A classic bad album, one that often turns up in the lists of
the world’s worst, but one which is seldom heard.
Hailing from Michigan, Three Peas in a Podd (the name on the
album sleeve is incorrect) were Dick Wallace, Wild Wally Klejment and Jerome ‘Mr
Shop’ Byville, a three-man cabaret band whose members met while attending Wayne
State University in Detroit, Michigan. Together from 1968 until 1983, before
becoming Three Peas... the trio had also worked together under the names The
Dan D Trio, The Wally K Combo and (post album) as Patchwork.
Wild Wally later began using the name Max Effort (love it!). Back in 2008 Max (via WFMU) revealed that he “played the Sanovox on the Three Peas album and provided some of the singing. There were two vocalists; I was the lesser quality of the two being hampered by out-of-control allergies and a bad cold. The congestion really played havoc on my breathing and my vocal range. Yes, we should have rescheduled the recording date when I was healthy, but we couldn't afford to lose our deposit. The entire album was recorded in just a couple of hours as that's all our budget allowed.”
Everything about this record is wrong: the off-key trumpet,
the out of tune vocals, the ‘unique’ spelling and use of punctuation in the title,
although, as Max said: “It has been our experience that those who criticize the
loudest are the ones with the least knowledge and experience. You may like our
music; you may not like our music. But no one has any right to declare it right
or wrong. No one has ever been granted that authority. People who have
contracted with us over the years (many times, repeatedly) did so because they
had a good time. That was our job - to entertain.” I for one certainly find it
hugely entertaining, although I disagree about Max’s view of criticism (well I
would, wouldn’t I?). If you put your art out there for other people to experience
they are bound to critique it. Dealing with criticism is part of the job; everyone
has an opinion.
If the following couple of taster tracks leaves you wanting
more, you can still find the whole album at WFMU. Here’s Goin' Out of My Head and The
Shadow of Your Smile.
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