16 years old here and listening to this makes me so happy. Thank you, Stan, you've fulfilled your dreams and now it's our turn to pass on your genius to future generations. RIP Stan.
I just love this kind of American humour, Freberg was brilliant. I got the album given to me 45 years ago and still have it to be passed down in my will.
I love this record!! My uncle was the recording artist on this. I met Stan at Capitol records almost on the corner of Hollywood & Vine. Stan was so ahead of his time. We'd go on road trips & me &my mom had the whole record memorized & that's all the entertainment we needed. No music, to videos....just us clowning around with Stan's unique & priceless comedy!!!
Wow Susy my father was a performer and we didn't have much $ we found an entire collection of your uncles recordings including the many music parody sketches love them all true Genius. I love in Hollywood so I'm not far from Capital Records I will do a salute for Stan next time I pass by.
susy cawthorn Incidentally my father was waiting there with me once to see Ed Sullivan my father Glauco Dattili had appeared on the show in 58 when Ed gave up on the Italian Pronunciation he announced my father as a great Piana Man...
I am now 63, I purchased this record when I was 15 and still have it. It has been a never ending source of enjoyment all these years. I was always hoping a play or movie would have been produced some day.
I raised my family on Stan Freberg's United States of America. Nothing else has as much quotable lines, not even Princess Bride or The Holy Grail. Well, ok, maybe Princess Bride.
STAN FREBERG was such an inspiration to me as a young boy with dreams of becoming a disc jockey and, ultimately, a commercial and record producer. I LOVED this album, and listened to it, in its entirety, SCORES of times in the early 60's. The writing, acting, singing, production.....and even audio quality.....were all, in a word, IMPECCABLE, especially considering that this was produced in 1961! RIP STAN FEREBERG.....
Our whole family grew up listening to this on reel to reel. I know it word-for-word I've listened to it over a 100 times. It's been a source of inside jokes and laughter for our family for many many years. It formed my outlook on the world and my love for this country and my sense of humor my personality all of it. I am forever grateful. Thank you dad
I got this when it came out in 1961. I think I had somehow heard his "Elvis" record, which cracked me up. So I had my mom buy this for me when I saw it in a record store. And I played it until I memorized the damn thing. Freberg was amazingly creative and funny. Glad to find it here so I can continue to enjoy it.
I actually adapted this Radio Play into a shortened Musical in High School back in '73, complete with Tap Dancing Indians, and mutinous Saliors. Only took it as far as Columbus meeting with the Indians, but we got some real howls from the Student and Faculty. A Great memory prompted by a request by my Brother who played an Indian and who wanted to know the words again.
My family used to summer in Maine. My oldest brother brought a record player and played this non-stop. We all memorized it. It's always a pleasure when someone says "What was that?", and you respond "French horns," and they give you the knowing grin. Should be required listening for every 10th grader - especially the bit about the "Un-British Activities Committee, that's who!"
Funniest ever. I'm 66 yrs old and was raised on this stuff (thank God!). When my daughter was in her first job, she was in a meeting where someone said (just "right") "Yes. What. is. THAT?" to which she replied, of course, "french horns." Her boss (my age) looked at her in amazement and said "I..can't..believe..you...said...that..!!" Drug up right, she was!
Great show at the Egyptian Theater here in LA last night, where they showed much of Stan's work, AND he was there, live! What an amazing guy! It was sold out, to say the least, and many peeps sent in thanks and love via the Net, too. :)
ToryMagoo44 I was there at the Egyptian as well. Would you believe it was one of my best friends that put that astounding video portion of the evening together? I felt a bit guilty when all of us were outside, waiting in line, and my friend let me in before all the other members of the audience. 5th row, center, give or take, as I recall. ;)
Indian Chief: You're out of luck today. Banks closed. Columbus: Oh, why? Chief: Columbus Day. Columbus: Oh, yeah... (awkward cough) We're going out on that joke? Chief: No, we do reprise of song. That help... Columbus: ...but... Both: ...not much, no. I love that part.
Yo-ho-ho on a Dramamine, we are loyal subjects of the king and queen.... The hilarious anachronisms still make me laugh--and I've been listening to this album for more years than I care to admit.
