Unpopular Songs For Popular People

TERRIBLY SOPHISTICATED SONGS came out in 1958 on Warner Brothers Records. It was the label’s tenth LP. The songs sound like they were written for a stage show or revue. Some of them are funny, some of them worth listening to for the music. But before you download anything, be warned that none of them come close to rocking out.

This is a strange record. It’s one of Henry Mancini’s very first records but his name isn’t even on the label. Irving Taylor, the guy that wrote the songs, had a long career as a song and script writer in Hollywood. He wrote “Everybody Loves Somebody” for Dean Martin and “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb” for Edd Byrnes. He started out writing with the great Vic Mizzy and wrote the theme song for F Troop. Taylor also worked on the Bob Newhart show and wrote for Jonathan Winters. So why don’t any of them mention this record in their biographies? It’s not mentioned on Henry Mancini’s webpage, Allmusic doesn’t review it. It’s not that bad.