What I've Been Reading : Celebrity Vinyl (Humor)

Monday, August 20, 2018

Celebrity Vinyl (Humor)

by Tom Hamling

Publisher: Mark Batty Publisher (2008)

Hardcover, 128 pages.

The idea of a celebrity, who is not famous for their singing, putting out an album (or “cutting a disk” as formerly hip codgers like to say) is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it seems to have existed since the invention of the phonograph. So while the idea is known to everyone, the sheer volume of material to pick through and laugh at is staggering.

I am sure that this volume is not an exhaustive collection, but we have over one hundred and twenty different albums from celebrities. Some are has-beens, Kristy & Jimmy McNicol. Some are dated, Laverne and Shirley Sing. Some are dead, The Two Sides of Telly Savalas. But all are hysterical.

This collection of celebrity albums takes us back to the question of what makes something camp? The simple answer is: A ridiculous idea done in a serious manner by people who were genuine in its creation. This covers most of the book, but there are a few included here which were put out purely for camp reasons: Ethel Merman’s Disco Album, Leonard Nimoy presents Mr. Spock's Music From Outer Space, and Billy Crystal’s You Look Marvelous (from his SNL character - for those too young to get the reference), are a few examples. These were obviously meant to be farcical, yet they retain the camp attributes.

Why? Age is definitely a factor. While they were humorous to begin with, they take on a new hilarity as time went on. What was once considered funny is now just odd. It’s similar to how Alice in Wonderland becomes odder and odder with each successive generation. That’s because Lewis Carrol was making fun of various elements of the society in which he lives. Most of the poems were parodies of popular songs from the 19^th Century. But when the original is lost to time, then the parody becomes stranger still. With no reference, you simply have a strange story.

And, luckily for this modern age, nearly all of the albums in this book are available on Youtube in some form. I’ve included a few clips below. Enjoy!

For more readings, try books by Rex Hurst.