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Preamble

For many years this web page was titled the Bad Music page, but as the collection grew, the name became a bit misleading and I changed it to Cult Music in November 2004. This section of the web site was originally devoted to Bad Music, but thanks to donations from fellow music fans all over the world and my hunting through bargain shops the collection grew and diversified until I decided the title Cult Music was more appropriate. This page remains primarily devoted to bad music, but if you look through the files donated to the collection by Glenn and Fons (links below) you will see many titles that are rare, curious and downright bizarre. I think the title Cult is a better moniker for this collection. The rest of this page is devoted to Bad Music, enjoy if you can!

The early 1970s was a fertile time for a young teenager to discover cult music and bad music. Hot on the heels of flared pants and glittering glam rock came the ludicrous and monotonous disco era along with fast-burning and short-lived punk rock and its bastard child new wave which lasted too long into the 80s. I can't pinpoint exactly when my love of weird and bad music started, but I'm sure Yoko Ono could be subpoenaed, along with Gary Glitter and his two drummers. The Moog synthesiser and all the hippies and surfies of the time must also have had a serious influence.

Bad music comes in many forms and can have many attributes that sets it apart from other music. Some of these basic disturbing attributes include: bad performances, poor choice of subject matter, overt commercialism, repetitive or droning choruses, sickly sentimentality and incoherent structure. A discerning cult music fan appreciates most that music which is bad by accident, incompetence, bad planning or ignorance, and cult music legends are created when two or more of these attributes are combined.

Links -- Visit Marian's Miserable Melodies web site and browse through her rated and sorted lists of cult music. Some of the tracks in Marian's list are certified to drive animals mad. How will you cope? See also: Frank's Vinyl Museum and Yahoo! Music That Sucks.

Glenn's Collection -- My boundless gratitude go out to Glenn who lives in distant regional Victoria (Australia) who sent me a copy of his amazing rare music collection back in late September 2003. Glenn sent me 3 CDs packed with the most incredible collection of weird, rare and cult music I have ever seen. Glenn's collection contains many complete tracks and albums for which I previously only had samples in my collection. There are too many files to select and document in a short time, so for now I will simply supply a directory listing of the contents of Glenn's collection. See: Directory listing of Glenn's CDs. You will recognise many famous albums and names in the list.

Fons' Collection -- In July 2004, Fons in Rotterdam sent me 6 very neatly packaged CDs containing complete albums that are a welcome addition to my collection. Fons also sent a 7th CD which contained 14 utterly weird and fascinating albums. The most amazing and hypnotic files on this disc are the 51 tracks by Bruce Haack. See: Directory listing of Fons' CDs.

Greg's Collection - Most of my cult music collection is annotated below in categories, but you will have to see Directory listing of Greg's Collection to see the full cult music contents list.

The files listed on this page are not available online. If you want to get a copy of the Cult Music collection on a single DVD data disc, send an email to , convince me you're a cult music fan and tell me your postal address. Posting me back some blanks to cover the cost would be most appreciated.


Contents

Some featured artists

Recent Additions

13-Nov-2005 Barbara Feldon - Barbara Feldon - I Want You (Single B-Side).mp3
An obscure track played on 3RRR
 
22-Apr-2005 Vicki - Dr Jones (Chinese Version).mp3
Thanks for Rob Jan on 3RRR for playing this whacko one
 
22-Apr-2005 Unknown - Chicken Yodelling Song.mp3
Another ripper from Rob Jan's radio show
 
22-Apr-2005 Ukendt - Mystiskt Nummer.mp3
An incomprehensible song from Denmark (lyrics and comments in the mp3 tag)
 
22-Apr-2005 Kids of The King (Christian Brady Bunch Theme).mp3 [908KB]
Yes, it's the Brady Bunch theme sung by a Christian kids choir
 
14-Jan-2005 Terrible Honky Tonk Piano.mp3 [1.6MB]
Honky tonk pianos are supposed to be a bit out of tune, but this is ridiculous
 
28-Dec-2004 Margarita Pracatan - Crazy.mp3 [278KB]
Thanks to a fellow cult music fan who emailed me this Pracatan classic
 
28-Dec-2004 Criswell - Someone Walked Over My Grave.mp3 [691KB]
Criswell was a self-acclaimed mystic and psychic, most famous for his appearance as the narrator in the legendary movie Plan Nine from Outer Space
 
28-Dec-2004 Church Bells (Saint Steven Vienna).mp3 [973KB]
I can't find any more (table top) bell ringing music, but I found some church bells
 
30-Nov-2004 William Shatner - King Henry the Fifth.mp3 [2.4MB]
Another famous soliloquy, finally obtained from a radio show
 
23-Aug-2004 Nikki Webster - Under Southern Skies (2000 Olympics).mp3 [2.5MB]
What is it about modern Olympics music that makes it so sickly formulaic?
07-Oct-2003 William Shatner - Rocketman (Poor Quality Live).mp3 [2.2MB]
Recorded at the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards.
 
