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March 15, 2007
365 Days #74 - Tony Randall and Jack Klugman - The Odd Couple Sings (mp3s)
MP3:
Johnny One Note (2:25)
You're So Vain (3:16)
Play a Simple Melody (3:09)
When Banana Skins Are Falling (I'll Come Sliding Back To You) (2:45)
The Inch Worm [from 'Hans Christian Anderson'](2:24)
Brush Up on Your Shakespeare [from 'Kiss Me Kate'] (2:47)
Together Wherever We Go (1:52)
The Odd Couple Opera [original title 'Imagination'] (10:45)
Friendship (3:03)
Applause, Applause (2:35)While people are lapping up William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy recordings, somehow "The Odd Couple Sings" has gotten lost in the shuffle. Perhaps it is because while it's not technically "good," it's also not technically "serious." And Tony Randall can sing, despite your desire not to hear a lot of it. These recordings are done in character as Felix and Oscar and draws its jokes from that fact. It certainly doesn't pretend Klugman can sing and it uses this fact as effectively as one can for a celebrity record. If nothing else, Randall and Klugman's "You're So Vain" is a hundred times better than Carly Simon's and the question of why it has remained out of print for more than 30 years is one of the mysteries of the ages.
- Contributed by: John Mitchell
Images: Front Cover
Media: LP
Album: The Odd Couple Sings
Label: London/Phase 4
Catalog: XPS 903
Credits: With Roland Shaw conducting The London Festival Orchestra and Chorus
Date: 1973Posted by 365 on March 15, 2007 at 12:35 AM in 365 Days Project, MP3s, Music | Permalink
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» Happy And Peppy And Bursting With Love from Ed Driscoll.com
In the "tradition" of Shatner and Nimoy, and perhaps inspiring future singing thespians like Don Johnson and David Hasselhoff, Jack Klugman and Tony Randall get down with their funkadelic vocalistic selves. As Orrin Judd writes, "'You're So Vain' is a... [Read More]Tracked on March 31, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Comments
The Seventies: "A Decade is a Terrible Thing to Waste."
Posted by: Rumple Stiltskin | March 15, 2007 at 08:20 AM
I scored a copy of this at a yardsale years ago, and besides the hilarious cover of "You're so Vain" the "Odd Couple Opera" is an all-time favorite. It always reminds me of the Looney Toons "What's Opera, Doc". Randall was one of the great unsung comic actors, he was fantastic in "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter" (that commercial interruption bit knocking the Television medium is hilarious). And the "Seven Faces of Dr. Lao" made a big impression on me as a kid. Glad this got posted, I've been foisting it on people for ages.
Posted by: Dale Hazelton | March 15, 2007 at 08:48 AM
Alas, no Happy and Peppy. I will dub that off and post it on my Yahoo briefcase (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/lipwak) but give me some time to put it up there.
Cheers,
Lipwak
Posted by: Lipwak | March 15, 2007 at 09:32 AM
This isn't the only time Jack Klugman's singing, er, talents were committed to vinyl. He's also on the original cast album of Gypsy, including a duet with Ethel Merman!
Posted by: oddjob | March 15, 2007 at 09:41 AM
I bought this when it was only out of print for about 10 years (in 1984, at Flamin' Groovies Records in New Brunswick NJ!). It's always been one of my favorites, especially "You're so Vain." It bugs me when it's compared to other "actors singing" records since, as you point out here, Klugman and Randall are in character as Oscar & Felix. A priceless gem and a joy to download. Thanks.
Posted by: K French | March 15, 2007 at 02:37 PM
The gatefold cover is also ultra nice on this one. Cool photos of the boys in their boxers with pictures framed in the shape of tv sets. Apricot scarf? You're paranoid!
Posted by: Listener Kliph | March 15, 2007 at 07:38 PM
Hey that's great. I immediately fell under the spell of the opening song. Laaaaaa. Laaaaaaaaa. Laaaaaaaaaaaa.
Posted by: PierreVK | March 17, 2007 at 03:49 PM
Thank you for posting MP3s of this, one of the jewels of my record collection. I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but am I wrong about this being a Snuff Garrett production? I love Johnny One Note and sometimes have it running through my head. And having Jack Klugman catterwalling through your head while walking down the street is disconcerting at best. Great record from the second best television show of all time. Sgt. Bilko is number 1, natch.
Posted by: Mark Kaufman | March 19, 2007 at 01:54 PM
I agree with you John! This version of "You're so vain" is a masterpiece! Mysterious and creepy.
Posted by: Toddy | March 22, 2007 at 03:40 PM
Besides actually having gone out and buying this on vinyl many, many years ago (I think around the time the Odd Couple were a staple in reruns at 11 on 11), it really is one of those albums that come along once in a blue moon. My only complaint is they don’t have the unforgettable ditty Randall sung in one episode: ‘Once there was a man named Oscar. Oscar, Oscar, Ooossscar!’
Posted by: mister_pj | July 27, 2007 at 01:56 AM
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