Here’s a little bit of nonsense to break up the usually serious tone of this blog. Back in 2009, someone calling himself Kenoracle posted It’s a Wonderful Life After All: The George Bailey Story to YouTube. It is the story of the film, It’s a Wonderful Life, as told by Ken Steele who is reporting directly from Bedford Falls.
This was the type of recording that record collectors call a “break-in” or “cut-in.” it was first popularized in the late 1950’s by Buchanan and Goodman with their hit, The Flying Saucer. Half of this partnership, Dickie Goodman, would continue to make such records until his death. His biggest hit was Mr. Jaws, in 1975. In this type of recording, an interviewer would pose a question and then a clip from a popular song would be used as the answer.
Many professionals and amateurs have tried to use this technique over the years with varying degrees of success. I think you’ll agree, this is one of the good ones.
Just in case you couldn’t identify all the song clips used, here’s a complete listing in the order in which they were used.
Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
House at Pooh Corner – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Trouble in Paradise – Crests
Tragedy – Thomas Wayne
Scotch and Soda – Kingston Trio
The Element Song – Tom Lehrer
Love Potion No. 9 – Clovers
Poison Ivy – Coasters
The Boxer – Simon & Garfunkel
Everybody’s Talkin’ – Nilsson
Along Comes Mary – Association
Magic Bus – The Who
Money – Beatles
They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! – Napoleon XIV
409 – Beach Boys
Heartache Tonight – Eagles
A Million to One – Jimmy Charles
King of the Road – Roger Miller
My Boyfriend’s Back – Angels
North to Alaska – Johnny Horton
Take This Job and Shove It – Johnny Paycheck
Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
Splish Splash – Bobby Darin (sound effects only)
Splish Splash – Bobby Darin
Nowhere Man – Beatles
Pollution – Tom Lehrer
I’m Looking Through You – Beatles
Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell
King of the Road – Roger Miller
Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles
We Didn’t Sink the Bismarck – Homer & Jethro
Only You Know and I Know – Dave Mason
Ain’t Got No Home – Clarence “Frog Man” Henry
Smoke Rings in the Dark – Gary Allan
Lucky Ladybug – Billy & Lillie
Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows – Lesley Gore
The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) – Harpers Bizarre
I’ve Been Everywhere – Hank Snow
Drive My Car – Beatles
Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home) – Impalas
Garden Party – Rick Nelson
Happy-Go-Lucky-Me – Paul Evans
Glad All Over – Dave Clark 5
Private Eye – Olympics
A Day In the Life – Beatles
Nowhere to Run – Martha & the Vandellas
Pennies from Heaven – Skyliners
Goody Goody – Frankie Lymon
Kiss Me – Sixpense None the Richer
(I’m the Girl on) Wolverton Mountain – Jo Ann Campbell
Baby Talk – Jan & Dean
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas – Gayla Peevey
I Can Help – Billy Swan
Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
Whispering Bells – Dell-Vikings
Trouble in Paradise – Crests
Stairway to Heaven – Neil Sedaka
Convoy – C.W. McCall
