- Benny Bell
-
Shaving Cream
- Shaving Cream (Paul Wynn, Vocalist) Time: 2:01
- The Automobile Song Time: 1:34
- Everybody Likes My Fanny Time: 1:37
- The Tattooed Lady Time: 1:48
- Humoresque In C Major Time: 1:40
- Take A Ship For Yourself Time: 1:51
- Farewell Song Time: 1:23
- Wading In The Water [aka Mary Anne McCarthy] Time: 1:08
- Jack Of All Trades [aka I Used To Work In Chicago] Time: 1:34
- A Goose For My Girl Time: 1:18
-
Side One
1. SHAVING CREAM
2:40
(Paul Wynn, vocalist)
2. THE AUTOMOBILE SONG
2:05
3. EVERYBODY LIKES MY FANNY
2:11
4. THE TATTOOED LADY
2:25
5. HUMORESQUE IN C MAJOR
2:14
Side Two
1. TAKE A SHIP FOR YOURSELF
2:28
2. FAREWELL SONG
1:53
3. WADING IN THE WATER
1:31
4. JACK OF ALL TRADES
2:05
5. A GOOSE FOR MY GIRL
1:46
ALL SONGS BENNY BELL; MADISON MUSIC, INC/BMI.
Just imagine!!! I have been involved with several phenomena during my years on the air on New York's leading pop music stations. I recall playing the first Elvis Presley record in 1955 and predicting its success. ... In 1963, I was given an acetate of a new British group (from Liverpool), which I premiered in New York.... An audio tape of a new artist was sent to me in 1970, and I played the first Elton John recording for New Yorkers....
And then, in early 1975, there was Benny Bell....
While doing my regular mid-day DJ show over New York's WNBC Radio, I was approached by a most talented and intuitive engineer, Buzz Buzanski. He said, "Hey, Cousin Brucie, I dare you to play this dirty record I found! The label read, "Shaving Cream," written and produced by one Benny Bell. "Holy Sh . . !" says I, "my Dad used to play this song for me in the 40s." The record went on the air after a serious warning to parents that "if you have children in the room or if you are particularly sensitive to a dangerously naughty record, you should leave the room or switch stations immediately." Within minutes WNBC's Program Manager, John Lund, was besieged with calls. "What the hell was that?" ... "Tell Brucie to play it again" . . . "Shaving what?" . . . and "Shaving Cream" became an instant radio success — the most requested record in the station's history. Within 24 hours New York's largest record stores were on the phone with me . . . "What is it?" . . . "Who sings it?" My duty was to find Benny Bell.
Where does one look for a mysterious, elfish vaudeville performer of the past? I didn't have to look far. Benny found me. Here he was in person, "Pincus the Peddler," "The Shaving Cream Man" himself. I interviewed him on the air. The telephone company clocked thousands of calls. Vanguard Records (among several other labels) contacted me .. . "Where is he?" they asked. Benny Bell signed a deal and as he puts it, "I'm makin' a fortune again, but Brucie, don't announce my name on the radio ... I don't want my landlord to raise my rent."
Perhaps Benny Bell is the answer to the nation's problems, the recession, the depression, taxes, wars, David Bowie, the fuel shortage . . . and other related B/S (Shaving Cream). Would you pay a few bucks for some good belly laughs? You just did.
Have fun. Welcome Home, Benny Bell!
— ' 'Cousin'' Brucie Morrow
Benny Bell has been involved with music ever since his childhood on New York's Lower East Side. His father often sang Yiddish songs at weddings and parties, and Benny rehearsed with a synagogue choir when he was nine. Although his father hoped he would become a Rabbi, Benny was interested in music. Early lessons on the violin were not a success (the teacher rapped his knuckles with a bow when he made a mistake), but the songs of Irving Berlin were an inspiration — Benny says that Berlin's "When I Lost You" was the first English song he learned. He wasn't a good student because he wrote songs in school instead of studying.
Benny Bell began his theatrical career during the 1920s when movie houses sponsored Amateur Nights for neighbor- hood talent. Since many theaters had little local talent, they hired "professional amateurs," furnished by small booking agents who paid the pros a few dollars — and collected any prize money. He was now also a full-fledged professional songwriter, and a number of his songs were achieving success. Benny's main source of income, however, was taking musical dictation from other songwriters.
Early in the 1940's, a friend suggested that Benny try his luck writing songs for juke boxes, then just being introduced. Their location in bars or cocktail lounges permitted him to write lyrics that were slightly risque. His first "naughty" song was "Take a Ship for Yourself; it was followed by many others, including "Shaving Cream" in 1946. They had an "underground" success, but were rarely played on the air.
"Shaving Cream" — and Benny Bell — re-emerged from obscurity early in 1975, with the help of such discerning connoisseurs as "Cousin" Brucie Morrow and Dr. Demento. Here, then, is the first longplaying collection of the finest and funniest of Benny Bell's "naughty" songs. It is in the best tradition of native American humor.
Produced by Benny Bell
® 1975 VANGUARD RECORDING SOCIETY, INC. N.Y. .
©
1975 VANGUARD RECORDING SOCIETY, INC.,
71 WEST 23rd STREET,
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
10010
