You Know Who... And the Return of Brett!

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Dennis Locorriere
Photo by Tom Hill
Can you believe it’s been over two months since Brett joined me for a show? Man, life (and work) sure can get in the way sometimes.
 
As usual, Brett brought some cool stuff from left field, curious remixes, some “novelty” tunes. Personally, I hate that term, but it has become an accepted shorthand for songs based around a humorous premise. The definition is far too broad. It has been applied, undeniably accurately, to the songs of Ray Stevens and “Weird Al” Yankovic, but it also has been used in reference to songs by Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Johnny Cash, and Frank Zappa. Some novelty songs will hit the top 40, while others would only get airplay on the Dr. Demento show. I believe that often the determining factor has more to do with artist’s reputation than the actual content of the song, and there is a whole conversation to be had there. Mainly, I dislike the term because I believe it disparages the artist and the skill involved. (Then again, there are so-called novelty records made by some who would be considered “outsider musicians,” whose lack of ability led to unintentionally humorous results. Notable examples of this were the “world’s worst opera singer,” Florence Foster Jenkins, and American Idol sensation, William Hung. Again, there is a whole other conversation to be had there. I personally believe that the novelty subsection of “outsider music” is based, in no small part, to cruelty.)
 
Interestingly, two musicians passed away in the last couple of days who have been associated with the novelty music label. While Dr. Hook and the Medicine show had a number of hits with conventional songs in the 70s, they also had a number of songs (written by cartoonist, Shel Silverstain) which utilized quite raunchy and deliberately sophomoric humor. Dennis Locorriere, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 76, was the voice on such soft-rock hits as “Sharing the Night Together” and “When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman,” but he also put his stamp on other romantic ditties like “Freakin’ at the Freaker’s Ball” (“Everybody's kissing each other / Brother with sister, son with mother / Smear my body up with butter / And take me to the freaker's ball”).
 
Ike Willis, 1988

Ike Willis, longtime vocalist and guitarist in Frank Zappa’s band, passed away yesterday at the age of 70. Best remembered for performing the titular role on Zappa’s 1979 concept album, Joe’s Garage, his rich baritone was featured beautifully on the Jeff Simmons penned song “Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up,” but most of the album features him singing about sex with robots, STDs, and prison gang-bangs.
 
So obviously we paid tribute to these two fallen rockers. As for the recordings from this day in history, I had pulled out a few more that we didn’t have time for, which would have diversified things a little bit, taken that segment out of just being in straight ahead “classic rock” territory. Still, if you’re the kind of person who turns your nose up at Hendrix, The Who, and Fleetwood Mac, I don’t know why you’re here.
 
Today’s birthdays include such diverse artists as jazz trombonist Kai Winding, Yes’ Rick Wakeman, Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, Wreckless Eric, Toyah Wilcox, and (meh) Jack Johnson. And of course, we got to absolutely none of those. We did have time to give some birthday love to George Alexander of the Flamin’ Groovies, playing their version of “Have You Seen My Baby,” written by none other than Randy Newman (evidently, one of his “non-novelty songs).
 
So while we could have gone on for another hour and still not gotten to all the music we wanted to play, we had a good talk and played some good tunes.
 
Click here to check it out:
LICRadio 5/18/2026
 
 
Oregon
“Nimbus”
(Ralph Towner)
Molde International Jazz Festival, Molde, NO, 5/18/75
Studio version recorded by Ralph Towner; released on Solstice  (ECM, 1974)
 
 
The Hamburglers
“Batman Theme”
(Neil Hefti)
From Dr. Demento Covered in Punk  ( Demented Punk Records, 2018)
 
 
Frank Zappa
"Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?"
(Frank Zappa)
From Joe's Garage Act I  (Zappa, 1979)
 
 
Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show
"Silvia's Mother"
(Shel Silverstein)
From Doctor Hook  (Columbia, 1972)
 
 
Harry Nilsson, 1972
Photo by Stan Meagher


Harry Nilsson & Friends*
"I Want You to Sit on My Face"
(Harry Nilsson)
Morgan Studios, London, UK, November, 1972
 
*Alice Cooper were in the midst of recording their Billion Dollar Babies album, when this particular session was besieged by a gaggle of drunken friends including Harry Nilsson, Marc Bolan, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, and Ric Grech. The sessions descended into chaos. One of the products of the evening was this impromptu number, led by Nilsson (and incorporating a section of “You’re Breaking My Heart,” from his then-current record, Son of Schmilsson).
 
 
Yoko Ono
“Walking on Thin Ice”
(Yoko Ono)
From Lennon Bermuda  (Freisenbruch Brannon Media, 2013)
 
 
Electric Light Orchestra
“All Over the World”
(Jeff Lynne)
From Xanadu  (Jet/MCA, 1980)
 
 
Rupert Holmes
“Partners in Crime”
(Rupert Holmes)
From Partners in Crime  (Infinity/MCA, 1979)
 
 
The Castiles

The Castiles
"Baby I”
(Bruce Springsteen, George Theiss)
Recorded at Mr. Music Inc., Brick Town, NJ, 5/18/66
 
 
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
“I Don’t Live Today”
(Jimi Hendrix)
1968 Pop and Underground Festival, Gulfstream Race Track Park, Hallandale, FL, 5/18/68
Studio version released on Are You Experienced  (Track/Reprise, 1967)
 
 
The Who
“Dr. Jimmy”
(Pete Townshend)
Charlton Athletic Football Club, South-East London, UK, 5/18/74
Studio version released on Quadrophenia  (Track/MCA, 1973)
 
 
Fleetwood Mac
“The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)”
(Peter Green)
Fairgrounds Arena, Oklahoma City, OK, 5/18/77
Studio version released as single A-side (Reprise, 1970)
 
 
Roxy Music
“Still Falls the Rain”
(Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera)
Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, 5/18/79
Studio version released on Manifesto  (E.G./Polydor/Atco, 1979)
 
 
Richard & Linda Thompson
“Don’t Renege on Our Love”
(Richard Thompson)
The Bottom Line, New York, NY,  5/18/82, (Early show)
Studio version released on Shoot Out the Lights  (Hannibal, 1982)
 
 
George Alexander of Flamin' Groovies
Photo by David Fowler

Flamin’ Groovies
“Have You Seen My Baby”
(Randy Newman)
From Teenage Head  (Kama Sutra, 1971)
 
 
“Weird Al” Yankovic
“Polkas on 45”
(Various)
From In 3-D  (Rock n' Roll/Scotti Brothers, 1984)

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