Monday, February 7, 2011

Compare and Contrast: You Can't Get Good Help Anymore

From 1959, please enjoy -- in stereo! -- the original, jaunty Jimmy Jones version of the often (and deservedly) covered "Handy Man."





And from the same year, although recorded (in mono) in 1956, please enjoy -- if you can -- the (to my ears) downright creepy original version by The Sparks of Rhythm.





Seriously -- the Sparks record sounds like the lead singer is a stalker or something; he's got the kind of voice I always imagined Rondo Hatton would have had. It's just deeply disturbing and weird, although I'll grant you perhaps I'm missing the joke.

[h/t Steve Dworkin]