Long Song Title Top Ten: Jeremiah Peabody (#10)

Tweet

Yeah, I'm shortening them in the title, or else they'd end up being the only thing listed on the "most recent discussions" page once it posts! Here are ten of my favorite songs that have long titles. To qualify, there must be at least seven words in the official title, which includes parenthetical titles if they're "official" (the title listed on the label or with ASCAP/BMI). Here's the record-setting first song on the list. #10: Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving, Fast-Acting, Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills - Ray Stevens Ray Stevens isn't in the Country Music Hall of Fame yet. I wish they'd hurry. He isn't getting any younger, y'know. And let's face it: you know who he is, no matter how much you don't care for country music. This goes all the way back to the beginning, Stevens' first album, with a novelty song that spoofed the snake oil "wonder drug" commercials (think of this as Vitameatavegamin with music and without the alcohol) that were popular in the 50s. And, at the time, it set a record: it was the longest song in the history of the Billboard top 40. Eventually it was eclipsed by "medley" songs that, by copyright law, have to have the songs in the medley listed in the title, but as for a single song title, this was, and is, the champ of the top 40. Here's an interesting bit of trivia about Mr. Ragsdale (Stevens' real name is Harold Ray Ragsdale): while he is primarily known as a "novelty" or "comedy" act, the two Grammys he won for his music came for "straight" songs: "Misty" in 1975, and "Everything is Beautiful" in 1970. That'll make you need a green and purple pill to comprehend! Jeremiah Peabody's Polyunsaturated Quick-Dissolving, Fast-Acting, Pleasant-Tasting Green and Purple Pills Written by Ray Stevens Recorded by Ray Stevens From 1,837 Seconds of Humor, 1962 Do you have tired blood?