Memories of Undervelopment

Thanks to the miracle of Google, we have unearthed another recorded artifact by Linda Laurie -- the mysterious auteuress behind our all-time favorite novelty song, "Ambrose, Part 5" (which can be heard, along with much else, downstairs at Friday's Weekend Listomania). That's her to the right, in a classic early 60s show-biz pose.

In any case, the song is titled "Jose He Say," (an attempted cash-in on Bill Dana's now mostly forgotten Jose Jiminez character, we're guessing) and whoever did the voice of Ambrose seems to be doing the honors as the titular hero.

Listen to it here.

And here's a link to the picture sleeve for the French release version (on Atlantic Records, no less).

Postscript: Another Google search has turned up what is, apparently, Ms. Laurie's current phone number. I'm thinking an interview may be in order....

Postscript part deux: Ohmigod -- just got off the phone with her, and she's a delight, with lots of great stories to tell (did you know she's got a writer credit on Puff Daddy's "All About the Benjamins"? I certainly didn't). Plus, she did the Ambrose voice for me -- a surreal and wonderful moment; I haven't been so excited since I did a phoner with June Foray, the voice of Rocket J. Squirrel, and she actually said "And now here's something we hope you really like!"

Anyway -- Ms. Laurie will have her own website up in a month or so; stay tuned here for more details and that interview. Could definitely be a hot one.