There’s not a lot of info on Nervous Norvus but I think I have it right. Jimmy Drake was a 41 year old truck driver who listened to San Francisco DJ Red Blanchard. Inspired, he sent a series of recordings that he hoped others would sing.
This led to a series of three singles released by Dot Records including the #13 hit Transfusion, #28 Ape Call and the non- charted The Fang. Transfusion was one of the first rock novelty songs predating Sheb Woolley, David Seville and Kim Fowley’s charting songs, and it’s content got it banned on some stations.
Nervous was indeed just that. From all accounts, he lived with his mother, never had a girlfriend and was an alcoholic who drank himself to death. At the height of his popularity, he received a call from Ed Sullivan to appear on his show, but turned it down.
Playing “Transfusion” kick started Dr Demento’s career, and it would also be covered by Mark E Smith. “Ape Call” is allegedly the first 45 that David Bowie ever bought. For its recording method and presumably from the vacuum noise at the intro/outro, I have even seen “The Fang” referenced as the first industrial music recorded.
Besides the six Dot songs (A and B sides), there are maybe 30 Norvus songs compiled on various Greatest Hits records- from Blanchard’s records and small labels that followed. For the most part, these recordings aren’t nearly as striking as the Dot songs but the right person (like myself) might find them enjoyable -strictly old timey novelty records with Norvus banging away on his ukulele that recalls 1930s & 40s English comedian George Formby.
In some ways the media-shy noncelebrity Drake is the most relatable of rock stars. Perhaps you can relate to the anxiety or perhaps you know someone like him. In any case, he now has quite a legacy
No comments:
Post a Comment