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Newsgroups: rec.music.beatles
Subject: Beatles novelty list (LONG)
Message-ID: <1992Nov23.193517.2407@vixvax.mgi.com>
Date: 24 Nov 92 00:35:17 GMT
Organization: Management Graphics, Inc.
Lines: 859
(All the above categories also apply to the ex-Fabs in their solo careers,
as well as George Martin, Yoko, Julian, Sean, Zak, Pete Best, Macca's sheep-
dog, etc.)
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Corrections, additional information and opinions are welcome.
e-mail dthompson@mgi.com Moko
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The cover of _The Abbey Road E.P._ by The Red Hot Chili Peppers is a parody of
the _Abbey Road_ cover. It's a photo of the Peppers walking across the famous
crosswalk, naked except for socks on their cocks (a fashion statement often on
display in their stage shows).
1988 EMI-Manhattan CD # CDP-7-90869-23
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"Alison" by Elvis Costello:
This sounds like a stretch, at first, but each couplet seems to refer to its
counterpart.
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"All I Want for Christmas is a Beatle" by Dora Bryan was released during the
Fabs-in-suits era. It might have been to the tune of "All I Want for Christmas
is My Two Front Teeth".
In 1976 a two-record set appeared with music from the soundtrack of a truly
mutant documentary called "All This and World War II", which consisted entirely
of Beatles songs don in (sometimes VERY odd) versions by a bevy of British
singers of varying renown, along with some non-Brit pop stars of the 70's.
20th Century Records LP # 2T-522
_Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles_ Chet plays Beatles songs on solo guitar,
with occaisional harmonica. Liner note by George Harrison.
RCA Victor LSP 3531
_The Baroque Beatles Book_ [same as above album?] by the Baroque Ensemble of the
Merseyside Kammermusikgesellschaft; Joshua Rifkin, conductor.
It features several pre-1966 Beatles songs done up in a Baroque style, and has a
recitative (that's a Baroque rap, basically) of some of John Lennon's writings.
Elektra Records LP # EKL-306 (mono) EKS -7306 (stereo)
"Beatles and the Stones" by The House of Love from self-titled album.
1990 Fontana LP # 842 293-1 cassette # 842 293-4 CD # 842 293-2
or (remixed) on 45 # 875 282-7
"Beatles Breakfast" is not a song, but a parody of the Fabs having breakfast
and dropping song lines (e.g. "You want eggs, while I AM
the egg-man.")
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_BEATLESONGS: A Collection of Beatles Novelties Volume 1_
This album is the easiest way to get some Beatles novelty songs. It is
highly recommended by contributors to this list.
Tracks: The Invasion by Buchanan and Greenfield
Hold My Hand The Rutles
We Love You Beatles The Carefrees
My Boyfriend Got a Beatle Haircut Donna Lynn
Letter From Elaina Casey Kasem
Beatlemania Jack Nitzsche
Beatle Rap The Qworymen
L.S. Bumble Bee Peter Cook & Dudley Moore
Pop Hates The Beatles Allan Sherman
Letter to The Beatles The Four Preps
The Beetle Gary Usher
1982 Rhino LP # RHLP 803
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_Beattle Mash_ (front cover) The Liverpool Kids (front cover)
_Beatle Mash_ (LP label) by The Liverpool Moptops (liner notes)
The Schoolboys (LP label)
This album was designed to cash in the first wave of Beatlemania.
includes: "She Loves You", "Why Don't You Set Me Free (rips off "I Want to
Hold Your Hand") and "Japanese Beatles" (instrumental)
Palace Records LP # M-777 (no copyright date)
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"The Beetle" - available on BEATLESONGS
"Between John & Yoko" by Easy is on _Magic Seed_ (1990) and _Mute International
Sampler_
"Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy: Yoko is mentioned in name only (as a
rhyme with Sonny Bono, no less!).
Peter Sellers did "Can't Buy Me Love" as a duet with himself (one male, one
female). Available on a 1991 EMI compilation (title???).
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The Capitol Steps, a political novelty group, have done several songs to the
tune of Beatles songs:
"I Got High a Couple of Times With My Friends" about Doug Ginsberg's nomination
to the Supreme Court
"Fools On the Hill" about Congress (They've done two like this.)
"Car Phone" by Roger McGuinn from has a plot about a guy who dies as a hitman
explodes some dynamite in the back of his car by calling him on the car phone.
In the back, after this happens, is a little sighing chorus of "he blew his
mind out in a caaaa---aar".
