Howie’s Weekly 45: Alf Newman

Each week, Howie Pyro’s going to tell us a little about a 45 from his collection of 30,000 records. We’re really excited about it. Let Howie trip you out live and in person Fridays in the Amigo Room at Ace Palm Springs.

Alf Newman: It’s A Gas / Let’s Do The Fink, on Golden 12 records

Considered to be the greatest Rock & Roll record ever made by late Cramps vocalist Lux Interior, this ahead-of-its-time, vulgar dance tune had kids going nuts & parents bumming out upon its initial release in 1966. Mad Magazine had special issues a few times a year where they would reprint old faves & always included a special gimmick gift (bumper stickers, records, a hanging mobile, posters, etc.). One in a long line of mad inserts, this came in The Worst From Mad #9 in 1966. Made before Flexi-Discs were invented, this was a cardboard cutout record credited to Alfred E. Neuman, infamous Mad mascot. It’s your basic early twist instrumental, but at each stop there’s a huge greasy burp! Even now, when I play it in my DJ set people stop in their tracks and it causes an uncomfortable disturbance! A total success!

It was included in the LP Fink Along With Mad on the Bigtop label soon after. This LP and the LP Mad Twists Rock & Roll compiled all the rock & roll parodies plus had lots of new ones. Classics like She Got A Nose Job, She Lets Me Watch Her Mom & Pop Fight, I Found Her Telephone Number Written On The Boys Bathroom Wall, Let’s Do The Pretzel, and much more. On the LP, It’s A Gas is credited to Mike Russo, Jeanne Hayes & The Dellwoods.

Somehow this wound up on this cool German picture sleeve 45 under the misspelled name Alf Newman. A true treasure in my trash pile!