MP3:
A The By Cracky Beat (2:44)
B Gikki/Gong (2:21)
I picked up this gem about a decade ago in Montreal, in a used record store where I worked at the time. I fell in love with its nonsensical, fun filled sounds, and immediately put it to good use as a theme song for a campus radio show I had at the time, hoping someone would hear it and give me more information about it. Sadly enough, it never raised an eyebrow from my listeners, and after a few months I took on another theme song and only took out the By Cracky for special occasions. For the past decade The By Cracky Beat remained a mystery, until recently when I stumbled upon this site. It appears By Cracky was the name of a chocolate bar from chocolate makers “Lowneys”, and this was their scorcher of a promo record! This however, does not explain the just as charming but not so chocolaty B-Side, “Gikki Gong”. I can’t help but wonder how the brand could have become obsolete, what with having the catchiest promo song this side of Willy Wonka town.
One of my favorite 45s!
- Contributed by: Mimi la Twisteuse
Media: 45rpm 7" Single
Label: Lowney's Chocolates
Catalog: L-1001 (ASCAP MG-6306/6307)
Credits: Mamorsky, Zimmermann & Hamm
If Eric records did product promo 45s the same way they bunched oldies together (2 hits/ 2 artists for the price of one..) This would be a the inevitable B side to "The Frito Twist".
I wonder if this single was available as a special offer by sending in candy wrappers, or distributed to retailers as an incentive to gain shelf space. Either way, it's a gem!
Posted by: rocketboy | January 05, 2007 at 01:03 PM
The Lowney brand still exist, and are part of Hershey Canada. They make Lowney's Cherry Blossom, the most revolting candy ever.
Posted by: scruss | January 05, 2007 at 01:35 PM
Found a strange link to the Library of Congress that showed Mamorsky, Zimmerman and Hamm as a publishing company. The title is "Erin Mills New Town" from 1971.
Here.
Posted by: Krys O. | January 05, 2007 at 02:30 PM
The A side is absolutely incredible - going straight into my DJ box - thanks Mimi
Posted by: strictly kev | January 05, 2007 at 02:55 PM
Great fun tunes!!
Posted by: poesboes | January 05, 2007 at 05:00 PM
Fantastic! Thanks, Mimi!
Posted by: Katya Oddio | January 08, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Who doesn't love that "By-Cracky" Beat? Nice banjo breakdown around the 2-minute mark.
Posted by: Mikey | January 08, 2007 at 12:10 PM
Superbe! It's got to be one of the greatest promos of all time...fantastique!!
Posted by: L Dale | January 08, 2007 at 06:27 PM
How can this chocolate have become obscure? Even the packaging was delightful!
Posted by: Emily | January 13, 2007 at 05:39 PM
Geweldige muziek! Daar kan ik weer wat mee!
Keep this project going! I know it already for years and I'm happy you continued it!
Groetjes, Jerry
Posted by: Jerry | January 14, 2007 at 11:32 AM
I'd rather listen to that than not!
Posted by: Robert Stemmons The Whistler | January 29, 2007 at 09:16 PM
I've been trying to find a date for 'The By Cracky Beat' without success. Judging by the hip-shakin' guitar-cum-banjo break (the xylophone and cutesy 'ba ba ba ba' refrain of the verses do not prepare you for its craaazy delights) and the "by cracky!" shout (a Carnaby Street yelp if ever I heard one), I'm guessing mid-1960s.
Anyway, download this. (There's a 'la la-la' at 2:12 into the tune that alone is worth the admission price.) And the band is tight - they're happ'ning, man!
Apropos the B-side, it's okay - pleasant, but it didn't resonate with me.
Posted by: Onansboy | February 13, 2007 at 12:47 AM
J'adooooooooore! Je ne l'avais pas dit plus tôt! Cette pièce est depuis en constante rotation chez-moi. Merci!
Posted by: S.ebastien | May 31, 2007 at 12:15 AM
Hey, I'm the guy you linked to re: the album. GREAT job cleaning up the record. Do you have a better copy than I do? What software do you use to edit. I use Adobe Audition 2.0 and work at WPLM in Massachusetts.
Posted by: Kevin Lowney | August 18, 2007 at 09:01 PM
Wow, I never thought I would see this again. I got my copy around 1967, I was about 8 years old living in Calgary, Alberta Canada. There was a lot of promotion around the By Cracky chocolate bar, on the radio, billboards etc. I imagine this was happening across the country as the same time. They gave out the records at school dances, and other promotional events around the city. As I recall the bar itself was similar to another Canadian favourite, Crispy Crunch, somewhat like the American Butterfinger, but not really. I'm embarrassed to say that I played the B side repeatedly, it was one of my first records, and I really enjoyed playing it for people who found it pretty wild. Or maybe they were just humoring me lol. Thanks for posting this, it really brought back a lot of memories!
Posted by: Ken | March 20, 2009 at 07:51 PM