Genre: pop
Rating: **** (3 stars)
Title: Bugaloos
Company: Capitol
Catalog: 621
Year: 1970
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: still in shrink wrap
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4614
Price: $80.00
Cost: $1.00
Many folks now in
their mid-'40s probably have fond memories of late-'60s/early-'70s Saturday
morning television fair. In terms of creativity and quality, it marked a
timeframe that's seldom been matched. Among the era treasures were The
Bugaloos. A concept/production out of the Sid and Marty Krofft empire, the
show teamed four spunky kids (Caroline Ellis, Danny "Wayne" Laryea
, John McIndoe (Big John) and John Philpott (Little John)), each blessed
with a unique power (Joy, Courage, Harmony and IQ), in a series of
sensitive, socially, politically and ecologically correct adventures.
Naturally there was music (what else would you expected from Tranquility
Forest?) which eventually made itself onto a Bugaloos album.
Produced by Hal Yoergler (who also contributed the majority of material),
1970's "Bugaloos" is
actually a pretty cool period piece. Musically the album sported a sound
reminiscent of The New Seekers having overdosed on pure oxygen and happy
pills (others have drawn comparisons to Enoch Light's The Free Design
project). Since none of the four actors were particularly gifted or
memorable vocals (nor were they particularly gifted actors - course what do
you expect from folks who were expected to sport little insect wings on most
shows?), most of the 11 selections featured a happy-go-lucky group
sing-along attack. Exemplified by material such as "Just the Memory
Stays Around", "For a Friend" and "Believe", the
set boasted uniformly upbeat and positive lyrics (guaranteed to irritate
many "A" type personalities), surrounded by extensive
orchestration. The other thing that made the set kinda' cool were some of
the pseudo-psychedelic touches: check out "Fly Away with Us" and
"Senses of Our World". Bet ya can't say "Gna Gna Gna Gna Gna"
three times in rapid succession ...
"Bugaloos" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) If You Become
a Bugaloo (Hal Yoergler) - 2:09
2.) Senses of Our World (Hal Yoergler) - 3:02
3.) For a Friend (Hirschhorn - Kasha) - 2:28
4.) Believe (Hal Yoergler) - 2:40
5.) It's New To You (Charles Fox - Norman Gimble) - 2:25
6.) Fly Away with Us (Hal Yoergler) - 2:39
(side 2)
1.) Older Woman
(Hal Yoergler) - 2:30
2.) Just the Memory Stays Around (Hal Yoergler) - 3:00
3.) Gna Gna Gna Gna Gna (Charles Fox - Ross) - 2:14
4.) Castles In the Air (Hirschhorn - Kasha) - 2:25
5.) The Bugaloos (Charles Fox - Norman Gimble) - 2:09
Want to know what happened to The Bugaloos? Following the shows first season
Columbia financed a Bugaloos movie. The film was actually shot, but shelved
when the company ran into financial difficulties. In the meantime, the four
actors returned to England for a brief break. Plans for a second season of
shows were subsequently cancelled based on poor ratings.
Ellis did some stage and English TV work; got married, had a daughter,
divorced and eventually moved to Spain.
McIndoe briefly played in the Band The Washington Flyers (see separate
entry), before appearing in a couple of Egnlish soap operas. He then turned
his attention to building models, puppets and animatronics for movies and
theme parks.
Philpott spent 15 years touring in a cabaret show and is apparently living
in London.
Laryea is alive and apparently lives in the States (Arizona), though he
seems interested in keeping his Bugaloos life in the past.
There are a couple of active Bugaloo websites. Among the best is Bill Ung's
at:
http://www.bugaloos.com/index.shtml