We Have The Power - 1976 Detroit Diesel industrial musical - RARE & STRANGE
$
100
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Description
If you've seen "Bathtubs Over Broadway" or read "Everything's Coming Up Profits," you know that private pressing "industrial musical" souvenir albums are some of the rarest and weirdest records in existence. These motivational musicals were only for dealers, salesmen, distributors and other industry insiders at sales meetings and conventions, and the souvenir vinyl records were not available to the public. And many of these shows boasted outstanding music and performances along with the bizarre corporate subject matter.
I'm the collector and historian profiled in the documentary "Bathtubs Over Broadway," and the co-author of "Everything's Coming Up Profits - The Golden Age of Industrial Musicals." I'm thinning out my stash of duplicates, and offering an assortment of records that range from the scarce, to the very rare, to the "you'll probably never encounter this again."
This one is an especially weird one: "We Have The Power," Detroit Diesel Allison's 1976 show, is basically a revival of Detroit Diesel's fantastic "Diesel Dazzle" show of ten years earlier. But without the top-notch cast, orchestra, and arrangements, it's not the same. Kinda a microcosm of how industrial shows, and maybe American industry itself, had slid off the post-war peak of the 60's.
Still, it's a Hank Beebe/Bill Heyer show, so attention must be paid. The old "Diesel Dazzle" songs are fine (and fascinating to compare to the originals if you have a copy of "Diesel Dazzle"). Hank and Bill wrote one new number for this low-budget outing, but Hank (my friend and mentor, and a star of "Bathtubs Over Broadway") recalls this show as a missed opportunity.
However! The cover is definitely a cornucopia of delights, with photos of the show, a truck, an ice sculpture shaped like the company logo, and a Detroit Diesel guy sitting on the edge of a platform near a fake elephant. On the back, more show photos, a display tent, and a clown. Plus a message from General Sales Manager C. B. Clum! We take our pleasures where we can find them.
The cover is in very nice shape except for the name "Megan O Connor" written on the back in marker. Did Mr. O'Connor return from the Detroit Diesel Allison meeting with the souvenir album, and hand it to young daughter Megan for her budding record collection? That's my theory.
The disc is in great shape and looks barely played. Presumably Megan quickly lost interest.
Side 1 has the show songs and side 2 has an Americana medley.
Don't miss this rare, deep cut oddity from the bizarre and fascinating world of industrial musicals.
Check out my other listings for many more killer examples of this deliciously strange and secret slice of American musical and corporate history, including the wonderful aforementioned "Diesel Dazzle" and other great Beebe/Heyer shows.
Buyers of multiple records get a break on shipping charges.
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