04-Sep-2003 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games Theme
Recorded from a local suburban FM radio station. [2.3MB]
 
24-Apr-2003 George Hill - Our Boys Are Over There.mp3
Pro Vietnam War Propaganda [2.8MB]
 
14-Feb-2003 Cathedral Quartet - I'm a Sick American
Far right-wing religious diatribe [3.5MB]
 
11-Feb-2003 John Trubee - Blind Man's Penis
See http://www.aspma.com/trubee.htm [1.5MB]
 

Random Radio Selections

The songs in this section were randomly recorded during the years around 1993-2002 from a variety of radio broadcasts received in Melbourne Australia. The quality varies wildly and the songs are sometimes incomplete or interrupted. The artist(s) are unknown for many of these tracks, so any identification feedback would be most welcome. Most of the tracks in this section were recorded during the 1990s from public radio station 3RRR during a legendary show called Trash is My Life hosted by Fiona Scott-Norman at 4pm on Saturdays. Some of these tracks are arguably not "bad", but they are so weird and curious that they deserve a place in the list.

After the Goldrush.mp3 [2.7MB]
Someone singing a lamentable wailing dragged-out and jumbled version of this cult song at what seems to be a live concert. It might be group called The Flaming Lips, but I need confirmation.
Ash - Vomiting.mp3 [2.7MB]
Claimed to be the pop group Ash vomiting. It sounds authentic.
1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games Theme [2.3MB]
This gem turned-up one morning on a suburban FM station, and lord knows how they had a recording of the rousing anthem for the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane (anyone remember that?). The inspirational lyrics go "Now you represent your country, so let the games begin, but when you get right down to it you also come to win". This song makes a stunning pair with the following Olympic theme.
Australian Olympic Theme (1988).mp3 [4.1MB]
Recorded from 3RRR radio thanks to Fiona Scott-Norman. This was the sickly cornball "Olympic Theme" designed to inspire the athletes and public of Australia for the 1988 Olympics.
Ethnic Folk Song.mp3 [2.4MB]
Unidentified folk music with an out-of-tune singer and a monotonous twanging lead stringed instrument.
Banjo Barons - Dueling Banjos.mp3 [1.5MB]
Thanks again to Fiona Scott-Norman on 3RRR for showing us that too much banjo [Banjo Barons] is not enough
Barbara Feldon - Barbara Feldon - I Want You (Single B-Side).mp3
An obscure track played on 3RRR
Barbara Feldon - I'm 99.mp3 [1.8MB]
A single recorded in the 60s by Barbara Feldon who played Agent 99 in the Get Smart TV series.
Barnes & Barnes - Fish Heads.mp3 [1.8MB]
Barnes & Barnes was formed by Billy Mumy who played Will Robinson in the Lost in Space TV series.
Charles Manson - Garbage Dump.mp3 [4.5MB]
Yes, it's that Charles Manson. This is track 8 from a 14 track self-titled album (sometimes called the Lie album).
Criswell - Someone Walked Over My Grave.mp3 [691KB]
Criswell was a self-acclaimed mystic and psychic, most famous for his appearance as the narrator in the movie Plan Nine from Outer Space
Ellipta - Socrates Superstar (Eurovision 79).mp3 [2.5MB]
Recorded from a 3RRR show by the CRUD boys before they were famous. This is the bizarre song that Greece entered in the Eurovision song contest in 1979.
Bernard King - Bon Vivant.mp3 [2.4MB]
Bernard King claims to be a "classy entertainer" but he's recognised by most Australians as the cruel judge of a TV talent quest show. Judge ye not...
Bell Ringing.mp3 [412KB]
Why don't we hear more bell ringing? Open a bell ringing club in your town. (See also: Chuch Bells)
Boogie-Woogie Cello.mp3 [1.7MB]
Don't break a leg dancing to this one.
Brady Bunch - Dancin' Through The Night.mp3 [2.3MB]
The Brady Bunch seem to be accompanying a wah-wah guitar solo (give me that wah-wah Karl).
Brady Bunch - Medley.mp3 [2.0MB]
A hundred episodes compressed into as many seconds, which is the best way to enjoy The Brady Bunch.
Brady Bunch - Love Me Do.mp3 [2.0MB]
Sam the Butcher must have been the producer of this tripe.
Church Bells (Saint Steven Vienna).mp3 [973KB]
I can't find any more (table top) bell ringing music, but I found some church bells
Church Bells (German).mp3 [902KB]
Thanks to Karl Haus for playing these two chuch bell tracks on the radio
E Power Biggs - Fire Dance (Pedal Harpsichord).mp3 [3.2MB]
Biggsy shows us how to bash a harpsichord back into the firewood it was constructed from.
Edith Massey - Big Girls Don't Cry.mp3 [1.2MB]
