A Demented Bibliography

Compiled and annotated by Annie Sattler


At present this bibliography covers books used to help verify artists and titles for the Dr. Demento Show weekly playlists online. There are very few actual printed discographies specifically on demented or novelty recordings, but they are listed here. All of these books make for great reading and research. If you can't find them in your bookstore, check your library!
Albert, George.
The Cash box country singles charts, 1958-1982 / compiled by George Albert and Frank Hoffmann. -- Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, c1984.
ISBN 0-8108-1685-7

British hit singles -- 8th ed. / Jonathan Rice, Paul Gambaccini, Tim Rice. -- Enfield, Middlesex [England] : Guinness Publishing, 1991.
ISBN 0-85112-941-2

Debenham, Warren.
Laughter on record : a comedy discography / by Warren Debenham. -- Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1988.
ISBN 0-8108-2094-3
One of the premier (and few) books of its type. Unfortunately, it does not give release dates for the records. Also, lacks some demented artists, such as "Weird Al" Yankovic, Barnes & Barnes, Ray Stevens, Dickie Goodman, and Ross Bagdasarian (& The Chipmunks), to name a few, apparently not considered strictly comedy.

The Decca hillbilly discography, 1927-1945 / compiled by Cary Ginell. -- New York : Greenwood Press, c1989. (Discographies, no. 35)
ISBN 0-313-26053-2

Discography of historical records on cylinder and 78s / compiled by Brian Rust. -- Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, c1979.
ISBN 0-313-20561-2
Covers spoken word recordings (excluding "actors delivering lines") by noted historical figures.

Downey, Pat.
The Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993 / Pat Downey, George Albert, Frank Hoffmann. -- Englewood, Colo. : Libraries Unlimited, 1994.
ISBN 1-5630-8316-7
Cash Box charts often supply information not found in Billboard.

Gimarc, George.
Hollywood hi-fi : over 100 of the most outrageous celebrity recordings ever! / George Gimarc and Pat Reeder. -- New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 1996, c1995.
ISBN 0-312-14356-7
The title says it all -- hilarious reading and a great reference book.

Guterman, Jimmy.
The worst rock-and-roll records of all time : a fan's guide to the stuff you love to hate / by Jimmy Guterman and Owen O'Donnell. -- New York : Carol Publishing Group, c1991.
ISBN 0-8065-1231-8
Covers what the authors deem to be the fifty worst rock & roll singles and the fifty worst rock & roll albums of all time. A few demented items show up.

Harris, Sheldon.
Blues who's who : a biographical dictionary of blues singers / Sheldon Harris. -- New Rochelle, N.Y. : Arlington House Publishers, 1979.
ISBN 0-87000-425-5
A very good encyclopedia of blues artists.

Hibbert, Tom.
Rare records : wax trash & vinyl treasures / Tom Hibbert. -- London ; New York : Proteus Books, c1982.
ISBN 086276047X (pbk.), 0862760488 (hbk.)

Incredibly strange music, vol. I / [edited by V. Vale, Andrea Juno] -- San Francisco : Re/Search Publications, c1993. (Re/Search #14)
ISBN 0-940642-22-0

Incredibly strange music, vol. II / [edited by V. Vale, Andrea Juno] -- San Francisco : Re/Search Publications, c1994 (Re/Search #15)
ISBN 0-9406642-21-2

Jancik, Wayne.
The Billboard book of one hit wonders / by Wayne Jancik. -- New York : Billboard Books, 1990.
ISBN 0-8230-7530-3

Lofman, Ron.
Goldmine's celebrity vocals : attempts at musical fame from 1500 major stars and supporting players / by Ron Lofman. -- Iola, Wis. : Krause Publications, c1994.
ISBN 0-87341-292-3
A fascinating catalog. More of these records have been played on the Dr. Demento Show than you might think.

