Bizarre Albums

MTV aired episodes of the old Monkees tv show in 1986, which was also the twentieth anniversary of the band and the tv series. It exploded and Monkeemania had returned. The following year, a tv producer wanted to capitalize on their popularity a reboot of The Monkees...The New Monkees. This is their story.

Elvis Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker was not a Colonel. In fact, he wasn't even a legal US citizen. Many people believe he was a con man and would do anything to make some money. One of his craziest plans was to release an Elvis Presley album...of just talking. This is the story of Having Fun with Elvis On Stage from 1974.

John Wayne. The Duke. He loved America. So much so, that in 1973 he recorded an album of patriotic poems set to music. This is the story of John Wayne's America, Why I Love Her from 1973.

From the first ever live Bizarre Albums show. This time, instead of an album, telling the story of Michael Jackson's ill-fated Ghosts music video from 1997. Recorded live on October 18, 2019 as part of Podcast Party at the Pack Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

An animated opening movie title sequence spawned one of the most iconic cartoon characters of all time, The Pink Panther. In 1981, The Pink Panther released a so-called "punk" record. This is the story of Pink Panther Punk from 1981.

“The first time I heard that Ed was taking singing lessons I made a citizens arrest on his tonsils for assault with a deadly weapon. After listening to this album, however, I think I’m liable to be sued for false arrest. Ed can sing. And quite well, too. I’m certain you’ll find “And Me…I’m Ed McMahon” as delightful and as pleasant a surprise as I have” - Johnny Carson. This is the story of And Me…I’m Ed McMahon from 1967.

A free episode of Bizarre Singles from the Patreon.com/bizarrealbums page! This one is about the rap single released by actors Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks, "City of Crime" from the soundtrack to their Dragnet movie from 1987.

Mae West. Actress, playwright, sex symbol…and 70 something year old rock and roll singer?!? It happened. With a teenage backing band. This is the story of Mae West’s Way Out West album from 1966.

Steve Young was a writer for David Letterman for over 20 years. While record shopping for a segment on the show, he stumbled into some mysterious, corporate souvenir records marked "internal use only". Little did he know, they would change his life. This was the subject of the 2018 documentary, Bathtubs Over Broadway. The film's soundtrack made many of these available to the public for the first time ever. This is the story of Bathtubs Over Broadway- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, from 2019.

The thrilling conclusion to the soundtrack for the 2018 documentary Bathtubs Over Broadway.

Jane Fonda’s Workout played a huge part of the 80's fitness craze. With success, comes parody. This is the story of Miss Piggy's Aerobique Exercise Workout Album, from 1982.

A former writer for Gilligan’s Island named Joel Rapp, his wife Lynn Rapp, and a synthesizer pioneer named Mort Garson team up to release an album of music…for plants. This is the story of Mother Earth’s Plantasia from 1976.

Johnny Cash. The country music outlaw. The Man in Black. The man who once sang the lyrics, “I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die”, released a children’s album in 1975. This is the story of The Johnny Cash Children’s Album from 1975.

Professional wrestling exploded in the 1980’s. Particularly the World Wrestling Federation. With one album already behind them, Vince McMahon decided it was time for his company to record a follow up. This is the story of Piledriver: The Wrestling Album II from 1987.

She was already an heiress. She was already a model. She was already an author. She had become an actress. So, of course, there would be an album. This is the story of Paris Hilton’s album, Paris, from 2006.

Robert Stigwood was on fire. He was the manager of the Bee Gees. He produced the films Grease and Saturday Night Fever. Those soundtracks combined sold over 70 million copies for his label, RSO Records. For his next project, Stigwood produced a jukebox musical film made up entirely of Beatles songs. The cast included some of the biggest stars of the seventies…The Bee Gees, Peter Frampton, and even Steve Martin. How could it possibly fail? This is the story of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, from 1978.

The thrilling conclusion to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, from 1978.

In 1974, Lou Reed had a top 10 album with Sally Can’t Dance. His label, RCA Records, pushed him to release another album quickly. What they got was a double album of nothing but noisy feedback and guitar effects. This is the story of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music from 1975.

Morton Downey Jr. was a pioneer of what would come to be called “trash tv”. After his controversial talk show became a massive success, he tried to return to his roots by releasing an album. This is the story of Morton Downey Jr. Sings, from 1989.

Free bonus episode of Bizarre Singles from patreon.com/bizarrealbums

One year after his departure from Van Halen, David Lee Roth released his first solo album, Eat ‘Em and Smile. It was a double platinum success. And then, he re-recorded all of the vocals and released it in Spanish, under a new title. This is the story of Sonrisa Salvaje from 1986. Special thanks to Brian Keith Diaz for the Spanish intro and Zach Comtois for the guitars.

