Favoriting The Fantastic World of Kitten Sparkles with Kitten Sparkles AKA Don Bolles: Playlist from May 20, 2021 Favoriting

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Glambient! (Sound collage, Cosmic Surrealism, Sacred and secular children's records, oddities, Anomalies, Guests - and a little Glam and Bubblegum!)

Thursday 5 - 8pm (EDT) | On WFMU's Sheena's Jungle Room
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Favoriting May 20, 2021: The Fantastic World of Industrial Musicals - with Special Guest Steve Young!

Listen to this show: Pop-up listen Pop-up player!

Playlist image Favoriting

Artist Track Album Format Images Approx. start time
MWR Quintet  Leading Salesmen   Favoriting IBM Midwestern Region 1967 Hundred Percent Club February 11-14, 1968 Chicago  Vinyl 
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GE Silicones  The Answer   Favoriting Got To Investigate Silicones  Vinyl 
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Gould Inc.  Gould Growing   Favoriting Gould Groowwing  Vinyl 
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The Armour Oinkers  We're Facing The Facts, Boys   Favoriting Armour National Sales Meeting December 1966  Vinyl 
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0:25:34 (Pop-up)
American Standard  It's Revolution   Favoriting The Bathrooms Are Coming!  Vinyl 
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0:42:51 (Pop-up)
1968 Plastics Centennial  It's A Plastics World   Favoriting It's A Plastics World  Flexi 
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0:46:15 (Pop-up)
1968 Plastics Centennial  Modern Plastics Song   Favoriting It's A Plastics World  Flexi 
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0:47:31 (Pop-up)
Chrysler/Plymouth  Plymouth A-Go-Go   Favoriting Swing Up 1966  Vinyl 
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0:47:37 (Pop-up)
American Motors / Beebe & Heyer  Doing The Ambassador   Favoriting Music from AM Route 66 (For Friendly Giant Killers)  Vinyl 
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0:49:01 (Pop-up)
J.C. Penney / Michael Brown  He's A Penney Man   Favoriting Spirit of 66  Vinyl 
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0:51:05 (Pop-up)
RCA / Beebe & Heyer  RCA Has Moved To A New State   Favoriting It's A Whole New Ball Game      0:54:24 (Pop-up)
B.F. Goodrich  Tires To Sell   Favoriting The Great Life  Vinyl 
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0:57:00 (Pop-up)
Mead Johnson Pharmaceutical Division  We Begin With You Part I   Favoriting We Begin With You  Vinyl 
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1:00:01 (Pop-up)
American Hospital Supply / Sid Siegel  I Never Enjoyed My Operation More   Favoriting Spirit of 78  Vinyl 
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1:03:40 (Pop-up)
Detroit Diesel / Beebe & Heyer  We Were There   Favoriting Diesel Dazzle  Vinyl 
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1:25:18 (Pop-up)
General Electric  PDM Can Do   Favoriting Go Fly A Kite  Vinyl 
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1:29:12 (Pop-up)
Massey-Ferguson  We're Massey-Ferguson   Favoriting A World Of Winners  Vinyl 
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1:32:04 (Pop-up)
Seagram Distillers / Beebe & Heyer  The Seagram Symphony - Movement II   Favoriting 1965 Seagram Distillers Distributor Meeting  Vinyl 
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1:36:06 (Pop-up)
Coca-Cola / Wilson Stone  Packaging and Pricing   Favoriting The Grip Of Leadership  Vinyl 
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1:38:16 (Pop-up)
Coca-Cola / Wilson Stone  Keep Things Jumping   Favoriting The Grip Of Leadership  Vinyl 
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1:41:09 (Pop-up)
Oldsmobile (sung by Florence Henderson)  Don't Let A Be-Back Get Away   Favoriting The Olds for '60 Musical - Who Could Ask for Anything More  Vinyl 
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1:43:19 (Pop-up)
Exxon  Up Came Oil   Favoriting The Spirit Of Achievement  Vinyl 
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1:46:33 (Pop-up)
RCA  Make It Happen At Retail   Favoriting Make It Happen At Retail      1:49:45 (Pop-up)
American Standard  Proximatics   Favoriting The Bathrooms Are Coming!  Vinyl 
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1:52:12 (Pop-up)
Ortho Pharmaceuticals  Makin' Whoopee   Favoriting The Challenge of Change  Vinyl 
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1:54:35 (Pop-up)
Gould Inc.  C.O.R.E. Reporting, Beat Big 2   Favoriting Gould Groowwing  Vinyl 
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1:57:54 (Pop-up)
Gould Inc.  Beat Big 2   Favoriting Gould Groowwing  Vinyl 
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1:59:53 (Pop-up)
Exxon  An Exxon Dealer's Wife   Favoriting Put Yourself In Their Shoes  Vinyl 
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2:02:26 (Pop-up)
Detroit Diesel / Beebe & Heyer  The Step Up   Favoriting Diesel Dazzle  Vinyl 
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2:05:25 (Pop-up)
Standard Oil Company  I Love A Salesman   Favoriting The Big Bonus  Vinyl 
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2:41:29 (Pop-up)
Ford Tractor / Hank Beebe  Tractor Drivin' Man   Favoriting The Wide New World With Ford  Vinyl 
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2:45:04 (Pop-up)
MWR Quintet  Captain IBM   Favoriting IBM Midwestern Region 1967 Hundred Percent Club February 11-14, 1968 Chicago  Vinyl 
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2:47:48 (Pop-up)
Bathtubs Over Broadway  Take That Step   Favoriting Bathtubs Over Broadway Original Soundtrack  Vinyl 
Favoriting
2:51:36 (Pop-up)
American Standard  My Bathroom   Favoriting The Bathrooms Are Coming!  Vinyl 
Favoriting
3:02:27 (Pop-up)


