Bizarre Albums

In 1966, rock bands started to get much more ambitious in the recording studio. On television, Batman had premiered in January and was a huge success. So, Jan and Dean made a rock and comedy concept album about Batman...well, at least that was the plan. 

Academy Award winning actor Joe Pesci seemed to always have a connection to music, whether that was playing guitar in bands or helping with the formation of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. In 1998, Pesci released an album of his own, as his character from the hit comedy, My Cousin Vinny....Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just For You.   

In 1998, after nearly fifty years of producing records, Sir George Martin decided to make one final album. A record for himself, as he put it. He asked some of his friends and heroes to come and perform Beatles songs for it. Recording artists such as Phil Collins and Bobby McFerrin took part...but so did comedians and actors such as Robin Williams, Jim Carrey, Goldie Hawn, and Sean Connery.  This is the story of Sir George Martin's final album.   

Alvin and The Chipmunks had all but faded away in the 1970's. Their unexpected return was due in part to a bored radio DJ making a joke. This is the story of Chipmunk Punk, from 1980. 

In 1976, after winning his second consecutive Super Bowl, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw released an album of country and western covers.   

Laverne and Shirley was a wildly popular American sitcom in the 70's and 80's. Michael McKean and David Lander played the roles of Laverne and Shirley's upstairs neighbors, Lenny and Squiggy. Occasionally they appeared in episodes playing music as Lenny and The Squigtones. In 1979, Lenny and The Squigtones released an album on Casablanca Records.

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal released a platinum selling hip-hop album in 1993. This is the true story of how it came to be. 

In 1968, a band composed entirely of cartoon characters from Riverdale released their self titled debut album...The Archies. This is their story. 

The story of actor Bruce Willis' The Return of Bruno album(1987).