Children’s records have always been a questionable genre. Most are unlistenable, some are tolerable and others are just plain silly. Here are 5 of the Wackiest Kid’s Records ever released.
Sesame Street Fever
This is the best album cover, ever! The 1978 release of Sesame Street Fever features disco inspired tunes by the cast of Sesame Street. The highlight is for sure Sesame Street Fever featuring Robin Gibb, The Count, Big Bird, Ernie and the Cookie Monster. Other tunes feature the vocal stylings of Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster and Grover. This is worth hunting down just to use the cover as wall art.
Ali and His Gang Vs. Mr. Tooth Decay
Muhammad Ali has engaged in some epic battles: ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’, the ‘Fight of the Century’, and apparently he threw a mean right hook in defense of oral hygiene. Ali and His Gang Vs. Mr. Tooth Decay features 40-minutes of Ali and his pals such as Frank Sinatra, Richie Havens and Howard Cosell discussing the merits of dental care for kids. In the end, Ali wins. He always wins.
Pink Panther Goes Country
There are a couple things wrong with this concept. One the Pink Panther doesn’t talk, therefore he shouldn’t be singing. Two, what’s he doing out west in cowboy country? Isn’t the whole Pink Panther franchise based in Europe? Regardless of these leaps of fate, in the 70’s there was a picture disc release of the Pink Panther doing country. And to the producer's credit, the actual singing on the record was left to vocalists who are merely there to back up the Pink Panther’s guitar strumming. And really haven't you always wanted to hear the Pink Panther go country?
Chipmunk Punk
Chipmunk Punk? Yeah, you won’t find any Ramones, Clash or Crass songs on this cover album. Their idea of punk is The Knack’s “My Sharona”, Tom Petty’s “Refugee” and the “Call Me” by Blondie. And a Billy Joel song? What the? Isn’t that the polar opposite of punk? Regardless, Simon, Theodore and Alvin's high pitched renditions are amusing for like two minutes then the helium hued tones just start to get on your nerves.
Lancelot Link and the Evolution Revolution
Sorry PETA but monkeys dressed up as hippies is totally hilarious. This record is a spin off from the 70’s TV Show Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp. This Saturday morning live action show featured a crew of chimpanzees dubbed with human voices and their quest to save the world via their organization APE (Agency to Prevent Evil). Each week there was a musical number by The Evolution Revolution – the all chimp house band. Their theme song Evolution Revolution is actually catchy. Those monkeys know how to rock.
