Search - Wild Man Fischer, Larry Fischer :: Wild Man Fischer - The Fischer King [LIMITED EDITION]

His name is Larry.

06/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Larry "Wild Man" Fischer is one of the true eccentrics of the music business. He is a paranoid schizophrenic street singer who was discovered by Frank Zappa, who produced an album by him in the late-'60s. That album is not included here, because Zappa's widow refuses to allow it to be reissued. Rather, this collection includes everything Wild Man recorded for Rhino Records (and then some). Fischer was actually the first performer to record for Rhino Records, when they released his single "Go To Rhino Records", which was basically a commercial for their record store.



Larry later recorded Rhino's first full length album, Wildmania. This was a somewhat uneven album, but it did yield one of his most popular songs, "My Name is Larry". The album is a mix of studio recordings and field recordings of Larry singing in the bleachers at Dodgers Stadium during a Dodgers game.



Three years later, Larry's next album came out, Pronounced Normal. This was produced by the duo of Barnes & Barnes. It is a much more professional sounding (and better) album. The album is alternately funny and sad, as we delve into Larry's troubled mind.



Three years after that, Larry's last album came out, Nothing Scary. This was once again produced by Barnes & Barnes. It is the best Wild Man Fischer album of all. Once again, it is both funny and sad. It really has to be heard to be believed.



Aside from the album, there are many previously unreleased tracks here. There are a couple of lengthy unedited sections of Larry at Dodgers Stadium. And there are several rare recordings produced by Barnes & Barnes, including a duet with Rosemary Clooney, of all people.



Since Wild Man Fischer recorded the first single and the first album by Rhino Records, I guess it was appropriate that he would be the first release by Rhino Handmade, Rhino's internet only limited edition series of CDs. This 2 CD set was limited to 1,000. Wild Man is not for everybody (or even most people), but this collection is a must get for his fans. Here is the 100 track listing:



Disc One



A Word From Larry

Go To Rhino Records

My Name Is Larry

Jimmy Durante

I Light The Pilot

Josephine

Do The Wildman (Fancy Version)

I'm A Truck

Sir Larry

Who's Your Favorite Singer?

Go To Rhino Records (Live Version)

Handy Man

Disco In Frisco

Do The Wildman (And Other Dances)

I'm Selling Peanuts For The Dodgers

I'm The Meany

Wild Man Fischer Impersonation Contest

Guitar Licks

What Do You Think Of Larry?

Young At Heart

My Name Is Larry (Reprise)

A Few Minutes With Larry At Dodger Stadium

Pronounced Normal

Don't Be A Singer

It's Nice To Have Things

I Swear To God My Love Was True

Talking

Watch Out For The Sharks

When You're Younger

Yesterday

Fish Heads

Mistakes

Frank

It's A Money World

The Mope (Part 2)

The Righteous

Oh Linda, No Laurie

The Bouillabaisse

One Minute

In My Room

I'm A Christmas Tree

Let Us Live As One

Pronounced Normal (Reprise)

My Sweet Little Cathy

I Got A Camera (Single Version)

Do The Salvo

Another Word From Larry



Disc Two



Yet Another Word From Larry

I'm A Christmas Tree (w/ Dr. Demento)

A Few More Minutes With Larry At Dodger Stadium

God, Send Me Leonard And Sandra

Hello Eileen, It's Larry

Teen Age Idol

People

Intro

Derailroaded

Larry And The New Wave

Sparkling Diamonds

Music Business Shark

Don't Ever Get Mad At Me

My Friend Robert

The Omar Walk

I Looked Around You

Oh God, Please Send Me A Kid

Back In Time

Track Star

I Got A Camera

Scotty's Got A Cake

Walking Through The Underground

Merry Go Round

You're A Liar And A Thief

All I Think About Is You

Outside The Hospital

Big Boots

Ping Pong Ball Head

Real Cool Cowboy

One Of A Kind Mind

The Record Player Song

When You Record Singers

Wild Man Fischer Records

Gimme A Ride Down The Hill

Bad Leg

I Worry About My Friends

The Rain Song

The Pep

Love Love Love In Everything You Do

Larry In Las Vegas

Outro

Scotty's Got A Cake [Alternate Version]

I'm Sorry, Frank Zappa

My Mother Was Right

Don't Ever Get Mad At Me [Original Drum Version]

Last Man In The City

I Wish I Was A Comic Book

Norman

I Gotta Quit The Music Business, Bye Art, Bye Harold

It's A Hard Business (w/ Rosemary Clooney)

Flaming Carrot Theme Song

Great Big Man

A Final Word From Larry"