Top Ten Hanna-Barbera Records, Part 1: Various Labels

This Thursday, August 15, marks the arrival of my book, a work that comes directly from the heart as well as the keyboard, Hanna-Barbera: The Recorded History, from Modern Stone-Age to Meddling Kids, published by University Press of Mississippi. To mark the occasion, I present my first of two Top Ten Hanna-Barbera great audio releases.

This week, we focus on recordings from companies other than H-B, though the studio may have produced the material. Next week we look at records from the fabled HBR label. Please note that this list is based partly on historical significance and partly on personal affection borne of life experiences. The list is not presented in order of merit. They all go home with a trophy.

SONGS OF THE FLINTSTONES
Golden Records LP-61 (1961)

The Flintstones was the cornerstone of what became a legendary animation studio. It’s the foundation of the animated half-hour art form. It’s also one of the finest television series ever created. This album is generally considered one of the best examples of how well a cartoon or TV series can be represented on a record. Most of the music behind Songs of the Flintstones became familiar Hoyt Curtin music cues in subsequent H-B cartoons. Nancy Wible and Ginny Tyler’s “Car Hop Song” is a soundtrack from the first season episode, “The Diner.” The vocals in the reprise of the song at the end of the album are slightly different from the way they were heard in the TV version.

The original cast — Alan Reed, Jean Vander Pyl, Mel Blanc, and Bea Benederet – sing all eight songs, either together or solo. The Rubbles get more solo opportunities than Wilma and Fred. Betty gets center stage for “I Flipped,” and Barney sings “Bowling Alley Blues” with comments from Fred.

This album introduced “Meet the Flintstones” before it appeared on the show, though the album includes a second verse for the Rubbles (Golden Records, whether they hired the original casts or not, often recorded H-B themes with additional lyrics). The first Flintstones theme, “Rise and Shine,” is presented with lyrics, presumably by Bill Hanna.

THE JETSONS – Original TV Soundtracks
Colpix Records CP-213 (1961)

Only a few of the Colpix/H-B albums were able to present the soundtrack dialogue with the original background music and sound effects. This one has all three, plus two songs (“The Swivel” and “Epp Opp Ork”).

Even if one has never watched The Jetsons, it’s easy to follow the soundtracks on their own. For those of us very familiar with these shows, the absence of the visual only intensifies the quality of the voice acting, writing, music, sound effects, and editing. The album includes the two first (and best) episodes, “Rosie the Robot” and “A Date with Jet Screamer.” Here’s Howard Morris’ famous turn as Jet Screamer from the finale of episode two, heard exactly as on the record:

HUCKLEBERRY HOUND AND THE GHOST SHIP – Original TV Voices
Colpix Records CP-210 (1962)

This is the first of two Colpix albums written by and starring Daws Butler and Don Messick, the other being the equally delightful Quick Draw McGraw and the Treasure of Sarah’s Mattress. The two albums are personal favorites of Butler since he loved writing. In addition to Butler and Messick, Doug Young provides voices, making this and Sarah the only two made-for-records productions featuring all three actors.

This was also the first time a group of H-B characters from different cartoon series were combined in a story performed by the original cast, ten years before Yogi’s Gang on ABC. At the time, such combos only occurred in various storybooks, puzzles, and comics. So it’s Huck, Yogi, Pixie, Dixie, Jinks, Hokey Wolf, Ding-a-Ling, and more from the legends who voice them into life.

JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS from the Hanna-Barbera TV Show
Capitol Records ST-665 (1970)

Josie and the Pussycats brought a distinctive female pop sound to Saturday mornings, a result of the talent and enthusiasm of the artists and production staff on the songs. The singing voices are Cathy Dougher as Josie, Patrice Holloway as Valerie, and pre-Charlie’s Angels star Cheryl Ladd (Cherie Moore) as Melody. The album combines songs from the series, often with additional instrumentation, as well as hits of the day, like “Close to You.”

The Pussycats were also supposed to tour as a live group, hence the cover photo (and other publicity pictures with the trio. The Archies hit #1 with “Sugar, Sugar,” but Ron Dante was kept a secret at the time, so they couldn’t tour. Unfortunately, Capitol Records “dropped the ball” on facilitating the tour, which seems like a major mistake as these are great tracks. There were additional songs on Capitol singles sold in stores and special 45s sold by mail from Kellogg’s cereals.

THE BANANA SPLITS SING ‘N PLAY
Hanna-Barbera Premium Division 34578/34579 (1968)

Like Capitol’s Josie records, Decca released an eclectic album of twelve Banana Splits songs while Kellogg’s sold two extended play (EP) 45 rpm records with four songs each. Some songs appeared in both formats, like Barry White’s memorable James Brown-like composition, “Doin’ the Banana Split.” Most of the songs were performed by Rich Lanzilotti, though the singers varied a bit from song to song.

