Richard Dawson recorded a kooky psychedelic record while making Hogan's Heroes

Have you ever heard a Family Feud host sing about fruit?

The Everett Collection

Richard Dawson is famous for two things — kissing contestants as the host of Family Feud and playing the crafty Corporal Peter Newkirk on Hogan's Heroes. Sure, you might know him for his brief stint as a cast member on Laugh-In, as a cheeky panelist on Match Game, or perhaps as the villain in the Schwarzenegger movie The Running Man.

But you definitely do not know him as a psychedelic musician.

The cast of Hogan's Heroes was no stranger to making novelty records. The entire gang cut an album in 1966 called Hogan's Heroes Sing The Best Of World War II. Dawson contributed two tracks, performing "This Is Worth Fighting For" to close out the collection and duetting with Larry Hovis on "Nightingale Sang On Barkley Square." Those bordered on spoken word, with Dawson occasionally crooning in a heavy Cockney accent.

A year later, as the psychedelic era was hitting full swing, Dawson dabbled in trippy territory — though, honestly, he tripped up more than he took minds on a trip.

Dawson released a 45 titled "His Children's Parade" / "Apples and Oranges." There are equally bizarre and amusing. 

The A-Side, co-written and arranged by Jerry Fielding, the acclaimed composer behind film scores like The Wild Bunch, attempts to meld traditional English parade music with the LSD-inspired sounds of the era, like Sgt. Pepper's. But, obviously, not that successfully.

Take a listen.

The mellower "Apples and Oranges" fares a little better, as Dawson softens his singing and tones down the accent. But, again, you realize why he turned to game shows. Especially when you get to the dark ending.

Take a listen.


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19 Comments

gatxer 42 months ago
Does anyone know if Richard Dawson was the unseen voice on the radio? It sounds like him but I've never seen who it is listed anywhere.
MrsPhilHarris 61 months ago
While looking up the songs there was a youtube video of Richard Dawson hosting a Playboy show on ABC in 79. So bizarre.
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Hahahaha!!!! I used to love The Critic!! Totally cracked me up! Haven't seen this in eons!
One of my all time favorites! Bought the DVD set years ago.
Dario MrsPhilHarris 42 months ago
That's the late Chuck McCann who was the "Hi guy!" in those Right Guard commercials for years. He was also in those Amco Windshield Wipers commercials with the late Jim McGeorge where they did their Laurel & Hardy imitation.
Pacificsun 61 months ago
I wish I hadn't. Listened.
One audio antidote coming atcha! Buckle up 3:36.
MrsPhilHarris Pacificsun 61 months ago
Same here. They are both awful. Just awful.
Angie RobCertSDSCascap 61 months ago
Does this have something to do with Richard Dawson?
RobCertSDSCascap Angie 61 months ago
It's not personal.
moax429 MrsPhilHarris 61 months ago
And now Sony Music's RCA Records division has the dubious honor of owning these tracks by Dawson (Bell Records - yes, *that* Bell Records who later had the Partridge Family and Tony Orlando and Dawn - evolved into Arista Records in 1975 and in 2011 Sony closed Arista and absorbed its catalog into RCA).

*Sony can have them!*
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