Published: May 20, 2009 08:21 am      

Turn back the clock to Camp Granada

Does the name Allan Sherman mean anything to you? Well, if his name doesn’t ring a bell, I bet his lyrics will.

“Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, Here I am at Camp Granada, Camp is very entertaining, And they say we’ll have some fun if it stops raining.” I grew up listening to Sherman; my dad owned the record, “My Son, the Nut,” with the infamous camping song on it. The record was in perfect condition; it still looks like new.

This record was unique — unlike anything I ever heard before. It was very different from my mom’s collection, which included Connie Francis and many, many Pat Boone records. My dad and I had a lot fun listening to the record over and over again. You will have to admit that a little girl in pigtails singing about Camp Granada is pretty funny.

Several years ago, I gave him a CD for Christmas, “The Best of Allan Sherman,” which had “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” on it. I thought I bought the perfect gift; however, I think I bought it mostly for myself because he eventually asked me if I wanted it back. I gladly took it; the CD is now in my car’s console.

Every once in awhile I just feel like hearing that goofy camping song. When I am having a bad day and nothing else seems to make me smile, I can sing along with Allan Sherman and start to feel like that little girl who sang with her dad who didn’t have a care in the world.

When I was a kid, I often thought about going to camp. However, I think Sherman’s lyrics scared it right out of me. I can remember singing, “You remember Leonard Skinner, He got ptomaine poisoning last night after dinner.” And afterwards, I wondered “What the heck is ptomaine poisoning?” There is some truth behind Sherman’s lyrics, the Grammy-winning novelty song was based on letters of complaints from his son who was attending Camp Champlain in New York.

I have often told my parents, that best part of my inheritance from them will be their record collections. My mom and I had a lot of fun listening to her old 45s and 8-track tapes when I was a kid. We would dance around the living room like we were on “American Bandstand.”

I think my habit of cranking up the volume comes from her because when my dad would come home at night, he could hear the music while walking across the driveway to the house. I loved dancing and singing to “Charlie Brown” and my favorites, “Honeycomb” “Snoopy the Red Baron” and Dean Martin’s “Wallpaper Roses.” Do you remember any of those? Now, my co-workers will finally know why I am stuck in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Thanks, mom.

Once in awhile when I am doing housework, I still play some of my 45s that I bought growing up. The majority of my records are sung by Barbara Mandrell. I think I have every single she recorded in the ‘80s. I was even a member of her fan club until I decided it wasn’t cool anymore. Heh, everybody goes through phases right? I still love singing to “I Love a Rainy Night” by Eddie Rabbit. I think that was probably one of his biggest hits. I try to dance around with Cordy but she runs away from me. Then I chase after her yelling, “Don’t run away from mamma!” And I wonder why I don’t get visitors.

So, when you are driving home from work today put in your favorite CD and sing along. Let the wind blow through your hair and just enjoy the ride. And, be grateful that your parents never sent you to Camp Granada.



Angie Bicker is the lifestyles editor with the Clinton Herald. She has been with the Herald since 2001.