From the left that’s Farfi Fiddlefeast, Rifkin Swiftinbrush, Blinky Thinkertinker, and Erfo Oftengoof. Produced in 1981 on the K-Tel label (they put out cheap flexi comps of old hits like Ronco) this is basically Sword & Sorcery-style Chipmunks vocal characterizations over a Prog-Rock-Opera-Disco production melee. As far as composition goes, these guys mean it. Possibly Mormon?
They get a lot of points for the cover being super horrifying – but simple. Also note the shading. This is an early example of what I call “extreme shading” which took over cartoons and illustration in the late 80s and early 90s. Just look at that Yellow Balloon. You better believe there’s a song called Yellow Balloon.
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| The lyrics to When I Go Out To Play |
And there’s a completely hideous poster that’s included in the sleeve, with an accompanying map key and everything, describing the magical land of the Lolliwinks. My favorite place to chill is at Cockeye the Hermit’s Hole – where a reclusive can be seclusive.
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| Click To Make me BIG |
And here’s “Yellow Balloon” because you need to hear it. There is also a Jan and Dean song called “Yellow Balloon from their concept record Save For A Rainy Day, but this is not that, or related to that in any way, at all, not even a little.
The Lolliwinks never really got their fair shot
Simmons is one of my favorite illustrators
I know that the Lolliwinks never really broke into the mainstream, but analyzing their product & approach, maybe we've been over-thinking our projects all of these years?!
You may be right about the "Mormon connection," I seem to recall the Osmonds having something to do with producing or promoting the album. The music was largely written and performed by Larry Tamblyn, ex-member of garage rock band The Standells ("Dirty Water.") My much younger kid sister had this LP way back then and I couldn't stand it, even though I am a fan of David Seville and the Chipmunks (and will admit it!) A few years ago I found a nice copy in a second-hand store and gave it to her for Xmas…was she surprised.
I guess it makes sense that some kind of "real" rock guy was behind the Lolliwinks music. It's far too rocked out and orchestrated for the usual suspects who produced a huge swathe of the kid's music during this period. I'm actually a little blown away by the fact that Tamblyn was in the Standells. I've DJ'd in NYC for years, and it's a part of my musical mission to drop Dirty Water more often than not.
Anyway, dig that bullshit sax on "Yellow Balloon"! You got to think that Tamblyn took the project kind of seriously to some extent.