Remember the Las Vegas Roulette record with the “multi-groove“ in which the tonearm stylus randomly selects (at least, in theory) one of 38 separate grooves – one for each slot on the roulette wheel – so as to allow partygoers the ability to play roulette from the comfort of home? That’s right, you, too, can be the croupier. Spoiler alert: House always wins.
In 1980, Mad Magazine pulled off an even more ambitious vinyl feat:
A “multiple-groove” flexi-disc!
45Cat’s 23skidoo rightly emphasizes —
A random groove record. A different ending (usually) is heard each time the record is played. Very rare for a flexi-disc to have this feature.
“It’s a Super Spectacular Day” [all 8 endings]
Frank Jacobs & Norm Blagman (1980)
45Cat lists Mad Magazine flexi-discs from 1961–1981
I am grateful to have had a neighbor growing up who allowed me to borrow freely from his 1960s collection of Mad Magazines — the best educational supplement a kid could ask for.
Check out the hyper-minimalist animation video that Casey Killingsworth created for the 1980 disco update of Mad’s 1961 belch-rock hit, “It’s a Gas!”
The “Rock Revolution” as seen through the lens of Mad Magazine
1965-1968
In 2011, someone forked over $100 for a vintage copy of Mad’s debut (and only) LP.
Beatles
vs. Stones, man
Beatles vs. Stones: 1-0
On February 7, 2014 Mad Magazine posted the following announcement:
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival in America! And in order to thoroughly commemorate, celebrate, salute and pay tribute to this historic event, we present the only time that all four Beatles appeared on our cover [September 1968 cover above with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi] — which is still one more MAD cover than the Rolling Stones ever had!
Mad Magazine’s Don Martin gets in on the act
Management requires I insert a plug for Zero to 180‘s Facebook page – like it or else!
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LINK to Multi-Groove Records
LINK to Jimi Hendrix
LINK to The Beatles
LINK to The Rolling Stones