Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Daddy Dewdrop
Company: Sunflower
Catalog: SNF 5006
Year: 1971
Grade (cover/record): G/VG
Comments: ring wear; plays fine
Available: 1
Price: $15.00
Having labored in obscurity as a Cleveland,
Ohio-based songwriter, 1971 found Dick Motta working in Southern California.
A job providing the voices for cartoon characters such as Sabrina and the
Groovy Ghoulies (he must have been proud), led to a deal with the newly
formed Sunflower Records (distributed by MGM), led to one of the year's
odder releases - Daddy Dewdrop. A studio entity, the group consisted of
Motta and studio musicians Larry Brown, Tom Hensley, Bill Perry and Steve
Rillera (collectively billed as the "Torrance Cookers").
Released as a single, the sexually charged "Chick-A-Boom" b/w
"John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith" quickly went top-10, leading the
company to rush Motta and company into the studio to record a supporting
album. Co-produced by Motta and Don Sciarotta, "Daddy
Dewdrop" wasn't half bad. At least having the sense to
recognize he was a novelty act, Motta sounded like he was having fun on
goofball originals such as the sound alike "Fox Huntin' (On the Week
End)", "Diggin' On Mrs. Jones" and "Johnny Do It
Faster". Catchy up tempo rock, this stuff wasn't meant to alter your
mental state or social conscious - imagine Brownsville Station at a frat
party and you'll get a feel for the results. Propelled by the single, the
parent album even managed to breach the charts, peaking at #211. One follow
up single, the truly freaky "The March of the White Corpuscles"
b/w "Fox Huntin' (On the Week End)" and the concept was over.
"Daddy Dewdrop" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It) (Gwin - Martin) - 2:40
2.) 5 Card Stud (Tom Hensley) - 3:52
3.) March of the White Corpuscles (Gwin) - 3:35
4.) Strike (Don Sciarotta) - 3:32
5.) John Jacob Jungle Heimer Smith (Don Sciarotta) - 2:39
(side 2)
1.) Fox Huntin'
(On the Week End) (Dick Monda) - 3:00
2.) Diggin' On Mrs. Jones (Don Sciarotta - Rogers) - 3:08
3.) Abracadabra Alakazam (Dick Monda) - 3:14
4.) Johnny Do It Faster (Don Sciarotta - Reid) - 4:00
5.) Migraine Headaches (Dick Monda - Robin) - 4:20