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Edited by Sean Kelly; Music Arrangements by Dan Fox; Copy edited by Louise Gikow; Designed by Pellegrini, Kaestle & Gross, Inc.

COVER: Illustration by Randall Enos, Gahan Wilson, Bobby London, Jeff Jones, Shary Flenniken, and Charles Rodrigues.

Contents

A History of Lemmings, Poster illustration by John Grashow

Deteriorata, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Tony Hendra

Parody of the ubiquitous dorm poster “Desiderata,” which also was set to music and was a minor hit recording by Les Crane. A recording of this, featuring Melissa Manchester and Norman Rose, appears on Radio Dinner. (1972)

Lemmings’ Lament, Music by Paul Jacobs; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Parody of the song “Woodstock” by Crosby, Stills & Nash. From the Lemmings show/album. (1973)

Pizza Man, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Tony Hendra and Sean Kelly

Parody of the classic ’50s death song genre. From Lemmings. A recording of this, featuring Alice Playten, appears on the Lemmings album. (1973)

Nirvana Banana, Music by Peter Ebling; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Parody of Donovan. From The National Lampoon Radio Hour. (1975)

Colorado, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Tony Hendra and Sean Kelly

Parody of John Denver and the back-to-nature movement. From Lemmings. A recording of this, featuring Chevy Chase, appears on the Lemmings album. (1973)

John Denver Pinup, Illustration by ? Rosenblatt

Illustration showing Denver being attacked by a bald eagle.

Lemmings Souvenir Poster, Illustration by Melinda Bordelon

The album cover illustration from the Lemmings cast recording. Depicts a Woodstock-like festival attended by lemmings.

The Ventures of Zimmerman, Illustration by Andru and Esposito

Reproduction of the comic book cover from the October 1972 (Remember Those Fabulous Sixties?) issue.

Positively Wall Street, Music by Paul Jacobs and Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Parody of Bob Dylan. From Lemmings. A recording of this, performed by Christopher Guest, appears on the Lemmings album. (1973)

Pull the Tregroes, Music and lyrics by Tony Hendra

A parody of Joan Baez. First appeared on the Radio Dinner album (performed by Diana Reed), but was also featured in the Lemmings stage show. (1972)

Lemmings Pix, Photos uncredited

Cast photos from the Lemmings stage show.

Papa Was a Running-Dog Lackey of the Bourgeoisie, Music by Paul Jacobs; Lyrics by Tony Hendra

Parody of the Motown style. From Lemmings. Performed by the cast on the album. (1973)

Highway Toes*, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Parody of James Taylor. From Lemmings. Performed by Christopher Guest on the album. (1973)

Lonely at the Bottom, Music by Paul Jacobs; Lyrics by John Belushi

Parody of Joe Cocker and Leon Russell. From Lemmings. Performed by John Belushi and Paul Jacobs on the album. (1973)

Megadeath, Music by Paul Jacobs; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Heavy metal parody. The climactic closing number of Lemmings during which the entire audience is supposed to “off” itself. Performed by the cast, featuring John Belushi on lead vocal, on the album. (1973)

Overdose Heaven*, Music by Paul Jacobs; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

First appeared in the June 1971 (Religion for Fun and Prophet) issue. Later performed on the National Lampoon Radio Hour by Christopher Guest. (1973)

Brian & Jimi & Pearl, Illustration by Doug and Judy Aleerfer

The illustration which accompanied Overdose Heaven in the June 1971 (Religion for Fun and Prophet) issue. Done in the style of a religious tryptych painting of martyred saints.

All-Star Dead Band, Author uncredited; Illustration uncredited [probably Warren Sattler]

Illustration from Playdead magazine in the January 1973 (Death) issue. A sketch based on this was performed in the Lemmings stage show.

“Radio Hour” Poster, Illustration by Alan Rose

Accompanied by a short note about the NatLamp Radio hour.

Sgt. Shriver’s Bleeding Hearts Club Band, Illustration by Lee Starsland

From the November 1972 (Decadence) issue. A parody of the “cut-out” insert from the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album.

