Tuesday, October 27, 1998
Cartoon hero will release
anticipated second album
MUSIC: Space Ghost presents previously unheard songs, skits from
popular television shows
By Ricky Herzog
Daily Bruin Contributor
One might call him a true renaissance man for the ’90s. He
defends the galaxy against the forces of evil, he interviews
Hollywood celebrities and he sings about the merits of baloney
sandwiches. He is Space Ghost.
A popular cartoon character from the ’60s, Space Ghost has been
reinvented in a way most superheros could only dream. He stars in
two cartoon shows of his own – the popular "Cartoon Planet" and
"Space Ghost Coast to Coast." And now, as a follow up to his
popular "Musical Bar-B-Q" album, "Space Ghost’s Surf & Turf," a
collection of Cartoon Planet’s musical interludes, is coming to a
record store near you. Joining him on the album are two alien
sidekicks – Brak and Zorak, a dim-witted space pirate and a
six-foot-tall space mantis, respectively.
The album is a grab bag of different subjects and musical
styles, representative of Space Ghost’s highly varied fan base. It
includes a love song entitled "Mashed Potatoes" in which Zorak
sings pleadingly to his lover, "I’ve eaten meatballs in Sweden/ And
pork chops in Peru/ But all it did was remind me/ of you,
baby."
Another track hearkens to the child in all of us. One can almost
hear the lunch bell ringing as Zorak sings, "I once had a beautiful
sandwich/ Oh, man, I’m talkin’ hey/ It was made with fresh beef
baloney/ Mom bought it yesterday."
When asked to describe this new ambitious musical project, Space
Ghost cited his motivations for creating this new album.
"We’re all about values. We love the rock Å’n’ roll at the
Cartoon Network, and by golly as long as it’s public domain, we’re
all over the peppiest sounds we can muster. When you’re looking for
quality entertainment that the whole family can latch onto and
enjoy again and again, buy Å’Surf & Turf’ in quality record
stores everywhere."
And what does an intergalactic superhero draw upon for musical
inspiration during the creative process?
"Å’Surf & Turf’ was inspired by the goofy stuff we did
on Å’Cartoon Planet’," he says. "We saved these little leftover
things we had at the end of the sessions and ultimately we had a
whole CD just with all the dumb little songs and skits and things
we swept off the studio floor."
Those goofy songs and skits are sure not to go unnoticed, due in
large part to Space Ghost’s wide and devoted fan base. He cites
these fans as central to his success.
"It’s amazing," he says. "Thanks to fine Americans such as
yourself, we built this wonderful group of grassroot supporters –
if you will – who have to have their weekly Space Ghost. I’m
depending on you kids to make me old, fat and successful
someday."
Though Space Ghost acknowledges his success, he still holds a
mock bitterness against the major music stars with whom his new
album will be competing.
"Ya, (the pop stars) are all hacks," he jokes. "Especially the
ones selling double platinum when I’m struggling to – I think we’ve
gone gold foil now."
While attempting to break into pop stardom of his own, Space
Ghost still has the same, everyday concerns as the average joe. He
may be a superhuman multimedia star, but he still has his share of
dirty laundry to air.
"You must change your tights everyday," he explains. "You wash
them with lemon fresh Tide. We squeeze a bunch of lemons in with
the formula. Zorak is what we call my laundry mistress."
Clearly a man of many interests, Space Ghost seems to avoid
being pigeon-holed at all costs. Does he have any other fields he
plans on conquering in the near future?
"I would like to break into face painting," he reveals. "I would
like to tour with Garbage and paint faces for the audiences."
From face painting to belting out tunes to fighting evil, Space
Ghost definitely seems to have a farther reaching range than most
humans from the planet Earth. Is it possible to apply some sort of
earthly definition to the enigma that is Space Ghost?
He states, "Space Ghost is what they call on your planet
Å’sweet available beef.’"
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