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Listener comments!

Avatar 7:12pm
Otis Fodder:

Foldable Chair, check. Blanket, check. Pillow, check. Industrial Musicals Book, check. Thankfully all made from Silicones.

Camped out on the front porch waiting to be Dazzled like Diesel!
Avatar 2:03pm
Debbie Davenport:

I'm ready too Otis!
Avatar 2:33pm
Kitten Sparkles:

Hey, gang! Gonna try to keep up w a playlist today, but if not Iโ€™ll make one later. This should be a blast.
  2:56pm
Listener Robert:

Espeially a blast if you truly "make one" as in make it up out of whole cloth, like Jim Price's.

But don't let me get you in any trouble.
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 4:55pm
Aitch:

Expecting weird. Hoping too.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:01pm
Rich in Washington:

I think the playlist is closed.
Avatar 5:02pm
zivilars:

Hi everybody, let's start the party
  5:05pm
Listener Robert:

Whew. For a minute there I was afraid she'd get around to using me as a toothbrush.
Avatar 5:05pm
Otis Fodder:

Heard there was a show in town, a reaaalllllly big show!

Hi Steve & Don!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:05pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Howdy!
Avatar 5:07pm
zivilars:

Everytime I hear Kitten Sparkles on air, I get extreme radio voice envy ... :)
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:07pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Let's Talk About Silicones!
  5:07pm
Cheree July:

Gotta investigate silicones!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:08pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

My version is by the Chocolate Watch Band
Avatar 5:09pm
Otis Fodder:

Download it in it's full glory - blog.wfmu.org...
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:10pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Is John Ward in here?
Avatar 5:10pm
Otis Fodder:

Quick Links...

The Film - www.bathtubsoverbroadway.com

The Record - mondoshop.com...

