Ho ho ho! Yes, it’s that time of year again, time to look at
some of the worst Christmas-themed records ever released. And what a doozy I
have for you today.
Released in several countries as the B-side to their Jingle
Bell Rock, a cover of the 1957 Bobby Helms
hit, Jingle Bell Imitations originally
appeared (as did its flipside) in the US in 1961 on the LP Bobby
Rydell/Chubby Checker – a truly awful album whose ‘highlight’ is a
seven minute medley featuring the hitmaking pair singing snatches of each
other’s chart toppers. Jingle Bell Rock
saw a UK release in 1962, with a
different track - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve - on the B-side.
Chubby, of course, is well known for his hits The Twist, Let’s Twist Again, The Pony and others. He had form: his first release The Class featured him imitating singers including Elvis, Fats Domino… and Bobby Rydell. Rydell is less
well remembered here in the UK, although he scored several major US hits in the
early 60s, including the Billboard number two Wild One. Both artists were signed to Cameo Parkway records,
the company that put out this tosh, and had appeared on each other’s recording
sessions before this album. Both artists, now in their 70s, are still
performing today, although Rydell’s poor health has caused him to cut down on
his work load in recent years.
In 2013 Chubby sued Hewlett Packard over an app that "adversely
affects Chubby Checker's brand and value and if allowed to continue, will cause
serious damage to the Plaintiff's goodwill and will tarnish his image that he
has worked to maintain over the last 50 years." That app, called the Chubby Checker allowed users to enter a man's shoe size to estimate
the size of his penis. Chubby’s lawyer (one Willie Gary…seriously, you could
not make this stuff up!) was seeking half a billion dollars in damages.
Enjoy!
To download the audio, click on the Tindeck logo and you'll be taken to the download page
12/19/15
ReplyDeleteRobGems.ca Wrote:
I have the album of Chubby & Bobby on Cameo Records, and it's a hoot. It would be hard to believe today, but back in 1961, Chubby & Bobby were huge in the U.S. This duet album spent some 20 weeks in the Billboard Top 40 Album charts, peaking at #13 during the 1961-62 holiday season.Only a few people growing up in the 1960's who watched "The Jackie Gleason" show would remember who Frank Fontaine (who died in 1977), one of the impersonations that Bobby Rydell makes, but unfortunately, today too many people would know who Alvin And The Chipmunks are, thanks to countless movies and TV shows churned out by Ross Bagdasadrian's son, Ross Jr. with his wife Janice Karmen (who voices all three of the Chipettes, Brittany, Eleanor, and Jeanette.)Who would have thought the little rodent's popularity lasted this long after 57 years? The only reason I suggest is $$$$$$$$. Speaking of weird Chipmunks records, look for the mondo bizarro duet that Alvin & his brothers made with Liberty label-mates Canned Heat. Somebody at Liberty Records thought that this was a good idea at the time. It's weird and annoying, but the Canned Heat band makes it rock, somehow.
That 7:27 medley is truly frightful - I only got to the 1:30 mark before I had to stop listening!
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