Haunted Mansion, Frees, Ravenscroft fans: Spike Jones in Stereo CD

[Michael Zielski]

OK kids, this is a SCARY one, as Count Floyd(also known as Joe Flaherty) would say on Monster Chiller Horror Theater from SCTV(by the way, "SCTV Vol. 1," recently out on DVD, is more than highly recommended)......

As an amazon reviewer mentions, I also can remember seeing this record lurking in the back pages of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, wondering what is was all about, but of course, not having the money to take a chance on it. Well, after 30+ years, the wait is over--and it was worth it, because not only did I not know who Spike Jones was back then(other than being mentioned in the Band's "Up on Cripple Creek"), more importantly, I didn't know of Paul Frees or Thurl Ravenscroft.

Just recently I found out about the record's release to CD(yeah, I have to admit, by seeing it advertised in Scary Monsters magazine......). Thurl is only featured on one number, but it's a classic, and he is the lead vocalist. But the CD is really a showcase for Paul Frees. Remember the Bela Lugosi and Peter Lorre Ghost Host demos on the Haunted Mansion CD? He does those impressions, along with the likes of Boris Karloff, Alred Hitchcock, and a Ludwig Von Drake-sounding mad scientist.

Granted, the humor is painful at times--the CD is on my wife's Forbidden List for car listening(of course my 14 year old son loves it!)--but some of it does work. But who cares? It's a blast to hear Frees hamming it up to the hilt!

Anyway, happy Halloween to all--if you're interested, here's the SCARY link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00...-4004164-222250

Mike

P. S. Further OT: For those interested in further retro-Halloween-related maddness, Collectors' Choice Music also reissused, "Spook Along With Zacherley," a release by the "cool ghoul" from 1960(btw, Zach is in his 80's, and still going strong). Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00...-4004164-222250

 

[Tim Hollis]

I'll second Michael's recommendation of this LP, but will add that he left out another Disney regular who has a major role in it. Frees, as Dracula, has some very funny dialogue with his wife Vampira, who is played by Loulie Jean Norman. (Best line... Their son: "Good night, Mommy." Vampira: "Good night, whatever you are.") You won't find Loulie Jean credited for her Disney work very often, but she was the opera singer in the Haunted Mansion and was part of the group chorus on numerous Disneyland Records titles. I'm pretty sure she was in America Sings, too, as most everyone else from the music department was. She got to solo (along with Gene Merlino) on the ONE AND ONLY ORIGINAL GEUNINE FAMILY BAND second cast recordings. She is still with us, at well past 90 years old, and probably her Vampira performance is about the last thing she would prefer to be remembered for. (Say, Greg, can you fill in the blanks here with her other credits that I've missed? She has seemingly thousands.)

 

[cop4ever]

Yeah i agree too i grew up listen to the old vinal my brother had and was in a borders of all places the day it was released saw it on the guys cart as he wheeled it out of the stock room to put out and grabed it quick i remeber the cover art so well and the music on it is great any time of year.I stll have my brothers lp never gave it back to him when i was a kid i have it framed in my office caus eit was one of the great albums i would listen to as a child and have great happy memories listen to it and as alwas it goes along with my many happy disney memeries of the past.

Carousel Of Progress Today, Carousel Of Progress Tomorrow, Carousel Of Progress Forever!

 

[Michael Zielski]

I was wondering if you might pipe in on this one, Tim--thank you for amending my deficiency! I didn't know of Loulie Jean's Disney connection--and being a horror/Haunted Mansion fan, as you know, that's a great piece of information about her providing the voice of the opera singer! I've got to listen to the HM CD again soon.....

and cop4ever--thank you for sharing your childhood memories of the Spike Jones album(that is a great cover painting!); as I said, my only childhood memory of it is it beckoning to me on the back pages of Famous Monsters magazine!

Mike

 

[Steve Carras]

I'll second Michael's recommendation of this LP, but will add that he left out another Disney regular who has a major role in it. Frees, as Dracula, has some very funny dialogue with his wife Vampira, who is played by Loulie Jean Norman. (Best line... Their son: "Good night, Mommy." Vampira: "Good night, whatever you are.") You won't find Loulie Jean credited for her Disney work very often, but she was the opera singer in the Haunted Mansion and was part of the group chorus on numerous Disneyland Records titles. I'm pretty sure she was in America Sings, too, as most everyone else from the music department was. She got to solo (along with Gene Merlino) on the ONE AND ONLY ORIGINAL GEUNINE FAMILY BAND second cast recordings. She is still with us, at well past 90 years old, and probably her Vampira performance is about the last thing she would prefer to be remembered for. (Say, Greg, can you fill in the blanks here with her other credits that I've missed? She has seemingly thousands.)

According to historian Jordan R.Young in his Spike Jones book (1994, a ten year anniversary follow up to his 1984 one) Loulie Jean Norman's credited as GHOULIE JEAN NORMAN on the Jones record. ;D

[To Bill and anyone concerned: note I'm no longer appending Courtney THorne Smith (her birthday was the 8th of Nov.,) pics?

BTW I'm a big Phil hendrie fan, in what I think was an OT post ehre some time back..