The Persuasions are one of the best a capella groups ever. Frank Zappa referred to bassman Jimmy “Bro” Hayes as “The Human Sub-Woofer.” (The Persuasion’s tribute to Zappa Frankly A Cappella is excellent, btw.)
And I’m out of time for tonight, so have a great weekend folks. See you tomorrow.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary the term “humpty dumpty” referred to a drink of brandy boiled with ale in the seventeenth century. The riddle probably exploited, for misdirection, the fact that “humpty dumpty” was also eighteenth-century reduplicative slang for a short and clumsy person.
Although there are other unproven theories that the rhyme references an historical figure or event, Humpty Dumpty was merely a riddle of the “What Am I” sort, and the answer was “an egg.” (And ten dozen guys couldn’t figure out how to make an omelette?) Try this one:
I am white And wet to touch; I can blind If you stare too much.
We had to watch that in junior high school. We all snickered to ourselves and laughed out loud afterwards. Once school let out, we went trolling anyway:
“Hello, Mrs. Jenkins? This is Bob from Hi-Times Liquor. Your husband left his wallet and motel key on the counter.”
“You Asked For It” was an early television show that pulled in viewers by asking for requests. This one shows some old carnival gaffes, some of which are still employed.
Bob Kuban & The In-Men had their one hit in 1966 with “The Cheater” and the song fits. (Irony note: Kuban was killed by his wife’s boyfriend in 1983.) I couldn’t find a live version, but this works.