The Muppet Musicians of Bremen - 1972

Another great item from my childhood is this 1972 soundtrack to the Muppet Musicians Of Bremen. I played this record until I wore the vinyl out, and I have not heard this album in over 25 years, until recently. I decided to archive them up and feature them here at The Flip Side to share this memory with those who also remember the classic tale about a donkey named Leroy, who underwent a vicious altercation with his master. During the night, our hero ventures out on his own with a wagon-load of stolen musical instruments. Wandering down the road leading to Bremen town, he meets up with a rooster named T.R., an old hound dog named Rover Joe, and a mangy feline named Catgut, all of which favored the idea of forming a band and heading to Bremen town where they hope their talents would be appreciated with edible rewards in return. Instead, they meet up with their estranged masters in an old swampland shack, where the story concludes with an unexpected ending.

Track listing:

01 - The Story Begins
02 - The Traveling Musician
03 - The Story Continues (Part 1)
04 - The Cock-A-Doodle Blues
05 - The Story Continues (Part 2)
06 - The Traveling Musicians (Part 1)
07 - The Story Continues (Part 3)
08 - The Traveling Musicians (Part 2)
09 - The Story Continues (Part 4)
10 - You Gotta Know Your Friends
11 - The Story Continues (Part 5)
12 - The Traveling Musicians (Part 3)
13 - The Story Continues (Part 6)
14 - A Family Together
15 - The Story Concludes
16 - Closing Theme

Download link: Megaupload

Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas - 1977

Primarilly aired on HBO, here comes part two of the three-part Muppet posts. This is by far one of my greatest memories of childhood. Every year at around Christmas time, I recall going to the local Chuck E. Cheese's for food and fun, then coming right home to cue up HBO to enjoy Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas. This became an every-year tradition, and I always loved watching this feature when I was growing up, and I still enjoy it just as much as I did back then. Here is the music that came from the feature, plus an unused song is included: Born In A Trunk, which was sung by one of the characters during the Talent Show sequence that was never used in the original feature. Another interesting song in this lineup is the remix of The Bathing Suit That Grandma Otter Wore. In the feature, one of the lines from the song was dropped, but it's been included in this remixed version.

Track Listing:

01 - Opening Theme - Emmet & Alice Otter
02 - The Bathing Suit That Grandma Otter Wore - Emmet & Alice Otter
03 - When There Ain't No Hole In The Washtub - Emmet & Alice Otter
04 - When The River Meets The Sea - Emmet & Alice Otter
05 - Barbecue - The Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band
06 - Born In A Trunk - The Music Store Owner
07 - Barbecue - Yancey Woodchuck
08 - Our World - Alice Otter
09 - Brothers - The Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band
10 - Riverbottm Nightmare Band - The Nightmare
11 - Our World-Brothers - The Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band & Alice Otter
12 - Our World-Brothers (Reprise) - The Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band & Alice Otter
13 - When The River Meets The Sea (Reprise) - The Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band & Alice Otter

Download link: Megaupload

The Frog Prince - 1971

Time for a little change of pace. In my next three posts, I would like to share a part of my childhood, inspired by and dedicated to Tony at Way Out Junk. This is part one of this series of posts: from the Tales From Muppetland series. Here, Kermit the Frog narrates the tale of The Frog Prince from 1971. Enjoy!

Track listing:

01 - Prologue
02 - Frog Chant
03 - Sir Robin The Brave
04 - Dialogue
05 - Frogs
06 - N'Im Nineteen
07 - Dialogue (Part 2)
08 - I'm Nineteen
09 - Sleep, Sweetums
10 - Dialogue (Part 3)
11 - Sweetums
12 - Anthems Of Joy
13 - Epilogue

Download link: Megaupload

Cryan Shames - Synthesis (1969)

By special request, here's one of the albums by the same guys that brought you "Sugar and Spice" in 1966. I'll be in the process of compiling that one sooner or later, but for now, please enjoy this 1969 gem.

Track listing:

01 - Greenburg, Glickstein, Charles, David Smith
02 - Baltimore Oriole
03 - It's All Right
04 - Your Love
05 - A Master's Fool
06 - First Train To California
07 - The Painter
08 - Sweet Girl Of Mine
09 - 20th Song
10 - Let's Get Together
11 - Symphony of the Wind

Download link: Megaupload

The Wackers - Shredder - 1973

I found this cover quite interesting, and so I took a chance. Not a bad chance, says I.

Here we have some sort of rainbow-making machine, depicting the heads of the group members, feeding directly into a grinder which turns everything into flowers. Ooooohhhhhh-kay then. If this isn't a concept thought up by hippies, I really don't know what else is.

Track listing:

01 - Day & Night
02 - Hey, Lawdy Lawdy
03 - I'll Believe In You
04 - Put Myself To Sleep
05 - Eventually Even You And Me
06 - Coming Apart
07 - It's My Life
08 - Beach Song
09 - Buck Duckdog Memorial Jam (Our Ship's Comin' In-My Old Lady-You Really Got Me)
10 - Last Dance

Download link: Megaupload

The Other Half - 1968

Alright, all you psych fans, have I got a surprise for you. I had to include this, being the big time Blue Cheer fan that I am. Here's The Other Half's self-titled album from 1968, featuring Randy Holden on guitar. This was the group he was in before running off to join Blue Cheer. Jeff Nolan belts out the vocals in this superb psych album, despite their popular single "Mr. Pharmacist" is not on this album. Nevertheless, let not your collection be complete without this gem.

