Comments on: Allan Sherman's Mad-Man-style comedy song: "When I Was a Lad" http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 13:13:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: LE http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1649144 LE Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1649144 My Dad had this album when I was a kid - we all loved it although most of the humor went straight over our heads until we were older (I had to get my Mom to explain "The Let's All Call Up A.T. & T. and Protest To the President March").  But "Shticks Of One And A Half A Dozen Of The Other" was full of references that even a kid of the 70s could get. My Dad had this album when I was a kid – we all loved it although most of the humor went straight over our heads until we were older (I had to get my Mom to explain “The Let’s All Call Up A.T. & T. and Protest To the President March”).  But ”Shticks Of One And A Half A Dozen Of The Other” was full of references that even a kid of the 70s could get.

]]> By: Christopher http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1649094 Christopher Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1649094 That's one of my favorites too! The sad thing is I was twenty before I heard it. It was on a British Airways flight. I don't know if they still do this, but the in-flight radio included an all-comedy station that played "You Went The Wrong Way Old King Louie" alongside selections from Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Jasper Carrott, and others. As soon as I got to a record store (back when they were still legal) I purchased a copy of <i>My Son, The Greatest</i>. Something tells me I'll soon be purchasing a copy of your book as well. That’s one of my favorites too! The sad thing is I was twenty before I heard it. It was on a British Airways flight. I don’t know if they still do this, but the in-flight radio included an all-comedy station that played “You Went The Wrong Way Old King Louie” alongside selections from Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Jasper Carrott, and others.

As soon as I got to a record store (back when they were still legal) I purchased a copy of My Son, The Greatest.

Something tells me I’ll soon be purchasing a copy of your book as well.

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1649016 Felton / Moderator Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1649016 Hehe!  I was in Pinafore a couple of years ago myself as one of the sailors.  Fun times. Hehe!  I was in Pinafore a couple of years ago myself as one of the sailors.  Fun times.

]]> By: Mark Cohen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648762 Mark Cohen Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648762 Could not agree more. As as kid I really loved, "You Went The Wrong Way Old King Louie," which has the fantastic line, "King Louie was living like a king." Haha! Could not agree more. As as kid I really loved, “You Went The Wrong Way Old King Louie,” which has the fantastic line, “King Louie was living like a king.” Haha!

]]> By: Mark Cohen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648757 Mark Cohen Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648757 Don't make your final decision until you hear "When You Walk Through The Bronx," his parody of Carousel's "You'll Never Walk Alone." Listen to it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZPhWDmHH38 Don’t make your final decision until you hear “When You Walk Through The Bronx,” his parody of Carousel’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Listen to it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZPhWDmHH38

]]> By: Mark Cohen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648754 Mark Cohen Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648754 Because my biography of Allan Sherman appears in May (perhaps giving me the dubious distinction of being the world's Sherman expert -- what comedy Sherman would have made out that idea!) this post made my day. Here's some Allan Sherman trivia: He wrote "When I Was A Lad" in June 1959 when he was a writer on the Perry Como summer television series, Perry Presents. I've posted some really cool completely lost Sherman song parodies on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrMarkcohen12?feature=mhee. "Seventy-Six Sol Cohens" anyone? Because my biography of Allan Sherman appears in May (perhaps giving me the dubious distinction of being the world’s Sherman expert — what comedy Sherman would have made out that idea!) this post made my day. Here’s some Allan Sherman trivia: He wrote “When I Was A Lad” in June 1959 when he was a writer on the Perry Como summer television series, Perry Presents. I’ve posted some really cool completely lost Sherman song parodies on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrMarkcohen12?feature=mhee. “Seventy-Six Sol Cohens” anyone?

]]> By: pjcamp http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648710 pjcamp Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648710 I just don't get Allan Sherman. It's like watching bananas. I just don’t get Allan Sherman. It’s like watching bananas.

]]> By: Michael Rosefield http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648618 Michael Rosefield Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648618 I wish I could say yes.  I'm, um, a physically enthusiastic member of the cast... I try to minimise my singing as a damage reduction strategy.  I wish I could say yes. 

I’m, um, a physically enthusiastic member of the cast… I try to minimise my singing as a damage reduction strategy. 