The Book - www.industrialmusicals.com

Steve's Website - www.steveyoungworld.com
  5:11pm
Listener Robert:

Got the number about disposable surgical gowns? Jean Shepherd played a snatch of that on the air once.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:11pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Thanks, Otis! The movie is so good!
Avatar 5:11pm
Debbie Davenport:

thanks otis
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:12pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Wow this is peppy. Is there typing as percussion?
Avatar 5:13pm
SunjahAquarian:

YaHoWha and Hare Krishna erryone!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:13pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Is Stubby Kaye in this?
Avatar 5:14pm
Constance De Witt:

Thank you for sharing those incredible tunes!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:14pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Hello!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:14pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

I need to go back to my project but I will be listening. Very excited about this show!
Avatar 5:16pm
Steve Young:

@Otis Fodder howdy!
Avatar 5:16pm
Steve Young:

Hello everyone! Hope you enjoy!
Avatar 5:17pm
Debbie Davenport:

This is awesome!
Avatar 5:17pm
Steve Young:

Our friend Jon is not here as far as I know...
Avatar 5:18pm
Otis Fodder:

Hey Steve. Cross-checking my notes on the many uses of Silicones for everyday living. On it! Great to have you here in Sheena's today!! Yay!
  5:18pm
Cheree July:

I'm waiting for the obvious fake boobs joke here๐Ÿ˜‚
Avatar 5:18pm
Constance De Witt:

Cheree, I was about to make that joke. But... held back. :)
  5:20pm
Cheree July:

They're fake, silicone, & they're fantastic!๐Ÿ˜‚
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:20pm
Power Papi:

"Baby Bottle Nipples" Say that ten times fast....
  5:20pm
Listener Robert:

That's because GE wasn't into medical silicones. Dow Corning was.
Avatar 5:20pm
Steve Young:

We do have the disposable surgical gowns song, @Listener Robert! Hope we'll get to it
Avatar 5:20pm
Otis Fodder:

You could do a whole stand-up tour based on bits from this cut.
Avatar 5:22pm
Otis Fodder:

This song never gets old.
Avatar 5:22pm
Steve Young:

Lyricist Bill Heyer helping out on vocals in the car section of The Answer
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:22pm
StringOFperils:

WFMU. Soooo educational.
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 5:22pm
Aitch:

May I have some silicones too please?
Avatar 5:23pm
Otis Fodder:

Gould made this playlist DYNAMIC!
Avatar 5:23pm
Steve Young:

Now onto the legendary "Gould Groowwing" album as seen/heard in "Bathtubs Over Broadway"
  5:23pm
sufferwords:

So happening Jimmy Don
Avatar 5:24pm
Constance De Witt:

Love the cover on the IBM record, too!
Avatar 5:26pm
Steve Young:

1966 Armour sales meeting re: pork products, to the tune of Winchester Cathedral. Only one copy of the record ever found!
Avatar 5:27pm
Otis Fodder:

Picnics and Butts!
Avatar 5:27pm
Debbie Davenport:

Wow!
  5:27pm
Listener Robert:

Sales shows, musical or otherwise, have often included their own send-ups that they really, SERIOUSLY didn't want the public to see. But sometimes they leaked. You can find online a certain 1-min. TV commercial from the early 1960s for Calgon Bubble Bath featuring a little girl and Trevi Fountain that also existed as an in-house version with the same sound track but featuring a grown-up product manager in the girl's role. Someone leaked it to TV, and it was so popular it was re-aired on "Tonight".
  5:27pm
Cheree July:

Armour doing a song parody of Winchester Cathedral by New Vaudeville Band?!
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 5:28pm
WR:

Oh boy dee Oh Doh!
Avatar 5:29pm
Otis Fodder:

Hey WR just in time for product promotions!
Avatar 5:30pm
Otis Fodder:

Lovely story of sharing.
  5:31pm
Listener Robert:

Sometimes people ask naively whether advertising producers realize how unrealistic, corny, etc. their ads are, and the answer is OF COURSE THEY DO! They're people just like the rest of us, and behind the scenes they make fun of their own work.
Avatar 5:34pm
Debbie Davenport:

Wow! so many!
  5:36pm
Cheree July:

Ugh. I used to work with theatre people in a startup that usually stage managed Broadway tours. Mainstream theatre people can be assholes. At least Industrial Musical are more humble.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:36pm
Rich in Washington:

@Steve Young: Kind of off-topic, but those Dave's Record Collection segments on Late Night kicked off my lifelong passion for peculiar records when I was a teenager. Thank you!
  5:37pm
Cheree July:

Yep. Corporate America has deep pockets.
Avatar 5:39pm
ARB:

I'm not sure about India but Speedo has a nice collection of Mexican industrial musicals
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:40pm
Rich in Washington:

Oh wow, ARB!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:42pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Yeah, but now they invest that money into executive bonuses and buying their own stock back.
  5:42pm
Cheree July:

Also, a lot of the Garment Makers Unions in the East Coast where I grew up did Industrial Musicals in Miami. They would also recruit seamstresses to sing & make costumes for their productions too.
Avatar 5:43pm
Otis Fodder:

Don't spend your rent on the record for your bathroom needs. Thanks to Jon Ward we can download it here - blog.wfmu.org...
Avatar 5:43pm
Steve Young:

@Cheree July: I've seen some some of the LGWU records!
Avatar 5:44pm
Constance De Witt:

Love the Bathrooms, it's so relatable and I find myself singing its most famous song once in a while.
Avatar 5:44pm
Steve Young:

2 songs from a 1968 plastics industry flexi that was bound into a trade magazine -- composer unknown!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:46pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

did Disney do any Industrials?
Avatar 5:46pm
Steve Young:

@Becky Ebenkamp -- not that I've heard of so far
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:47pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Thanks, Steve.
  5:48pm
Cheree July:

Steve, I used to own one, but unfortunately lost it in a move. One of my old friends from Scranton, PA did a documentary about their Industrial Musicals for our PBS affiliate, WVIA.
Avatar 5:49pm
Steve Young:

A couple mid-60's car show tunes -- every year in late summer the dealers would be shown the upcoming models with a big show. A huge part of the industrials field for decades
Avatar 5:50pm
Steve Young:

Doing the Ambassador is another great Hank Beebe/Bill Heyer number for American Motors. Tapping into the hip/youth/rock and roll vibe
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:51pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Swingin'
Avatar 5:52pm
Steve Young:

The late great Michael Brown did many shows for J.C. Penney. A 1966 recording that actually acquits itself quite well as a corporate rocker
Avatar 5:53pm
Steve Young:

"He thinks surely Kemmerer was not like this" --Kemmerer WY, site of the first Penney store in 1902
Avatar 5:54pm
Debbie Davenport:

Yeah yeah yeah!
Avatar 5:54pm
Steve Young:

RCA 1971 -- never made it onto vinyl -- from private Hank Beebe tapes
  5:56pm
Jeremy:

Acquits itself? Well
it's definitely off the hook! Man o man, what a show! Thanks guys!!
  5:56pm
Cheree July:

Steve, do you mean the same Michael Brown from the Left Banke?
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:56pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

That's what I was wondering, Cheree!
Avatar 5:56pm
Steve Young:

@Cheree nope. In the same way that I'm not the football player...
Avatar 5:57pm
Otis Fodder:

Tires to sell... tires to sell...
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:57pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

I don't know any football player names. Maybe OJ and Joe Namath
Avatar 5:57pm
Steve Young:

1979 B.F. Goodrich... one of the more theologically complex shows. Satan wants to take over a tire dealership
Avatar 5:58pm
Debbie Davenport:

How wonderfully weird!
  5:58pm
Fink:

I can almost visualize this being performed
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:58pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Wow! What are some of the most overused broadway shows that are parodied?
  5:58pm
Cheree July:

What?!๐Ÿ‘ฟ
Avatar 5:58pm
Constance De Witt:

Cabaret Meets the Coven meets Tires for sale!
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 5:58pm
Aitch:

Tires (tyres) sounds like a lost Sparks track
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:59pm
Power Papi:

