Customer Reviews

Popcorn

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

No apologies! I bought this this CD solely for the song "Popcorn" after I could not find the tune contained on any palatable "One Hit Wonders" compilation. If I were to go the compilation route, I would have to be ear-to-ear with track-after-track of every nightmare from "Afternoon Delight" to "Run Johnny Run."

So I thought, I'll chance a CD packed with covers of songs on The Moog Synthesizer. It couldn't be any worse than 1970s hits that climbed out of the LP garbage bins and onto CDs to haunt us well into the 21st Century. At the worst, "Hot Butter" could be packed with hysterical campy tunes to play at a party filled with bored or inebriated guests.

Boy, did I underestimate this CD! I loved "Popcorn" every bit as I remember, but I cringe a bit when I say I LOVED Stan Free's Moog Synthesizer renditions of songs too! The Moog Synthesizer gives a 1960s robotic Sci-Fi aura to tunes like "Apache," (instead of a surf atmosphere, the high pitch cry of the techno-keyboard makes you picture The Apache Warrior buzzing in orbit with Alan Shepherd and Mr. Spock) "The Silent Screen," (again, picture computerized music playing while Keaton & Keystones cops wear bubble helmets on their heads as they peruse the stars) and especially "Love At First Sight;" The Moog rendition of Serge Gainsbourg's silly hit song (though I think he intended it to be serious) actually sounds like space-age romance without a hint of camp!

Unfortunately for us, Stan Free's only hit as the one-man-band "Hot Butter" was "Popcorn," and he ceased putting out music shortly thereafter. He was still gainfully employed as a back up musician for everyone from John Denver to Arlo Guthrie to The Boston Pops. He passed away in 1995. If he's up there listening to the earthly sounds of keyboards, be they Moog, Grand Piano, or Harpsechord, I hope he will pause to read these words: Stan Free, you left this world a more enjoyable--- and pleasantly sillier--- place.

I enjoy this CD immensely. Campy at times, outright enjoyable at others. I highly recommend you add "Hot Butter" to your collection.

I owned "Popcorn" on vinyl when it was first released. This CD nearly caused a flashback. Listening is bound to bring back memories of flowers, polyester, and long sideburns. Back in the good ol'days, when a synthesizer looked like an old-fashioned telephone switchboard, this music was breaking new ground and laying the foundation for today's electonically-generated sound.

If you're not already familiar with this album and you're a fan of the moog sound pick this up. It's a great collection of some of the pioneering sounds from the early 1970's. The disc is a wonder ful mix of campy music and great example of the technology of the time. I grew up listening to the U.S. vinyl release and was a bit put off by the differences between it and the CD. While it's great that there are several more tracks than on the original Popcorn (possibly from thier second release but the liner doesn't clarify) at least one song (Pipeline) is missing and the order is a bit scrambled. The sound however is true (down to a bit of analog hiss). One of three copies I purchased seemed to have paint off the face on the playable side and was full of skips, the other two (given as gifts)were perfect. Keep your eyes open before playing. All in all good disc, if you want to remember the sound or learn about it for the first time.

This is a really goofy & fun disc that actually is more musically
realized than the hit "Popcorn" would lead you to believe. There
is some dross mixed up amongst the gems here to be sure.For the
time period this was recorded in (the 1970's)several of the more
xperimental tracks hold their own nicely sounding contemporary
and not at all unlike many synth pop recordings from today.
Overall it is minimalistic pop music with a lot of great hooks
(once you hear "Popcorn" you'll be humming it all day long) and a
pleasant diversion from guitar driven pop/rock that dominates 90%
of 70's music.Hot Butter(actually one man Stan Free)does several
tunes that became standards of many Surf/Instro bands such as
the song "Apache and The Chantays oft recorded "Pipeline". In an
interesting turnabout 90's Surf revivalists "The Phantom Surfers"
do a guitar version of "Popcorn" that rocks like a son of a gun.
Recommended for all Synth/Moog fanatics,instrumental fans and all
of you who gig catchy & endearingly cheesy pop music in general.

This is an album of electronic music...70's style. I initially purchased the LP back around the time it was first released (1972) because at the time I liked the hit single "Popcorn". This CD provided an added bonus because the number of songs on it are doubled (half of them are presumably from a follow-up album I had never seen in the stores). Some of the songs do sound a bit "Schlockey" (i.e a song called "Mah Nah Mah Nah" is the best example) but I guess that is the sound the band was going for. There is one song missing which appeared on the original LP version ("Pipeline") and I can't imagine why it was omitted. It isn't as though the CD would've been too full to accomodate yet one more song. None of the 22 songs exceed four minutes in length. It is for this reason alone that I'm only rating it three stars (coulda been four if "Pipeline" was on it).

Criticism aside, I'll tell you that if you like instrumental, moog synthesizer-based electronic music you'll want to add this to your collection. The band performs a nice cover version of Neil Diamond's "Song Sung Blue" and Neil Hefti's "Tomatoes". Some of you baby boomer's may remember "Tomatoes" from the early '70's TV show "The Odd Couple". There is even a cover version of Godspell's "Day By Day". All in all, it is a must for the collector of old, obscure music.

I bought this CD for the Popcorn song and I'm really glad I did. What a silly CD. Now, not all the songs on this CD are as great as the Popcorn song, but I knew that going into it from the music samples provided by Amazon. Still, I've gotten a real kick out of this CD on the whole. I have shared it with my 8 year old who now likes it as much as I did when I was growing up.

I enjoyed this song when I was young. It brings back good memories. If you never heard it, please do.

I looked and looked for this on CD. When I found it I had to buy it. All instrumental. This song sounds like the life of a popcorn kernel from start to finish. This song always brings a smile to my face when I hear it. There are other versions done in a dance style that are just as good.

As much as I would like to have this album on CD, the prices from the suppliers below make it prohibitively expensive. I would much more likely to buy it if it were available as an mp3 purchase. I know that this is out of print and it is a collector's item...doesn't mean that I am willing to part with 1/4 of a paycheck to own it though.

The music, however, is AWESOME! A fantastic tribute to the late, great Bob Moog!

The Popcorn song sounded Fantastic just as when I was a kid hearing it on the 8 track tape Excellent Quality I would Recommend Hot Butter CD to anyone!!!!