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Wild Man Fischer - The Fischer King [LIMITED EDITION]

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Larry "Wild Man" Fischer is one of the true eccentrics of the music business. He is a paranoid schizophrenic street singer who was discovered by Frank Zappa, who produced an album by him in the late-'60s. That album is not included here, because Zappa's widow refuses to allow it to be reissued. Rather, this collection includes everything Wild Man recorded for Rhino Records (and then some). Fischer was actually the first performer to record for Rhino Records, when they released his single "Go To Rhino Records", which was basically a commercial for their record store.

Larry later recorded Rhino's first full length album, Wildmania. This was a somewhat uneven album, but it did yield one of his most popular songs, "My Name is Larry". The album is a mix of studio recordings and field recordings of Larry singing in the bleachers at Dodgers Stadium during a Dodgers game.

Three years later, Larry's next album came out, Pronounced Normal. This was produced by the duo of Barnes & Barnes. It is a much more professional sounding (and better) album. The album is alternately funny and sad, as we delve into Larry's troubled mind.

Three years after that, Larry's last album came out, Nothing Scary. This was once again produced by Barnes & Barnes. It is the best Wild Man Fischer album of all. Once again, it is both funny and sad. It really has to be heard to be believed.

Aside from the album, there are many previously unreleased tracks here. There are a couple of lengthy unedited sections of Larry at Dodgers Stadium. And there are several rare recordings produced by Barnes & Barnes, including a duet with Rosemary Clooney, of all people.

Since Wild Man Fischer recorded the first single and the first album by Rhino Records, I guess it was appropriate that he would be the first release by Rhino Handmade, Rhino's internet only limited edition series of CDs. This 2 CD set was limited to 1,000. Wild Man is not for everybody (or even most people), but this collection is a must get for his fans. Here is the 100 track listing:

Disc One

A Word From Larry
Go To Rhino Records
My Name Is Larry
Jimmy Durante
I Light The Pilot
Josephine
Do The Wildman (Fancy Version)
I'm A Truck
Sir Larry
Who's Your Favorite Singer?
Go To Rhino Records (Live Version)
Handy Man
Disco In Frisco
Do The Wildman (And Other Dances)
I'm Selling Peanuts For The Dodgers
I'm The Meany
Wild Man Fischer Impersonation Contest
Guitar Licks
What Do You Think Of Larry?
Young At Heart
My Name Is Larry (Reprise)
A Few Minutes With Larry At Dodger Stadium
Pronounced Normal
Don't Be A Singer
It's Nice To Have Things
I Swear To God My Love Was True
Talking
Watch Out For The Sharks
When You're Younger
Yesterday
Fish Heads
Mistakes
Frank
It's A Money World
The Mope (Part 2)
The Righteous
Oh Linda, No Laurie
The Bouillabaisse
One Minute
In My Room
I'm A Christmas Tree
Let Us Live As One
Pronounced Normal (Reprise)
My Sweet Little Cathy
I Got A Camera (Single Version)
Do The Salvo
Another Word From Larry

Disc Two

Yet Another Word From Larry
I'm A Christmas Tree (w/ Dr. Demento)
A Few More Minutes With Larry At Dodger Stadium
God, Send Me Leonard And Sandra
Hello Eileen, It's Larry
Teen Age Idol
People
Intro
Derailroaded
Larry And The New Wave
Sparkling Diamonds
Music Business Shark
Don't Ever Get Mad At Me
My Friend Robert
The Omar Walk
I Looked Around You
Oh God, Please Send Me A Kid
Back In Time
Track Star
I Got A Camera
Scotty's Got A Cake
Walking Through The Underground
Merry Go Round
You're A Liar And A Thief
All I Think About Is You
Outside The Hospital
Big Boots
Ping Pong Ball Head
Real Cool Cowboy
One Of A Kind Mind
The Record Player Song
When You Record Singers
Wild Man Fischer Records
Gimme A Ride Down The Hill
Bad Leg
I Worry About My Friends
The Rain Song
The Pep
Love Love Love In Everything You Do
Larry In Las Vegas
Outro
Scotty's Got A Cake [Alternate Version]
I'm Sorry, Frank Zappa
My Mother Was Right
Don't Ever Get Mad At Me [Original Drum Version]
Last Man In The City
I Wish I Was A Comic Book
Norman
I Gotta Quit The Music Business, Bye Art, Bye Harold
It's A Hard Business (w/ Rosemary Clooney)
Flaming Carrot Theme Song
Great Big Man
A Final Word From Larry