How was Alfred E. Neuman's "It's a Gas" received when it first came out?c

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Recorded in 1963, it was issued in MAD magazine as an acetate-backed with cardboard, attributed to Alfred E. Neuman and the Furshlugginer Five. Never reviewed by rock magazines or rock critics, the Philistines. But, hey, lots of people had it because MAD's circulation was GREAT! Sold more copies out of the gate than the New York Dolls or Iggy Stooge records, just like the single "Potrzebie."

And how 'bout "Fink Along with MAD!" & "MAD Twists Rock 'n' Roll."

― Harry Klam, Sunday, 5 June 2005 18:35 (twenty years ago)

I don't think I ever even heard those, harry! the one i have is a black 7-inch flexi disc from 1978, called "Makin' Out," but it only has Alfred E. Neuman's picture on it, and says "MAD magazine presents" instead of his name. Hmm..

― xhuxk, Sunday, 5 June 2005 19:18 (twenty years ago)

"It's a Gas" came on white cardboard/clear acetate. I don't remember which issue I had that it came in. "Potrzebie" was an actual 7-inch. "It's a Gas" was said to feature "the Belchmeister," someone delivering the burps at the turn-arounds. Great cheap and cheesy Booker T & the MGs backing.

How 'bout the soundtrack to "Up the Creek," which went into widespread distro when the movie was out. I really liked the cuts by "Cheeks" and "Blow Up" "bands" I'd never heard of then and never did again.

Tracklist:

Kickin' up a fuss (Blow-Up)
X Offender (Blondie)
Roadrunner (Johnathan Richman and the Modern Lovers)
We gotta get out of here (Ian Hunter)
Coquette (Cheeks)
Side 2
Boney Moronie (Cheeks)
We Live for Love (Pat Benatar)
Bad Reputation (Sammy Hagar)
Midnight Rendezvous (The Babys)
Beat the Devil (Blow Up)

― Harry Klamm, Sunday, 5 June 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

I love their song titles although the music is subpar.

She Lets Me Watch Her Parents Fight (That's How I Know She Loves Me)

or something like that.

― Cunga (Cunga), Sunday, 5 June 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

please oh please oh please tell me someone has this and can post it.
Looks amazing.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 5 June 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

There is a song on Thee Michelle Gun Elephant's "Gear Blues" that sounds almost exactly like a stoked guitar version of "It's A Gas."

― Harry Klamm, Sunday, 5 June 2005 22:09 (twenty years ago)

I have this -- Rhino did a 'Mad Grooves' CD a few years back.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 5 June 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

"It's a Gas":
http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0E2CT09UC200M1HHHYNGVB32CE

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 5 June 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

It says here King Curtis is the sax player on this.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 5 June 2005 22:50 (twenty years ago)

As perfect as I had remembered it.

― Harry Klam, Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

Oh, this is wonderful! Thanks for posting it; would you mind if I blogged it?

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:22 (twenty years ago)

Some of those belches are astonishing. It sounds like an organ is ripping inside the guy. Great backing music for an antacid commercial. I may just have to reserve a spot on my P&J singles poll.

― Harry Klam, Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:24 (twenty years ago)

I have confirmation on that King Curtis sax riff incidentally: in dutch.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:26 (twenty years ago)

Even though "It's a Gas" is old, now it's new again. And I contribute to any polls in '63 or '66 or whenever it was issued. It combines R&B party vibe with a quality that can clear a room of the humorless fast. Demento has probably played this a lot.

― Harry Klam, Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:27 (twenty years ago)

"I don't think I ever even heard those, harry! the one i have is a black 7-inch flexi disc from 1978, called "Makin' Out,""

"making out, making out, i tell myself i could be should be making out-but all-i'm making out-from all this making out-is that everyone's making out...but me."

and i haven't heard it since 1978! that's how memorable it is.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:27 (twenty years ago)

Harry, Demento did play this a lot, at least when I was a kid in the '70s.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:29 (twenty years ago)

all-i'm making out-from all this making out-is that everyone's making out...but me."

I only knew one girl that enjoyed the MAD magazine and its "music."

― Harry Klam, Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:32 (twenty years ago)

"Makin' Out":
http://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1YU8CYERICINL2UCZPCOQFK4XF

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:37 (twenty years ago)

Apparently, there's a DISCO REMIX of "it's a gas"!
If anyone can provide that, I'll eat a live chicken.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:46 (twenty years ago)

Here's the disc on Amazon; 7.98 cheap!

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 5 June 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

the other mad flexi i used to have had wacky grooves. you played it, and it was one song. you played it again, and their was another song. etc. i don't remember how many different songs there were. or if they were just different versions of the same song. i thought it was neat! did crazy or cracked or sick ever do flexis? i don't remember any.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 6 June 2005 00:13 (twenty years ago)

i never bought the mad album on rca. was it from the 50's? i never found a cheap copy anywhere. for some reason i never wanted to pay 20 or 30 bucks for it. I should have.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 6 June 2005 00:15 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, 1959, according to 'MAD Grooves.'

Amazingly enough, this CD is on Kid Rhino, their children's-music subsidiary.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 6 June 2005 00:18 (twenty years ago)

that's cool. I should get it.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 6 June 2005 01:02 (twenty years ago)

I have to say it's not the greatest thing I've ever heard, Scott . . . but I'm amused that Linda Lavin's on one track from the 'MAD Show' cast album.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 6 June 2005 05:09 (twenty years ago)

'MAD Grooves' isn't the greatest etc., that is.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 6 June 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

"It's A Super-Spectacular Day!" Described HERE: What's the best free flexi you've ever heard?

For the record (pun unintended I SWEAR!) there were actually eight different bad-day scenarios on eight separate and independent grooves, one of which your stylus would choose more-or-less randomly each time you played it. After 15-20 playings, I'd heard seven. Then, maddeningly (another accidental pun), that elusive eighth version refused to reveal itself for the longest time - took literally DOZENS of playings! Eventually I got fed up and decided to cheat, gave the needle a little nudge-nudge, and another and another until it finally found that eighth groove. Christian Marclay and John Cage woulda peed themselves laughing at me, had they been there.

― Monty Von Byonga (Monty Von Byonga), Friday, 23 June 2006 04:42 (nineteen years ago)

Funny to see this thread revived, because the two albums just showed up on this mp3 blog.

― Fsck Washing Ong's Hat (Chris Barrus), Friday, 23 June 2006 21:51 (nineteen years ago)

There was a Mad Broadway or Off-Broadway show, I think it was called The Mad Show too. Norman Mailer gave it a good review (in the intro to the paperback of his own stage adaptation of his novel, The Deer Park). I think there was an Original Cast Recording LP of that Mad too, hopefully with some dialogue as well as music. The other Mad magazine-insert song I remember from childhood is the doo-woppin'"She got a nose job, she got a nose job, it's now turned up, instead of hangin' down, she got a nose job, she got a nose job, now she's the prettiest, girl in town." bass singer:"Nose jobbbbbb..." other singers: "NOW she's the prettiest, girl in town!" "Nose jobbbbb..." "NOW she's the prettiest, girl in town!" "Nose jobbbbb...." "NOW she's the prettiest"(fade)

― don (dow), Saturday, 24 June 2006 04:13 (nineteen years ago)

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