These songs are chosen from those we rate in the "second tier" of quality material: they make for great listening, yet remain just a notch below the rarefied level required for inclusion in the MSR Madness series. Two routes of access: you can download your selections either from the list below, or from the songs' spots on their respective discography pages, where they are designated with an MP3 icon:
The AS/PMA is deeply indebted to Rob Coleman of Designstein, Inc. for his generous help with this project. Rob has asked for nothing in return for his time, so our recommendation of Designstein for all your web hosting and design needs is unsolicited, as well as unequivocal. Their CEO, by the way, is Steven Greenberg, the creator of the great 1980 disko hit "Funkytown."
A big hearty song-poem thanks also goes out to our MP3 contributors: John Fitzpatrick, Brian Linds, Tom Ardolino, Jeff Miller, Jeremy Pisani, Michael Greenberg, Will Louviere, Barbara Economon, Pea Hicks, John Trubee, Robert Dayton, Chuck Foster, Jim Blanchard, Bob Purse, Narkspud, Marc Smith and Gregg Turkington.
No claim of ownership of the sound recordings or underlying musical compositions of the files posted here is made or implied. Such content is offered for educational purposes only, and may not be redistributed for profit. Copyright owners who object to the inclusion of their material here need only contact us to request its removal.
Batch #2
Batch #3
Tin Pan Alley 13-390: Bob Gerard -- Snow Man (Randall-Dienna)
Batch #4
Batch #5
Batch #6
Batch #7
Batch #8
Batch #9
Batch #10
Batch #11
Batch #12
Batch #13
Batch #14
Batch #15
Batch #16
Batch #17
Batch #2
from Kay Em 515: Common Sense Is One (From Basic To "Spacic")
from MSR 238: 1975 Christmas Album
Batch #3
from Royal Master 7003: Peace Through Love And Song, Vol. IV
from Royal Master 8080: Songs Of Love, Songs Of Life
Batch #4
Batch #5
Batch #6
Batch #7
Batch #8
from Columbine CRH-130: The Now Sounds Of Today
Batch #9
Batch #10
from Columbine NST-31: The Now Sounds Of Today
Batch #11
Batch #12
from Royal Master 5656: Hit Songs Of Tomorrow
Batch #13
Batch #14
-- Singles --
Blue-J 3: Mary Kaye -- I Don't Want A Bracelet Or Diamonds, I Just Want Elvis Instead (Chaw Mank-Elsie Childers)
Cinema 7516: The Real Pros -- In Love With Elvis (writer unknown)
Igloo 126: Bobby Swanson & His Sonics -- Rockin' Little Eskimo (Officer Mactavish)
MSR 851: Bobbi Blake -- My Husband, Lover, Friend (Mary Bolton)
Preview 1270: Rodd Keith -- The Ballad Of Juan Rio (Juanito deDenny)
Preview 1339: The Downtowners -- Baby, I'll Give It To You (Christopher Perry)
Preview 1870: Gene Marshall -- The Amazing Helicopters (Chick Sandone)
Preview 2153: Gene Marshall -- Scat Car Scat (Joe Gallucci)
Preview, number unknown: Rodd Keith -- Like The Lord Said (Henderson-Brooks) [note: a big hit on the Northern Soul scene]
Sterling 467: Norm Burns -- Our Thanksgiving Blessings Are Great (Shirley & Lew Tobin) [note: the Tobins owned the Sterling label]
Sterling 802: Mel Moore -- Speed (Ernie Lee Held & Lew Tobin)
Tin Pan Alley 354: The Silhouettes -- I'll Follow (Ladd Anthony Sutherland)
Tin Pan Alley 27-445: Billy Grey -- What Love Is All About (Rosemary Karshis)
MSR 3002: Dick Kent -- Five Feet Nine And A Half Inches Tall (Pablo Feliciano)
Mayhams Collegiate B-1976 (mach I): Norris The Troubadour, Seaboard Coastliners -- Midwifery (Norman Casserly) (Mayhams) [note: 1949 version]
Mayhams Collegiate A-1976: Norris The Troubadour, Seaboard Coastliners -- Midwifery (Norman Casserly) (Mayhams) [note: 1975 version]
