(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
John Fred & His Playboy Band - "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)"
Hit Number 1: January 20, 1968
Stay at Number 1: 2 Weeks
In my opinion, 1968 is one of the more mediocre years in music's history. Not bad, per say, but it brought a lot of songs that were just okay. It's rare that we'll find anything that's worth remembering, or even worth listening to for a second time. And kicking things off for 1968 is a pretty freaking weird song in "Judy In Disguise".
You might think of the Beatles song "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" when you see the title of this song. Well as it turns out, John Fred thought that the title for that song went "Lucy in disguise with diamonds". So he came up with the brilliant idea of turning his own mondegreen into a novelty song, based off of the Beatles hit. The song features all kinds of weird crap: gleaming strings, awkward orgasm breaths, somewhat catchy horn playing, and a made up accent by Fred that in no way possible is his real singing voice. I guess that's part of the appeal of "Judy In Disguise" though. It's supposed to be weird. Whatever the case is, I'm not really the biggest fan of this one. It's all over the place, and the ending abruptly slows down while Fred gloats "Guess I'll just take your glasses". The "Playboy Band" apparently wasn't in favor of that, but with Fred being the "leader" of the group, they didn't tell him no. It's for good reason that they weren't fans of that. Again, I realize that the song is supposed to be weird, and not to be taken seriously. I admire the energy and goofy performance that Fred put on, I'm just not a fan of the song.
(Also I need your guys' help on what the song could possibly be about, cause I have no freaking idea)
Fred and his band never had any Top 20 hits before or after "Judy In Disguise", and they are known today as one-hit wonders. Apparently Fred was a great athlete, and played basketball and baseball at LSU before he got famous. After his music career died down, he started coaching those sports, and played in local bands around Louisiana too. He died at the age of 63 after complications from a kidney transplant. I wonder if he was able to take Judy's glasses before then.
GRADE: 4/10
JUST MISSED:
Aretha Franklin was stuck behind "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)" for both weeks it was at #1 with the hook-laden, soulful "Chain of Fools". It's a 9.
Comments