As part of his Weird Al Yonkovic's food medley, he has "Chicken Pot Pie" instead
of "Live and Let Die" (I have heard that this is true. I have not heard it
myself.) [confirmation, anyone?]
_The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles_ (aka _The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles Hits_)
features some of the early songs.
EMI-Manhattan Records CD # CDP-7-48370-2
1982 Liberty Records LP # LN-10177
"Close But No Cigar" by Thomas Dolby samples some of the incidental sounds
from Sgt Pepper's.
"A Day In the Life of Green Acres" by Barnes and Barnes and Abraxas combines
the tune (sort of) of "A Day In the Life" with the lyrics of "Green Acres".
"A Day In the Life - 91" by Whimsical Will is a story constructed out of the
titles of 91 Beatles songs. It's spoken, not sung.
Utopia has an album entitled _Deface the Music_ in which all the songs are
Beatlesque. The album cover is a sort of parody of the _With the Beatles_ cover.
[Does this have anything to do with an ELO album called _Face the Music_?]
1980 Rhino/Bearsville LP # RNLP 70873
"Don't Get Me Wrong" by Bonzo Dog Band from _Let's Make Up & Be Friendly_ is
a shameless Beatles parody, with someone who does a more-than-credible Lennon
imitation. (1972?)
"Eddie Are You Kidding" by Flo & Eddie from _Illegal, Immoral & Fattening_
has a segment that lampoons a lot of pop stars, including a bit of "My Sweet
Lord" where George's voice breaks down.
"Everybody's Making It Big But Me" by Doctor Hook mentions Elvis, Dylan,
Mick Jagger, The Beatles and just about everyone else.
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"God II" by U2 from _Rattle and Hum_
a few sample lines:
_Golden Throats: The Great Celebrity Sing-Off!_ has a truly awful rendition
of "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" by William Shatner (!), originally from
his _Transformed Man_ LP. Mae West does "Twist and Shout" on this album (cover
of a cover).
Rhino CD # R2 70187
_Golden Throats 2: More Celebrity Rock Oddities!_ has Bing Crosby's version
of "Hey Jude", and "Give Peace a Chance" by Mitch Miller & The Gang.
Mitch: "Hassle the man! Hassle the Congress!"
"The Great Late Johnny Ace" or "The Late Great Johnny Ace" by Paul Simon or
Simon and Garfukel is about John Lennon, or is about another real or fictional
person but mentions John ("A stranger came up and asked me if I'd heard John
Lennon had died.")...or something. He sang part of it in _The Concert in
Central Park_ (1981), but it isn't on the album because the song was
interrupted by a loony getting on the stage and yelling at Mr. Simon. It is on
the video of the concert. It was later (1983) included on an album (title?). Is
that all clear, now? :-) The only thing I will swear to is that it is not
currently available on 8-track tape.
Peter Sellers did "A Hard Day's Night" as Richard the Third and "Help!" as
a vicar and choir. Available on a 1991 EMI compilation (title???).
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In the sixties there was a band in Israel that would take Beatles song and put
Hebrew lyrics onto them - usually completely changing the point, but in very
Beatles style. For example:
"From Me to You"
...etc...
"Here We Go" by C&C Music Factory mentions the Beatles and the Jackson 5.
"Hey Jude" by Bing Crosby - see Golden Throats above
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"I Dig Rock-And-Roll Music" by Peter, Paul and Mary:
"If You Want It, I Can Get It For You Wholesale" by Lazlo and Gary satirizes
"Come and Get It" by Badfinger (written, produced and arranged by Paul).
Gene Moss sings "I Wanna Bite Your Hand" by Gene Moss is Dracula singing to
the tune of "I Want to Hold Your Hand". RCA Records
"I Remember You" by Mike Nesmith talks about John and the Beatles.
Tim Curry (of Rocky Horror Picture Show fame) does a calypso "I Will".
available on _Read My Lips_ 1978 LP # SP 4717 and _The Best of Tim Curry_
1989 CD # CD5269 - both from A&M Records.
"John Lennon" by The Outfield from _Diamond Days_ makes many references
to Lennon songs.
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"Keep It Warm" from _Moving Targets_ by Flo & Eddie:
"The Late Great Johnny Ace" - see confusion at "The Great Late..." above.
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The La's
Not a parody group, and they don't mention the Fabs in any of their songs. In
fact, they don't belong on this list at all, but they *are* four boys from
Liverpool who play great music, and yes, they have been called Beatlesque.
