Real life songs released by actors as their tv character.

Hangdogroad · 01-07-2022 3:01pm #1

Don't know if this is as much a thing anymore but in the 70s, 80s and 90s spin off singles from popular TV shows where the actor "sings" in character were a big thing.

Paul Henry released this single in 1977 as Benny, the simple minded handyman he played in ITV soap Crossroads. Its pretty bizarre.

https://youtu.be/9In-R2AN_V4

Its got nothing on this though. Worzel Gummage aka Jon Pertwee singing to kids about stranger danger. Jaunty latin beat with lyrics about kids ending up dead if they talk to strangers.

https://youtu.be/PBSU0JYwIvo

01-07-2022 3:10pm

Neil from The Young Ones (Nigel Planer) did a song called Hole in my Shoe

The Young Ones cast duetted with Cliff Richard on Livin' Doll.

Not sure if Alexi Sayle released Dr Martin's Boots as the character Mr Bolovski

Hangdogroad · 01-07-2022 3:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119276727#Comment_119276727

Good call. I think Dr Martin Boots was as Mr Bolowskis nephew or something like that, at least on the show.

Hangdogroad · 01-07-2022 3:17pm

Mick Lally in character as Miley recorded the Byroad To Glenroe in 1990, it showed him on the show in the recording studio with Biddy. It was released as a single shortly after. Dont think this was common on Irish tv shows, outside of kids tv.

https://youtu.be/mOpDtHr4f5c

01-07-2022 3:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119276738#Comment_119276738

Sure was. I think it was Reggie Bolowski. Car salesman or something.

CastorTroy · 01-07-2022 3:39pm

Would you count Chef for Chocolate Salty Balls or even that album?

Were the Grange Hill kids in character for "Just say no!" I know there were scenes agreed out but when it showed them singing, was it the actors or the characters?

silliussoddius · 01-07-2022 3:55pm

Didn't Arthur Daly release a song? Saw a small clip, 'orrible stuff. Coogan's character Tony Ferrino had a song called Bigamy at Christmas, he was hoping to get number two behind the Spice Girls, in his own words being behind the Spice Girls was a nice place to be.

Hangdogroad · 01-07-2022 3:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119276897#Comment_119276897

Yeah Chocolate Salty Balls definitely counts.

Just Say No is an odd one as its kind blurring the lines between the actors and the characters they're playing. It's under Cast Of Grange Hill rather than the kids from Grangehill or whatever.

is_that_so · 01-07-2022 3:59pm

Didn't all of those made up TV bands from the late 60s and 70s, The Monkees etc., record stuff?

head82 · 01-07-2022 4:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119276988#Comment_119276988

There was a Christmas song released by Arthur and Terry (Minder). I think it was called' What am I going to get for 'er indoors?'

Saw them perform it once on one of those TOTP Christmas specials. If that's the one you're thinking of, you're right.. truly awful stuff.

gipi · 01-07-2022 4:28pm

Not quite an actor, but musician Mike Batt released several songs as The Wombles back in the 70s.

Hangdogroad · 01-07-2022 4:28pm

Snot Rap by Kenny Everett as Sid Snot. Novelty rap songs started to become a big thing around the early 80s.

https://youtu.be/ULzVLU9caVw

Hangdogroad · 01-07-2022 4:56pm

Staying with the Young Ones connection the Comic Strip Presents fictional heavy metal band Bad News recorded a number of albums and singles and even performed at Donnington Monsters Of Rock 86, where they got pelted with bottles of piss by some of the crowd who didn't appreciate the joke.

https://youtu.be/e9G63WZdCnQ

Allinall · 01-07-2022 5:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119277025#Comment_119277025

Terry/ Dennis Waterman RIP sang the theme song for Minder.

I could be so good for you.

silliussoddius · 01-07-2022 5:06pm

Then there's the Teletubbies.

JP Liz V1 · 01-07-2022 5:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119277233#Comment_119277233

Did he also do for New Tricks?

My first memory would be PJ and Duncan aka Ant and Dec from Byker Grove, Let's get ready to Rumble

Goldengirl · 01-07-2022 6:04pm

Eastenders song , Sharon Watts, Ian Beale and Kelvin 1986 " Something outta nothing "

https://youtu.be/2FXMqyZ5idY

not that great but funny to see Sharon so young !

Eastenders again Angie Watts " Anyone can fall in love " 1986 , song to the theme tune ,

https://youtu.be/q4L5Bbm5BNw

Anita Dobson who is married in real life to Brian May, and Simon May, any relation?

And finally Nick Berry aka Wicksy singing " Every Loser wins "

https://youtu.be/JyTzmhFQt2o

again1986 !

JP Liz V1 · 01-07-2022 6:49pm

Nick Berry did the Heartbeat theme song

Shakyfan · 01-07-2022 8:53pm

The Nick Berry and Anota Dobson ones were done under their own names rather than the character's names.

odyssey06 · 01-07-2022 9:08pm

Robson and Jerome got to #1 with a song (cover of Unchained Melody) they first sang in character in Soldier Soldier. They were pretty much singing in character even if not officially named as such.

odyssey06 · 01-07-2022 9:13pm

Leonard Nimoy Presents Mr. Spock's Music from Outer Space

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Nimoy_Presents_Mr._Spock%27s_Music_from_Outer_Space

Hangdogroad · 01-07-2022 10:16pm

I dont remember this at all but Joe Lynch recorded an album as Dinny in 1983, the year Glenroe first aired. Only found out about its existence fairly recently.

