Sings Ernie: The Fastest Milkman in the West

Titled for the Christmas 1971 hit single that kept T. Rex off the top of the U.K. chart, Sings Ernie is a raucous, ribald, but most of all remarkably enduring collection of (primarily) novelty songs, performed by a comedian who really could sing a lot better than he usually let on. "Ernie" is the all-out classic, of course, a tale of love, loss, and infidelity played out in a Wild West where the cowboys all ride milk floats, and stale pies are the weapons of choice. But you also get the immortal silliness of "Ting-A-Ling-A-Loo" (the sound, in case you need to know, that you should make every time you stick your finger in your ear), and a clutch of putative love songs that simply can't keep their face straight, no matter how sincere the instrumental backing might be. A handful of spoken word performances are also included, all as memorable as the music that surrounds them, and while Hill was always, definitely an acquired taste for many viewers, listeners will be pleasantly surprised by just how funny he could be. ~ Dave Thompson|