Novelty Songs have been in music dating way back even before recorded music was invented. Thomas Edison’s first recording of, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” could be considered the 1st recorded novelty songs. Thomas Edison was thinking of something to say and said a nursery rhyme.

What Is A Novelty Song? 

A novelty song is a type of song built on a  concept, such as a gimmick, a piece of humor, or a sample of popular culture. Novelty songs partially overlap with comedy songs, which are more explicitly based on humor. It can be further categorized into several types, such as parody music, novelty songs, and comedy.

Growing Up Hearing A Funny Song On Radio 

Growing up songs would play on my favorite AM stations like CKLW, WKNR– Keener 13. You would stay glued to the station in hopes they would play the song again. Part of my childhood was laughing at funny songs that were popular.

The King Of Funny Songs Was Dr. Demento

Dr. Demento a radio Disk jockey and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present. The show so popular it was syndicated all across the U.S.A. He had you in stitches every show. Best known for discovering Weird Al Yankovic.

Here Is A List Of Some Of My Personal Favorite Funny Songs From Childhood

Songs that stick out in my mind that you might remember or might not over the years. Love to laugh at music and have fun enjoying songs that were huge hits. And some songs that are so stupid you wonder why they were even played on the radio. Some even made it to something called music television. MTV and show on a 24 hour cable station. What a great concept that would be even today.

• Barnes & Barnes - Fish Heads

  The Legendary Barnes and Barnes 80’s Classic “Fish Heads” Video . This song and video has become a cult classic loved by Dr. Demento Radio Show and Barnes & Barnes fans around the world.. And even today if you can believe it now available on  iTunes!

• Dead Puppies -by Ogden Edsel.

  Now remember no puppies were harmed in this video. No offence intended to anyone who is offended. Just one very strange song I remember growing up too.

• Napoleon XIV - They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha Haaa! (1966)

  Originally from 1966. Feel the rhythm!

• - Ray Stevens - Gitarzan

  “Gitarzan” is a novelty song released by Ray Stevens in 1969 about a character who lives in a jungle and forms a musical band with his female partner, Jane, and their pet monkey.  Childhood friend Troy Strane had a copy of this 45 in his collection. We would sit in his basement listening to funny songs for hours. Ray Stevens would later take over radio with a hit song called, The Streak,” which incited a national craze. 

• The Trashmen - Surfin Bird - Bird is the Word 1963

  The Trashmen – Surfin Bird  from 1963  The Trashmen were a young rock band from Minneapolis who formed in 1962. They were heavily influenced by the surf rock craze. One of the songs they covered “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow” by a doo-wop group called The Rivingtons. The Trashmen loved the song’s catchy beat and they soon began working on their own version.

• Cheech & Chong - Santa Claus And His Old Lady

  Released in 1971 and a instant hit on FM radio stations. I remember sitting by the radio with a cassette tape recorded trying to get a clean copy recorded. I didn’t own the 45 record at the time and it wasn’t on any of there albums. And I had all of there albums as a kid.  “Santa Claus and His Old Lady” is a skit by Cheech and Chong, one of their best-known comedy routines and was their first single.

   

• Mr. Jaws - Dickie Goodman

  Here was a fun novelty song from the 1970’s unique as it had bits of popular hit songs in the record and a reporter tee’s the question up and the song is the answer. This capitalized on the popularity of the hit movie in theaters,” Jaws.”

• Jimmy "Spiderman" Allen Another One Bites the Dust

  Lions fans a huge 4-0 start that year ,  too early to record a song about how good and unbeatable a team is. The 1980 Lions went 5-7 after the 4-0 start and missed the playoffs. SOL Same Ole Lions Team 

• THE CADETS - ''STRANDED IN THE JUNGLE'' (1956)

  The Cadets are a doo wop group, formed in Los Angeles. In 1956, the band achieved their biggest hit with their cover of the Jay Hawks hit “Stranded in the Jungle.” It was the biggest hit for the band, peaking at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the R&B singles chart that year. But it was to be the Cadets’ sole major hit, so they could be considered as one-hit wonders.

• Laurie Anderson - Walk the Dog

  This one is from 1982. It was about her rat terrier.

• Monty Python - The Lumberjack Song

  Love Monty Python. The movies, records and the songs are so funny. I remember laughing so hard at the TV show my parents would yell get to bed. The group has albums and cd’s of just their songs available to the public.

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