Deteriorata
Encyclopedia
Deteriorata is a famous parody
of San Francisco radio and television personality Les Crane
's spoken word
recording of Desiderata
. It was written by Tony Hendra
. It was recorded by National Lampoon
as part of their National Lampoon Radio Dinner
album of 1972. It was was also released as a single
, which stayed on the lower reaches of the Billboard magazine charts for a month in late 1972. In addition, a printed version of the "poem" became one of National Lampoon's best-selling posters.
The parody earned a great deal of cultural significance and popularity as a frequent presentation on the Dr. Demento
radio show. Les Crane himself admitted to preferring this version over his Grammy-winning recording of the original poem.
Voiceover talent Norman Rose
read the "poem" and then little-known Melissa Manchester
was a background singer on the chorus section of the song. Christopher Guest
wrote the music.
The word deteriorata is a portmanteau of "Desiderata" and deteriorate.
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of San Francisco radio and television personality Les Crane
Les Crane
Les Crane , born Lesley Stein, was a radio announcer and television talk show host, a pioneer in interactive broadcasting who also scored a spoken word hit with his 1971 recording of the poem Desiderata, winning a "Best Spoken Word" Grammy.Born in Long Beach, New York , Crane...
's spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
recording of Desiderata
Desiderata
Desiderata is a 1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann...
. It was written by Tony Hendra
Tony Hendra
Tony Hendra is an English satirist and writer who has worked mostly in the United States. Educated at St Albans School and Cambridge University, he was a member of the Cambridge University Footlights revue in 1962, alongside John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Tim Brooke-Taylor.-Career:In 1964 Hendra...
. It was recorded by National Lampoon
National Lampoon Inc
National Lampoon, Incorporated is a company formed in 2002 in order to use the brand name "National Lampoon" in comedy and entertainment. In the words of its prospectus, the role of the company is to "develop, produce, provide creative services and distribute National Lampoon branded comedic...
as part of their National Lampoon Radio Dinner
National Lampoon Radio Dinner
National Lampoon Radio Dinner is a comedy album from National Lampoon that was first released in 1972. The humor on the album was very much steeped in the pop culture of the era and includes such subjects as game shows , the 1972 presidential election National Lampoon Radio Dinner is a comedy album...
album of 1972. It was was also released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, which stayed on the lower reaches of the Billboard magazine charts for a month in late 1972. In addition, a printed version of the "poem" became one of National Lampoon's best-selling posters.
The parody earned a great deal of cultural significance and popularity as a frequent presentation on the Dr. Demento
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
radio show. Les Crane himself admitted to preferring this version over his Grammy-winning recording of the original poem.
Voiceover talent Norman Rose
Norman Rose
Norman Rose was an actor, film narrator and radio announcer whose velvety baritone was often called "the Voice of God" by colleagues...
read the "poem" and then little-known Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Beginning in the 1970s, she has recorded generally in the adult contemporary genre. She has also appeared as an actress on television, in films, and on stage....
was a background singer on the chorus section of the song. Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest
Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest , better known as Christopher Guest, is an American screenwriter, composer, musician, director, actor and comedian. He is most widely known in Hollywood for having written, directed and starred in several improvisational "mockumentary" films that...
wrote the music.
The word deteriorata is a portmanteau of "Desiderata" and deteriorate.
Song references
- "Remember the Maine"USS Maine (ACR-1)USS Maine was the United States Navy's second commissioned pre-dreadnought battleship, although she was originally classified as an armored cruiser. She is best known for her catastrophic loss in Havana harbor. Maine had been sent to Havana, Cuba to protect U.S. interests during the Cuban revolt...
, USS PuebloUSS Pueblo (AGER-2)USS Pueblo is an American ELINT and SIGINT Banner-class technical research ship which was boarded and captured by North Korean forces on January 23, 1968, in what is known as the Pueblo incident or alternatively as the Pueblo crisis or the Pueblo affair. Occurring less than a week after President... - "Do not fold, spindle or mutilate"