Mel Blanc

The voice of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Woody Woodpecker and so many other characters is almost inescapable. But Mel Blanc's records are much more unusual, and this is one that compiles a selection of his songs, originally issued - or so I think - on Capitol singles.

A panic? I think not, although his Al Jolson impression is very amusing, complete with a wacky whistling chorus, "mwahh" interjections, and cut-ins by Woody and Porky. On the other hand, Mel doing Porky doing K-k-k-Katy is not something I'd like to hear more than once, if that.

Still, this is a fine remembrance of a genuine comic genius.

Lord Buckley Pops His Fingers

So you say you have never heard a Lord Buckley monologue? Imagine the story of Hiawatha as told by a Southern preacher or Marc Antony's eulogy of Caesar as done by a overripe English actor - all in 50s hipster lingo. ("The bad jazz a cat blows wails long after he's cut out!") That's Lord Buckley.

It's cool stuff, to be sure, but also strangely arid in the way that cool jazz can be. The mind wanders.

I looked on Wikipedia for some info on the Lord and found a strange tale of him being financially supported by Ed Sullivan (!) for many years. I wonder if this is true - it sounds to me like the kind of cosmic joking that Buckley himself might appreciate.

Speaking of eccentric artists, this record has a cover by the estimable Jim Flora, who does his best to illustrate the title cut.

Full disclosure: unlike the other covers on this site, this is not my image. The rip is mine, of course - it is from the double-EP version of the 10-inch LP.

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