Mayhams Collegiate B-1976 (mach II): Norris The Troubadour, Seaboard Coastliners -- Midwifery (Mayhams) [note: "Midwiffery" version]
Tin Pan Alley 39-494: Billy Grey -- Let's Really Rock (Jim Gross)
Ronnie 2065: Ben Tate -- Betty-Sue (Kittie Emery)
Sterling 433: Norman Burns -- Checker's Blues (Raymond Eavenson, Jr.-Lew Tobin)
Preview 1262: Rodd Keith -- Gloria (Douglas H. Tindall)
United Recording, unnumbered acetate: Rod Keith -- Put A Little Love (Barrett-Bray)
United Recording, unnumbered acetate: Rod Keith -- Whisper To Me (Barrett-Bray)
United Recording, unnumbered acetate: unknown male artist -- Put A Little Love (Elizabeth Bray)
United Recording, unnumbered acetate: unknown female artist -- Rock Me Slow (Elizabeth Bray)
Preview 1737: Gene Marshall -- We Are The Men Counting Sheep (Joshua Watson)
TJB Brandes 101-T: Therese Playboys, vocal by [Singing] Sammy Marshall -- Jingle Mint Twist (Brandes-Norris) [note: track covers both releases under this title and catalogue number]
MSR 2402: Bobbi Blake -- Four And Twenty Big Black Crows (Chester T. Finley)
Preview 1407: Bonnie Graham -- I Just Knew In My Heart (Grace Brainerd)
Film City, number unknown: Rod Rogers [presumably] -- It's Shindig
Film City, number unknown: Rod Rogers [presumably] -- Beatle Boys
Air 1585: The Sophamores -- Mama Wears The Pants (Mary Frances Odle)
Tin Pan Alley 18-409: Cathy Mills -- Monster Hop (Gregory-Dienna)
Preview 1642: Gene Marshall -- Dig, Dig, Girl (Mary Frances Odle)
Tropical 106: Charles Vickers -- Come On, Baby (Valenti-Philipp)
Co-Ed 4246: Norris The Troubadour Collegians, vocal by Norris & The Collegians -- The Wall Street Daily Cry (The Seaboard The Southern Or The A.C.L.) (Mayhams)
Co-Ed 4246: Norris The Troubadour Collegians, vocal by Norris -- Mary Ann McCarthy (She Went Out To Dig Some Clams) (Yes She Went To All The Parties) (Mayhams)
Co-Ed 115-120: Norris The Troubadour -- Yamtang Yamtang Rankytang (No Meat Sweet Potato Swing) (Mayhams)
Air 1592: Cara Stewart with Lee Hudson Orch. -- Any Dance, Any Dance (Stelzer-Perky-Latkovich) [note: this track was also released as Songwriter's 105]
Belle Meade 426: Chuck Jones & The Links -- Sputnik Hit The Moon (Roberts-Lee)
Cinema 7201: The Real Pros -- Deep Freeze Mama (Alberta F. Lancaster) [note: original of this ends abruptly]
Cinema 7205: The Real Pros -- I'm Having My First Heartbreak (Randy Johnson)
Columbine 874: Erica Campbell -- Remember Me (Darling) (Fanny Fantin) [note: stereo version; also released as Columbine 102]
Dolly-O 1020: Jack Kim -- Lady Off Pedestal At Notre Dame (Dolly-O Curran)
Film City 4140: Jimmie James -- Mini Girl Song (Russ Kopasz)
Film City 4140: Jimmie James -- Free Love For Sale (Russ Kopasz)
Hallmark 15774: Bob Storm -- Let's Lay It On The Line (Frank L. Tucker-Ted Rosen)
Halmark G-1864: no artist named -- I Am Going To Where Jesus Is (Addie Cochran)
Halmark OV-498: no artist named -- Life Is A Flame (Barbara E. Trescott)
MSR 2342: Dick Kent -- Christopher Columbus And The Compass (Chester T. Finley)
MSR 2769: Dick Kent -- Never Seen A Thing (William Siemers)
MSR 2769: Liza Evans -- Yea, That's Me! (Bev Blackwell)
MSR 2786: Dick Kent -- Your Body's Makin' Eyes At Me (Ray Harris)
Nu-Sound 1061: Jim Wheeler -- What I Like (R. Bowen)
Nu-Sound 1152: Bonnie Haven -- Total Woman (Marguerite)
Preview 2126: Gene Marshall -- Life And Myself (John Shaloub)
Sterling 723: Gary Roberts -- Keep Those Hopes Up (Mary McBride & Lew Tobin)
