Inspired by the success of David Seville's "Witch Doctor," Sheb Wooley decided to work up his own tape-manipulation novelty and created "The Purple People Eater," a huge number one hit in 1958. This CD is a companion to Bear Family's That's My Pa box set and two other single discs which, in combination, account for most of Wooley's recordings. The Purple People Eater concentrates on novelty songs, including the instrumental EP The Purple People Eater Plays Earth Music, a couple of sequels to "The Purple People Eater," and the unbelievable "Pygmy Love." Other recordings are merely pop-oriented (Wooley's first hit from 1955, "Are You Satisfied") or up-tempo country, but for the most part, this is the wackiest music in Wooley's catalog. Bear Family usually organizes its reissues in a more sensible manner than Sheb Wooley received with his haphazard thematic packages, but lovers of novelty music will appreciate this one. ~ Greg Adams
