While I am on the path of providing some bizzare and unusual cover versions, I stumbled upon this one.

It’s bad. Very Bad. It’s so bad that the only redeeming value is that moment where the shock of recognition hits you. This is so much the case for this song that I’m not even going to tell you what it is. But don’t worry; you *will* figure it out.  Though I will tell you about the band and the album. Now don’t go looking it up; you’re only cheating yoruself. *wink*

Originally on Atlantic Records, this album was passed over for reissue during a huge burst of reissue activity. Years later, it was picked up by Collectibles and is available once again. It first appeared in 1972, during the height of the first doo-wop revival, and while conetmporary critics don’t seem to realize that all went on back then, it was a pretty huge thing at the time. And it spurred certain artists to create contemporary interpretations of the genre. And established artists like Frank Zappa began to kick in, and new artists such as the Manhattan Transfer appeared. Many surviving groups resurfaced trying to capitalize and reinvention. Some worked, some didn’t.

So here’s the mystery track:
[audio:http://www.jukeboxheart.com/screamers/godfreydaniel/godfrey.mp3]

Admittedly, his take on reinventing the genre was unique. Rather then re-purpose songs plucked from the defined genre, he covered contemporary songs, reinventing them as doo wop. I first heard this in the context of a doo wop anthology, so I was completely unprepared for it.

We may never know what compelled the band to take this approach — no one seems to know who the band is! I mean, as bad as this is, even the SHAGGS were proud eough of their work to own it publically. Be that as it may, Godfrey Daniel remains a mystery. The album’s cover image, of an abandoned recording studio, and its meager liner notes provide no clues whatoseover, though rumors have been flying for decades: the Amboy Dukes being the number one pick. And if *that* doesn’t take you on a journey to the center of yoru mind, I don’t know what would. But more likely it’s producer/arranger Andy Solomon. Not that many people are doing much detective work. After a deal with Atlantic records, the group put out this (their only) record in 1972. It flopped and they disappeared.