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  The Novelty mp3 Music Collection  

 

 

 

Visitors are probably here because of their love of the kind of music, sometimes referred to politely as novelty, cult or cheese music.
Perhaps you have fond nostalgic memories of a track that once heard takes you straight back to a distant time and place. Or perhaps you are looking for that elusive track to use in a commercial production. Whatever your reasons, you are welcome to share in the delights of music that is memorable - sometimes not perhaps for the right reasons - but once heard, never forgotten.

If this is not you skip down now as there is something for you as well, for everyone else I present;

 

A list of Novelty songs
in my collection

(Perhaps I have the track you are looking for - it is quite a long list)
Or download the most recent list here
if you would prefer to browse it at leisure

A list of Children's Novelty songs
in my collection
(Going back to the golden age of innocence)
A list of TV Themes
in my collection
(mostly kids shows)
A list of Christmas songs
in my collection
    (the silliest time of year for songs)

 

The music is not current (or even desirable to most) the criteria is Novelty - some of the tunes are very good or very amusing, they just had to be away from the mainstream. Even some classics are included such as Itchycoo Park, the first track ever to use flanging, in fact it was invented while recording this track so this gets included.
If you can help complete the collection, or you can recommend something ghastly but fun, or even something unique, and in return if I have anything I can help you with, drop an e-mail to steveaccount AT gmail DOT com    

In the meantime here is a selection of tracks for your enjoyment

FCC Song by Eric Idle This 2004 track contains lots of lovely swearing so be warned if you are at work.
A spite song written by Eric in answer to the FCC's witch hunt which resulted in people being fined left right and centre for minor offences like swearing or showing a right breast on national TV. Showing someone being killed is fine at any time though. Bang bang, lie down, you're dead. Needless to say, the vitriole in the lyrics tells us that Eric was one of those that the FFC chose to fine. Although not remembered predominately for his musical abilities, Eric contributed a lot of music to the Python series and to later films and TV work.


The Laughing Gnome by David Bowie Originally released in 1967.
This was the follow-up single to London Boys , and was recorded in January 1967 at the Decca Studios in West Hampstead.
It's release that year was a dismal failure. How different his career maight have turned out if the gnome had become his first hit rather than Major Tom. The 1973 rerelease of the single happened at the ideal time for it's success as it was almost the antipathy of Bowie's successful serious music. The Laughing Gnome sold 250,000 copies in the UK, reaching Number 6. More of this can be found on the album London Boys.

 

The Idiot Song by Neil Innes Recorded Live on stage with Monthy Python at Drury Lane. 1974.
Monty Python's first album of the gang peforming sketches live at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London. The sketches they performed differed slightly from the TV Series versions, but in essence were the well known routines, such as the parrot sketch, performed on stage. Neil Innes provided musical breaks, including this wonderful song about the joys of being below normal intelligence. Neil is famed for many things including The Bonzo Dog Doodah Band, The Rutles (a spoof Beatles)and he appeared alongside the Pythons on the big screen.

 

Da Da Da by Trio 1982 minimal recording using Casio's first keyboard, actually a novelty calculator.
This single briefly topped the charts in 1982 for the German band Trio, and listening to the follow up album explains why they disappeared so rapidly afterwards. 'Da Da Da' however is a perfect, novelty pop tune. Stephan Remmler sounds like a disgruntled Germanic Lou Reed speaking the lyrics "Aha aha aha". The primitive Casio VL-Tone drumbeat is backed with Peter Behren's repetitive bish-bash-bosh using just a snare and bass drum, while Anette Humpe sounds like she's only just bothering to sing between chewing her bubblegum. The lyrics are limited to stacato statements, "Don't love you/Don't love me" over the top of the monotonous yet infectious Casio line which drones on throughout. The female backing singer whispers "Ich lieb dich nicht/Du liebst mich nicht" as we're treated to more "Aha"s. Then another verse and another chorus, a repetition of what came before. It doesn't need any more. It's simple, it's mad and we love it, as did VW and Zanussi who used the music for TV advertising campaigns.

 

If on the other hand you stumbled across this page by accident, I give you one of my favourite passages of text by A. A. Milne. Unfortunately this work is now corrupted for a whole generation of kids by Disney, and misunderstood by countless generations of adults too.

For a fascinating brief outline of the true meaning behind the Pooh stories look here (opens a new page and may change your life)

The work below is copyrighted and is printed here without permission in the hope that it may spur one or two people to go to a book shop, buy the real thing and discover a whole new experience.

 

Pooh Sticks

"Eeyore!" cried everybody.

Looking very calm, very dignified, with his legs in the air, came Eeyore from beneath the bridge.
"It's Eeyore!" cried Roo, terribly excited.
"Is that so?" said Eeyore, getting caught up by a little eddy, and turning slowly round three times. "I wondered."
"I didn't know you were playing," said Roo.
"I'm not," said Eeyore.
"Eeyore, what are you doing there?" said Rabbit.
"I'll give you three guesses, Rabbit. Digging holes in the ground? Wrong. Leaping from branch to branch of a young oak-tree? Wrong. Waiting for somebody to help me out of the river? Right. Give Rabbit time, and he'll always get the answer."
"But, Eeyore," said Pooh in distress, "what can we--I mean, how shall we--do you think if we--"
"Yes," said Eeyore. "One of those would be just the thing. Thank you, Pooh."
"He's going round and round," said Roo, much impressed.
"And why not?" said Eeyore coldly.
"I can swim too," said Roo proudly.
"Not round and round," said Eeyore. "It's much more difficult. I didn't want to come swimming at all to-day," he went on, revolving slowly. "But if, when in, I decide to practise a slight circular movement from right to left--or perhaps I should say," he added, as he got into another eddy, "from left to right, just as it happens to occur to me, it is nobody's business but my own."
There was a moment's silence while everybody thought.
"I've got a sort of idea," said Pooh at last, "but I don't suppose it's a very good one."
"I don't suppose it is either," said Eeyore.
"Go on, Pooh," said Rabbit. "Let's have it."
"Well, if we threw stones and things into the river on one side of Eeyore, the stones would make waves, and the waves would wash him to the other side."
"That's a very good idea," said Rabbit, and Pooh looked happy again.
"Very," said Eeyore. "When I want to be washed, Pooh, I'll let you know."
"Supposing we hit him by mistake?" said Piglet anxiously.
"Or supposing you missed him by mistake," said Eeyore.
"Think of all the possibilities, Piglet, before you settle down to enjoy yourselves."

But Pooh had got the biggest stone he could carry, and was leaning over the bridge, holding it in his paws.
"I'm not throwing it, I'm dropping it, Eeyore," he explained. "And then I can't miss--I mean I can't hit you. Could you stop turning round for a moment, because it muddles me rather?"
"No," said Eeyore. "I like turning round."
Rabbit began to feel that it was time he took command. "Now, Pooh," he said, "when I say 'Now!' you can drop it. Eeyore, when I say 'Now!' Pooh will drop his stone."
"Thank you very much, Rabbit, but I expect I shall know."
"Are you ready, Pooh? Piglet, give Pooh a little more room. Get back a bit there, Roo. Are you ready?"
"No," said Eeyore.
"Now!" said Rabbit.

Pooh dropped his stone. There was a loud splash, and Eeyore disappeared....