The “Tra-La-La” theme song featured the male singers who performed most H-B themes of this era, as well as on the HBR Cartoon Series albums. Among these vocalists are Ron Hicklin, Stan Farber, and Al Capps. While I love the Decca album, I am partial to the Kellogg’s record that includes one of my favorites, “The Beautiful Caliopasaxiviaclarabassatrombaphone:”

HEY THERE, IT’S YOGI BEAR – Original Soundtrack Recording
Colpix Records CP-472/SCP-472 (1964)

Hanna-Barbera’s first feature-length animated film had a catchy score that is infinitely enjoyable. As the speaking voices in the film, Daws Butler (Yogi), Don Messick (Boo-Boo), and Julie Bennett (Cindy) do not appear on the album. Three of Hollywood’s most renowned studio vocalists sing instead. Boo-Boo is sung by bass player and singer Ernie Newton, Cindy is sung by Jackie Ward (The Partridge Family, Inside Daisy Clover); and Bill Lee is Yogi (South Pacific, The Sound of Music). It was decided that since this was H-B’s first “book” musical score, the intricacies of the songs required the perfect pitch and harmonies of trained singers.

The stereo album suffers from a few technical issues affecting the right and left channels and there are two circus instrumentals where one would have been fine. Still, this is the sole commercial recording of a Marty Paich H-B score and is highly re-playable.

CHARLOTTE’S WEB
Paramount Records PAS-1008 (1973)

Charlotte’s Web was one of the most personal musical scores created by the Sherman Brothers. Debbie Reynolds was thrilled to play Charlotte, as she loved the book. The supporting voice cast was perfection, from Henry Gibson and Agnes Moorehead to Dave Madden and Pamelyn Ferdin. It may also be Paul Lynde’s most enduring performance (besides Uncle Arthur on Bewitched), as the vitriolic, self-centered, and scene-stealing Templeton the Rat.

This is one of the few records in the vast H-B discography that has been widely reissued. It took decades, but Varese Sarabande produced a CD and a vinyl version. Now it is available on most streaming services, including Spotify. This is the only Hanna-Barbera feature that gets an entire chapter all to itself in my book.

Here is the whole album on SPOTIFY.

HANNA-BARBERA’S PIC-A-NIC BASKET
Rhino Records R2-72290 (1996)

This could also be called “The Earl Kress Set” for the Hanna-Barbera historian who helped make it happen. Through tenacious research and resourcefulness, Earl was responsible for several landmark H-B recordings during the CD boom of the nineties. This box combines the Rhino/H-B albums The Flintstones: Modern Stone-Age Melodies, Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Sound FX, and Hanna-Barbera Classics, Volume One and Volume Two (the second volume being exclusive to the box set).

The link below takes you to the website of Fred Siebert, Hanna-Barbera’s last president. He is very proud of helping make this set possible with Earl – so much so that you can find the complete liner notes and more here on his website: https://fredseibert.com/

SCOOBY-DOO’S SNACK TRACKS
Rhino Records R2-75505 (1998)

There are quite a few Scooby albums, from Peter Pan Records’ TV cast story albums to the two soundtracks of SCOOB!. This disc captures, in musical form, what made Scooby-Doo so appealing in the first place. All of these are soundtracks from various series and specials, starting with Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? including some of Austin Roberts’ second season “romp” tunes. From The New Scooby-Doo Movies comes Davy Jones’ version of “I Wanna Make You Happy” and the relentless “Pretty Mary Sunlite” by Jerry Reed.

All the songs from the first Scooby primetime special, Scooby-Doo Goes Hollywood, are here, including Frank Welker’s Fonz-like “Rooby-Doo Guy” as well as Don Messick and Marilyn Schreffler with the Donny and Marie spoof, “Gotta Have Time.” If you cherish your vintage Scooby shows, these will be like old friends.

THE KING WHO COULDN’T DANCE – Told and Sung by Gene Kelly
Columbia Records J-25 (1945)

The MGM musical Anchors Aweigh launched the association of Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera with director George Sidney. The success of the combination of a live-action Gene Kelly with animated Jerry (with a cameo from Tom) led to the participation of Bill and Joe’s unit on sequences and promotions for such MGM features as Dangerous When Wet, Pat and Mike, Scaramouche, Holiday in Mexico, and Invitation to the Dance.

George Sidney and his father Louis K. Sidney were ongoing boosters of Hanna, Barbera, and their staff as they inched toward television, with Sidney becoming the third partner in Hanna-Barbera Productions.

This was the first recording based on a Hanna and Barbera creation:

Please ask for Hanna-Barbera: The Recorded History at your favorite store, online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or directly from UPM here.

Hope you like it!