That's my only excuse for this item. I just think they're a great band and
I think most Beatlefans will like their music.
_The La's_ 1990 Go!/London/Polygram Records CD # 828 202-2
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"Leprosy - I'm not half the man I used to be." to the tune of "Yesterday".
No doubt there is more to this, but fortunately I haven't heard it.
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"Life In A Northern Town" from _Dream Academy_ by Dream Academy (1983? 84?
86? 87?):
He said "In winter 1963
It felt like the world would freeze
With John F. Kennedy
And The Beatles."
"London Calling" by The Clash: "...phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust..."
"Louisiana Hookers With Herpes" by Frank Zappa, to the tune of "Lucy In the
Sky With Diamonds" (Have heard this is true; have never heard it.)
"Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" by William Shatner. see Golden Throats above.
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The Swinging Erudides did "Paul McCartney Massacre" which had several
Beatles satires:
Monty Python did a routine which included several songs to the tune of
Beatles songs.
"Much Too Late to Get Fries" is a satire of Julian Lennon's "Too Late For
Goodbyes". [artist?]
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"Negligee" to the tune of "Yesterday"
Negligee,
I look stupid in this negligee
'Cause my butt sticks out this funny way --
Oh, why'd I buy this negligee?
Suddenly,
I am twice the girl I used to be;
Flab is hanging out all over me --
This negligee's a travesty.
Negligee,
I would like to take it back today,
But I threw the darn sales slip away --
I'll have to keep this negligee.
Hmm mm mm mm oo oo oooooo.
"Poem 58" from Chicago Transit Authority's self-titled album contains exact
citation from "I Am The Walrus".
"Pop Hates The Beatles" to the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" by Alan
Sherman. It's on his Greates Hits album and _Beatlesongs_. He is a
father who complains about the Beatles being too loud and having hair
that is too long. (Also complains that ticket prices are 50 dollars
each. Inflation makes that complaint seem trivial.)
Roger Waters mentions Yoko Ono on "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking".
"Ringo Deer" by Lorne Greene was a Christmas song, about the lead reindeer
having a big nose 'a la Ringo Starr. [Not to be confused with "Ringo" (also
by Lorne Greene, I think) which is about a gunfighter or a cowboy or something.]
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The Rutles
Hands down the most prefab group ever. More like the Beatles than the
Beatles were. Both the movie and the album are the best parodies of our
boys ever done. The movie is a documentary of the Rutles' career. The
album contains songs from various stages in the band's development. Songs
written by Neil Innes. Movie produced by George Harrison, who also has a cameo.
"Sally Sails the Sky" by Ian Whitcomb: "Then Elvis Saint Pepper, the rock 'n'
roll star / stopped in our town in his fiberglass car."
"The Seeker" by The Who: "I asked Bobby Dylan, I asked the Beatles, I
asked Timothy Leary, but he couldn't help me either."
The soundtrack album of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a treasure
trove of godawful performances of Beatles songs. (The movie is even worse.)
1978 RSO Records LP # RS-2-4100
Abbey Road 78, "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Songs from the movie
but worse; fortunately only half as long.
Springboard SPB-4111
Bill Cosby did "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" on one of his albums.
_Sgt. Pepper's_ by Big Daddy is the entire SPLHCB album in various 1950's
styles.
Rhino Records CD # R2 70371
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"She Loves You" by Peter Sellers as Dr. Strangelove. (Is this from the
previously-mentioned EMI compilation album?)
"A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd Into
Submission)" by Simon and Garfunkel:
"I've been Rolling Stoned and Beatled 'til I'm blind."
_Stars On_ by Stars On Long Play: Side one is disco versions of 29 Beatles
songs in succession.
Radio Records # RR16044
"Sweet Soul Dream" by World Party: "I got rare '61 Beatles"
_Alien Sleestacks from Brazil_ by Tater Totz (members of Redd Kross and
various LA punk and alternative bands) contains numerous Beatle covers. The
first side has an interesting melding of "Give Peace a Chance" and "We Will
Rock You" and a cover of "I've Just Seen A Face", with Danny Bonaduce (of
Partridge Family fame) singing lead. The second side is a long cover of Yoko
Ono's "Don't Worry Kyoko".
1988? Giant Records?
"Texas Motel" by Frank Zappa to the tune of "Norwegian Wood" (have heard
this is true, have never heard it)
"This Song is Just Six Words Long" by Weird Al Yankovic to the tune of
"Got My Mind Set On You" is on _Even Worse_.