It's a " Round Round World ", love the song,still hum it all these years later.Like everybody here said,"7th grade /junior high ,my buddy had this album.It really was a well put together musical . " What was that?" "French Horns"....Ha Ha Ha Ha {that's what we wrote before LOL}
7:00 lyrics if you want sing along:Columbus: It's a round, round world It's a round, round world I contend it's round, and it's gonna be found When all the results are in It's a round world now, and it's always been Ferdinand: Flat Flat world It's a flat, flat world I insist it's flat as a welcoming mat And he's sailing off the end How about our crazy Italian friend? Columbus: Friend Get hip, would I climb aboard this ship If I didn't have odds the Earth was highly spherical? Ferdinand: It's a miracle If it is Columbus: Square, square king You're a square, square king If you don't believe You're gonna receive The shock of your royal life When the ship pulls in at Miami Crew: Yo ho ho and a Dramamine We are loyal subjects of the king and queen But what kind of nut would you have to be To borrow a ship and put out to sea When you don't know what's on the other side? Columbus: Round, round world It's a round, round world I contend it's round And it's gonna be found When all the results are in It's a round world now And it's always Ferdinand: All week long on a hardtack bun Brother, who said getting there is Half the fun? Give up my throne for one navy bean No wonder I'm turning three shades green How could I go on such a loony Columbus: Trip, get hip, would I climb Aboard this ship If I didn't have odds The Earth was highly spherical? Ferdinand: It's a miracle if it is Crew: Crazy kind of scheme It's a cockamamie dream If we don't sight land we're gonna scream Columbus: Square, square crew You're a square, square crew If you don't believe Crew: Yo ho ho through the wind and rain There's a typhoon coming up But where's John Wayne? Columbus: You're gonna receive The shock of your salty lives When I take command in the name of Ferdinand: I feel like a red witch Having a wake How much of the ocean bit do you think I can take, claim that land in the name of Columbus: Isabella and Ferdinand Ferdinand: That's Ferdinand and Isabella Columbus and Ferdinand: New rulers of this round, round world Crew: Crazy kind of scheme It's a cockamamie dream But we hope it's a round, round world ----- 12:00 Columbus: Round, round world It's a newfound world And the land looks good Like a continent should Complete with a flag unfurled Indians: Yo ho ho and a buckskin sleeve Now the white man's here, I guess It's time to leave But why go to war and fight like a jerk? Perhaps we can pick up some kind of work In an Indian extravaganza Wyatt Earp or Bonanza Columbus: Please don't call us, we'll call you Ferdinand: Step aside, pal, meet the new Columbus and Ferdinand: Big cheeses of this round, round world lyrics.wikia.com/wiki/Stan_Freberg:Columbus_Discovers_America:_It's_A_Round,_Round_World
What isn't as well known or remembered is that Stan Freberg actually wrote the music AND lyrics for the whole album. Also kudos go to Billy May for the band and orchestrations. Brilliant!!
6:45 [excitedly] I don't like the way the crew is acting! [matter of factly] You're overplaying it a bit, yourself. Lol, I'm dead. I never realized how much Freberg set up, that Firesign Theater RAN with. The man was AMAZING!
Part II was staged on Broadway. David Merrick just did not get it. At one point, says Freberg, he declared "Get Lincoln out of the Civil War. He doesn't WORK." LOL
When this came out, spoofing Columbus was breaking new ground. Who could have known that 50 years later, despite this fabulous song and skit, that some would STILL think the Earth is flat! Play it for them again and again until they see the light... or at least get the jokes.
Columbus: I claim this land in the name of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain! Indian: How! Columbus: Well, first I stick the flag in the sand and then I...
@Nick-ty9us yeah especially that the first time I heard him voice Tim the bear I thought he sounded and looked just like one of Stan Freberg's characters. And the very first time I heard Stewie's voice one of the voices he made me think of was Paul Frees.
@Nick-ty9us I'm sure he does too. Stewie was one of them. But that was back when Family Guy was better and before Seth stopped making him sound truly British by season 7.