Nash, Bruce.
The wacky top 40 / Bruce Nash, Allan Zullo. -- Holbrook, Mass. : Bob Adams Publishers, 1993.
ISBN 1-55850-302-1
Covers only 40 songs, mostly of the demented and "worst records ever made" variety. Gives lyrics and chart statistics, and a brief behind-the-scenes story for each song and performer.

Pitts, Michael R.
Hollywood on record : the film stars' discography / by Michael R. Pitts and Louis Harrison. -- Metuchen, N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1978.
ISBN 0-8108-1093-X
Covers many stage stars as well. Lacks release dates for the recordings.

Reinhart, Charles.
You can't do that! : Beatles bootlegs & novelty records, 1963-80 / by Charles Reinhart. -- Ann Arbor, Mich. : Pierian Press, 1981. (Rock & roll reference series, 5)
ISBN 0-87650-128-5

Rust, Brian.
The American dance band discography, 1917-1942 / Brian Rust. -- New Rochelle, N.Y. : Arlington House Publishers, c1975. (2 vols.)
ISBN 0-8700-0248-1
Very detailed discography, arranged by artist, giving record labels and catalog numbers, recording dates, performers on records, and some brief biographical information.

Rust, Brian.
The complete entertainment discography, from 1897-1942 -- 2nd ed. / Brian Rust. -- New York : Da Capo Press, c1989
ISBN 0-3067-6210-2
Same notes apply as above.

Rust, Brian.
Jazz records, 1897-1942 -- 4th rev. and enl. ed. / Brian Rust. -- New Rochelle, N.Y. : Arlington House Publishers, c1978. (2 vols.)
ISBN 0-8700-0404-2
Same notes apply as above.

Santelli, Robert.
The big book of blues : a biographical encyclopedia / Robert Santelli. -- New York : Penguin Books, 1993.
ISBN 0-14-01-5939-8
Another fine blues encyclopedia.

Schleman, Hilton R.
Rhythm on record / Hilton R. Schleman. -- Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, c1978. (Reprint of the 1936 ed. published by Melody Maker, London)
ISBN 0-313-20257-5
"A complete survey and register of all the principal recorded dance music from 1906 to 1936 and a who's who of the artists concerned in the making."

Smith, Ronald L.
Comedy on record : the complete critical discography / Ronald L. Smith. -- New York : Garland Publishing Co., 1988.
ISBN 0-8240-8461-6
Along with Rev. Debenham's book, this is one of the only books thoroughly covering comedy recordings. Unlike Debenham's book, Smith's includes heavy annotations on album contents (giving away many of the jokes) and some collecting information. It also fails to provide release dates, and does not cover every demented artist possible.

Warner, Jay.
The Billboard book of American singing groups : a history, 1940-1990 / Jay Warner. -- New York : Billboard Books, 1992.
ISBN 0-8230-8264-4
Arranged by encylopedia-like entry for each group, with brief discographies; heavy emphasis on the 1950s.

Whitburn, Joel.
Joel Whitburn's bubbling under the hot 100, 1959-1985. -- Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research, c1992.
ISBN 0-8982-0082-2

Whitburn, Joel.
Joel Whitburn's pop memories, 1890-1954 : the history of American popular music : compiled from America's popular music charts 1890-1954. -- Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research, c1986.
ISBN 0-8982-0083-0

Whitburn, Joel.
Joel Whitburn's top pop albums, 1955-1996 : compiled from Billboard magazine's pop album charts, 1955-1996 -- [4th ed.] -- Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research, c1996.
ISBN 0-89820-117-9

Whitburn, Joel.
Joel Whitburn's top pop singles, 1955-1993 : compiled from Billboard's pop singles charts, 1955-1993 -- [7th ed.] -- Menomonee Falls, Wis. : Record Research, c1994.
ISBN 0-8982-0104-7


Contents of this bibliography are compiled by Annie Sattler, Dickinson Library, The University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Annotations are solely the views of the author.
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Updated 11/21/96