CBS / Rock 'n' Roll Records cassette # FZT 44149
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UNIX Man (tune of "Nowhere Man")
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"Where Have All the Good Times Gone?" by the Kinks has something like:
Yesterday love
was such an easy game for you to play
but now let's face it
things are so much easier today
let it be like yesterday...
This is horribly paraphrased, but it came out in 1966 or so, and makes
references to other current songs (including their own).
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"The World is Mine" by Wally Winger and the Amazing Skippy (as Gorbachev and
Reagan) is a satire of "The Girl is Mine", written by Michael Jackson and
recorded with Paul.
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Write in C (tune of "Let It Be")
Write in C, write in C,
Wtite in C, oh, write in C.
LOGO's dead and buried,
Write in C.
Write in C, write in C,
Write in C, yeah, write in C.
Only wimps use basic.
Write in C.
Write in C, write in C,
Write in C, oh, write in C.
Pascal won't quite cut it.
Write in C.
Write in C, write in C,
Write in C, yeah, write in C.
Don't even mention COBOL.
Write in C.
[author???]
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Mark Russell did a song about the Congressional pay raise to the tune of
"Yesterday". I have this nagging feeling he also used the tune of
"Eleanor Rigby" sometime.
Harry Nilsson's version of "You Can't Do That" includes background bits (and
some not-so-background) of various other Beatles songs, and ends with "Lovely
Beatles Forever" sung to the tune of Strawberry Fields Forever? It's on a mid-
to-late 60s album called Pandemonium Shadow Show (also on another compilation
LP [_Aerial Pandemonium_?] which combined _Pandemonium Shadow Show_ and _Aerial
Ballet_) and it is apparently the album which triggered the Lennon/Nilsson
mutual admiration society.
In "Your Move" by Yes, at the end when they're singing didit didit didit didit
didit etc - Chris Squire and Steve Howe sing "All we are saying. . . is give
peace a chance!" [Someone else says this song is "All Good People".]
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]][]]][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Thanks to all who contributed. They provided at least 95% of the information.
Bill Gasarch
Steve Adelson
Timo Ahonen
Dennis Alstrand
Chuck Anderson
Axl
Pushpak Bapat
Charles Board
Jim Bohy
Laurie Beth Brunner
Chris Brunsdon
Ed Bucholtz
Ross Clement
Maurizio Codogno
David Cooke
Joe D.
Gina Mai Denn (The Mad Maidenn)
Deryl
Sean Donahue
Kim Dyer
e sharon fenick
Eric Fischer
David Gans
Bill I-have-it-on-tape Gasarch
William Graham
Rob Granville
David T. Greenfield
Christer Gullstrand
Jenny Gutbezahl
Melinda Hale
Marty Hale-Evans
Rob Hartman
Brian Harvey
Jim Higdon
Dave Hinz
Hymie
Infinite K
Timothy Jehl
Beata Jones
Randolph M. Jones
Nelson Jordan
Mitchell Kotler
Kristjan Gaukur Kristjansson
Matt Landrum
Charles Lavazzii
Dave LeCompte
Scot Leibacher
William Lewis
Lisa the wonder frod
David Lloyd
Benjamin D. Lukoff
The Maven
Joe McCombs
K. J. McRae
Doug Mitchell
** Jonathan Morris **
Brad Morrison
Gabe Nahigian
David Edward Nangle
New Wave Dave
Nowhere Man
Douglas Pacchiana
Albert L. Papp III
Nat Pearson Special thanks to
Paul Penczek Viswanath Poosala (Vishy)
Sue Price
Anssi Puisto
ravi
Guy Ridley
Pierre Rioux
Michael S. Ritchie
Eric Robinette
Jason M. Roth
Nancy Rudins
saki
Jeff Sensabaugh
Richard Shapiro
Greg Skinner
Pat Slane
Scott Slavin
Russell Street
Tony Sturgeon
Andrew Walker
Craig Walsh
RU1 Welaratna
Randall Whitaker
James Willer
Doctor Zero
Did I mention Bill Gasarch?
(If your name is on this list and you don't remember contributing, it's because
I lifted info from your news articles.)
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Send additions, corrections, flames and information on where to buy a life to:
Moko
dthompson@mgi.com
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"THE LIVERPOOL MOPTOPS - these four young men, who with a group of excellent
musicians, have adopted the style of BEATLING, the hottest craze in show
business on either side of the Atlantic."
from the liner notes to _Beattle Mash_