Lou Monte was a comedian. That’s what he was, a comedian. And comedians make records. Most comedians made LPs with jokes and routines on them. Bill Cosby did that. Bob Newhart did that. Ross Bagdasarian did that.Some comedians occasionally put out a single, and it would find itself on top 40 radio. Allan Sherman had Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah. Bill Cosby had Little Old Man, though it was just a straight record, and Bill Dana, as Jose Jiminez, did The Astronaut.
Lou Monte had 4 records on the top 100, 2 on the top 40. I have those two. They are silly, but I would expect nothing less. 2 of his records were from 1958, and 2 were from 1963.
Lou Monte:
• Lazy Mary – From the spring of 1958.This has the air of one of those songs done by a comedian as part of his act. He switches back and forth between English and Italian in a way that makes him sound like he’s hiding all the good parts. Apparently Lou sings the part of the mother. Pay attention to me, he says, marry a fireman. Why? He’ll come and go, go and come. No shame here, and this was 1958.
• Pepino The Italian Mouse – Another novelty song. A song about a troublesome mouse, perhaps the only one that ever reached the top 40. (Ben doesn’t count; it’s about a rat). Again he switches between the 2 languages, but the mouse speaks only Italian. From the winter of 1963. 7Ipjw4
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