Novelty No.1's (24 Crazy Chart Topping Hits) - Various Artists

...are also all classed as novelty songs. In other words, songs that no one expected to make it to number one, but because of their catchy tunes and quirkiness they shot to fame. Many of the bands have made a number of songs but have only had the one that made it, and luckily for them, they have been included on this CD. So exactly what does it have to offer?

There is twenty four songs on this CD. Too many to mention here, so I have chosen ...
...we hate them so much, but just can't help ourselves when they begin to play.


***Sugar Sugar*** This was performed by the Archies in 1969, The Archies were fictional characters from the Archie Universe. (Yep drugs were rife in the 60's!) Despite it being before my time (just), I think this has to be one of my favourite songs. My mum would sing it to me as a child and now my hubby does. All you now have to work out is why!!!
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I spotted this CD whilst in a newsagent's store. We were just off on holiday and I wanted something lively to get us in the mood. This certainly looked lively enough. With a colourful cover and picture it was enough to convince me in just a few seconds to buy this product.

The CD, as its name suggests is a collection of songs that made it in the music charts. What has surprised me though is that they did not all reach number one, so how they made it onto the CD is a mystery. But all have certainly been big hits, and I don't think there is one song on here that I don't know, and even worse I think I know the lyrics to most of them. I think this is an excellent CD. We keep it in our car and listen to it on long journeys but it would also be great when having a family party as it covers so many different tastes and ages. The idea is not unique, there have been many similar CDs brought out with a collection of chart toppers, so what is different about this one?

Well firstly, as I said above this covers a few decades. Some of the songs are recent where as others are from before I was even twinkling. They are also all classed as novelty songs. In other words, songs that no one expected to make it to number one, but because of their catchy tunes and quirkiness they shot to fame. Many of the bands have made a number of songs but have only had the one that made it, and luckily for them, they have been included on this CD. So exactly what does it have to offer?

There is twenty four songs on this CD. Too many to mention here, so I have chosen a quarter of them. Some are my favourites, others because we hate them so much, but just can't help ourselves when they begin to play.

***Sugar Sugar*** This was performed by the Archies in 1969, The Archies were fictional characters from the Archie Universe. (Yep drugs were rife in the 60's!) Despite it being before my time (just), I think this has to be one of my favourite songs. My mum would sing it to me as a child and now my hubby does. All you now have to work out is why!!!

***Monster Mash*** Another favourite of mine, and has also been quickly caught on by my four children. The song is sung by a fictional mad scientist. He is working late one night when a monster arises and starts doing a dance. So the Scientist holds a party for a load of monsters and they all do the Monster mash. The song, made with just a very low budget and cheap sound effects was a success and topped the charts in 1962.

***The Chicken Song*** Between 1984 and 1986, ITV produced a program called Spitting Image. The program consisted of latex models created to look like prominent people of the time. It picked up on all their habits, good or bad, all their faults and anything else they had to offer. In 1986 they went that bit further. They brought out The Chicken Song which was their way of poking fun, in a nice way, at Black Lace and Agadoo.
The Lyrics were totally crazy, and involved extracting your wisdom teeth, sticking a deckchair up your nose, beheading an Eskimo and casseroling your gran. If you are too young to know the song I would definitely recommend that you seek this one out. It is unforgettable.

***Combine Harvester*** I have added this song as my Five year old loves it. He is too young to understand the story behind it, but with a love of tractors, diggers and all similar machines he caught on to this one quite quickly. The love song is sung by a farmer who proposes marriage to his girlfriend, offering to give her the key to the "brand-new combine harvester" to use on her 43 acres of arable land. Awww, how sweet. The Wurzels had this hit in 1976, and despite being the only one they are remembered for are still actually about today and performing regularly.

***Nut Rocker*** This is an Instrumental piece based on Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, and is performed by B Bumble and the Stingers. It comprises of just a guitar and piano. It was released twice in the UK. First in 1962, then ten years later in 1972. Despite having no words and only two instruments it is very catchy and I defy you to sit still without tapping your toes along to this tune.

***We all stand Together*** Remember the frogs? Not the Crazy one, but the ones in the accompanying video to this song by Paul McCartney and of course the Frog Chorus. This song was originally created to be part of a full length animation film. Unfortunately the film never came about but the song was used instead in the cartoon "Rupert and the Frog Song", as Rupert had been a childhood favourite of Pauls' and he had bought the right. In 1984 the song was released into the charts and made it all the way to the top. This is the last tune on the CD. It somehow has a way of making me feel very relaxed and happy, maybe because it brings back good memories, so I think it is perfectly placed.

Other songs to be found on the CD are:-

Crazy Frog - Axel F
Baha Men - Who let the Dogs Out
Whigfield - Saturday Night
Los Del Rio - Macarena
The Tweets - The Birdie song
Typically Tropical - Barbados
Black Lace - Agadoo
Cartoons - Witch doctor
Fast Food Rockers - Fast Food song
Las Ketchup - Asereje
Right said fred - I'm too sexy
Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
The Firm - Star trekkin
Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddap You Face
Benny Hill - Ernie
Sheb Wooley - The Purple People eater
The Scaffold - Lily the Pink
Chuck berry - My Ding a ling

 

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