# Silly Oldies that Never Get Radio Play Anymore **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 5, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907 "2012-11-05T00:47:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/41 "2012-11-05T04:55:31Z")
I listen mostly to Destination Doo-wop for oldies radio, and on their program Gary’s Oldies Vault you’ll hear mixed in with the other oldies a fair number of novelty songs that you may never have heard of. Here’s some that I first learned about there: [Ba-cha-ca-loop (Paul Revere’s Horse) - Lou Monte](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3Px5hJxm3w) [Dinner with Drac (Part 1) - John Zacherle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34hJZHcqNZM) [The Thing - Phil Harris](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWPx-fw0mI8&feature=related) [Bird on my Head - Ross Bagdasarian (David Seville)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H6qbQLTJVA) [Highway Patrol - Junior Brown](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wLVCLPx0M) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/42 "2012-11-05T14:09:24Z")
[quote=“kunilou, post:27, topic:639907”] [How Do You Do](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBDNjuazoUY&feature=related) Mouth & MacNeal (warning: creepy ventriloquist dummy!) I remember this song, never saw the video. That is one big bowl of WTF. My favorite part is when Hagar the Horrible gives the dummy a glass of water to drink. I am quite certain he did not do it ironically. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/43 "2012-11-05T14:25:30Z")
“Ahab the Arab”, by Ray Stevens “Charlie Brown”, by the Coasters ---
**Author:** ![Stormcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@Stormcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stormcrow)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/44 "2012-11-05T14:30:16Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > That’s a cover. Bob Dylan did the original. Well, it he did say it was a Mannfred Mann song, so he probably didn’t feel like repeating himself… ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/45 "2012-11-05T14:43:35Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > You need SiriusXM. Both of those guys get played reasonably often on some of their stations. Just what I was going to say. This week I heard “Skinny Legs and All” by Joe Tex. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/46 "2012-11-05T14:52:57Z")
[Frankie Avalon - Bobby Sox To Stockings](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EY4TT2bLRM) [Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler - Ballad Of The Green Berets](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1CZ3xk4R08) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/47 "2012-11-05T15:23:47Z")
> [@Mean Mr. Mustard](#): > > I remember this song, never saw the video. That is one big bowl of WTF. This song doesn’t fit the category of silly, but if you’re looking for a big bowl of WTF, [check out the video.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeKV2UYq1Q) Come for the circus folk, stay for the flamethrowers.😕 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/48 "2012-11-05T15:37:16Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > This song doesn’t fit the category of silly, but if you’re looking for a big bowl of WTF, [check out the video.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeKV2UYq1Q) > > Come for the circus folk, stay for the flamethrowers.😕 Another big bowl of WTF:[Total Eclipse Of The Heart.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpC81-SJcvo) The [literal video version](http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f03d464867/total-eclipse-of-the-heart-literal-video-version-original) makes more sense. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/49 "2012-11-05T15:41:05Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > This song doesn’t fit the category of silly, but if you’re looking for a big bowl of WTF, [check out the video.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeKV2UYq1Q) > > Come for the circus folk, stay for the flamethrowers.😕 In the beginning - where she starts singing - isnt that the guy from Game of Thrones? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/50 "2012-11-05T16:03:31Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > This song doesn’t fit the category of silly, but if you’re looking for a big bowl of WTF, [check out the video.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqeKV2UYq1Q) > > Come for the circus folk, stay for the flamethrowers.😕 It’s much better with the volume off. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/51 "2012-11-05T16:06:01Z")
A couple of bird-related silly oldies: “[May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up your Nose](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfYFx6MOTYU)” by Little Jimmy Dickens “[Disco Duck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WeOQMwKxlI)” by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots. (There are a number of interesting videos of this song out there.) Then there’s “Surfin’ Bird” by the Trashmen, but I think that might get more airplay. ([This clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fruHQhNe-UM), from American Bandstand, is certainly one of the stranger musical segments of early-60s pop… the vocalist, sans band or anyone else, lip-synching the entire song.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/52 "2012-11-05T16:07:37Z")
Kankakee’s WVLI still plays most of the songs in this thread. [Check out their audio stream.](http://tunein.com/radio/WVLI-951-s23549/) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/53 "2012-11-05T16:56:16Z")
> [@simster](#): > > In the beginning - where she starts singing - isnt that the guy from Game of Thrones? [Peter Dinklage](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0227759/)? Maybe – the mouth and jaw look like him. IMDB says he was in a Pat Benatar music vid but does not mention Quarterflash. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/54 "2012-11-05T17:20:25Z")
I can’t believe I haven’t seen this one yet: “Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp-she-bomp-she-bomp)” How about “Tiptoe through the Tulips”… Lord, there were a million of 'em, weren’t there? ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/55 "2012-11-05T17:22:26Z")
“The Bird” by Jerry Reed “Shriner’s Convention” - Ray Stevens (and a ton of others: “Erik the Awful,” “It’s Me Again, Margaret,” etc., etc., etc…) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/56 "2012-11-05T17:37:46Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > “The Bird” by Jerry Reed > “Shriner’s Convention” - Ray Stevens (and a ton of others: “Erik the Awful,” “It’s Me Again, Margaret,” etc., etc., etc…) Speaking of Ray Stevens, my favorite one is [I Need Your Help, Barry Manilow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36c5aFZSr4o). ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/57 "2012-11-05T17:58:15Z")
Let’s see, Top 40 music of the era that would bring me back to my childhood or early years when I couldn’t avoid hearing them a gazillion times, yet never hear on the “oldies” radio station today… The disco version of the theme to Star Wars “Pac-Man Fever” by … ? “Pop Musik” by M “Jam On It” by Newcleus ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/58 "2012-11-05T20:36:02Z")
For a couple of weeks in 1972, you couldn’t turn on a radio without hearing “Convention '72” by The Delegates. For a couple of _months_ in 1975, you couldn’t turn on a radio without hearing “Mister Jaws”. I was heartily sick of them at the time, but now I kind of miss them. I haven’t heard either since they dropped off the charts. As an added bonus, the former included the “Gotta Find a Woman” chant from the funk single “Troglodyte (Cave Man)”, and I can’t remember the last time I heard **it** , either. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/59 "2012-11-05T20:41:08Z")
“Teddy Bear” by Red Sovine. “Convoy” by C. W. McCall. (Maybe they play these all the time on some C&W stations, but I haven’t heard them in a long while.) ---
**Author:** ![Hoss\_N.Feffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/90db22/32.png) [@Hoss\_N.Feffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoss_N.Feffa)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/60 "2012-11-05T20:56:17Z")
This song immediately came to mind when I read the OP. I’m not sure how much airplay it got when it was new, but I’ve only heard it on the radio once and I immediately loved it (it was on a mainstream oldies station in Austin, TX about 10 years ago). I don’t know if this is the original (I doubt it) but it’s the version I heard: [Fendermen - Muleskinner Blues](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PleN0AmuT9M) (“Send that buck-buck-bucket on down!”) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907.md?page=4)