Edith Massey is famous as the 300 pound egg eating woman from the John Waters movie Pink Flamingos. She was a regular in John Waters' movies and her presence and teeth were hard to miss.
Edith Massey - Punks Get Off the Grass.mp3 [3.4MB]
Sometime in 2006, someone emailed me a ZIP file that contained this bizarre track. Given the subject matter, I presume it's from the late 70s.
Fart Rap.mp3 [1.3MB]
Claimed to be composed by sound engineers in their spare time from sampled farts. It sounds authentic.
Frank Gorshin - The Riddler Song.mp3 [1.9MB]
Frank Gorshin played The Riddler in the 1960s Batman TV series. The "jokes" are like dagger thrusts.
German Singalong.mp3 [2.3MB]
If this doesn't have you knee-slapping and clicking steins then you must be deaf or dead, or both. Thanks to Gerd in Germany who emailed me in March 2003 to explain that this is a song titled Honululu by famous volksmusik (German country music) singer Heino.
Grenadier March.mp3 [2.4MB]
I wasn't sure at first if this was a parody, but sadly, it seems to be a real military band performance.
Guckenheimer Sour Kraut Band - Overture to Raymonda.mp3 [3.7MB]
An hilarious parody of a bad orchestra which musicians will find memorable. This was recorded before the Portsmouth Sinfonia made this genre famous. The following text was found in a web search to a non-existant page from January 1st 1996 at the ABC radio web site:
Philips 438 733 2 9' Gump Come Vere the Band ist Playing Thomas Raymonda:
Overture - Guckenheimer Sour Kraut Band/ Richard Gump (Recorded 1957).
György Ligeti - Hungarian Rock (harpsichord).mp3 [3.5MB]
This rather weird harpsichord piece is by a famous 20th century "modern" composer. Is it cult music?
Terrible Honky Tonk Piano.mp3 [1.6MB]
Honky tonk pianos are supposed to be a bit out of tune, but this is ridiculous
I like looking at naked men.mp3 [1.5MB]
Does anyone know who the hell made this recording? I will need names and addresses so retribution can organised.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand (Dog Barks).mp3 [2.8MB]
This is an extract from a famous LP of Beatles songs titled Beatles Barkers sung completely by dog barks arranged by a mysterious group called The Woofers & Tweeters Ensemble.
Imagine.mp3 [2.2MB]
Apparently this is from a collection of recordings by Australian football players.
Jive Talking (in Chinese).mp3 [1.7MB]
Quite honestly, it's no worse in Chinese than it was in English, and it might even be better.
Temple City Kazoo Orchestra - Theme from 2001.mp3 [1.6MB]
Composer Richard Strauss died in 1949, mercifully before he could hear this version of the introduction to his epic orchestral tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra.
Linda McCartney - Hey Jude backing vocal.mp3 [5.1MB]
The back announcing by Andrew Denton and the late Dave Taranto explains it all. This is one of the most revered and legendary pieces of cult music in the modern world.
Listen to the mockingbird (whistling).mp3 [1.9MB]
The artist narrates and immitates bird whistles.
Mongolian Nose Singers.mp3 [1.0MB]
Not really cult music if you know that these singers are making chords via resonating harmonics inside their heads.
Moog Synth Funk.mp3 [3.6MB]
Too much funky Moog synthesiser is never enough.
Mr Floppy - Wuthering Heights.mp3 [1.7MB]
Was this really from a record called "My Life in the Bush of Kate"? BREAKING NEWS: Probably not! In March 2003 Andrew emailed me to say that this version might be from a Mr Floppy album titled "The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dickhead".
Nikki Webster - Under Southern Skies (2000 Olympics).mp3 [2.5MB]
What is it about Olympics music that makes it so sickly formulaic?
Pat Boone - It's a long way to the top.mp3 [3.5MB]
A sample from Pat's parody crossover album titled "In a Metal Mood"
This Letter's Postmarked Vietnam.mp3 [1.8MB]
Sexy music for a rainy day.mp3 [2.5MB]
Snuggle up warm and cozy in front of a roaring fire with a kidney shaped pan.
Up There Cazaly (Dance Mix).mp3 [2.4MB]
Overseas visitors should know that "Up There Cazaly" was a commerical pop anthem to advertise Aussie Rules football.
Unidentified (Girl Singer & Band).mp3 [2.9MB]
3:35 minutes of this droning repetitive drawl is like 335 minues in a dentist's chair. Is it Cat Power?
Uri Geller - Come On And Love.mp3 [3.2MB]
Uri Geller - Velvet Space (Poetry).mp3 [2.4MB]
Yodelling William Tell Overture.mp3 [1.1MB]
Even the classics are untouched by yodelling.
Yodelling Virtuoso.mp3 [3.0MB]
You can never have enough yodelling, and this is quite a bit of tonsil stretching virtuosity.

