Music Arranged by Ted Nichols (from cues written by Hoyt Curtin)

Sound Effects/Underscore Edit: Milton Krear

Cover Art: Don Shepard and Bob Gentle

Recording Engineer: Richard Olson

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