Platter Party!

      Chubby Checker "Karate Monkey" b/w "Her Heart" Parkway 1966   I'm upfront about the fact that I believe a monkey can make any song better. My collection of simian-based singles is significant, and if it's got an ape, monkey or some other primate in the title, I'm probably going to at least consider it if I see it in a for sale box somewhere. I guess DC Comics was on to something when they stated that in the 1950s and 60s, adding a gorilla to the cover would increase an issues sales dramatically.  But we don't stop at the inclusion of a monkey in this jaunty foot stomper by the man who decided to take Fats Domino's stage name, and make it his own by simply plugging in new adjectives for obesity and popular table top games. This is a monkey who knows martial arts! This is about as fun a song as you can press to wax, and it had been on my want list for a long time after hearing it on a compilation somewhere. We sign on for the title, and hon...

        Vince Edwards - "Why Did You Leave Me?" b/w "Squeelin Parrot (Twist)" Russ-Fi Records 1962 Our inaugural outing comes from Dr. Ben Casey himself, actor and sometimes singer Vince Edwards. If you’re not a septuagenarian and don’t restrict your television viewing to the likes of MeTV, then the name might not mean anything to you. Vince Edwards played Dr. Ben Casey on a television program of the same name on ABC, from 1961 - 1966. Back when fresh-faced young talent had to be hyphenates to be a viable product in the Hollywood machine (not just an actor but an actor-singer-dancer-director-whatever), it wasn’t uncommon for young actors, or even middle-aged ones, to cut pop records. And it wasn’t uncommon for musicians to take a stab at acting. I mean, who can forget Roy Orbison in The Fastest Guitar Alive , right? This single is the only hint I have at Vince’s vocal prowess, but let’s just say I’m glad he didn’t put all of his eggs into this one particular baske...