Random Internet Selections

These miscellaneous songs were found on the Internet or donated by fans of cult music via email. The songs don't seem to belong in any other special category, so this section was created for them.

George Hill - Our Boys Are Over There.mp3 [2.8MB]
Digitised from a 7" single, with thanks to Rob:
- Side A "To The Boys In Vietnam" (George Hill) {3.07} Control
- Side B "Our Boys Are Over There" (George Hill) {2.28} Control
- Label - AFS (Australian Forces Songs)
- George Hill with Garry Maiden Trio and Don Lewers
 
John Trubee - Blind Man's Penis.mp3 [1.5MB]
For more information on this weird song see: http://www.aspma.com/trubee.htm
Ukendt - Mystiskt Nummer.mp3
An incomprehensible song from Denmark (lyrics and comments in the mp3 tag)
 
Unknown - Chicken Yodelling Song.mp3
Yodelling and chickens, what a yummy combination
 
Vicki - Dr Jones (Chinese Version).mp3
Thanks for Rob Jan on 3RRR for playing this whacko one
 
Unknown - Chicken Yodelling Song.mp3
Another ripper from Rob Jan's radio show
 

Steve's Favourites

Thanks to Bad Music fan Steve Nicholls in the UK who sent me copies of the following amazing songs, many of which are completely new to me.

Alvaro - Drinkin My Own Sperm.mp3 [6.2MB]
If anyone can figure out the lyrics of this woeful and dismal song...don't tell me!
Cathy Berberian - I want to hold your hand.mp3 [2.7MB]
Cathy (1925-1983) renders this Beatles hit in the baroque soprano style on her Fontana label record titled Revolution.
Cathy Berberian - Michelle.mp3 [3.1MB]
Elvis Presley - Old MacDonald Had A Farm.mp3 [1.9MB]
It sounds like Elvis was getting the idea for his final diet change. This song is not suitable for vegetarians.
Ferlin Husky - I Dug My Daddy's Grave.mp3 [2.4MB]
Where does Ferlin "Chuckles" Husky find his jolly subject matter? He picks a similar theme on The World's Worst Record below.
Jim Hall & The Radio Pals - Hydrogen Nitrogen Potassium.mp3 [2.8MB]
Does anyone know what this slack off-key droning is about? From my chemistry days I'm guessing it's fertilizer.
Herbie Duncan - Hot Lips Baby.mp3 [2.2MB]
An imitation of someone parodying rock 'n' roll.
Jim Reeves - Old Tige.mp3 [2.7MB]
Sickly sentimentality equalled only by Pat Campbell on The World's Worst Record (see below).
John Denver - You Done Stomped On My Heart.mp3 [2.5MB]
Patrick Macnee & Honor Blackman - Kinky Boots.mp3 [1.5MB]
This woeful song very sadly tarnishes the well deserved cult following of The Avengers TV show.
Sampson - A Song For My Lady.mp3 [2.6MB]
Solun Chaagai - Sovet Churtum.mp3 [2.9MB]
Music and Throat-Singing from the Altai-Sayani Mountains of Tuva (see: YAT-KHA)

