playlist courtesy of The Dr. Demento Show
The Dr. Demento Show - Pico And Sepulveda "Roll Your Own" contest submissions
NOTE: This is NOT a radio show. It is a compilation of all 34 entries
submitted to this contest and judged for airing.
In early 1973, Dr. Demento was using the original recording of "Pico And
Sepulveda" by Felix Figueroa as his opening theme. It was contained on a
cart at KMET, which is a cartridge containing a continuous loop of tape,
similar in concept to an 8-track.
One night in early 1973 (probably February 18), the cart containing "Pico
And Sepulveda" jammed and wouldn't play. At this point "Sugar Blues" by
Clyde McCoy became his theme.
He later ran into Steven Segal (a/k/a "The Obscene Steven Clean", another KMET
DJ who had originally introduced Dr. Demento to radio listeners and given him
his name), and Steven suggested Dr. D hold a contest for people to submit their
own versions of "Pico And Sepulveda" and play the best ones on the air.
The contest was announced March 11, with entries due by April 9. Dr. Demento,
along with Captain Chaos & Jungle Judy, selected the ten best, and on April 15
those entries were played on the air. There was one grand prize winner, two
tied for second place, and seven receiving honorable mention. There were a
wide variety of submissions, with some people covering the original song,
some adding new lyrics, some writing new songs, and some creating recordings
that went in a different direction altogether.
What follows is a list of all entries that were judged for airplay. Absent
from the list is the fabled recording by Al Yankovic and his friends that was
submitted to this contest. The best guess at this point is that it arrived
too late to be in the running. (Note that entry #5 features an accordion,
but it has been confirmed that this is NOT Al Yankovic.)
- Bob Mitchell (Tarzana)
- story w/ break-ins
- won honorable mention
- Louis Ward (Gardena)
- original tune
- new lyrics: "Carson St. & Avalon"
- Pamela Tongret (Santa Monica)
- new song
- extra bits at end
- Scott Breitbart & friends (Los Angeles)
- original tune
- some new lyrics
- a cappella
- followed by a rendition of "Chattanooga Choo Choo"
- Wesley Wilshire & Veronica Vermont (Los Angeles)
- original song
- part one: accordion instrumental
- part two: kazoo/vocal
- The Roto Rooter Good Time Christmas Band
- original song
- "Joy To The World" interspersed
- they later recorded additional versions, including one with "Dr. Demento" lyrics that became his theme song in July, 1974, and still is today
- Bob Pearsall (Alhambra)
- original song
- electric piano/kazoo/tambourine/vocal
- Pete, Doug & Denny (Van Nuys)
- original chorus
- new lyrics and new verse melody
- kazoo/vocal
- I. William Lally (Los Angeles)
- set in a classroom
- new lyrics
- music from the show in the background
- Merrill-Stado (Tarzana)
- original lyrics
- dramatic reading (no music)
- James Kranayak (Van Nuys)
- original tune
- part one: piano/glasses/Moog?/sfx instrumental
- part two: computer instrumental
- part one tied for second prize
- The Gay Blades c/o M. Warren (Los Angeles)
- original tune
- new lyrics: "Lookin' For A Silly Guy"
- Bill & Bob Koppany (Los Angeles)
- intro: Chopin Funeral March tune w/ Peter Lorre imitation
- main song: original tune w/ new "Dr. Demento" lyrics
- K. Scholler (Corona Del Mar)
- original song
- new lyrics (Orange County version)
- Bob Hermansen (Long Beach)
- original song
- shower version
- won honorable mention
- Tom Armagost (San Marino)
- original song
- bass/kazoo/vocal
- Jeff & Greg Lee (Encino)
- original song
- typewriter/kazoo/vocal
- Kelyn Press (Santa Monica)
- original song
- tuba/violin/vocal/etc.
- won honorable mention
- Jerry Margolis/Flat Footed Four (Tarzana)
- Robert O. Woolsey (Canoga Park)
- original song
- upbeat arrangement
- includes brief cover of "The Dinghy Song" plus closing tag from a Spike Jones song
- won first prize
- Todd Yollis (Encino)
- original song
- gargling instrumental
- won honorable mention
- The Stalemates (Encino)
- new song (w/ elements of original song)
- Patty Trimble (Balboa Island)
- original song
- harpsichord/percussion/vocal
- Bill Elfstrom (Sherman Oaks)
- new song
- break-in
- won honorable mention
- USC Wild West 4th Floor (Los Angeles)
- original song
- band/vocal
- won honorable mention
- Ducan/Parsons (Santa Barbara)
- Birmingham Gavel Club Demented Dozen c/o Jeff Greenberg (Encino)
- original song
- kazoo/percussion/vocal
- Allen Carman Choir (Canoga Park)
- original song
- triangle/vocal
- Jordan Leiker (Alhambra)
- original tune
- new lyrics
- set at a dinner
- glasses/guitar/vocal
- Nathan Misraje (Los Angeles)
- Fat Rabbit (Riverside)
- original song
- piano/drums instrumental
- The James Gang (Los Angeles)
- original song
- chant w/ new bits added
- Jon Schwartz (Los Angeles)
- original song
- brass band instrumental (w/ opening vocal)
- tied for second prize
- later used as his theme song from February through June, 1974
- Eric Nielsen (Long Beach)
- original tune
- new lyrics: "I tossed all your clothes in La Brea tar pit"
- won honorable mention
This show is available for online listening at drdemento.com