AboutLou Simon Expertise I can answer questions about many artists, songs or records from 1940-1990. I can often help with song lyrics, artist bio or other information requested
Experience I have programmed oldies radio stations about the USA and have written for radio networks that specialize in oldies programming.
Expert: Lou Simon Date: 7/15/2008 Subject: artist of a 45 record titled the fang
Question thought it was on mercury records,some lyrics are; shot through the stars,
landed on earth with a solid bang i'm the fang. also thought that the artist
went by the name ziggy stardust or something giving david bowie the initial
concept. would like to know any information on the artist, his music etc. had
the original 45 as a kid but was stolen in 1972 or 73. would it be worth
anything today? thanks
Answer Hi Michelle,
"Fang" was the third single released by Nervous Norvus on the Dot label. His first, "Transfusion" was a novelty hit in 1956. To a lesser degree, the follow-up single, "Ape Call", also got airplay. "Fang", however, came out in late '56 or early '57 and Dot records had become distracted by its new star, Pat Boone. Radio had become distracted by Elvis Presley...and "Fang" never even got on the national charts, causing Dot to drop Norvus from the artist roster. His real name was Jimmy Drake and he actually was a good singer but the novelty bug bit him and that's where he found his short-lived success.
The single is a rare one, since it wasn't played nationally and, therefore, was only distributed in regions of the country where there was a short, smattering of exposure.
Today, it would probably fetch $35-60 for a clean copy, if you found the right collector of novelty discs of that nature.
The record came out around David Jones' 10th birthday. Unless this record made a big splash in the UK, where he lived, it's unlikely that he ever heard the song. Certainly, it would not have, under any circumstance, influences his Ziggy Stardust persona nor his future nom de plume, David Bowie.