Lara's Favourites

These tracks were donated to the collection in late September 2003 by Lara in the UK. Lara sent 15 tracks in total, including 2 complete LP sides from a spine-chilling children's Christian record. Due to lack of space, only the following can be presented for now and others will follow when it's possible. Big Daddy seems to be some kind of lame doo-wop group with a fabulous knack of picking the most inappropriate songs to record. The Perrey and Kingsley and Gordon Langford tracks must be some of the most irritating electronic music ever recorded. The crazy moog effects will have you clawing your own face off.

Big Daddy - Eye of The Tiger.mp3 [2.0MB]
Big Daddy - Hotel California.mp3 [3.0MB]
Big Daddy - Star Wars Theme.mp3 [1.8MB]
Perrey and Kingsley - Fallout.mp3 [1.5MB]
Perrey and Kingsley - Strangers in The Night.mp3 [2.3MB]
Perrey and Kingsley - The Third Man Theme.mp3 [1.7MB]
Gordon Langford - Yellow Submarine.mp3 [2.2MB]

Legendary Bad Music

Florence Foster Jenkins
Run a web search for Florence and you'll discover that she was a wealthy socialte who fancied herself as an opera diva. Read more about Florence in The Diva of Din. It's fascinating to hear how Florence vaguely knows inside her head what she want's to sing but just can't quite turn it into reality. Thanks to fellow cult music fan Glenn who sent me all eight tracks and cover scans from the legendary LP titled A Florence Foster Jenkins Recital (RCA Victor LRT-7000).

01-08 - Aria - Queen of the Night.mp3 [2.5MB]
02-08 - The Musical Snuff-Box.mp3 [1.7MB]
03-08 - Like a Bird.mp3 [0.9MB]
04-08 - Bell Song (from Lakmé).mp3 [3.2MB]
05-08 - Serenata Mexicana.mp3 [1.5MB]
06-08 - Charmant Oiseau (from Pearl of Brazil).mp3 [4.1MB]
07-08 - Biassy.mp3 [2.5MB]
08-08 - Adele's Laughing Song (from Die Fledermaus).mp3 [2.6MB]
Recital (LP Front).jpg (989 x 984) [295KB]
Recital (LP Back).jpg (932 x 966) [388KB]

The Shaggs
In 1969, three girls were taken to the recording studio by their proud parents. The Shaggs were born on vinyl and rest of the story (as they say) is history. See: http://www.shaggs.com/

Shaggs - My Pal Foot Foot.mp3 [2.3MB]
This is almost the signature tune of The Shaggs, often heard on comedy radio shows.
Shaggs - It's Halloween.mp3 [2.2MB]
It's scary alright! Can anyone figure out what key or time-signature this is in? Dave Brubeck would be fascinated I'm sure.

Mrs. Miller
See: Welcome to Mrs. Elva Miller Central. Another sample of Mrs. Miller can be found below on The World's Worst Record.

Mrs. Miller - Moon River.mp3 [2.2MB]
Mrs. Miller - These Boots Are Made For Walking.mp3 [2.3MB]

William Shatner

William Shatner - Hamlet.mp3 [3.0MB]
Is it a coincidence that the backing music sounds like it's from Star Trek?
 
William Shatner - It was a very good year.mp3 [3.2MB]
When I was 21 it was a very good year for the invasion of the Romulan Sector.
 
William Shatner - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.mp3 [4.1MB]
This is generally regarded as Shatner's masterpiece.
William Shatner - Romeo & Juliet.mp3 [2.4MB]
Arise fair Sun and kill the envious moo (or is that moon?) who is already sick and pale with grief.
 
William Shatner - I Wanna Sex You Up.mp3 [710KB]
Try this as a pick up line.
 
William Shatner - Mr Tambourine Man.mp3 [2.7MB]
A close runner with Lucy in The Sky for the best-of-the-worst masterpiece.
 
William Shatner - Rocketman (Poor Quality Live).mp3 [2.2MB]
Recorded at the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards.
 