Steve Young is no Joe Montana...
Avatar Swag For Life Member 5:59pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Can we throw Phantom of the Paradise in there?
Avatar 5:59pm
Debbie Davenport:

It does!
  5:59pm
Jeremy:

Def the devil's work
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 5:59pm
WR:

Makes sense Steve that everything was not pressed on vinyl. I expect some material was made for specific events and no copies made for distribution to all branches / regions / etc.
  6:00pm
Listener Robert:

@ Becky, not about industrials per se, but "West Side Story" has to be way up there in the ranking of most parodied or at least pastiched.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:00pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Purdue?
Avatar 6:01pm
Steve Young:

WR: many of my treasured songs are from private tapes from performer or composer archives. So little of what was created was recorded on vinyl
  6:01pm
Listener Robert:

And after West Side Story, everything by Gilbert & Sullivan is tied for 2nd.
Avatar 6:01pm
Steve Young:

Becky -- How to Succeed in Business is a common one because it was so on-topic to begin with.
Avatar 6:01pm
Debbie Davenport:

South Pacific. At least for shampoo commercials. I don't know if a lot of different people used that one.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:02pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

I def heard some G&S type songs today. I was thinking The Music Man too. Right, Steve! Those 1950s Mad Ave.-types
Avatar 6:02pm
Constance De Witt:

Is there a Meet me in St Louis for some kind of convention?
Avatar 6:03pm
Steve Young:

@Constance -- I'm still learning real broadway so I can't say for sure!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:04pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

This was a request!
Avatar 6:05pm
Debbie Davenport:

Oh my! Can't wait to show this to my husband. He was in "live work skits" at the hospital he works at. some music with them too.
Avatar 6:05pm
Steve Young:

We Never Enjoyed Our Operation More -- by Sid Siegel, the "Bathrooms Are Coming" songwriter. 1967. 51 years later, performed live again after the Tribeca premiere screening of "Bathtubs Over Broadway." Sid's son David arranged the music for our combo
  6:05pm
Cheree July:

This has to be one of the strangest Industrial Musicals I've heard๐Ÿ˜•
Avatar 6:06pm
Debbie Davenport:

That is so cool!
Avatar 6:07pm
Otis Fodder:

Let's take a vacation! My wow!
  6:07pm
Listener Robert:

LOL since I hadn't heard that one since the Jean Shepherd Show, so funny because it's hard to imagine anything heavier in irony than having fun as a surgical patient because of the paper supplies.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:07pm
Little Danny:

Oh man this episode is so up my alley.
  6:09pm
Listener Robert:

It follows a great principle of humor that when you can't soften the subject matter, instead go completely dark and make fun of tragedy, because everyone realizes it's tongue in cheek.
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 6:09pm
Aitch:

Sounds for your Flamo o Scope Lil Danny
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:11pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

You are Luke Skywalker!
  6:11pm
Cheree July:

Oh yeah, the Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:12pm
Little Danny:

@Aitch: I've definitely played a few advertising/promotional films that overlap with the general capitalist chirpiness of these musicals.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:13pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Because it's tempting to buy stuff.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:14pm
solo mon:

Speaking of musicals I saw that Sparks wrote a musical movie that premieres at Cannes this year called โ€œAnnetteโ€
Avatar 6:15pm
Otis Fodder:

I want to see Annette, even better would be if they tied it in with Spark Plugs for product power!
  6:19pm
Cheree July:

I can believe that Industrial Musicals cost $5 Million
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:21pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Those were called propaganda films
  6:21pm
Listener Robert:

Wow, got any of that Soviet stuff?
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:22pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Now they just pay some dumb celeb to DJ at the corporate party.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:22pm
solo mon:

โ€œWe have 5 million extra dollars- should we give everyone bonuses OR make a musical?!?!โ€
  6:22pm
Listener Robert:

Is it a parody of Fiddle Faddle?
  6:23pm
Cheree July:

Oh yeah. Industrial Musicals are still around, but they're mostly done by MLMs like Nu Skin, Arbonne, Herbalife, etc.
Avatar 6:26pm
Steve Young:

Listener Robert: look for "East Side Story" re: soviet stuff. And Diesel Dazzle is not a parody
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:26pm
Rich in Washington:

Oh yeah, East Side Story is fascinating!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:27pm
chresti:

Hi cats and kittens! Back from the tire emporium!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:29pm
solo mon:

Did the employees at the tire store sing to you about the tires?!?
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:31pm
chresti:

No! I wish they did!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:32pm
Little Danny:

Loved that "Sidewinder" groove.
  6:32pm
Listener Robert:

Great laugh line at the end about the leotard if you can't see it!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:32pm
chresti:

I bet if we went to Firestone there'd be singing.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:33pm
solo mon:

Heard it: We are all big leotard fans at sheenas!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:34pm
Little Danny:

This keeps taking me higher.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:34pm
solo mon:

The tire tread tango
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:34pm
chresti:

I miss singing in adverts, and jingles.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:34pm
solo mon:

I hear jingles are making a comeback
Avatar 6:35pm
Otis Fodder:

NUMBER ONE (all caps)
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:39pm
Little Danny:

I knew there'd be a walking bassline as soon as I heard "play it cool."
Avatar 6:39pm
Steve Young:

PDM (Power Distribution Management) -- from the first industrial I found in 1993. Writers were John Kander, Fred Ebb, Walter Marks -- all Broadway successes
Avatar 6:41pm
Steve Young:

A couple of 1961 Coca Cola bottler show songs by the late Wilson Stone -- grateful that I got to meet him a couple times
Avatar 6:42pm
Otis Fodder:

My turn-on was finding the JC Penney Spirit of 76 in Reno, early 90s. After that, I kept jumping at the point of sale.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:43pm
solo mon:

Kander and Ebb responsible for Cabaret and Chicago musicals: two of the Fossiest!
Avatar 6:45pm
Steve Young:

Oldsmobile was at the leading edge of dealer musicals circa 1953 -- kept doing them til at least the late 80s. "Don't Let A Be-Back Get Away" features a pre-Brady Bunch Florence Henderson
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:46pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

I feel like I hear her voice now.
Avatar 6:47pm
Steve Young:

Exxon with a musical history of the petroleum industry -- song by the wonderfully talented Claibe Richardson
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:47pm
Rich in Washington:

It was cool seeing her in the documentary.
Avatar 6:47pm
Otis Fodder:

The Product Music CD was when it all come together for me, outside of the here and there album. This Exxon cut to Chromalox and the 80 or so seasons.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:49pm
Rich in Washington:

This is something that never happens: My mom emailed to to rave about the Bathtubs documentary, saying it was right up my alley because I've been buying odd records since I was a kid. My mom also really REALLY loves musicals, so found it fascinating. I didn't tell her I'd already watched it and that I loved it. I had to give her that.
Avatar 6:50pm
Steve Young:

Seagram was a Beebe/Heyer show. I spoke to the producer once who told me they hadn't planned to do a record but the audience was so delirious with excitement that the company brass got on stage at the end of the show and said "we're gonna get this recorded"
  6:50pm
Listener Robert:

I'm not exaggerating when I write "Up Came Oil" made me cry. I get very emotional when I think about progress. I think about the potential that was always there that somebody just had to figure out to realize. It's a happy cry.
Avatar 6:50pm
Otis Fodder:

For WFMU listeners and fans of the Catalog of Curiosities, my first intro to the Exxon songs was from a cassette Station Manager Ken compiled and a decade later uploaded to the blog here, blog.wfmu.org...
Avatar 6:51pm
Steve Young:

Make It Happen At Retail -- Another RCA song from the Hank Beebe archive -- 1972
Avatar 6:51pm
Steve Young:

@Otis -- I have that cassette somewhere!
Avatar 6:53pm
Steve Young:

Proximatics -- performed by Patt Stanton Gjonola and Sandi Freeman -- reunited 49 years later to do it live at the Tribeca "Bathtubs" premiere -- the audience which couldn't have imagined caring just a few hours earlier was delirious with joy
Avatar 6:53pm
Otis Fodder:

Mind Control was such an ear opener, one of... oh so many. Ears are still improving, thanks to new sounds by Don & Steve in the shop today serving up sales! Free!
  6:55pm
Listener Robert:

I still don't know what Proximatics are, though. Guess I'd've needed to see a demo.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:55pm
chresti:

So I imagine the sales teams attending conferences and watching these shows about the products they're selling.
Avatar 6:55pm
Otis Fodder:

Super thankful to have made it to Hot Docs in Toronto in 2008 to see the Documentary with Cast and Crew. Think I might need to watch it again now, seeing it on the big screen, I had a few tears at the end. Very touching.
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 6:56pm
WR:

yes, chresti, and consuming lots of alcohol.
Avatar 6:56pm
Otis Fodder:

2018, ha, not 2008.
Avatar 6:56pm
Steve Young:

chresti -- yeah, there was drinking and boring presentations and sometimes HOLY SHIT MUSICAL GENIUS
  6:57pm
Listener Robert:

Oh, shit, Proximatics are those electric eye faucets I hate!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:58pm
solo mon:

I donโ€™t know if it qualifies- but I really loved the insane shoe ๐Ÿ‘ž song that Otis played a couple weeks ago.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:58pm
chresti:

WR exactly. My dad did that selling cars, close a sale at the bar...
Avatar 6:59pm
Steve Young:

Listener Robert -- right. A miracle in 1969. Boring in 2018 when I was backstage at the Tribeca premiere of the documentary marveling "oh my god, this is the proximatics technology in the men's room"
  7:00pm
Cheree July:

Haha! A channel on YouTube called Oddity Archive did a video on Industrial Musicals
Avatar 7:00pm
Steve Young:

Double shot of Gould -- two parodies of "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" -- half inept half glorious
  7:02pm
Listener Robert:

I suspect that after CORE reposrting's being sung about, the salespeople came away joking even more about it. You can't get people to take something seriously by telling them to take it seriously.
Avatar 7:03pm
Steve Young:

Exxon Dealer's Wife -- 1979 -- an example of the "let's celebrate the long-suffering wives" genre
Avatar 7:03pm
Debbie Davenport:

haha
Avatar 7:05pm
Steve Young:

I'm sure some of these shows were met with cynicsm, but I know that some of the better ones made the audience go back and forth between laughter and weeping
  7:05pm
Cheree July:

The minute I heard the Ooghahs, I thought this was going to be a parody of Blue Swede's Hooked On A Feeling๐Ÿ˜‚
Avatar 7:06pm
Steve Young:

A Diesel Dazzle song about the all-important service & parts angle, with a mid 60's dance craze flavor. Beebe/Heyer gold
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:10pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

That was me!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:11pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

And I think you can still get that record. I Walk on the Line
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:13pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Steve, Stones Throw rereleased it: www.stonesthrow.com...
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 7:19pm
WR:

Steve, you accepted a mission.
  7:20pm
Listener Robert:

Fuck, yeah!
Avatar 7:24pm
Mr Fab:

Much, much thanks to Steve Young for dropping by the Jungle Room. Alas, too crazy round these parts for me to listen to much now - the archives await!

