365 Days #351 - Borborygmi (mp3s)

MP3:
1. Medley (3:30)
2. Justified Appendectomy (3:01)
3. Old Blue Cross (1:52)
4. In Old Green County (2:21)
5. Terminology (3:17)
6. Specialty (4:35)
7. Hemorrhoids (2:32)
8. Remember The Days (5:39)
9. In Old Green County (reprise) (0:58)

There is absolutely no information printed on this 10" record except the word Borborygmi, which is the medical term for stomach-gurgling sounds.

A fitting name for this collection of jaunty piano-and-vocals medical parodies, apparently sung by real doctors. Only real doctors could have gotten away with singing such explicit material in the '50s/early '60s period these songs were probably recorded. Assuming this is the same bunch who did this, this record was produced to benefit the Greene County, MO Medical Society's Scholarship Foundation. It definitely wasn't for the general public - only other medical industry professionals would understand all the references.

Looking for graphics, I was just typing in mildly appropriate phrases like "singing doctors," not really expecting to find anything, and I came across this (the album cover to the right). I'd say it's a different album judging by the song titles, but they mention Greene County in their lyrics.  How many Green County singing doctors could their be?

The opening medley parodies popular songs of the day like "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "I Only Have Eyes For You" with medicine-inspired lyrics.

"Justified Appendectomy" shows off some mystery doctor's impressive operatic singing. "Old Blue Cross" is a finger-snapper with a tap-dancing (?) interlude.

"Hemorrhoids" is cornball country with nice harmony vocals singing lyrics that would make Gene Autry faint. The Tom Lehrer-esque "Terminology" is one of my favorites, confirming something many have suspected - that doctors use incomprehensible jargon to baffle patients and justify their high salaries!

"Remember The Days" is another winner, a funny but wistfully nostalgic look back at a doctors' career.

- Contributed by: Mr. Fab

Media: 10" vinyl EP
Date: 1950s/early '60s?

Comments

[Ruud Verkerk]

I found a nice collection of 71 versions of Besame Mucho, maybe something for this great blog?

http://sanjose72.blogspot.com/2007/11/besame-mucho-71-versiones.html

greetings

[Jason]

Certainly, this is the same group as The Green County Boys that were featured earlier in the year with the LP "Medic Emetics." Get it together, people...

[Kate Gladstone]

The same Singing Doctors had another album — "Thanks for the Miseries" — which sometimes turns up on eBay and in other on-line sources for old vinyl records.

To find copies currently offered, Google this:
"singing doctors" miseries

Could you please buy it, make the MP3s, and post them somewhere?
I use songs with medical lyrics as practice writing-material in the handwriting classes I run for hospital doctors
— playing the MP3s, or singing the songs, while the MDs transcribe the lyrics —
and I've just talked with someone at the Green County Medical Society to get permission to add the Singing Doctors' songs to my repertoire ... so of course I want to have MP3s handy, so I can use the songs as soon as I get permission (without going out and - GASP! - buying a turntable).