William Shatner - King Henry the Fifth.mp3 [2.4MB]
Complete track recorded from FM Radio
 

Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy - Highly Illogical.mp3 [1.7MB]
A small 1960s hit by Leonard Nimoy that takes an "outer space" spin on his Mr Spock character.
Leonard Nimoy - Put a little love in your heart.mp3 [2.1MB]
I thought actors were usually multi-talented and could sing and dance. I wonder if Leonard can dance.
Leonard Nimoy - Ballad Of Bilbo Baggins.mp3 [2.2MB]
The lyrics follow the plot of The Hobbit quite well, but it's a shame about the music and the singer.

The "Swedish Elvis" Eilert Pilarm
See Eilert's Official Web Site and Per-Gunnar Erikssons' Eilert News Page.

Eilert Pilarm - In The Ghetto.mp3 [2.4MB]
Eilert Pilarm - Jailhouse Rock.mp3 [1.8MB]
Eilert Pilarm - Megamix.mp3 [4.7MB]
Eilert Pilarm - All Shook Up.mp3 [1.9MB]
Eilert Pilarm - Hound Dog.mp3 [1.9MB]
Eilert Pilarm - Johnny B Goode.mp3 [1.9MB]
Eilert Pilarm - Long Tall Sally.mp3 [1.7MB]

Nervous Norvus (Jimmy Drake)
His most famous song Transfusion can be found on the World's Worst Record below.

Nervous Norvus - Ape Call.mp3 [3.0MB]
Nervous Norvus - The Fang.mp3 [2.7MB]
Nervous Norvus - Wild Dogs.mp3 [2.9MB]

Margarita Pracatan

Margarita Pracatan - I Will Survive.mp3 [3.3MB]
Margarita's fame was deservedly spread far by her regular appearances on the Clive James TV show in the late 90s.
Margarita Pracatan - Hello.mp3 [2.2MB]
Another song by the stellar Margarita performing the 1980s Lionel Ritchie hit.
Margarita Pracatan - Crazy.mp3 [278KB]
Thanks to a fellow cult music fan who emailed me this Pracatan classic

The World's Worst Record

The World's Worst Record was found in the discard bin of a record shop in the suburb of St. Kilda in the early 1980s. This album is so impressive that I felt compelled to make all of the tracks available online. Thanks to Nick in the UK who explained that this record was invented in 1978 by Kenny Everett as a result of his Capitol Radio show titled The World's Worst Radio Show where he presented the "bottom 30 music chart". Further thanks to Neil in the UK who sent additional detailed information on the history of the record.

Neil's short history of The World's Worst Record
Export LP Cover (Front) - [800x793 - 253KB]
Export LP Cover (Back) - [800x787 - 275KB]
UK LP Cover (Front) - [571x571 - 75KB]
Neil's short history of the song I Want My Baby Back
Cover of I Want My Baby Back

Links
The Radio Academy - Kenny Everett
The Capital Radio Bottom 30 -- Audio Sample MP3 Audio Sample
Kenny Everett Tribute
The World's Worst Record (UK Release)

World's Worst Record - 01-20 - I Want My Baby Back.mp3 [4.0MB] Jimmy Cross
World's Worst Record - 02-20 - Wunderbar.mp3 [3.0MB] Zarah Leander
World's Worst Record - 03-20 - Paralyzed.mp3 [2.6MB] Legendary Stardust Cowboy
A truly legendary piece of cult music. The Ledge plays all the instruments, even the solo trumpet. Australia is the proud home of The Ledge Fanclub who promoted his Australian tour in the mid 1980s.
World's Worst Record - 04-20 - The Deal.mp3 [3.9MB] Pat Campbell
This song has enough sickly sweet religious sentimentality to give you diabetes, but you should throw-up before that happens.
World's Worst Record - 05-20 - Transfusion.mp3 [2.7MB] Nervous Norvus
World's Worst Record - 06-20 - This Pullover.mp3 [2.8MB] Jess Conrad
World's Worst Record - 07-20 - Spinning Wheel.mp3 [3.2MB] Mel and Dave
The first few bars go quite tolerably well, but (in mathematical terms) the singers slowly begin to diverge from the backing music until they create the effect of having two radio stations tuned in simultaneously. And let's face it, you can never get too much cowbell in a backing track.
World's Worst Record - 08-20 - Laurie.mp3 [3.4MB] Dickie Lee
World's Worst Record - 09-20 - A Lover's Concerto.mp3 [2.9MB] Mrs. Miller
See: Welcome to Mrs. Elva Miller Central
World's Worst Record - 10-20 - The Drunken Driver.mp3 [2.8MB] Ferlin Husky
World's Worst Record - 11-20 - Why Am I Living.mp3 [2.5MB] Jess Conrad
World's Worst Record - 12-20 - Surfin' Bird.mp3 [2.5MB] The Trashmen
World's Worst Record - 13-20 - I'm Going To Spain.mp3 [2.9MB] Steve Bent
Good!...don't come back.
World's Worst Record - 14-20 - The Big Architect.mp3 [4.5MB] Duncan Johnson
World's Worst Record - 15-20 - Cherry Pie.mp3 [2.4MB] Jess Conrad
World's Worst Record - 16-20 - The Shifting Whispering Sands.mp3 [3.3MB] Eamonn Andrews
World's Worst Record - 17-20 - Kick Out The Jams.mp3 [3.1MB] Tub Thumper
World's Worst Record - 18-20 - My Feet Start Tapping.mp3 [2.3MB] Adolph Babel
My temples start throbbing.
World's Worst Record - 19-20 - The Greatest Star of All.mp3 [3.5MB] Skip Jackson
Can you guess who is the greatest star of all before listening to the song? Clue: It's not a question about astronomy.
World's Worst Record - 20-20 - Going Out Of My Head.mp3 [3.2MB] Raphael
You're not the only one!