But I was pretty psyched to read in Steve 'n Sport's book that one album in my collection merits a "2" on the rarity scale: "just a handful of known copies."
  7:26pm
Cheree July:

Ouch. I feel you, Steve. I got laid off from the theatre startup I worked at too ๐Ÿ˜ฌ
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 7:27pm
WR:

It is great that Hank Beebe has gotten such recognition.
  7:28pm
Cheree July:

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚Kitten, LOL!
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 7:31pm
WR:

Often the events specifically invited the wives (spouses) and had activities separate for them. Then everyone at a big banquet, etc.
  7:35pm
Cheree July:

That's true! I think Industrial Musicals might make a comeback once Broadway reopens post Covid.
Avatar 7:41pm
Steve Young:

Mr. Fab: what rarity do you have?
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 7:44pm
WR:

This "We Live A Saleman" has a retro feel to it. Like 60s doing 40s swing era feel. Do you know when it was recorded?
Avatar 7:45pm
Steve Young:

WR: 1958 show, there are two versions. This one, the better produced one, is from a Lloyd Norlin sampler album circa 1962
Avatar 7:47pm
Steve Young:

Tractor Drivin' Man, 1960. Hank Beebe. Ford honcho wanted to cut it from the show but his wife liked it so it stayed in. I've seen a manuscript version with an extra verse that's not in the recording
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 7:47pm
WR:

Wow this Tractor Drivin' Man harnesses some serious musical tropes.
Avatar 7:50pm
Steve Young:

Tractor Drivin' Man: vocalist is Bill Shirley who did vocal for "On The Street Where You Live" in "My Fair Lady" (which I now have seen)
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:51pm
Rich in Washington:

i hope you co-host a show again sometime in the future, Steve! This has been incredible!
Thanks!
  7:51pm
Eric Kilkenny:

Just catching the end, darn!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:53pm
Rich in Washington:

Jello's demonic imp voice is unmistakable.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:53pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

I still canโ€™t believe you got Jon Ward to do a musical number!
  7:54pm
Jeremy:

Great tune. You can't miss hearing Kitten and Jello in this!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:54pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Great shows guys!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:54pm
Rich in Washington:

I might have to go watch this for a third time!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:54pm
Rich in Washington:

Thanks, Don and Steve!
Avatar 7:55pm
Otis Fodder:

Step taken! Thanks Steve & Don for the show. Gotta run out now and go shopping!
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 7:55pm
WR:

Thank you Steve! As the son of a bookkeeper of a major corporation promotional department I knew this world existed but never heard much of it. It's been fun. Now I will go look for the book and the movie.
  7:55pm
Jeremy:

I heard Hades is opening up again...
  7:56pm
Cheree July:

This was fun! Too bad I didn't get to ask Steve if he has a copy of the DuPont industrial musical from the 1964 World's Fair. My Mom, Aunt, and Grandparents probably saw that!
Avatar 7:56pm
Debbie Davenport:

Thanks Steve! Thanks Don! This has been a great show.
Avatar 7:56pm
Mr Fab:

I have albums not in the book - there are still gems to be discovered, folks! I added tracks from my vacuum cleaner salesmen album to the Sheena stream.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:57pm
Becky Ebenkamp:

Cool!
  7:58pm
Jeremy:

Industrial-sized thanks to Don and Steve for this creamy dreamy special treat!
Avatar 7:58pm
Mr Fab:

Steve: my rarity is Arrow Shirts "Bold New Breed."
  7:58pm
Eric Kilkenny:

Thanks for coming on, Steve!
  8:02pm
Cheree July:

Great Barbara Eden impression, Kitten!๐Ÿ˜น
Avatar 8:02pm
Steve Young:

I hope I'll be back! We've got many show's worth of material and so many songs have great backstories
Avatar 8:03pm
Steve Young:

@Eric Kilkenny -- thank you for listening!
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 8:04pm
WR:

We look forward to your return Steve! Thank you!
Avatar 8:04pm
Otis Fodder:

Come on back and visit us again Steve. We'll keep the light on (courtesy of General Electric of course).
Avatar 8:04pm
Steve Young:

Thanks to Juliette Amaroso for the wonderful help and support and good vibes!
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 8:06pm
WR:

PS: good work Don with doing it all, interview, the tunes and the playlist all at the same time!
  8:06pm
Cheree July:

So good, it even has a music video!
Avatar 🎸 Swag For Life Member 8:08pm
WR:

In the old days it would have taken 4 or 5 people to do a radio program like this.
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