]]> By: Mazoola http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648469 Mazoola Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648469 I also came here to praise this fine, funny, angry, snarky, and ultimately fascinating book, which probably had an inordinate amount of influence on who and where I am today. It and Judy Dater's photographs from 'The Woman's Eye' make up two of the three legs of the camp stool that is my life* -- although I should hasten to add I don't hold either at fault. Less and less frequently in recent years have I come across a copy of this thick, cheaply bound volume, once a staple of college-town used book stores, However, it appears to be readily available online through such vendors as ABEBooks and ExLibris -- although at prices I'm sure must keep Sherman chuckling merrily from beyond. __________ * I'm not yet certain what makes up the third leg** -- although I suspect it involves leg warmers. ** heh heh I also came here to praise this fine, funny, angry, snarky, and ultimately fascinating book, which probably had an inordinate amount of influence on who and where I am today. It and Judy Dater’s photographs from ‘The Woman’s Eye’ make up two of the three legs of the camp stool that is my life* — although I should hasten to add I don’t hold either at fault. Less and less frequently in recent years have I come across a copy of this thick, cheaply bound volume, once a staple of college-town used book stores, However, it appears to be readily available online through such vendors as ABEBooks and ExLibris — although at prices I’m sure must keep Sherman chuckling merrily from beyond.
__________
* I’m not yet certain what makes up the third leg** — although I suspect it involves leg warmers.
** heh heh

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648455 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648455 <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFWqpWwAl8o" rel="nofollow">8 Foot 2</a> seems like the natural choice for Happy Mutants. 8 Foot 2 seems like the natural choice for Happy Mutants.

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648188 Felton / Moderator Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648188 Are you a singer? Are you a singer?

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648109 millie fink Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648109 Excellent!  Where oh where (oh who) is today's truth-telling troubadour?  Excellent! 

Where oh where (oh who) is today’s truth-telling troubadour? 

]]> By: techbuzz http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648048 techbuzz Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648048 I enjoy his songs, but love his book - The Rape of The A*P*E (American Puritan Ethic). It's one of the funniest books I've read and a wonderful history of the American sexual revolution. It was published by Playboy Press just before Sherman's death and has been out of print for some time, but definitely worth tracking down. I enjoy his songs, but love his book – The Rape of The A*P*E (American Puritan Ethic).

It’s one of the funniest books I’ve read and a wonderful history of the American sexual revolution. It was published by Playboy Press just before Sherman’s death and has been out of print for some time, but definitely worth tracking down.

]]> By: bfarn http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648049 bfarn Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648049 Ohhhh how I wish that song was inaccurate Ohhhh how I wish that song was inaccurate

]]> By: Michael Rosefield http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648038 Michael Rosefield Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648038 Since we did HMS Pinafore last year, I immediately thought it would be a parody :D Since we did HMS Pinafore last year, I immediately thought it would be a parody :D

]]> By: mkanoap http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648033 mkanoap Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648033 Neat.  It's worth noting that this is actually a parody of a Gilbert and Sullivan tune, "when I was a lad".  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUZ-0o8wL8A Neat.  It’s worth noting that this is actually a parody of a Gilbert and Sullivan tune, “when I was a lad”.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUZ-0o8wL8A

]]> By: Christopher http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1648004 Christopher Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1648004 I've always thought it was unfortunate that Sherman seems to only be remembered for "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah". It's a great song, but it's not his <i>only</i> great song, as the above reminds us. I’ve always thought it was unfortunate that Sherman seems to only be remembered for “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”. It’s a great song, but it’s not his only great song, as the above reminds us.

]]> By: grandmapucker http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1647999 grandmapucker Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1647999 Look out, Cory! I think my dad hacked your account! Look out, Cory! I think my dad hacked your account!

]]> By: Joseph O. Holmes http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1647960 Joseph O. Holmes Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1647960 Best Allan Sherman song ever might be his spoof of "Heart," which he twists into "Skin." Ya gotta have skin.It's the stuff that we're all in.It's the stuff that if you got it outsideIt helps keep your insides in. Best Allan Sherman song ever might be his spoof of “Heart,” which he twists into “Skin.”
Ya gotta have skin.It’s the stuff that we’re all in.It’s the stuff that if you got it outsideIt helps keep your insides in.

]]> By: Rob http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/allan-shermans-mad-man-style.html#comment-1647925 Rob Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211296#comment-1647925 OMG, as a kid I listened to this record over and over (I still have it, inherited from my parents). Learned most of the tunes before ever knowing the real songs they were based on. OMG, as a kid I listened to this record over and over (I still have it, inherited from my parents). Learned most of the tunes before ever knowing the real songs they were based on.

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