Bad Performances

Alan Cuckston (Harpsichord) - Les Cyclops.mp3 [3.1MB]
This track was taken from a commercial Naxos CD. This piece by Rameau is either too difficult for Alan, or he's had a few pints before he went into the recording studio. If you've got an ear for classical music, listen carefully for the fluffed notes and timing.

Religious Music

There is so much bad religious music that it deserves a category of its own, and I can barely scratch the surface of this frightening genre. In this case, the expression religious music is usually synonymous with American Christian music. Religious music tends to have its own special nauseating attributes, usually incredible naïvety (not nativity), silly sing-song choruses and a glowing optimism so infectious that it makes you want to slap someone back to reality.

Phil Harris - Deck of Cards.mp3 [1.7MB]
The Cathedral Quartet - I'm a Sick American [3.5MB]
Cedarmont Kids - Books Of The Bible.mp3 [1.7MB]
Cedarmont Kids - Father Abraham.mp3 [2.0MB]
Cedarmont Kids - I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.mp3 [2.8MB]
Cedarmont Kids - I'm In The Lord's Army.mp3 [1.5MB]
Cedarmont Kids - Jesus In The Morning.mp3 [2.8MB]
Cedarmont Kids - Jesus Loves The Little Children.mp3 [1.5MB]
Cedarmont Kids - The Happy Day Express.mp3 [936KB]
Charlie The Hampster - The 10 Commandments.mp3 [15.9MB] (23:11)
David Ingles - Satan Has Been Paralyzed.mp3 [1.7MB]
Football game between good and evil.mp3 [1.8MB]
I love to go to Sunday School.mp3 [1.7MB]
Jimmy Little - Royal Telephone.mp3 [2.0MB]
Jimmy Swaggart - Speech & Song.mp3 [3.3MB]
Yes, this is Jimmy Swaggart the charismatic fundamentalist Christian who was found in a motel with a prostitute. Don't worry, he begged for forgiveness so there's no problem really. The back announcing explains everything.
Ten Lepers.mp3 [2.0MB]
The Happy Day Express.mp3 [948KB]
We're going to see the Son (Not Reverend Moon).mp3 [2.8MB]
A song that sets religious tolerance back a few centuries.
Yodelling for Jesus.mp3 [2.0MB]
Kids of The King (Christian Brady Bunch Theme).mp3 [908KB]
Yes, it's the Brady Bunch theme sung by a Christian kids choir
  Additional recommendations in the category are track 4 (The Deal) and track 14 (The Big Architect) from The World's Worst Record (see the section above).

Deliberate Bad Music

Jonathan & Darlene Edwards
It's not technically "cult music", it's actually a clever parody of a bad lounge music duet by the talented Jo Stafford and Paul Weston.

