Author Archives: Wacky Alex

About Wacky Alex

Creator of FunHouse Radio

“Do The Swim” by Bobby Freeman

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Hear the brilliant production of Sly Stone in this number one hit for Bobby Freeman. By late 1964, this track beat out The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Ventures, Jan & Dean and Dusty Springfield. You can already hear Sly Stone’s sound in the arrangement, instrumentation, and production.

The Swim was also a dance. Here is a video of Bobby miming the song while doing the dance. This appeared on a television show that year.

Today is National Learn To Swim Day. Needless to say, everyone should learn to swim. A swim instructor first teaches folks how to breath and float. These two things alone can save your life.

We’re using today as an occasion to turn on the summer music! This classic track is included! So tune in to the live stream to hear our summer tracks in the mix.

-Wacky Alex

“Quiche Lorraine” by The B-52s Live at The Capitol Theater Passaic New Jersey 1980

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Here we have the ever-present B52s in their prime. The entire concert was captured on what appeared to be Black and White 16mm film. Hardcore fans have already seen this. The typical fan may not have. I can’t think of better way to celebrate National Quiche Lorraine Day, which is today!

The song appeared on their second major label release, Wild Planet.

I got a chance to see them a few years ago. They had a kick ass back up band. The three remaining members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Cindy Wilson held down the vocals like they were still in their 30s. It was like a celebration.

Sadly they are on their farewell tour now. If you get a chance to see them this year, take it.

-Wacky Alex

“Stonks Only Go Up” by Devo Spice

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Have you been experiencing pain lately when loigging into your Crypto Wallet or 401K dashboard? It may help to know that you don’t actually loose anything until the act of selling. If that doesn’t make you feel better maybe this track will.

Devo Spice published this track on The FuMP Volume 85 compilation. It does not appear on any of his albums. It is a parody of “All The Way Up” by Fat Joe & Remy Ma ft. French Montana & Infared

Stonk is a deliberate misspelling of stock (meaning “a value share of a corporation which can be traded as an investment”). The term was coined in a 2017 meme. It’s often used sarcastically to imply a vague understanding of the securities market.

-Wacky Alex

Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons Wants You To Know All The Dirty Details About Weird Al Yankovic

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Someone apparently used a VHS to record an episode of VH1 Behind The Music, including commercial breaks, as it aired on cable TV in 1999. The episode focuses on Weird Al Yankovic and treats us to interviews with Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo), Dr Demento, Doug Feiger (The Knack) and The Weird One, himself.

Many years later someone attempted to transfer the video cassette recording to digital. It seems to have been captured at slower and glitchy frame rates. The contrast is low so everything is grayed out. The sound quality is basic to bad. You can probably find the DVD in a public library if you really want. The YouTube title says “High Quality”. This is a lie.

Still, this beast is watchable and entertaining. It helps if you are a fan of His Weirdness. Furthermore, it’s fascinating because of the commercials. It’s like a time capsule.

Do you think a Tampon or a maxi-pad could feel like a diaper? Do you remember what it feels like to wear a diaper? Well apparently this was a huge problem in 1999 and it needed to be addressed on VH1. Watch for the commercial in the video.

But why would a feminine hygiene product manufacturer want you to know about Weird Al? They didn’t. At the time there was a pretense that the companies running advertisements during live broadcasts were sponsoring the content that it interrupted. This was a carry-over from old time radio and early television.

We cover Yankovic a lot around here and his music is always in rotation on the live stream. We’ve even created a T-Shirt design in his honor. Order one today!

-Wacky Alex

“Money For Nothing / Beverly Hillbillies” by Weird Al Yankovic (from UHF)

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May 15th is International Family Day. It was founded by the United Nations in 1994. What better way to mark the occasion then with a song about the Beverly Hillbillies? The poorest and most rural family imaginable becomes fabulously wealthy by a lucky strike. Hooray!

Weird Al included the music video in the 1989 movie UHF which he co-wrote and starred in. The film is now considered a cult classic and everyone should check it out. The song is a parody of “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits and the recording features guitarist Mark Knopfler.

-Wacky Alex

“The Lovecats” by Melody Mendis (originally by The Cure)

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Another Saturday, another Caturday. Here we have a lovely jazz-pop rendition of a gothic new wave hit for The Cure. I love this version by Melody Mendis and we play it all the time on FunHouse Radio.

The album that this song was released on is called Love & Madness. It features a number of great cover versions and is worth checking out. -WA

“It’s Hard Out Here For A Temp” by Insane Ian featuring Carrie Dahlby

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Do you have a steady job? Are you sure? Aren’t we all temps? Aren’t we all disposable? This writer has worked so many different jobs in his adult life that it’s not even funny. It sucked most of the time.

Insane Ian captures this rage. It cuts both ways. Sure it’s a parody. It’s Comedy. It’s also harsh reality. I’m going to have to rejoin the workforce despite having a number of disabilities and off course it’s hard out there for a temp.

This track is off his recent album, Illinoise, available on BandCamp.

-Wacky Alex

“All You Can Eat” by The Fat Boys (from Krush Groove)

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Is this another example of Mandela Effect? When I was a kid, nobody ever referred to this group as Fat Boys. It was always The Fat Boys. What Gives?

But seriously, today is National Eat What You Want Day and I can’t think of a better FunHouse Radio track to share than this one.

The song was recorded for use in the movie Krush Groove. The entire music video appeared within the movie. The film tells a fictional story based on the early days of Def Jam Records. It is now considered a Hip-Hop culture classic.

Of course the movie was accompanied by a soundtrack compilation album. My best friend had the LP and I was lucky enough to be allowed to make a cassette tape copy on his dad’s stereo. Hooray!

There was some great stuff on there. “Radio” by LL Cool J and “King Of Rock” by Run D.M.C. were the TOP JAMS back in the day. “Tender Love” by (The) Force MDs was soon played at every high school dance in urban America. “She’s On It” by (The) Beastie Boys seemed like a bonus track cut from the smash hit Licensed to Ill album. Plus you got Chaka Khan, Sheila E, Debbie Harry and (The) Gap Band. Kurtis Blow produced much of the music. It’s a lot.

-Wacky Alex