So let’s celebrate the man properly — by spinning his biggest hit, the immortal Dragnet spoof St. George and the Dragonet, released on Capitol in 1953.
That record is an absolute jewel: a full comedy sketch disguised as a single, packed with Freberg’s layered gags, timing, and that deadpan Dragnet delivery.
It was so wildly popular that it actually hit number one on the Billboard singles chart — almost unheard‑of for a spoken‑word novelty record.
And since the flipside, Little Blue Riding Hood, was also a crowd‑pleaser, we’re not leaving it behind. Let's flip the disc and spin it:
I’m a lifelong novelty‑record nut, and Freberg sits right at the top of the mountain for me. His records aren’t just jokes — they’re miniature audio plays, built with precision, running gags, and a whole cast of characters ably brought to life with the assistance of Stan's coconspirators Daws Butler and June Foray — two of the best voice actors in the biz. You can listen ten times and still catch new details.
Word has it that Jack Webb — "Sgt. Friday" himself — was a fan and got a kick out of Freberg’s Dragnet spoofs. Here’s the Billboard ad that says so:
And since Jack also gives a nod to Ray Anthony’s Capitol recording of the Dragnet theme — also from 1953 — we’re absolutely spinning that next:
And because we don’t do loose ends around here, we’re flipping Ray's disc too. The B‑side is his take on the standard Dancing in the Dark:
Turns out that side was part of Downbeat Magazine’s National Dance Week Promotion, which is exactly the kind of mid‑century ephemera I live for.
If Downbeat says dance, I’m dancing!
Lots going on at the Capitol Tower in 1953 — and that's the facts.
No comments:
Post a Comment