[.ca] Freakin at the Freaker's Ball

My favorite album from the 70s:
In 1973, I was in High School and my girlfriend gave me a copy of the original album. She and the album taught me more about sex than I had ever dreamed there could be. The title track alone had me looking up "necrophilia" and a dozen other deviations. This album has been a cherished part of my collection now for almost 30 years. Not just because of the memories, but because the music is so damn good. Shel Silverstein, Dr. Hook and the others play some crankin' tunes, and it's impossible to feel down when you sing along to "Polly in a Porny". Perhaps the most compelling thing I can say about this album is that my ex-wife absolutely hated it (She was the Kenny-G type, but a great "Thumbsucker"). Anyway, my turntable died a few years ago and I moved all my vinyl records into a box in the basement. Of all the albums in that box, I miss this one the most. Tonight, while browsing Amazon, I was elated to find it again on CD! I'm sure that my new "Masochistic Baby" will love it.

cat box, duct tape, and obscenities galore:
once upon a time i was at a new years party at a wonderfully intriguing place called the "cat box." this was essentially a rented equivalent of a "squat house" in west philadelphia, inhabited by some of the finest philly punks circa 1990's (most notably, this was the house that kit and his band, wally, built). the "cat box" had its name for a reason... it smelled of one giant litter box! nonetheless, these guys knew the ins and outs of parties. punk shows in the basement (they actually booked shows in their basement, with touring acts et al), dj's on the first floor and drugs (any kind you could ever dream of) on the 2nd and 3rd floor, and of course kegs were accessible on all floors! every party was memorable in its own way. this particular new years eve party (and a certain halloween party where i dressed as laura palmer wrapped in plastic) had to be the crème de la crème. it was the first time i ever tried mesc, rodney and joe from the dead milkmen were there, this amazing punk band (i forget their name) from knoxville played in the basement (not to mention wally, and maybe even the 'flap), and i heard shel silverstein's freakin' at the freakers ball for the first time (and don't forget the first item i mentioned doing for the first time, that's very important). it was just four of us sitting in one of the upstairs bedrooms, smoking up, and the "host" was flipping through his records... he pulled out shel, and everyone immediately thought of his children's books, and we all made a frustrated sigh (like, "not that. we're all messed up on drugs, don't put a children's record on"). he wasn't giving up, he opened the gatefold, and to our surprise... well, why don't i leave it to your OWN surprise. let me just say, that in unison we all agreed, this would be the record we would listen to. and let me also just say, "stacy brown got two" had us all in tears, especially by the final verse: "why they climbing up the wall? just to get to stacy. young ones run and old ones crawl. he drives them crazy. he got two and that's a fact. but no one knows where the other one's at. on his elbow, on his knee, or underneath his hat?" i won't even take the time to explain what he's got two of, let's just say, "his girlfriends they all wake up smilin' every morn." this records got all the pot smoking, pornographic hits you can ask for... "i got stoned and i missed it," "polly in a porny," "don't give a dose to the one you love most." its all here. the best part about this whole purchase is the "columbia records radio station service suggested cuts label at the bottom of the back cover," usually columbia would check off what songs they recommended for radio play, you can guess how many of these songs are checked off. well, to end my story, the host of this little get together, made a dub of this record for my girlfriend. when we sobered up the next morning, she found the tape and wrapped it securely in duct tape, so that it could never be re-opened again. maybe that's why we broke up. so last new years, in memorial of one of my best new years eves, i found freakers ball. can't say it was exactly the same as the first time, but it did crack up my friend, margaret (but considering it was 3am, well, anything could have had that effect). margaret then earned the right to own her very own copy (which i found at the fall 2002 austin record convention), which was my christmas gift to her this year. talk about spreading good cheer...

Love This CD:
I grew up listening to Shel Silverstein as a child in the late 70's. My parents owned all of his more "adult" records and of course I was not allowed to listen to them. Now that I am an adult as well I guess it is okay. My mother bought this cd for me last christmas and I absolutely love it! It shows Shel's other side, the Playboy cartoonist and adult humorist side as apposed to the poetic genius that I loved as a child. God Bless Shell Silverstein!

Best. Lyric. Ever.:
Best. Lyric. Ever: "I spend each dime I can afford. I swear it's gonna win an academy award. I saw Polly in a porny with a pony, and the pony seemed a little bored."

A Real Old Favourite:
I bought this on vinyl in 1985 for £25 (indicative of the limited import to UK!) & have never regretted a penny of it... nor has anyone I have played it to.... Buy this CD!

• Thumbsucker
• I Got Stoned and I Missed It
• Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out
• Stacy Brown Got Two
• Polly in a Porny
• Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball
• All About You
• Don't Give a Dose to the One You Love the Most
• Peace Proposal
• Masochistic Baby
• Liberated Lady 1999
• Man Who Got No Sign
• Front Row Seat to Hear Ole Johnny Sing \o*\c
• 26 Second Song \o*\c
• Everybody's Makin' It Big But Me \o*\c