SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 41:00 Min.
This novelty tie-in album was first released by Golden Records in 1964 to exploit the 1964-66 TV series’ popularity. BMG Records subsequently re-issued the album in 2021. Featuring the primary cast (Yvonne De Carlo, Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, Pat Priest – the second ‘Marilyn Munster,’ and Butch Patrick), the album’s script and lyrics were written by Bob Mosher. The show’s composer, Jack Marshall, supplies the instrumental score. Ezra Stone directed this recording project.
The premise has Herman taking young listeners (as an unseen neighbor) on a late morning tour of the Munsters’ home and meeting the family. The tracks and mostly spoken-word tunes are:
SIDE A:
- At The Munsters (note: The young vocalists sing lyrics over an adaptation of the TV theme).
- Herman Says “Hello” (Gwynne)
- It Takes All Kinds of People (Gwynne: song vocals)
- Everyone is Welcome (Gwynne & De Carlo: song vocals)
- Meet Our Pets (De Carlo & Gwynne)
- Meet Grandpa! (Gwynne, De Carlo, & Lewis)
- Grandpa’s Lab (Gwynne & Lewis: song vocals)
- Eddie!(Gwynne & Patrick)
- I Wish Everyone Was Born That Way (Patrick: song vocals)
- Marilyn: “When Will I Find a Boyfriend for Me?” (Gwynne & Priest: vocals)
- Nice of You to Drop In / At The Munsters (reprise) (Gwynne: vocals & De Carlo: vocals)
SIDE B:
- Herman’s Favorite Story (Gwynne summarizes the episode: “Grandpa’s Call of the Wild”)
- Lily’s Favorite Story (De Carlo summarizes the episode: “If A Martian Answers, Hang Up”)
- Grandpa’s Favorite Recipe (Lewis explains how to make Grandpa’s Do-It-Yourself magic potion)
- Final Theme. (jazz Instrumental).
Herman Munster: Fred Gwynne
Lily Munster: Yvonne De Carlo
Grandpa (Dracula): Al Lewis
Marilyn Munster: Pat Priest
Eddie Munster: Butch Patrick
Kid Vocalists (Track 1): Uncredited.
REVIEW:
For a kiddie recording (consistent with a popular 1960’s trend), this album is predictably the equivalent of a Munsters radio show. To the record company’s credit, the album’s contents, sound-wise, have been kept in pristine shape. Side A is geared towards teasing the show’s campy gimmicks while Side B is all padding. Narrating most of the album, Fred Gwynne, in particular, delivers an endearingly low-key performance.
Sporting droll, tongue-in-cheek imagination, die-hard Munsters fans will appreciate this rare supplement to the TV series. The flip side is that the TV show’s reliance upon sight gags becomes lost in translation when the cast has only minimal sound effects to work with. For all others, the album is surely a forty-minute eyeroll.
Unlike Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s spoofy “Monster Mash” tune, this album’s antiquated camp humor practically creaks in comparison. At Home With The Munsters, unfortunately, would fall flat and quickly be deemed boring at a kindergarten’s Halloween party in the 2020’s. Hence, classic TV nostalgia, if anything, is the sole purpose for obtaining this album.
PACKAGING:
The outer casing accurately lists the credits and tracks without any running times. An interior sleeve effectively shields the record. No matter how dated the album’s material is, the packaging design is first-rate.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3½ Stars
