I remember AM radio songs that were basically an interviewer asking questions and short clips from popular hits used as the answers. Usually topical and funny, I'd love to find some of these -- anyone know where I can track them down? Title? Artist? ANYTHING? Many thanks!

Dan

: I remember AM radio songs that were basically
: an interviewer asking questions and short
: clips from popular hits used as the answers.
: Usually topical and funny, I'd love to find
: some of these -- anyone know where I can
: track them down? Title? Artist? ANYTHING?
: Many thanks!

: Dan

The novelty songs you're referring to are known as "break-in" records, and long before rappers came along, they were the first to use sampling. In fact, the first "break-in" records were released in the late '50s...

Although there were others who scored hits w/ "break-in" records during the '50s, '60s, and '70s, the originator and "king" was a fellow by the name of Dickie Goodman. "Break-in" records were Goodman's specialty, and no one else came close to matching his success w/ them - he was the one who paved the way for all others, so it's his hits you probably remember hearing on AM radio, more than any of the others. Unfortunately, Goodman committed suicide in 1989; today, his son, Jon, runs his estate (go to "www.dickiegoodman.com")...

In 1997, the Hot Productions label (not Rhino) released a killer CD compilation of all his hits, titled "Greatest Fables", and credited to Dickie Goodman & Friends. It's a single CD that features a whopping 39 songs (most averaging only about 2:00 in length - "break-in" records were notoriously short), including all 16 of his chart hits. His biggest were "The Flying Saucer" in 1956 (w/ his early partner, Bill Buchanan) and 1975's "Mr. Jaws". He continued recording up until the mid '80s, using then-current hits, and a half-dozen of them are also included on the collection (but the bulk of the CD contains '60s and '70s recordings). Hot Productions has since released a "Greatest Fables, Vol. 2" CD. I have the first one myself. I've provided a link below that will take you to info on the first CD. Buy it - if you loved those old "break-in" records, you won't regret it! (I should note that Hot Productions is a tiny indie label w/ limited distribution, so it will probably be a little harder to obtain this CD than most, but luckily, it's still in print!)

In fact, Goodman dominated the field of "break-in" records so much, that the only big "break-in" hits that weren't recorded by him (which you may recall also hearing) were "Moonflight" by Vik Venus in 1969, "Convention '72" by The Delegates in 1972, "Super Fly Meets Shaft" by John & Ernest in 1973, and "Evil Boll-Weevil" by Grand Canyon in 1974 (about stuntman Evel Knievel). Curiously, no "break-in" records have charted here in the U.S. in over 23 years - Goodman's moderate hit, "Kong", in the Winter of '77, was the last...

: I remember AM radio songs that were basically
: an interviewer asking questions and short
: clips from popular hits used as the answers.
: Usually topical and funny, I'd love to find
: some of these -- anyone know where I can
: track them down? Title? Artist? ANYTHING?
: Many thanks!

: Dan
Yes, I can answer your question. There was an artist named Dickie Goodman scored 2 Top 40 Novelity hits:"Energy Crisis'74" #33hit in the winter of '74 (don't remember that one), "Mr. Jaws" (the biggest hit of that one) reached #4 in the fall of '75. I definitely remember that one. It's a take on the groundbreaking movie. I think there's a CD of his hits on Rhino records. I don't know it it's available check @ www.rhino-direct.com to find out.