Customer Reviews

Stone Age Woo

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

 

 

Of course, those who actually know the name Nervous Norvus are either devoted listeners of Dr. Demento or one hit wonder fans {both camps are familiar with the classic "Transfusion"). If you enjoy that single, you'll probably enjoy this collection, which is really all the Nervous Norvus you'll need. Its far from great art, but it was never meant to be. Looking back it is dated and surreal, but still fun for fans of this type of music. Jimmy Drake (the alter ego of Nervous Norvus) was reasonably innovative in his use of sound effect for novelty records. Its interesting how he used sound effects from a library or archive and inserted them into his songs, making them an accompaniment for his one man band. The songs themselves are amusing if not laugh out loud funny, and are strange enough to appeal to fans of outsider music. The themes include prehistoric times, flying saucers and sci-fi, and even a song about a clockmaker slowly going insane. A fun if unessential addition to the library of those who enjoy either novelty of strange music.

Great CD for you dinosaurs who remember listening to the Red Blanchard show in the Bay Area in the early to mid 50s and digging his Nervous Norvus platter-spinning. Some rare demos included here and some downright strange music. Mmmm-bully-bully-bully-bully...

Jimmy Drake was a fan of disc jockey Red Blanchard who sent his song demos to Blanchard in hopes that the DJ would help him get a recording contract. In most of these songs, Drake imitated Blanchard's unique brand of jive talk. One of these songs, "Transfusion", caught Blanchard's ear. Red added car crash sound effects to Jimmy's simple voice and king sized ukulele demo. He played it on the air, then a record company executive heard it and released it as a record, with Drake calling himself Nervous Norvus. "Transfusion" became one of the biggest novelty hits of 1956 and Singing Jimmy Drake was a "rock and roll star" at the age of 44. The follow up single, "Ape Call", was also a hit although not a big one. The third single, "The Fang", bombed and Nervous Norvus was now a has been. He released a handful of other singles before he drank himself to death, all of which are very obscure. He got most of his drinking money by recording demos for aspiring songwriters. He took out ads in music magazines, offering to record demos for songwriters (for a fee, of course). One such ad claimed that he had recorded over 3000 demos! This CD features most of his records, plus many of his demos. Some of the demos are of his own songs, some are songs other people wrote and some songs we have no idea who wrote them. Not all of the demos are novelty songs. A fun CD for fans of the Golden Age of novelty songs.

My husband has wanted a copy of this song on CD for years, I purchased it as part of his birthday! He has played it continuously since receiving it! It is a hilarious song, written by the crazy Nervous Norvus! Get it if you remember the song....it's worth the price!

Fans of the Dr. Demento Show will be familiar with songs like Transfusion, The Fang, Ape Call and Dig, and there are many more in the same vein on this terrific CD. Great liner notes in the booklet and it sounds like the cleanest possible tapes/discs were sourced. No novelty/obscurity collection would be complete without this!

My words, I can't find a single good thing to say about this mess. The other reviewers before should be ashamed.

The sound of this CD must of came directly from the reel to reel tape deck from the front cover of the CD. The tape hiss is overwhelming, the mono tracks are boring and the complete lack of audio engineering is showing.

The whole thing is unworthy of a place in my collection and will go to eBay ASAP. Why go on.