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Cult Music | |
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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.
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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. |
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| Ash - Vomiting.mp3 [2.7MB] Claimed to be the pop group Ash vomiting. It sounds authentic. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Ethnic Folk Song.mp3 [2.4MB] Unidentified folk music with an out-of-tune singer and a monotonous twanging lead stringed instrument. |
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| 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 |
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| Barbara Feldon - Barbara Feldon - I Want You (Single B-Side).mp3 An obscure track played on 3RRR |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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). |
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| 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 |
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| 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. |
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| 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... |
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| Bell Ringing.mp3 [412KB] Why don't we hear more bell ringing? Open a bell ringing club in your town. (See also: Chuch Bells) |
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| Boogie-Woogie Cello.mp3 [1.7MB] Don't break a leg dancing to this one. |
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| 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). |
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| Brady Bunch - Medley.mp3 [2.0MB] A hundred episodes compressed into as many seconds, which is the best way to enjoy The Brady Bunch. |
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| Brady Bunch - Love Me Do.mp3 [2.0MB] Sam the Butcher must have been the producer of this tripe. |
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| Church Bells (Saint Steven Vienna).mp3 [973KB] I can't find any more (table top) bell ringing music, but I found some church bells |
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| Church Bells (German).mp3 [902KB] Thanks to Karl Haus for playing these two chuch bell tracks on the radio |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Fart Rap.mp3 [1.3MB] Claimed to be composed by sound engineers in their spare time from sampled farts. It sounds authentic. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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). |
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| 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? |
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| Terrible Honky Tonk Piano.mp3 [1.6MB] Honky tonk pianos are supposed to be a bit out of tune, but this is ridiculous |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Imagine.mp3 [2.2MB] Apparently this is from a collection of recordings by Australian football players. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Listen to the mockingbird (whistling).mp3 [1.9MB] The artist narrates and immitates bird whistles. |
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| 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. |
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| Moog Synth Funk.mp3 [3.6MB] Too much funky Moog synthesiser is never enough. |
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| 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". |
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| Nikki Webster - Under Southern Skies (2000 Olympics).mp3 [2.5MB] What is it about Olympics music that makes it so sickly formulaic? |
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| 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" |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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? |
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| 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. |
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| Yodelling Virtuoso.mp3 [3.0MB] You can never have enough yodelling, and this is quite a bit of tonsil stretching virtuosity. |
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 |
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| John
Trubee - Blind Man's Penis.mp3 [1.5MB] For more information on this weird song see: http://www.aspma.com/trubee.htm |
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| Ukendt
- Mystiskt Nummer.mp3 An incomprehensible song from Denmark (lyrics and comments in the mp3 tag) |
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| Unknown
- Chicken Yodelling Song.mp3 Yodelling and chickens, what a yummy combination |
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| Vicki
- Dr Jones (Chinese Version).mp3 Thanks for Rob Jan on 3RRR for playing this whacko one |
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| Unknown
- Chicken Yodelling Song.mp3 Another ripper from Rob Jan's radio show |
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! |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Herbie Duncan - Hot Lips
Baby.mp3 [2.2MB] An imitation of someone parodying rock 'n' roll. |
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| Jim Reeves - Old Tige.mp3 [2.7MB] Sickly sentimentality equalled only by Pat Campbell on The World's Worst Record (see below). |
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| 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. |
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| 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) |
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.
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 - Hamlet.mp3 [3.0MB] Is it a coincidence that the backing music sounds like it's from Star Trek? |
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| 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. |
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| William
Shatner - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.mp3 [4.1MB] This is generally regarded as Shatner's masterpiece. |
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| 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. |
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| William
Shatner - I Wanna Sex You Up.mp3 [710KB] Try this as a pick up line. |
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| William
Shatner - Mr Tambourine Man.mp3 [2.7MB] A close runner with Lucy in The Sky for the best-of-the-worst masterpiece. |
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| William
Shatner - Rocketman (Poor Quality Live).mp3 [2.2MB] Recorded at the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards. |
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| William
Shatner - King Henry the Fifth.mp3 [2.4MB] Complete track recorded from FM Radio |
| 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. |
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| 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 - 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. |
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| Margarita
Pracatan - Crazy.mp3 [278KB] Thanks to a fellow cult music fan who emailed me this Pracatan classic |
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 --
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! |
| 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. |
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.
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.
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).
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.