Well-Intentioned Blues*, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Parody of Pete Seeger. Performed by Christopher Guest on the Radio Hour. Also appears on Gold Turkey. (1975)

Closet Queen*, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Paul Benedict

Done in the style of a lounge singer. Performed by Christopher Guest on the Radio Hour. (1975)

The Ballad of K. C. River Rat, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Trucker song parody. Performed by Christopher Guest (?) on the Radio Hour. (1975)

Saint Leonard’s Song, Music by Tony Scheurin; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Leonard Cohen parody. Performed by Tony Scheurin on the Radio Hour. (1975)

Mother Goose’s Wine*, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Anne Beatts

Not quite sure what this is a parody of, but it sounds somewhat like the Grateful Dead or James Taylor. The song is about a teenage wino. Performed by Christopher Guest on the Radio Hour. Also appears on the album Gold Turkey

Ridin’ Out on a Rail, Music and lyrics by Tony Scheurin

Parody of the Grateful Dead. Song extolling the virtues of cocaine. Performed by Tony Scheurin on the Radio Hour. (1975)

Bleeding Heart, Music and lyrics by Tony Scheurin

Cat Stevens parody. Performed by Tony Scheurin on the Radio Hour. (1975)

Psychology Ptoday Blues (Every Day I Feel Depressed)*, Music by Christophern Guest; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Done in Chicago blues style. Traditional blues ballad but with psychobabble lyrics. Performed by Christopher Guest on the Radio Hour. (1975) 

Methadone Maintenance Man*, Music and lyrics by Tony Scheurin

Another James Taylor parody. Performed by Tony Scheurin on the Radio Hour. (1975)

Three-D Stevie, Illustration uncredited [Mara McAffee?]

Cover illustration from the July 1975 (3-D) issue depicting Stevie Wonder wearing cardboard analglyphic (3-D) glasses.

The Teenage Death Song Game, By Christopher Cerf

From the November 1970 (Nostalgia) issue.

Hello Pop, Photograph by ????

Cover from Good-bye Pop with some notes about the album. 

Good-bye Pop, Music by Paul Schaffer and Paul Jacobs; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Parody of Elton John. Performed by Paul Schaffer on the Good-bye Pop album. (1975) 

Kung Fu Christmas, Music by Paul Shaffer and Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Brian Doyle-Murray, Bill Murray, and Gilda Radner

Parody of the disco ballad style. Performed by the writers (as listed above) on the Good-bye Pop album. (1975) 

The B Side of Love, Music by Christopher Guest, Paul Shaffer, and Paul Jacobs; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Country/Nashville-style ballad parody. Performed by Christopher Guest on the Good-bye Pop album. (1975) 

I’m a Woman, Music by Paul Jacobs; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Parody of the Helen Ready anthem “I am Woman (Hear Me Roar).” Performed by Gilda Radner, it’s set up as a recording session filled with men telling her what to do. From Good-bye Pop. (1975) 

Old Maid (Souther California Brings Me Down)*, Music and lyrics by Tony Scheurin

Parody of Neil Young. Performed by Tony Schuerin on Good-bye Pop. (1975) 

Art Rock Suite, Music by Paul Jacobs, Christopher Guest, and Paul Shaffer; Lyrics by Sean Kelly and Christopher Guest

Parody of several “art rock” bands of the early to mid ’70s including: Donovan, Rick Wakeman, Yes, Emmerson, Lake and Palmer, Golden Earring, Alice Cooper, The Who, and possibly others. From Good-bye Pop. (1975) 

Down to Jamaica, Music by Christopher Guest; Lyrics by Sean Kelly

Bob Dylan’s little-known attempt to cash in on Reggea. Performed by Christopher Guest on Good-bye Pop. (1975) 

Moby!, Music and lyrics by Louise Gikow; Book by Brian McConnachie

Herman Melville’s novel “Moby Dick” done as a musical. Performed in its entirety on the Radio Hour (one whole show). (1975) Here are the songs, in order of appearance:

All Ashore

Call Me Ishmael

Seaman’s Lexicon

The Unhappiest Man at Sea

The Present

You’re Never Too Old to Love

All Hands on Me

Moby

You’re Never Too Old to Love (reprise)

* Appears on Rhino’s “Best of the National Lampoon Radio Hour” boxed set.