365 Days #74 - Tony Randall and Jack Klugman - The Odd Couple Sings (mp3s)

MP3:
Johnny One Note (2:25)
You're So Vain (3:16)
Play a Simple Melody (3:09)
When Banana Skins Are Falling (I'll Come Sliding Back To You) (2:45)
The Inch Worm [from 'Hans Christian Anderson'](2:24)
Brush Up on Your Shakespeare [from 'Kiss Me Kate'] (2:47)
Together Wherever We Go (1:52)
The Odd Couple Opera [original title 'Imagination'] (10:45)
Friendship (3:03)
Applause, Applause (2:35)

While people are lapping up William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy recordings, somehow "The Odd Couple Sings" has gotten lost in the shuffle. Perhaps it is because while it's not technically "good," it's also not technically "serious." And Tony Randall can sing, despite your desire not to hear a lot of it. These recordings are done in character as Felix and Oscar and draws its jokes from that fact. It certainly doesn't pretend Klugman can sing and it uses this fact as effectively as one can for a celebrity record. If nothing else, Randall and Klugman's "You're So Vain" is a hundred times better than Carly Simon's and the question of why it has remained out of print for more than 30 years is one of the mysteries of the ages.

- Contributed by: John Mitchell

Images: Front Cover

Media: LP
Album: The Odd Couple Sings
Label: London/Phase 4
Catalog: XPS 903
Credits: With Roland Shaw conducting The London Festival Orchestra and Chorus
Date: 1973

Comments

[Rumple Stiltskin]

The Seventies: "A Decade is a Terrible Thing to Waste."

[Dale Hazelton]

I scored a copy of this at a yardsale years ago, and besides the hilarious cover of "You're so Vain" the "Odd Couple Opera" is an all-time favorite. It always reminds me of the Looney Toons "What's Opera, Doc". Randall was one of the great unsung comic actors, he was fantastic in "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter" (that commercial interruption bit knocking the Television medium is hilarious). And the "Seven Faces of Dr. Lao" made a big impression on me as a kid. Glad this got posted, I've been foisting it on people for ages.

[Lipwak]

Alas, no Happy and Peppy. I will dub that off and post it on my Yahoo briefcase (http://briefcase.yahoo.com/lipwak) but give me some time to put it up there.

Cheers,

Lipwak

[oddjob]

This isn't the only time Jack Klugman's singing, er, talents were committed to vinyl. He's also on the original cast album of Gypsy, including a duet with Ethel Merman!

[K French]

I bought this when it was only out of print for about 10 years (in 1984, at Flamin' Groovies Records in New Brunswick NJ!). It's always been one of my favorites, especially "You're so Vain." It bugs me when it's compared to other "actors singing" records since, as you point out here, Klugman and Randall are in character as Oscar & Felix. A priceless gem and a joy to download. Thanks.

[Listener Kliph]

The gatefold cover is also ultra nice on this one. Cool photos of the boys in their boxers with pictures framed in the shape of tv sets. Apricot scarf? You're paranoid!

[PierreVK]

Hey that's great. I immediately fell under the spell of the opening song. Laaaaaa. Laaaaaaaaa. Laaaaaaaaaaaa.

[Mark Kaufman]

Thank you for posting MP3s of this, one of the jewels of my record collection. I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but am I wrong about this being a Snuff Garrett production? I love Johnny One Note and sometimes have it running through my head. And having Jack Klugman catterwalling through your head while walking down the street is disconcerting at best. Great record from the second best television show of all time. Sgt. Bilko is number 1, natch.

[Toddy]

I agree with you John! This version of "You're so vain" is a masterpiece! Mysterious and creepy.

[mister_pj]

Besides actually having gone out and buying this on vinyl many, many years ago (I think around the time the Odd Couple were a staple in reruns at 11 on 11), it really is one of those albums that come along once in a blue moon. My only complaint is they don’t have the unforgettable ditty Randall sung in one episode: ‘Once there was a man named Oscar. Oscar, Oscar, Ooossscar!’