Leaps n bands #146: Cruella de Ville – Those two dreadful children (1982)

The Jemtunes ‘Leaps n Bands’ series is, throughout 2020, featuring a track by track expose of the albums that have spoken loudest to me over the years.

But Jemtunes 141 to 150 – between 7 and 25 October – features 10 singles instead. Mainly because, when many of us now of a certain age first started buying records, the format of choice was the humble 45. And there was a lot of influence there.

One of my favourite novelty records of all time I think. Lyrics (as you can see) are questionable but that just adds to the attraction. Strangely, this single wasn’t banned from Radio 1 airplay!

Leaps n Bands #34: The Dickies – Banana Splits (The tra la la song) (1979)

The Jemtunes ‘Leaps n Bands’ series is, throughout 2020, featuring a track by track expose of the albums that have spoken loudest to me over the years.

But Jemtunes 32-41 features 10 singles instead. Mainly because, when many of us now of a certain age first started buying records, the format of choice was the humble 45. And there was a lot of influence there.

Continuing the ‘novelty’ theme – it wasn’t intended – here’s “Banana Splits” from the Dickies, released in 1979.

“The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)” was originally the theme song for the children’s television program The Banana Splits Adventure Hour. The Dickies’ cover version, marketed by A&M Records as “Banana Splits (Tra La La Song)” reached No.7 in the UK Singles Chart and was later used in the 2010 film Kick-Ass.

Original pressings (like mine) were on yellow vinyl.

Leaps n Bands #33: Middle of the Road – Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep (1971)

The Jemtunes ‘Leaps n Bands’ series is, throughout 2020, featuring a track by track expose of the albums that have spoken loudest to me over the years.

But Jemtunes 32-41 features 10 singles instead. Mainly because, when many of us now of a certain age first started buying records, the format of choice was the humble 45. And there was a lot of influence there.

Continuing the ‘novelty’ theme, here’s Middle of the Road’s ‘Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’ from 1971.

A No.1 hit for the band, it’s one of fewer than 50 singles to have ever sold in excess of 10 million physical copies worldwide.

I have to admit that I had something of an early crush on the lead singer – Sally Carr – and had a poster of her on my bedroom wall for a while.

Leaps n Bands #32: David Bowie – The Laughing Gnome (1967)

The Jemtunes ‘Leaps n Bands’ series is, throughout 2020, featuring a track by track expose of the albums that have spoken loudest to me over the years.

But Jemtunes 32-41, starting today, features 10 singles. Mainly because, when many of us now of a certain age first started buying records, the format of choice was the humble 45. And there was a lot of influence there.

To start things off, I’ve chosen David Bowie’s ‘The Laughing Gnome’ from 1967. I didn’t buy it when it first came out – that would have been ridiculous as I was only 8; but I did six years later when it made a resurgence into the charts.

I got my copy from the record department of my local Woolworths and, as the single wasn’t a success on its original release, I can only think that they put back on sale in 1973 copies they’d held back in stock since then; because the pressing I have is a 1967 original with “The Gospel according to Tony Day” on the B-side. Quite chuffed about that as originals are now quite valuable!