Wackiest Album in the Universe, Vol. 1

• Artist: Various Artists
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 15, 1997
• Total Time: 73:07
• Type: Collection (various artists)
• Genre: Rock

Review

The 18 sides on this compilation are among the best-known novelty singles from "the golden age of rock & roll," circa the mid-'50s and early '60s. While a majority of the tunes are explicitly one-off comedic efforts -- "Monster Mash" (Bobby Pickett), "Purple People Eater" (Sheb Wooley), "Witch Doctor" (David Seville), and "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor on the Bed Post Overnight" (Rolf Harris) -- there are others that are essentially ultra-catchy (or should that read ultra-kitschy?) pop songs. Those would include "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" (Brian Hyland), "Pink Shoelaces" (Dodie Stevens), "Splish Splash" (Bobby Darin), and "Goodbye Cruel World" (James Darren). In addition to running over 70 minutes, 1997's Wackiest Album in the Universe, Vol. 1 boasts a few tracks from folks whose work may prove harder to find, such as the Playmates ("Beep Beep"), Little Jimmy Dickens ("May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose"), and Charlie Drake ("My Boomerang Won't Come Back"). It's worth mentioning that the audio fidelity is very good to excellent, which cannot always be said of multi-artist collections like this. None of the recordings have been derived from vinyl sources, or at least there is no aural evidence or other analog artifacts. This is a highly recommended anthology for all interested parties, and it should be noted that while the "Vol. 1" in the title suggests a follow-up, there were no successors in the immediately ensuing years. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Monster Mash	Bobby "Boris" Pickett, Leonard Capizzi	Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers
The Purple People Eater	Sheb Wooley	Sheb Wooley
Witch Doctor	Ross Bagdasarian	David Seville
Alley-Oop	Dallas Frazier	The Hollywood Argyles
Mr. Custer	Al DeLory, Fred Darian, Joseph VanWinkle	Larry Verne
May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose	Neal Merritt	Little Jimmy Dickens
Pink Shoelaces	Mark Grant	Dodie Stevens
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini	Paul Vance, Lee Pockriss	Brian Hyland
Beep Beep	Carl Cicchetti, Donald Claps	The Playmates
Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)	Irv Taylor	Connie Stevens, Edd Byrnes
Splish Splash	Bobby Darin, Murray "The K" Kaufman	Bobby Darin
Yakety Yak	Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller	The Coasters
Running Bear	J.P. Richardson	Johnny Preston
The Bird's the Word	Carl White, Al Frazier, Sonny Harris, Turner Wilson	The Rivingtons
Goodbye Cruel World	Gloria Shayne	James Darren
Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight	Marty Bloom, Ernest Breur, Billy Rose	Lonnie Donegan
Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport	Rolf Harris	Rolf Harris
My Boomerang Won't Come Back	Diamond, Charlie Drake	Charlie Drake

Credits

David Seville (Performer), Sheb Wooley (Performer), Little Jimmy Dickens (Performer), The Coasters (Performer), Bobby Darin (Performer), Brian Hyland (Performer), The Rivingtons (Performer), Lonnie Donegan (Performer), The Playmates (Performer), James Darren (Performer), Rolf Harris (Performer), Johnny Preston (Performer), Connie Stevens (Performer), Dodie Stevens (Performer), Larry Verne (Performer), Edd Byrnes (Performer), Vincent M. Vero (Producer), Charlie Drake (Performer), Duane Romanell (Design), Eric Lewandoski (Art Direction), Richard Appel (Liner Notes), Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers (Performer)