The cover photo is from the 1957 comedy Operation Mad Ball, from the same director who gave us the idiotic How to Murder Your Wife. Seeing as how I can live happily without "madcap" military comedies, Mickey Rooney trying to be funny, and Jack Lemmon trying to be anything, I'm content to have never seen this thing. However, this LP has zilch to do with Operation Mad Ball, as you can see by the playlist below. It's a nice collection of Tops label fake hits.
And there are artists credited on most of them. Take that, Parade label. Vinyl is moderately worn, but I used my 2-5 gram stylus at about 3.8 grams and did some declicking. The results are like MAGIX.
Whoa--there are liner notes that I hadn't noticed. I'm so used to these things not having any. Check this out: "Psychologists call it 'normal adolescent self-expression,' parents sometimes refer to it as 'mayhem'--but to the cats and chicks the country over who dig good rock 'n' roll, just listening and dancing to this great music is a 'mad ball." Quite a brilliant movie/LP tie-in!
Here's another: "If Columbia's OPERATION MAD BALL is a rockin' riot on your moviehouse screen, this TOPS selection of tunes is a fitting tribute to the brilliant comedy and one of the liveliest packages ever to hit your hi-fi." So there.
Oh, and: "Helping make your ball really MAD are a half dozen rock 'n' roll stars who are TOPS in the field (pardon the pun)." Okay, now we know what this collection has to do with the movie. And how, daddy-o.
Click here to dig the mad sounds, cool cats and chick-aroonies: ZIP FILE NO LONGER AVAILABLE
PLAYLIST (MUSIC FOR A MAD BALL)
SEND FOR ME--Jerry Case PARTY DOLL--No one listed I'M WALKIN'--Scat Man Crothers ROCK-A-BILLY--Neil Hunt A WHITE SPORT COAT (AND A PINK CARNATION)--Dave Burgess DON'T FORBID ME--Bobby Milano TEEN AGE CRUSH--Same guy as Party Doll WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON--Dave Burgess SINCE I MET YOU BABY--Scat Man Crothers BUTTERFLY--Dave Burgess TEENAGER'S ROMANCE--Dave Burgess WHY BABY WHY--Neil Hunt
(Tops L-1610; 1958)
Lee
8 comments:
When you said "moderately worn," I wasn't expecting such a clean sound -- but that's partly because you made a filter (I've learned that much from you, so far). But the pressure on the stylus is more (to avoid the surface scratches) or less (to avoid the bottom of the groove) than you usually use?
As usual, some of the covers are standouts (and I'm still surprised by them).
By the way, I found an e-mail address for Dave Pell (Tops) on his site and asked him if he'd visit and offer some background history. I was surprised to get an answer right away, and he said he'd take a look.
i love Same Guy!
KL,
I used increased pressure. Worn cheap-label LPs seem to play best with more VTF, though occasionally the reverse will be true.
Thanks for contacting Dave Pell--that would be awesome to get feedback from him.
Prof.,
Me, too! You have to be impressed by his modesty....
Thanks. I always enjoy stuff like this. I was curious if the Dave Burgess on this records was the same as the guitarist with the Champs (Tequila). According to the History of Rock web site, it was. Heres the link.
http://www.history-of-rock.com/champs.htm
Ron
Ron,
Thanks for the Burgess information. I knew he was someone notable, but I didn't know he was with the Champs.
Jack Lemmon doing anything? Really? Never did a thing to please you? I know it's possible; still, I'm stunned.
I can't think of anyone better to play Bud Baxter in The Apartment.
I can't stand him, for some reason. He reminds me of Jack Paar, for one thing.
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