JP Liz V1 · 01-07-2022 11:22pm

Did Jimmy Nail record something from a TV show?

gabria · 01-07-2022 11:55pm

When Ant and Dec originally started doing music, they sang under their Biker Grove character names PJ and Duncan. Their main hit was 1994's Let's get ready to rhumble

JP Liz V1 · 02-07-2022 1:04am

Emmerdale cast did Hillbilly Rock

odyssey06 · 02-07-2022 2:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119278592#Comment_119278592

I thought there was a connection between Spender and song Aint No Doubt but drew a blank googling

Rothko · 02-07-2022 11:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119277120#Comment_119277120

1996 I think. It kept Design For Life off the top of the charts.

odyssey06 · 02-07-2022 12:24pm

Honourable mention to Father Ted for My Lovely Horse :)

Shakyfan · 02-07-2022 2:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119278771#Comment_119278771

Crocodile Shoes was from the BBC series of the same name. But all his recordings were under his own name.

Archeron · 02-07-2022 2:36pm

Neil Morrissey as Bob the builder, Christmas number one in 2000

Can we fix it, yes we can.

adaminho · 02-07-2022 3:19pm

https://youtu.be/10dmK7O-KSY

Don Estelle and Windsor Davies had a Number 1 hit under their own names but in character fro it ain't half hot mum.

adaminho · 02-07-2022 3:21pm

https://youtu.be/JAIOzM7SsMo

Morris Minor and the majors went the opposite way and spun a TV series out of their novelty hit.

JP Liz V1 · 02-07-2022 3:22pm

Robert Downey Jnr did a few for Ally McBeal

Does John Cena thuganomics count 😄

CastorTroy · 02-07-2022 7:47pm

How could we forget Dustin and Zig & Zag? Think Podge & Rodge as well?

Hangdogroad · 03-07-2022 7:57am

An early example would be Warren Mitchell who recorded a number of singles and albums as Alf Garnett, his character in Till Death Do Us Part.

https://youtu.be/60g_XgLfu7I

Hangdogroad · 03-07-2022 8:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119280208#Comment_119280208

None of the Fr Ted songs and music got an official release though, as far as I'm aware* Its baffling as to why there never was a Fr Ted soundtrack album release.

*By this I mean the ones recorded specifically for the show, like the theme tune, My Lovely Horse, and Fr Dick Byrnes Eurovision entry.

razorblunt · 03-07-2022 8:13am

Who’s in the House? - Fr Brian and the Fun Lovin’ Criminals.

Brendan O’Connor’s segment character from Don’t Feed the Gondolas.

Shakyfan · 03-07-2022 11:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119283110#Comment_119283110

Not forgetting the follow up - What's The Time?

https://www.discogs.com/release/14388207-Father-Brian-Whats-The-Time

NewbridgeIR · 03-07-2022 11:46am

Roland Rat Superstar - Rat Rapping

A classic from 1983 - sadly still not on CD / digital

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m64UgTJ1DM

Hangdogroad · 03-07-2022 2:25pm

John Creedon released Que Sera Sera as a single under the Terrence persona. Technically more a radio comedy character but he used to make the odd tv appearance as him.

PsychoPete · 03-07-2022 9:53pm

Can't forget The Simpsons - Do The Bartman

maudgonner · 03-07-2022 10:21pm

Rock on, Bosco!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhYWz5nVNDU

Hangdogroad · 05-07-2022 9:06am

Rory (Jim Golding), O Brien (Eugene Lambert) and the puppet characters from Wanderly Wagon released Songs From Wanderly Wagon in 1969. No Godmother strangely enough, was she yet in the show at that point? There's no audio links to the songs themselves online, a shame as its more than likely nothing of the show from that early on survives in the archives.

Edit: just saw Godmother is mentioned on the back cover.

https://www.discogs.com/master/1612020-Rory-OBrien-Fortycoats-Foxy-Loxy-Judge-Songs-From-Wanderly-Wagon

Hangdogroad · 12-11-2023 1:15pm

Another one from Paul Henry as Benny, this one had a promotional video.

https://youtu.be/ARMiVEnitEE?si=eBRIdacbzhDgfkIi

Hodors Appletart · 14-11-2023 10:31am

Someone mentioned Jimmy Nail - does the Song 'Crocodile Shoes' and the accompanying album count?

icdg · 14-11-2023 11:27am

The song Danny John-Jules sings at the start of the 1988 Red Dwarf episode “Parallel Universe” was released commercially, I think. (And if you want to see, it happens to be repeated on BBC Two on Friday night at 10pm!).

Rikand · 14-11-2023 11:33am

Timmy Mallett. Itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini

Hangdogroad · 14-11-2023 12:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366077#Comment_121366077

As far as I know that was as himself, not connected with tv roles or characters.

silliussoddius · 14-11-2023 7:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366362#Comment_121366362

That will replace the whale in my dreams.

Hangdogroad · 14-11-2023 8:44pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121366362#Comment_121366362

Wasn't connected with a TV show, was as himself.

squonk · 14-11-2023 11:13pm

Lee Majors played a stunt man in an early 80s TV show called The Fall Guy. He also sang the theme tune “Unknown Stuntman” that was released as a single.

Real life songs released by actors as their tv character.

Comments