Temple City Kazoo Orchestra



Although online information is relatively sparse, it appears that the members of the kazoo ensemble attended high school together in Temple City, California, in the 1970s. Two singles were released, the "Some Kazoos" EP (1978) and [Kazooed On Classics / In The Mood (1982), both on the Rhino Records label, at that time home of leftfield artists including Wild Man Fischer. A number of their distinctive covers of popular favourites have since appeared on compilations of novelty songs.

Links to Peel
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Peel's love of unusual cover versions meant that Temple City Kazoo Orchestra's debut release received extensive airtime on his show. Currently available show tracklistings suggest that "Whole Lotta Love" was the first track played, 04 October 1978, apparently in response to Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin phoning up the show (after hearing Peel play the B-52s debut single).

Despite repeated plays of "Some Kazoos" tracks in October 1978, Peel is not known to have played Temple City Kazoo Orchestra again after that month.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions

 * None

Other Shows Played





 * 04 October 1978: Whole Lotta Love (EP – Some Kazoos) Rhino (played after Robert Plant phoned up to ask about the B-52s debut single, after Peel played it the previous week)
 * 06 October 1978: Stayin’ Alive (EP – Some Kazoos) Rhino (described by JP as “fairly extravagant”)
 * 13 October 1978: Whole Lotta Love (12” EP) Rhino (JP: “back by popular request” … “a bit of a heavy metal classic”.)
 * 20 October 1978: 2001 Sprach Kazoostra (EP - Some Kazoos) Rhino (Peel says he's playing it for anyone with a dog or who is feeling down.)
 * 25 October 1978: Stayin’ Alive (EP – Some Kazoos) Rhino (US import) (JP: “Thank goodness that the old musical values have not been eroded entirely.”)
 * 27 October 1978: Whole Lotta Love (12" EP - Some Kazoos) Rhino