JIM “PAPPY” MOORE: Novelty Pop Songs of the 1950s & 1960s
By Jim “Pappy” Moore
Those of us who lived through the late 1950s and early 1960s became familiar with many types of music, but one type which jumped out at us with good humor was the novelty pop tune.
In the early part of 1958, Dave Seville hit pay dirt with a novelty song which caught on quickly. If you were alive then, you’re singing this song in your head right now.
I told the witch doctor
I was in love with you.
I told the witch doctor
I was in love with you.
And then the witch doctor
He told me what to do.
He said that
Ooo eee, Ooo ah ah, ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, Ooo ah ah, ting tang
Walla walla bing bang.
Ooo eee, Ooo ah ah, ting tang
Walla walla, bing bang
Ooo eee, Ooo ah ah, ting tang
Walla walla bing bang.
In the summer of 1958, Sheb Wooley would issue his own crazy song. Once again, kids and adults would be singing this song, so belt it out as you read these words.
It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater
(One-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater)
A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me (One eye?)
In 1960 the Hollywood Argyles sang a song about a comic strip hero
of the times: Alley Oop. It had a beatnik vibe of the era:
There’s a man in the funny papers we all know
(Alley-Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He lived ‘way back a long time ago
(Alley-Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
He don’t eat nothin’ but a bear cat stew
(Alley-Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
Well, this cat’s name is-a Alley-Oop
(Alley-Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)
1962 saw the arrival of an upbeat spooky song which mimicked legendary actor Boris Karloff’s creepy voice, imitated by Bobby Pickett.
I was working in the lab, late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my monster from his slab, began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise
He did the mash, he did the monster mash
The monster mash, it was a graveyard smash
He did the mash, it caught on in a flash
He did the mash, he did the monster mash
I will have to save the other novelty pop songs of the era for another column! They were a common feature of that time, and everyone seemed to enjoy singing them. At a time when stress levels seem higher than are they should be, songs such as these bring back a lighter time.
Copyright 2022, Jim “Pappy” Moore. All rights reserved.