Mayhams Collegiate 214-22: Prof. Marcell Collegians -- The A.C.L. And The S.A.L. (Norridge) [note: flip of 215-NBM, below]
Mayhams Collegiate 215-NBM: Prof. Marcell Collegians -- Be No Fool-Play It Cool-Stay In School (Mayhams-Klibanaw) [note: flip of 214-22, above]
Tin Pan Alley 24-435: Bob Gerard -- Joedy Is A Wise Guy (White-Dienna)
Tin Pan Alley 167-1149: The Melodiers -- Barbra (Thadeus Jones)
Sterling 270: Lew Tobin's Orchestra, vocal Norm Burns -- Darling, Don't Put Your Hand On Me (John O'Conner & Lew Tobin)
Songuild 902: Dick Rogers -- I Understand Him (Willie F. James)
Songuild 902: Dick Rogers -- I Wouldn't Hide The Moulding Rock (Willie F. James)
Songuild 903: Dick Kent -- George's Song (George Herman Coppage Jubilate)
MSR 2125: Bobbi Blake -- Sometime Somewhere (Lillian Taylor)
MSR 2207: Bobbi Blake -- I Got A Record (Margaret Flenory)
MSR 2207: Dick Kent -- Unlock My Chains (Stanley Jones)
Preview 1339: Jerry Britton & The Downtowners -- Lazy Old River (Al Doherty)
Preview 2249: Rod Keith -- Get Down And Wiggle It A Little (James O. Middleton)
Sherwood 1074: Cara Stewart with Lee Hudson Orchestra -- Mr. Memory (F. Leinweber-A. Korb)
Sherwood 1074: Cara Stewart with Lee Hudson Orchestra -- The New Year Song (F. Leinweber)
Spin-Out 282: W.L. Horning -- Rockin & Rollin (W.L. Horning) [note: not technically a song-poem record, but must be heard no matter what it is]
Process 107: Jim Hall & The Radio Pals -- Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Potassium (Lolla Mont Gue)
Sterling 579: Norm Burns & The Five Stars -- Whirl, Whirl, Whirl (Flora M. Sanders & Lew Tobin)
Preview 1266: Rodd Keith -- Danny's Return (Fredrick Fargnoli, Jr.)
Preview 1097: Rodd Keith -- Get Wet (Nick Croshaw-Gene Brooks)
Preview 1739: Gene Marshall -- Nurse, Nurse (Waskey Walls)
Preview 1413: Bonnie & Nita -- Dance With Me (H.P. Reddick)
Preview 1418: Bonnie Graham -- Tiny, Tiny Heart (Ray Hanson)
Preview 1438: Bonnie Graham -- Train Of Destiny (Aurelio Martellacci)
Preview 1474: Bonnie Graham -- Let's Fall In Love Again (Francis M. Mutale)
Brite Star 7871: Sue Lloyd & William O'Donnell -- The Ballad Of Patty Hearst (Listen To Tania) (B. Elmore Lloyd-William O'Donnell) [note: not technically a song-poem record, but must be heard no matter what it is]
Preview 1317: The Downtowners -- The Pink, Pink, Lady Of Malibu (William J. Quarry) [read the story of the Pink Lady (scroll down)]
Air 1521: Johnny Cargill (Sound Effects by J. Stevens) -- A Soldier's Prayer (D. Tyree) [note: Johnny Cargill aka Sonny Marshall]
Air 1592: Sonny Marshall -- I'm Sam The Handy Man (Edward Tumulty)
Air EP-1602: Joe Freeman -- My Nana (Alfred Guixogn-T. Rosen) [note: Joe Freeman is believed to be aka Lance Hill]
Air EP-2504: Jim Reid -- Evening Time (Emil Sekyra) [note: Jim Reid aka Ramsey Kearney]
Air 2528: Joe Freeman -- Are You Giving Green Stamps, Baby? (John Grose) [note: Joe Freeman is believed to be aka Lance Hill]
Air 5070: Bob Brown with Orch. -- Let's Twist (James Granville)
Air 5110: Jeff Reynolds -- Music For Four Footers (Fred Wolf)
Air 5110: Sonny Marshall -- A Two Buck Fiddle (Paul Macpherson)
Ronnie 2142: Ben Tate -- She's Gone (Tony Carillo) [note: Ben Tate aka Sonny Marshall]
Air EP-1602: Sonny Marshall -- The Saddest Story (John H. Kelley)
Columbine HV-36: Kay Weaver -- Watch It (Jessie Lee Tuft)
Command Performance 467: Clear Vision -- A Little Morning Rain (Enza Cooper)
Fable 548: Maggie Morgan, music by Sandy Stanton & His Fable Record Stars -- Sugar Blues (Maggie Morgan (?))