In March of 1965, The Theodore Hamm Brewing Company held it’s Centennial Celebration party in Minneapolis, Attendees that night would receive a copy of the souvenir album, Hamm’s 65- Bursting with Freshness. This episode was recorded live on February 18, 2020 at Able Seedhouse & Brewery in Minneapolis, MN.

NBC’s Miami Vice was the hottest show on television in the mid 80’s. The show’s breakout star, Don Johnson, told the head of CBS Records he wanted to make an album. So they signed him. This the story of Don Johnson’s Heartbeat, from 1986.

May 22, 2020 was the 40th anniversary of the release of Pac-Man, the video game that made video games for everybody. Two Ohio musicians living in Georgia, Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia, loved Pac-Man so much that they decided to write a song about it. And it got them signed. This is the story of Bucker & Garcia’s Pac-Man Fever, from 1982.

Macho Man Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan, two of the biggest stars in the history of professional wrestling. They had an on again/off again friendship both in the ring and out. In 2003, when he was more or less retired from wrestling, Macho Man wasn't happy with Hogan and called him out....rapping. This is the story of Be A Man by Macho Man Randy Savage, from 2003.

He dominated standup comedy. He was a cast member of Saturday Night Live when he was 19. He was a movie star. In Eddie Murphy's own words, his ego said "I can do anything!", so he recorded an album. This is the story of Eddie Murphy's How Could It Be from 1985.

Hogan’s Heroes was not exactly your typical sitcom. Debuting on CBS in 1965, it was set in a German POW camp during World War II. And it was a hit. So, in 1966, the supporting cast made an album of popular World War II songs. This is the story of Hogan's Heroes Sing The Best of World War II, from 1966.

The story of the infamous album by Star Trek's William Shatner, The Transformed Man from 1968.

Just 3 years after graduating high school, Crispin Glover was cast in one of the biggest movies of all time, Back To The Future in 1985. He followed that with the critically successful River’s Edge. Then, he took a few years off of acting and pursued other creative projects. Writing and illustrating books...and making an album. This is the story of Crispin Hellion Glover’s The Big Problem ≠ The Solution. The Solution = Let It Be from 1989. Special thanks to Matt Gourley and "Weird Al" Yankovic.

Saturday Night Fever was released in late 1977, bringing both John Travolta and disco to the masses. Less than a year later, Cookie Monster, Grover and the rest of the gang from Sesame Street hopped onto the disco bandwagon. This is the story of Sesame Street Fever, from 1978.

In the early 1970’s, NASCAR racing had seen a big surge in popularity. Jim Donoho, the son of Nashville racing promoter Bill Donoho wanted to get some of the most popular NASCAR drivers to make a country music album. This is the story of NASCAR Goes Country, from 1975.

In 1970, the Harlem Globetrotters got their own Saturday morning cartoon. The show’s music supervisor was the man with the golden ear, Don Kirshner. So, that meant the show had a surprisingly good soundtrack, thanks to uncredited studio musicians. This is the story of The Globetrotters. from 1970.

In 1969, the New York Mets had one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of Major League Baseball. Fans took to calling them the amazing Mets, so they surprised their fans by making an album. This is the story of The Amazing Mets, from 1969. Thanks to John Ross Bowie! Follow him on social media, @johnrossbowie.

A mother reads her son’s palm and makes some predictions about his future. One of those predictions was that his daughters would be the biggest girl group in America. Despite no musical experience, or even interest, the girls were told by their father they would be taking music lessons and forming a band. This is the story of The Shaggs’ Philosophy of the World, from 1969.

He played in bands in his younger days, but eventually found a career in comedy. Once his comedy career took off, Chevy Chase tried to bring his comedy and music together This is the story of Chevy Chase's self titled album, from 1980.

He became the biggest star on daytime tv. Then he quit and became a prime time star. But he always had his eyes set on a music career. This is the story of David Hasselhoff's Night Rocker, from 1985.

A self-described housewife, Elva Miller would go into the recording studio and record songs simply as a hobby. Then, a series of events lead her to signing a contract with Capitol Records. This is the story of Mrs. Miller's Greatest Hits, from 1966. Special thanks to Eliza Skinner. Support the show on Patreon! patreon.com/bizarrealbums

Free bonus episode in honor of Record Store Day 2020. This is an episode of Bizarre Singles from the Patreon feed ( patreon.com/bizarrealbums ) on Ted Cassidy's "The Lurch". Ted Cassidy played Lurch on the Addams Family tv show in the 60's. Just re-pressed for Record Store Day by Jackpot Records. Visit recordstoreday.com to find a copy!