Jonathan & Darlene Edwards - The River Seine.mp3 [1.0MB]
Jo's voice mimics the sound of a nervous talent quest hopeful with astonishing fidelity.
Jonathan & Darlene Edwards - Stardust.mp3 [2.3MB]
This song features a piano solo by Jonathan (Paul Weston). Don't laugh too much, as I've heard pianists like this in hotel bars.
Jonathan & Darlene Edwards - I Love Paris.mp3 [2.6MB]
Jo's love of Paris must be explained with the creative and unexpected use of quarter-tones.
Jonathan & Darlene Edwards - I am Woman.mp3 [2.2MB]
This is the first parody piece by the Edwards that I ever heard. I was tricked at first, and it took another 7 years before I discovered who it was.
Jonathan & Darlene Edwards - Stayin' Alive.mp3 [1.5MB]
A version so excruciating it would be at home in a John Waters movie soundtrack.

Crazy Otto
This might be serious pianist Johnny Maddox in disguise and playing honky tonk piano medleys. These tracks were digitised from an ancient 7" vinyl single, so some sound flaws remain. It seems that multiple musicians have used the alias Crazy Otto, so I'm not absolutely sure if it's Johnny Maddox.

Crazy Otto - Medley 1.mp3 [2.7MB]
Crazy Otto - Medley 2.mp3 [2.5MB]
Crazy Otto - Medley 3.mp3 [2.8MB]
Crazy Otto - Medley 4.mp3 [2.6MB]

Dread Zeppelin
Yes, it's a Led Zeppelin cover band with an Elvis impersonator as lead singer.

Dread Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven.mp3 [6.9MB]
Dread Zepplin - Black Dog.mp3 [4.9MB]
Dread Zepplin - Immigrant Song.mp3 [2.6MB]

Vic Godard and The Subway Sect

These Vic Godard and The Subway Sect tracks were digitised from a 1980 LP record titled What's The Matter Boy that was found in a discard bin in the early 1980s. There is little to no information available on this group even via web searches. It's excruciatingly irritating music with monotonous jangly guitars, jumbled lyrics that sound like failed beat poetry, and worst of all is the warbling slightly off-key adenoidal voice of Vic Godard.

Vic Godard - 01-12 - Birth & Death.mp3 [2.2MB]
Vic Godard - 02-12 - Stand Back.mp3 [1.9MB]
Vic Godard - 03-12 - Watching The Devil.mp3 [4.2MB]
Vic Godard - 04-12 - Enclave.mp3 [2.8MB]
Vic Godard - 05-12 - Out of Touch (Mind).mp3 [2.6MB]
Vic Godard - 06-12 - Vertical Integration.mp3 [3.0MB]
Vic Godard - 07-12 - Split up the Money.mp3 [2.8MB]
Vic Godard - 08-12 - Stool Pigeon.mp3 [2.8MB]
Vic Godard - 09-12 - Double Negative.mp3 [2.7MB]
Vic Godard - 10-12 - Exit, No Return.mp3 [3.4MB]
Vic Godard - 11-12 - Empty Shell.mp3 [3.4MB]
Vic Godard - 12-12 - Make Me Sad.mp3 [3.6MB]

Thanks to Neil who found the link V.I.C. Spells Vic (Godard Spells it All Out) and these two images (click to pop-up).


Amanda Lear

This album was found while flipping through LPs in Cosmos Books & Records in the suburb of St. Kilda back in around 1981. I had no idea who Amanda Lear was, or what she did, or what she sounded like, but it didn't matter as it was worth paying $10.50 just for the cover of her 1978 album titled Sweet Revenge. Men of good taste such as Bryan Ferry, Brian Jones and Salvador Dali seemed to think she was a very special lady, but they probably weren't inspecting her tonsils for singing ability when they first met. Amanda sings with a meandering boring baritone that might be imitating Marlene Dietrich, but it's more like an imitation of Madeline Khan imitating Marlene Dietrich in the Mel Brooks movie Blazing Saddles. This was Amanda's second album, and it seems that she continues to have a small cult following in the European disco set.

Amanda Lear - 01-09 - (Sweet Revenge Side A).mp3 [11.1MB] WARNING: Very Large File
Amanda Lear - 06-09 - Comics.mp3 [2.1MB]
Amanda Lear - 07-09 - Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmm To me).mp3 [2.9MB]
Amanda Lear - 08-09 - The Stud.mp3 [2.3MB]
Amanda Lear - 09-09 - Hollywood Flashback.mp3 [2.6MB]

Just in case you're wondering why the album cover was worth $10.50, see the front and back covers.


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