Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America Volume One The Early Years
Encyclopedia
Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America: Volume One The Early Years is an American comedy album with music and dialogue written by Stan Freberg
, released as Capitol W/SW-1573 in 1961. Freberg parodies episodes of the history of the United States
from 1492 until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. The album combined dialogue and song in a musical theater format. Billy May
was the orchestrator for the music.
In addition to Freberg, the cast included the following performers:
Freberg used anachronistic and self-referential humour in these sketches, such as referring to the Fourth of July
weekend in the "Declaration of Independence" sketch, the Thanksgiving Day in the skit on "Take an Indian to lunch, this week",as well as the "Thanksgiving Turkey" portion, and Columbus Day
in the "Columbus Discovers America". Freberg also referred to McCarthyism
in the "Declaration of Independence" sketch, where Benjamin Franklin talks about "signing a few harmless documents, forgetting all about it, and years later finding oneself in front of a committee."
Admirers of this album have included Steven Spielberg
, Richard Dreyfuss
and Paul McCartney
.
Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America, Volume Two was planned for a release during America's Bicentennial
in 1976, but did not emerge until 1996. In Freberg's autobiography, he detailed his efforts to have the songs and skits produced on Broadway; when this failed, he used material omitted from the original album in the sequel.
A third volume of this trilogy was planned, however, due to Freberg's wife, Donna's death, as well as Freberg's own personal health problems, this project was shelved.
Stan Freberg
Stanley Victor "Stan" Freberg is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, and advertising creative director whose career began in 1944...
, released as Capitol W/SW-1573 in 1961. Freberg parodies episodes of the history of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1492 until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. The album combined dialogue and song in a musical theater format. Billy May
Billy May
William E. "Billy" May was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music, for The Green Hornet , Batman , and Naked City and collaborated on films, such as Pennies from Heaven , and orchestrated Cocoon, and Cocoon: The Return among...
was the orchestrator for the music.
In addition to Freberg, the cast included the following performers:
|
Shepard Menken Shepard Menken was an American voice actor and character actor.Menken began his career at the age of 11, when he started appearing on children's radio programs... Walter Tetley Walter Tetley , an American voice actor, was a child impersonator in radio's classic era, with regular roles on The Great Gildersleeve and The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, as well as continuing as a voice-over artist in animated cartoons, commercials, and spoken-word record albums... Marvin Miller (actor) Marvin Elliott Miller was an American film and voice-over actor. Possessing a deep, baritone voice, he began his career in radio in St. Louis, Missouri before becoming a Hollywood actor... June Foray June Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters... Barney Phillips Barney Phillips was an American film, radio and television actor.-Biography and career:He was born Bernard Philip Ofner in St. Louis, Missouri, to Harry Nathan Ofner, a commercial salesman for the leather industry, and Leona Frank Ofner, a naturalized citizen of German origin, who went by the... |
Paul Frees Paul Frees was an American voice actor and character actor.-Biography:He was born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago... (narrator) |
Freberg used anachronistic and self-referential humour in these sketches, such as referring to the Fourth of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
weekend in the "Declaration of Independence" sketch, the Thanksgiving Day in the skit on "Take an Indian to lunch, this week",as well as the "Thanksgiving Turkey" portion, and Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
in the "Columbus Discovers America". Freberg also referred to McCarthyism
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
in the "Declaration of Independence" sketch, where Benjamin Franklin talks about "signing a few harmless documents, forgetting all about it, and years later finding oneself in front of a committee."
Admirers of this album have included Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Stephen Dreyfuss is an American actor best known for starring in a number of film, television, and theater roles since the late 1960s, including the films American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Goodbye Girl, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Stakeout, Always, What About...
and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
.
Stan Freberg Presents The United States of America, Volume Two was planned for a release during America's Bicentennial
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
in 1976, but did not emerge until 1996. In Freberg's autobiography, he detailed his efforts to have the songs and skits produced on Broadway; when this failed, he used material omitted from the original album in the sequel.
A third volume of this trilogy was planned, however, due to Freberg's wife, Donna's death, as well as Freberg's own personal health problems, this project was shelved.
Track titles
- Overture
- "Columbus Discovers America: It's a Round, Round World"
- "Pilgrim's Progress (Take an Indian to Lunch)"
- "Thanksgiving Story (Under the Double Turkey)"
- "Sale of Manhattan: Top Hat, White Feather, and Tails"
- "Boston Tea Party"
- "Declaration of Independence: A Man Can't Be Too Careful What He Signs These Days"
- "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" [not on original LP]
- "Betsy Ross and the Flag: Everybody Wants to Be an Art Director" [slightly longer version than original LP]
- "Discovery of Electricity" [not on original LP]
- "Washington Crosses the Delaware (Command Decision)"
- "Yankee Doodle Go Home (Spirit of '76)"
- "Battle of Yorktown:
- Finale: "So Long, Friend"