At the beginning of 1989, The Arsenio Hall Show debuted. It was a hit. At the end of 1989, Arsenio released an album by his overweight, rapper alter ego, Chunky A. This is the story of Chunky A's Large And In Charge, from 1989.

In 1970, two comedy writers from the Carol Burnett Show and Get Smart decided to try to capitalize on the popularity of espionage movies and shows. But this one would be different...with a cast made up entirely of chimpanzees. Those chimps also played in a band called The Evolution Revolution. This is the story of Lancelot Link and the Evolution Revolution.

Professional baseball player. Professional football player. Why not try rapping? This is the story of Deion Sanders' Prime Time, from 1994.

Actress Barbara Eden stole the show on I Dream of Jeannie. But before she got into acting, she’d always had a love of singing. So after a couple of successful seasons on television, Barbara got to make an album for Dot Records. This is the story of Miss Barbara Eden, from 1967.

After becoming the breakout star of Welcome Back Kotter, John Travolta caught the attention of Bob Reno at Midland International Records. It didn't hurt that he was already a singer with Broadway experience. This is the story of John Travolta's self-titled album, from 1976.

Muhammed Ali is one of the greatest boxers of all time. One of the most famous people of all time. A Boxer, activist, and philanthropist. But did you know that in 1976, he teamed up with his friend Arther Morrison to make a children's album about dental hygiene? This is the story of The Adventures of Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay, from 1976.

A promotional record released by Chevrolet in 1965 to promote driver safety among young drivers. This is the story of Chevrolet Sings Of Safe Driving And You, from 1965.

A rock band with Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein. Need I say more? This is the story of Groovie Goolies, from 1970. Spooky version of the theme song performed by Eban Schletter.

Alfred Hitchcock had already been a successful film director for over 25 years when Alfred Hitchcock Presents debuted on television. And it made him a huge celebrity in America, with his best success yet to come. Yes, he released an album. No, he did not sing. This is the story of Alfred Hitchcock Presents Music To Be Murdered By, from 1958. Featuring an appearance from Jonah Ray (Jonah Raydio, Mystery Science Theater 3000). Spooky version of the theme song performed by Eban Schletter.

Burt Reynolds had been a working actor since the late 1950's, but yet when the early 70's came, he suddenly shot to fame. Once that movie star role was solidified, he took on country music next. This is the story of Burt Reynolds' Ask Me What I Am from 1973.

Ethel Merman has been called the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage. After nearly 50 years of Broadway and film success, she released a disco album. She was 71 years old. This is the story of Ethel Merman’s The Ethel Merman Disco Album, from 1979.

In 1990, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had one of the biggest movies of the year. Late that summer, they embarked on a tour….as a band…sponsored by Pizza Hut. This is the story of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Coming Out Of Their Shells, from 1990.

In the early 80's, for the first time in his career, Neil Young signed with a new record label. Geffen Records gave him a sizable advance and creative control. But after David Geffen heard the record, he tried to sue Young for making "uncharacteristic music". Yes, it was different. But Young has his reasons. This is the story of Neil Young's Trans, from 1982.

When motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel set out to jump Snake River Canyon on his "skycycle", an album was released on Amherst Records as a way to promote the event. This is the story of Evel Knievel, from 1974.

Just before The Beatles were to begin work on The White Album, John Lennon invited Yoko Ono over to his home....while his wife was away. They took acid, stayed up all night, and made this recording. This is the story of Yoko Ono/John Lennon, Unfinished Music No. 1: Two …, from 1968.

Los Angeles punk veterans Bad Religion. Not exactly the band you would expect to release a Christmas album. But they did it. Because they wanted to. This is the story of Bad Religion's Christmas Songs, from 2013. Special thanks to Brett Gurewitz for talking with me for this episode!

How does combining contemporary christian music, Robert Kardashian and the NFL result in a Christmas album? This is the story of Dallas Cowboys Christmas, from 1985…and 1986. Support the show: patreon.com/bizarrealbums Follow the show on Twitter and Instagram: @bizarrealbums Follow Tony Thaxton on Twitter and Instagram: @tonythaxton

Merry Christmas! This is a free bonus episode of Bizarre Singles, originally released last Christmas on the Patreon. You can get weekly bonus episodes and more at patreon.com/bizarrealbums

Lynda Carter shot to fame on the Wonder Woman tv series in 1975. But her first love was singing. This is the story of Lynda Carter’s Portrait, from 1978. Support the show: patreon.com/bizarrealbums Follow the show on social media: @bizarrealbums Follow Tony on social media: @tonythaxton