Official National Lampoon Stereo Test and Demonstration Record
Encyclopedia
The Official National Lampoon Stereo Test and Demonstration Record was a comedy album
in vinyl LP
format which was put out by National Lampoon magazine in 1974. The album was a parody of stereo
test and demonstration records, which were used by hi-fi
enthusiasts to test the performance limits of their audio systems. The tracks are titled as if they are normal audio test tracks, but in reality each one is a piece of sketch comedy. The album does however also function as a real stereo test recording.
Included with the record was a 32-page booklet entitled "The Official National Lampoon Hi-Fi Primer," which was a parody of a hi-fi glossary that included real advertisements from stereo equipment manufacturers. The liner notes for the album stand as a humor piece in their own right. After each section of liner notes, the reader is "required" to take a multiple choice test to see if he/she has understood the material.
The album, liner notes
, and booklet were conceived and written by Ed Subitzky
. Windy Craig was the producer, and John Hechtman was the sound engineer. The album was voice acted
by Subitzky, John Belushi
, Chevy Chase
and Emily Prager
. It was narrated by Stan Sawyer.
Six years later, in 1980, the related album Official National Lampoon Car Stereo Test and Demonstration Tape
, also by Ed Subitzky, was released on casette tape.
Side 2
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
in vinyl LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
format which was put out by National Lampoon magazine in 1974. The album was a parody of stereo
STEREO
STEREO is a solar observation mission. Two nearly identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to respectively pull farther ahead of and fall gradually behind the Earth...
test and demonstration records, which were used by hi-fi
High fidelity
High fidelity—or hi-fi—reproduction is a term used by home stereo listeners and home audio enthusiasts to refer to high-quality reproduction of sound or images, to distinguish it from the poorer quality sound produced by inexpensive audio equipment...
enthusiasts to test the performance limits of their audio systems. The tracks are titled as if they are normal audio test tracks, but in reality each one is a piece of sketch comedy. The album does however also function as a real stereo test recording.
Included with the record was a 32-page booklet entitled "The Official National Lampoon Hi-Fi Primer," which was a parody of a hi-fi glossary that included real advertisements from stereo equipment manufacturers. The liner notes for the album stand as a humor piece in their own right. After each section of liner notes, the reader is "required" to take a multiple choice test to see if he/she has understood the material.
The album, liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
, and booklet were conceived and written by Ed Subitzky
Ed Subitzky
Ed Subitzky, full name Edward Jack Subitzky is an American writer and artist, who is best known as a cartoonist, comics artist, and humorist/humor writer. He has also worked as a television comedy writer and performer, a writer and performer of radio comedy, and a writer of radio drama, as well as...
. Windy Craig was the producer, and John Hechtman was the sound engineer. The album was voice acted
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
by Subitzky, John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
, Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase
Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
and Emily Prager
Emily Prager
- Life and work :Prager grew up in Texas, Taiwan, and Greenwich Village, NY. She is a graduate of The Brearley School, Barnard College and has a Masters Degree in Education...
. It was narrated by Stan Sawyer.
Six years later, in 1980, the related album Official National Lampoon Car Stereo Test and Demonstration Tape
Official National Lampoon Car Stereo Test and Demonstration Tape
Official National Lampoon Car Stereo Test and Demonstration Tape was a comedy album in casette tape format which was put out by National Lampoon magazine in 1980. The album was a follow up to the Official National Lampoon Stereo Test and Demonstration Record, which was released in 1974...
, also by Ed Subitzky, was released on casette tape.
Track listing
Side 1- 1. Introduction to Side One
- 2. Test: Voice
- 3. Test: Balance
- 4. Demonstration: Several Parameters
- 5. Demonstration: Separation
- 6. Demonstration: Frequency Response
- 7. Test: Unmodulated Grooves
- 8. Special Service
- 9. Test: End of Side One
Side 2
- 1. Introduction to side 2
- 2. Test: Realism
- 3. Resistance Accuracy
- 4. Test: Phasing
- 5. Test: Exaggeration
- 6. Test: Listener
- 7. The Punishment Band
- 8. Conclusion
External links
- Mentioned at: http://www.marksverylarge.com/recordings/records.html
- Release date, etc. at: http://music.msn.com/album/?album=10191539