Music review: 鈥楧r. Demento Covered in Punk鈥�
Calling all dementites and dementoids! The doctor is in and he鈥檚 in rare form.
Dr. Demento orders the perfect prescription for keeping a smile on your face by adding a little whimsical element to the day with his latest album.
From his lair under the smogberry trees, the iconic radio personality showcases 64 novelty arrangements that possess a strange and comedic vibe.
鈥淒r. Demento Covered in Punk鈥� is formatted in the same style as Dr. Demento鈥檚 offbeat radio broadcasts and features new punk covers of vintage wacky tracks with Dr. Demento injecting his witty commentary throughout the offerings.
The new collection serves as a zany tribute to the genius of Dr. Demento鈥檚 radio show that got its start in 1970.
As a teenager, I was one of the many fans glued to the radio to hear Dr. Demento鈥檚 sounds of satire every Sunday night in the Pittsburgh area. The show introduced me to the genius of artists like Spike Jones, Stan Freberg, Tom Lehrer and Benny Bell. I fondly recall hearing songs such as David Seville鈥檚 鈥淲itch Doctor鈥� and Fred Blassie鈥檚 鈥淧encil Neck Geek鈥� for the first time through the privacy of my headphones while attempting to hold back my laughter as my parents watched their favorite television program completely unaware.
The man responsible for introducing listeners to the irregular stylings of 鈥淲eird Al鈥� Yankovic through his radio show is joined on the new album by artists like Yankovic, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, William Shatner, Adam West, Missing Persons, Fred Schneider of the B-52鈥檚, the Dead Milkmen and the Misfits for a refreshed and unconventional musical expression of punk meets wacky.
Highlights include Shatner鈥檚 interpretation of 鈥淕arbageman,鈥� West鈥檚 cover of 鈥淭he Thing,鈥� Yankovic鈥檚 salute to the Ramones with 鈥淏eat on the Brat鈥� and two versions (one with punk lyrics and the other traditional) of the classic 鈥淪having Cream鈥� delivered by 鈥淯ncle Floyd鈥� Vivino and Oogie.
And it wouldn鈥檛 be a true Dr. Demento party without 鈥淔ish Heads鈥� and 鈥淒ead Puppies,鈥� the two most requested songs in the history of the Dr. Demento program.
Dr. Demento, a.k.a Barret Hansen, still possesses the mischievous talent for finding the funny bone of listeners during his weekly program that is now found on Internet radio. It鈥檚 definitely just what the good doctor ordered.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.