Track listing:

01 - Introduction
02 - Feathered Fish
03 - Flight Of The Dragon Lady
04 - Wonderful Day
05 - I Need You
06 - Oz Lee Eaves Drops
07 - Bad Day
08 - Morning Fire
09 - What Can I Do For You (First Half)
10 - What Can I Do For You (Second Half)

Download link: Megaupload

Black Pearl (1969)

Arrrr, matey! I be not talkin' 'bout the lost treasure from Davey Jones's Locker, but all you psychedelic superfans out there may just start digging the sound from this spot-on album! Indulge yourself in one of the finest in psych music, and you don't even need to sail the seven seas for this one.

Track listing:

01 - Crazy Chicken
02 - Thinkin' 'Bout The Good Times
03 - White Devil
04 - Mr. Soul Satisfaction
05 - Forget It
06 - Climbing Up The Walls
07 - Bent Over
08 - Endless Journey
09 - Reach Up

Download link: Megaupload

Orpheus - Ascending - 1968

Here's Orpheus's second album, which in my opinion is the best they've ever recorded. Breaking slightly to the left of Sunshine Pop and actually kicking it up a notch with some good ol' psychedelic sound, this album really shines above and beyond their brethren. Their version of Walk Away Renee is quite outstanding, however their vocals on She's Not There could have been a wee bit better, in my opinion, however the backing instruments are superb, which gives this song a great rating in my book.

Track listing:

01 - I'll Fly
02 - Just Got Back
03 - Mine's Yours
04 - Don't Be So Serious
05 - So Far Away In Love
06 - She's Not There
07 - Love Over Here
08 - Borneo
09 - Just A Little Bit
10 - Walk Away Renee
11 - Roses
12 - Magic Air

Download link: Megaupload

Blue Cheer - Live in Japan

By special request...

Still psyched up after all these years, Blue Cheer is still on tour to this day. Here, they come at you with their comeback 1999 tour in Tokyo, Japan.

Track listing:

01 - Babylon
02 - Big Trouble In Paradise
03 - The Hunter
04 - Blue Steel Dues
05 - Urban Soldiers
06 - Girl Next Door
07 - Ride With Me
08 - Summertime Blues
09 - Down And Dirty
10 - Out Of Focus
11 - Doctor Please

Download link: Megaupload

Orpheus - Joyful - 1969

This is Orpheus's third album on the MGM label, recorded in 1969. In my opinion, this one is just as good as the debut album. The price sticker says 57 cents, which makes me wonder what the members of Orpheus was feeling when they saw their third album appear at such a discount rate. If this were still the late 60s/early 70s, I'd have to say that if you're a recording artist, don't shop at K-mart. If you do, don't go through their LPs. You may not like what you see.

Track listing:

01 - By The Size Of My Shoes
02 - Me About You
03 - May I Look At You
04 - To Touch Our Love Again
05 - Lovin' You
06 - Brown Arms in Houston
07 - As They All Fall
08 - I Can Make The Sun Rise
09 & 10 - Joyful-Of Enlightenment

Download link: Megaupload

Orpheus - 1967

One of the most unusually-named album artists I've come across while working in the record store was Orpheus on the MGM label. The group was named after a figure in Greek mythology: Orpheus, the chief representative of the arts of song and the lyre, and of great importance in the religious history of Greece. I found the cover intriguing enough to take home and give a listen. Among this album were three other Orpheus albums, which I will post later on. I expected the group to be a strange psychedelic group, but to my surprise, they recorded mostly sunshine-style music...kind of like a mix between a light bubblegum pop sound and 60s folk/harmony. Nevertheless, this album was played quite a few times on my turntable. After acquiring their albums, I have been unable to find other copies of them. From the MGM recording studio to you, I offer you the same experience I once had when I first heard this album.

Track listing:

01 - I've Never Seen Love Like This
02 - Lesley's World
03 - Congress Alley
04 - Music Machine
05 - Door Knob Song
06 - I'll Stay With You
07 - Can't Find The Time To Tell You
08 - Never In My Life
09 - The Dream

Download link: Megaupload

Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum - 1968

This is the debut album from Blue Cheer on the Mercury label. In my opinion, you can't get any better than Vincebus Eruptum when it comes to Blue Cheer, exploding into the psychedelic rock scene.

Track list:

01 - Summertime Blues
02 - Rock Me Baby
03 - Doctor Please
04 - Out Of Focus
05 - Parchment Farm
06 - Second Time Around

Download link: Megaupload

Blue Cheer - Outsideinside - 1968

Here is Blue Cheer's second album on the Phillips label. This would be the final album featuring guitarist Leigh Stevens.

Track list:

01 - Feathers From Your Tree
02 - Sun Cycle
03 - Just A Little Bit
04 - Gypsy Ball
05 - Come And Get It
06 - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
07 - The Hunter
08 - Magnolia Caboose Babyfinger
09 - Babylon

Download link: Megaupload

Spooky Tooth (with Pierre Henry) - Ceremony - 1970

This album was recorded with a collaborated effort of 60s British progressive rock group Spooky Tooth, with electric instruments provided by French composer Pierre Henry. The songs all focus on a biblical nature, but even if you are not the religious type, this album is still great to listen to. Really provides a rush of psychedelic enjoyment. If you are into the macabre, I suggest playing this album in the dark.

Track listing:

01 - Have Mercy
02 - Jubilation
03 - Confession
04 - Prayer
05 - Offering
06 - Hosanna

Megaupload Download link: Megaupload

All revved up

Welcome to my first Blog post. Although I don't have much time to contribute to anything outside pending projects and so forth, I will see what I can do to keep posting stuff here.

As most of you know, I am a horror author, magazine columnist, celebrity interviewer, parodist, radio show host, actor, and voice actor. I keep extraordinarily busy with my many endeavors, but I do try to spend as much time as I can in all areas. Once I get the hang of blogging stuff, I should have more to offer to the table.

For now, I welcome you to The Flip Side!