Hello, party-goers, and welcome back to the Listening Party rumpus room where the door is always open and the music is always playing.

This week Dave and Mary took a turn down the path marked “Novelty Songs” so we can listen to some songs that Dave has deemed novelty songs. He attempts to explain his criteria, but we’re still not convinced. But, while you can question their novelty, you cannot question their quality!

So pull up a comfy chair and settle down for some novel songs!

* The Soft Boys – “(I Want to Be an) Anglepoise Lamp” – Radar Records single b/w “Fatman’s Son”, 1978 – 13:32* Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – “Little Demon” – Okeh Records single b-side to “I Put a Spell on You”, 1956 – 30:59* The Small Faces – “I Feel Much Better” – Immediate single b-side to “Tin Soldier”, 1967 – 40:42* The Hombres – “Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) – Verve records single b/w “Go, Girl, Go”, 1967 – 52:09* 10cc – “Donna” – UK Records single b/w “Hot Sun Rock”, 1972 – 1:07:47* The Hollywood Jills – “He Makes Me Mad” – Tune-Kel Records b-side to “A Good Thing, Baby”, 1968 – 1:35:22* Matching Mole – “Signed Curtain” – Matching Mole, 1972 – 1:42:23* Simon & Garfunkel – “Punky’s Dilemma” – Bookends, 1967 – 1:50:22* 1910 Fruitgum Co. – “The Song Song” – 1,2,3 Red Light, 1968 – 2:08:42* Peter Sarstedt – “No More Lollipops” – Peter Sarstedt, 1969 – 2:24:14* Blossom Dearie (ft. Bob Dorough) – “Answering Machine” – Simply, 1982 – 2:30:54* Randy Newman – “Pants” – Born Again, 1979 – 2:38:59* Kraftwerk – “Pocket Calculator” – Computer World, 1981 – 2:50:17

And spinning on the Victrola to enlighten and amaze:

* The Waves – “Hey War Pig!” – Armageddon Records single b-side to “The Nightmare”, 1981 – 27:20* Red Ingle & the Natural Seven – “Cigareets, Whuskey, and Wild, Wild Women” – Capitol single b/w “Serutan Yob”, 1946 – 1:04:09* Frabjoy and Runcible Spoon – “I’m Beside Myself” – Marmalade Records single b/w “Animal Song”, 1969 – 1:14:56* Ohio Express – “Sausalito (Is the Place to Go)” – Buddah Records b/w “Make Love Not War”, 1969 – 1:20:36* Festival – “Today” – RCA Victor Records single b/w “Warm Me”, 1972 – 1:26:06* Tom & Jerry – “I’m Lonesome” – Ember Records single b-side to “Lookin’ at You”, 1958 – 2:03:33

Thanks for listenin’.

If you feel you must, here is Rupert Holmes singing his own version of the song “Answering Machine”.