Heeeeeeeeere's Johnny...

Recently I've had a couple of people ask about the banner at the top of the page and if the head that replaces the 'Diabolical' one's is mine. Well, to set the record straight, no, it isn't. A lot of people that know me say I look older than my years and although I've got a few 'silver ones' poking through, my hair, or what's left of it, isn't yet as bad as the fella you see above, who is in fact U.S. chat show host Johnny Carson.

Mr. Carson presented the 'Tonight Show' from 1962 to 1992 and although I've never seen a single episode (I don't think it was ever broadcast in the U.K.) I am familiar with the name through references on various Hip-Hop records. So why did I decide to use his image to partly represent this site? Read on...

The initial concept of this blog was to talk about stupid records I've found over the years and upload MP3s that nobody would really want to download. It was originally intended to be a tongue in cheek dig at all those boring blogs that 'share' super rare albums with little or no background information on why they like it, where they got it, etc, etc. Just a download link and nothing else. That sh*t bores the f*ck out of me. Werner von Wallenrod's regular blog posts are far more interesting and rarely even include sound-clips, let alone full album rips. To me, the Daily Diggers have found the perfect balance for a great blog with knowledgeable write ups and accompanying snippets. Give me those two sites over the wealth of snore-fests any day. With 'Wonderful World Of Bizarre' I tried to follow those blueprints but from a slightly p*ss-takey point of view and have a laugh with it. So when putting together the site banner I flicked through my comedy records and for one reason or another decided to chop the head off Johnny and fix it to the body of Biz (from his iconic "Goin' Off" sleeve artwork) which I think represents the content of my babblings pretty well. If you're a regular reader of this site you obviously know all about the Biz 12" but may not have come across the "Tonight Show" album so here it is...

First of all, let me just say, when I'm out and about I usually buy any comedy record if it's fifty pence or less. This particular album turned up in a Charity Shop, still sealed, for twenty nine pence so was snapped up quick. Once home and opened a large fold out poster with very nice Graphic Design (unfortunately it's too big to scan) revealed itself from the two slices of wax tucked inside. Bonus. I like the design work on the front and back of the cover anyway but the poster really is something to keep. Now the vinyl is four sides of recording highlights from 25 years of the show and features interviews as well as performances by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Ike & Tina Turner and Bette Midler (you can read the full track listing by clicking on the image). I genuinely enjoyed listening to the entire album and found Carson to be very funny which I wasn't expecting at all - I usually can't stand American chat show hosts. His banter with in house 'band' leader Doc Severinsen is at times hilarious and leads me on to the excerpts I've recorded for you below. The sharp eared amongst you will notice several vocal snippets sampled by a certain 'Scratch Pharmacist' before Doc Severinsen and his Sweetheart Band belt out a funky version of "Ode To Billy Joe", nice break included. Enjoy...


Excerpts from the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
featuring
Doc Severinsen and His Sweetheart Band 'Ode To Billy Joe'