Fable 706: Little Donnie Lane, music by Sandy Stanton -- Go Away (Donald Culton)
Film City 3022: Rod Rogers & The Swinging Strings -- Sing Your Address (Jack Garrett-Rod Rogers)
Film City 3022: Rod Rogers & The Swinging Strings -- Big Weekend (Jack Garrett-Rod Rogers)
Halmark 750136: no artist named -- Love Song Of '74 (H.D. Simpson)
Halmark OV-514: no artist named -- The Virgin Child Of The Universe (Carrie & Bonnie Postell)
MSR 598: Rodd Rogers -- Mary's Launderette (Mary Neimy)
Preview 1100: Rodd Keith -- Los Angeles City Lights (Kenny Kelly)
Preview 1242: Rod Keith & The Raindrops -- The Merry-Go-Down (Ray Bon Giorno)
Preview 1707: Gene Marshall -- Do It While You Can (Martin Massey)
Preview 2229: Gene Marshall -- The Great Richard Nixon (John Montague)
Preview 2280: Gene Marshall -- The Didgeridoo (Viola P. Dickerson)
Preview 3002: Bobbi Boyle -- The Fruit Of Self Control (Alice Wilson)
Songuild 965: Dick Kent -- I'm Pushing For Love (William Scarborough)
Tin Pan Alley 34-474: Billy Grey -- Tongue Tied (Johnson-Dienna)
-- Albums --
from Columbine NST-31: The Now Sounds Of Today
John Fulker: She Knows How To Do The Doo Dee Do (Raymond N. Moore, Sr.)
Dick Kent:
Common Sense Of LOVE (Michael Kasberg)
The Sisterhood: During Evening (Thomas Guygax, Sr.)
from Royal Master 2727: Songs From The Heart
Matt Vincent: Sky Diver's Lament (Alvin W. Finks)
Linda Lane: Tribute To America (Michael Grant)
"Linda Lane": A New Kind Of Letter (Dale Maddox)
[note: although credited to a female singer, actual vocalist is male]
Allen Scott: Bopping In Flip Flops (Margrett Eddleman)
Allen Scott: A Corner Of Your Heart (Fern Lindblad)
from Columbine CRH-138: The Now Sounds Of Today
Keith Sargent: What's In A Mind? (Amanda Cooper)
from MSR 210: Rod, Teri & The MSR Singers in Variety Songs For '69
Rod Rogers: Beat Of The Traps (Dorothy Schneider)
from Columbine CRH-32: The Now Sounds Of Today
Ralph Lowe: The Crime Shows (Anne Collins)
from Columbine CRH-94: The Now Sounds Of Today
Kay Weaver: Junkies And Monkeys (James I. Yates, II)
Kay Weaver: Is It The End? (Charles Potter)
from Columbine CRH-51: The Now Sounds Of Today
Kay Weaver: Wish I Could Shoot A Gun (Juanita Young Felker)
Kay Weaver: Ripoff U.S.A. (Dan Moon)
Ralph Lowe: An Old Man's Life (Gary M. Gaston)
Ralph Lowe: Becky (Charlotte Fiore)
Ralph Lowe: Grow Up And Go Away (Willie Bostick)
Ralph Lowe: Joe Goes Disco (Nicholson Pierre)
Kay Weaver: Sleep On (Dasha Toth)
from MSR 282: A Gift Of Christmas Spirit For 1980
artist uncredited: The Rocking Disco Santa Claus (William Dibble)
from Star-Crest NFTR-1: New Favorites Of Tony Rogers
Tony Rogers: Her Name's On My Locket (William Dibble)
John Fulker: An Unpredictable Girl Like Julia (R. Holder)
from Royal Master 1212: Thoughts ... Feelings
Matt Vincent: Broken Promises (Clarence Johnson)
Jim Ward: Working Chant of A Woman (Mary Nycum)
Jim Ward: Dusk (Jeanine Ralstin)
Gina Val: Here With My Luna Love (Christine Campbell)
from Royal Master 4444: Hit Songs Of The Future, Summer Edition
Matt Vincent: Whiskey Friend (Marlin Woods)
Matt Vincent: Heading Out Of This World (Frank Swan)
Matt Vincent: Bo Derek On My Mind (Nick R. Schroeder)
from Hollywood Artists HAR-62: Music Of America
William LeBlanc: The Green Mandala (Bruce Bitkoff)
from Hollywood Artists cass. B-277: Cassette Album For Radio Promotion
William LeBlanc: Domestic Violence Is A Deadly Sin (Isabelle Jones)
William LeBlanc: A Long Walk Home (Henry Thomas)
Charlie Clark: America's Love Carrier (James Wilson, Jr.)