# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/81 "2012-11-06T15:47:48Z")
[“Telephone Man”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UexxG4RntfU) by Meri Wilson ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/82 "2012-11-06T16:00:45Z")
_Superman_, by The Brothers Four doesn’t get played. (Or might not, since I don’t listen to oldies stations.) It’s not exactly PC. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/83 "2012-11-06T16:40:48Z")
_Intergalactic Laxative_ Donovan _Alley Oop_ The Hollywood Argyles ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/84 "2012-11-06T16:58:57Z")
[Please Mr. Custer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe0q8Lq3L2Q) by Larry Verne. ---
**Author:** ![pinqy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a3d4f5/32.png) [@pinqy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinqy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/85 "2012-11-06T18:00:18Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter”, by Herman’s Hermits. I remember getting thoroughly sick of it when it was #1 for more than nine weeks one summer. Mind you, I was only six or so, but my older siblings listened to it constantly. You mention Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter, but forgot “I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am?” Or maybe you intentionally forgot: I’ve certainly tried. And no one has mentioned “Godzilla” by Blue Oyster Cult. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/86 "2012-11-06T19:48:59Z")
Monster Mash. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/87 "2012-11-06T19:52:37Z")
The likelihood of ever hearing this actual hit on the radio again is somewhere south of zero, thanks to an unfortunate historic event. I give you [“Wild Thing” with Senator Bobby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOt2htKMzD4) and the HardlyWorthit Players. Even more bizarrely - there is a YouTube video of this performed live on “Hollywood Palace”. I have the 45 RPM record and it is on my Ipod along with other brain-destroying effluvia. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/88 "2012-11-06T20:50:11Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The likelihood of ever hearing this actual hit on the radio again is somewhere south of zero, thanks to an unfortunate historic event. > > I give you [“Wild Thing” with Senator Bobby](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOt2htKMzD4) and the HardlyWorthit Players. > > Even more bizarrely - there is a YouTube video of this performed live on “Hollywood Palace”. > > I have the 45 RPM record and it is on my Ipod along with other brain-destroying effluvia. The version I remember was the other side, in which the vocal was an impersonation of Sen. Everett Dirksen. (At the time I thought it really was Dirksen.) ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/89 "2012-11-06T22:13:28Z")
> [@sahirrnee](#): > > \*The Marvelous Toy \* Peter, Paul and Mary I read this as _The Marvelous Toy Peter_ by Paul and Mary. Thought it must be a couple singing about their vibrator. 😃 ---
**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 6, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/90 "2012-11-06T22:14:59Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The likelihood of ever hearing this actual hit on the radio again is somewhere south of zero, thanks to an unfortunate historic event. [“Poor Vaughn Meader.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaughn_Meader) ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/91 "2012-11-07T15:07:41Z")
“Leader of the Laundromat” By The Detergents. [The Detergents - Leader of the Laundromat - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi5yDBvYUcE) ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/92 "2012-11-07T16:03:46Z")
“Life is a Rock (But the radio rolled me)” by Reunion. ---
**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 7, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/93 "2012-11-07T16:50:34Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Monster Mash. On the contrary, I’d say that Monster Mash is a classic example of a novelty song that just won’t die. The follow-up songs, like Pickett’s own Monster’s Holiday, fared not so well. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/94 "2012-11-07T17:25:26Z")
Unfortunately (and no reflection on the previous poster), “Johnny Angel” still gets airplay. ---
**Author:** ![Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Ashley\_Pomeroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashley_Pomeroy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/95 "2012-11-07T18:51:27Z")
> [@Mattie\_Blue](#): > > Today I heard “[Plus, I dare you not to sing the refrain like Peter Boyle in "[URL=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co6-tYS9k1U”]Young Frankenstein](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG3PnQ3tgzY)”. I had the novelisation of this - the one thing I remember is that the author rendered the Monster’s vocalisation as “ig maud blip”. I’m guessing it’s because he was going by the script, which probably had “monster makes funny noise” instead of what ended up in the film. Yes, [Teri Garr](http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews42/young%20frankenstein%20blu-ray/large/large%20young%20frankenstein%20blu-rayx2.jpg), I will roll in the hay with you. Er, as for the original topic, Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime” is nowadays mostly remembered for its unique take on drinking & driving. Reparata & The Delrons’ “Captain of Your Ship”? It was awful but catchy and I remember it being in an advert in the 1990s. #13 in the UK pop charts in 1968. Awful. Discogs suggests that my dad had [this album](http://www.discogs.com/Various-Fun-Rock-24-Golden-Hits-Of-The-60s-And-The-70s/release/2979409) when I was young, because it has “In the Summertime” and “Captain of Your Ship” on it, as well as “Purple People Eater”. Almost every other track would fit this thread. And yet I went on to like the avant-garde electronic stylings of glitchy art music pioneers Autechre - not _love_ them, but _like_ them. Curious case of a band that started out a bit rubbish, and then seemed to get better whilst simultaneously evaporating, so that you can’t pick a definitive instance when they were really, truly at the top of their game. They were either about to be brilliant, or… look, get _Tri Repetae_ and _Chiastic Slide_ and then imagine something in between those two albums. Somewhere in the world there’s a man my age whose dad played him Coil when he was young, and now he has a collection of novelty hit records from the 1970s. Fucking awful decade for novelty records, to be honest. There’s a thin line between kitsch novelty and just fucking awful shit, and the 1970s flew right over that line. I mean, [listen to it](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2rPrEJAHPs). Yes, I know it’s fucking _1968_… it’s _almost_ the 1970s and it’s just, gah. Like that fuck-Beatles awful shitfucksong, “All Together Now”, from _Yellow Shit-ma-fuckarine_. I’m sitting here right now listening to goddam disc fucking two of _Ambient IV: Isolationism_, and it starts with [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXKXCqAaEqs), which is just six fucking minutes of a fucking screeching _screeching_ noise, like this - eeeeee! - and I’d rather carry on listening to it than even _think about_ that fucking goddamn Paul Mc-fucking-Cartney motherfucking goddamn abortion. Which is legal now. Aborting Paul McCartney whilst smoking pot. It’s legal now, 'cause of Obama. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/96 "2012-11-07T19:14:26Z")
“Pass The Dutchie” by Musical Youth. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/97 "2012-11-07T19:48:21Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > (re: Todd Rundgren and Joe Jackson) You need SiriusXM. Both of those guys get played reasonably often on some of their stations. The 70s channel on Music Choice (comes with my cable package) plays both at least occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/98 "2012-11-07T19:50:20Z")
Anything pre-rock is too old to be an oldie, and might as well be turning to petroleum in the bowels of the earth as far as the popular culture is concerned. Phil Harris’ [The Thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWPx-fw0mI8) is my favorite, but dating to 1950, it’s only playable as part of Alzheimer’s therapy. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/99 "2012-11-07T20:59:43Z")
_Jim Dandy_ Black Oak Arkansas ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907/100 "2012-11-07T21:42:26Z")
[Ain’t No Age For Rock and Roll](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EGac97iSY4) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-oldies-that-never-get-radio-play-anymore/639907.md?page=6)