On the charts July 31, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #108 (down 6) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums.

Week 42: OG "Pac-Man Fever" on CD

As you may have noticed, there was no CD version of PMF. The format didn't exist when the album was released. But the original song has been published three times on CD. (All scans courtesy Discogs.com.)

The first was the K-Tel compilation, Seems Like Yesterday Vol. IV - Early 80's, released in 1990.

The second was also a K-Tel compilation. This time it was Madcap Melodies, a 1996 compilation of novelty songs.

Finally, it was included on disc 3 of Rhino's box set, Like, Omigod! The '80s Pop Culture Box (Totally), from 2002.

Yes, you will find the song on other CDs, but those contain the 1999 re-recording.

UPDATE: Thanks to Ron "Boogiemonster" Gerber of radio show Crap From the Past, I now know that only the Omigod! CD actually has the complete song. The other two CDs fade the songs early, so are missing the last six seconds.

Happy birthday, Gary Garcia

Today we celebrate Gary Garcia's birthday. He was born 74 years ago (1948). Half the duo of Buckner & Garcia, he left us in 2011 at the much too young age of 63. Gone, but never forgotten.

On the charts July 24, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #102 (down 14) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums.

Week 41: Crazy Magazine parodies

Crazy Magazine was published by Marvel Comics in direct competition with the venerable Mad magazine. Circa 1982 they held a contest in which readers submitted "Crazy lyrics to popular songs." The winners were published in #87 (June 1982).

Valerie Roberts of Miami was one of the runner-ups with her parody of "Pac-Man Fever." (Right in the middle of this scan. Click to enlarge.) I'm not sure it really works with the tune, but hey.

In #92 (December 1982), The Eleventh Hour Special hosted by Behemoth Jack (a parody of The Midnight Special hosted by Wolfman Jack) featured #PacManFever parody "Snack-Fan Fever" by Bucktooth & Gorecia (actually by David Allikas).

The Eleventh Hour Special with Behemoth Jack was a recurring feature in Crazy Magazine. You can learn more about Jack at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe.

Looking for information on band arrangement

I came across this review of "Pac-Man Fever" band music, arranged by someone with the last name Cook. (Click to enlarge.) It's from The School Musician (June 1982; vol. 54, no. 10). I've only just realized I've never seen an arrangement of the song by someone named Cook! Anyone have info?

On the charts July 17, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #88 (down 3) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums.

Week 40: T-shirts

The album t-shirt was covered earlier, but these Pac-Man Fever t-shirts were probably the most ubiquitous use of the phrase "Pac-Man Fever" outside the song. It came in a variety of colors and, like many t-shirt of the day, the design sparkled.

The design on the t-shirts was also available on other items, like this cap.

Bonus item: Camp Saginaw T-shirt

Over the years, a couple of these "Camp Saginaw Fever... catch it" shirts from the '80s from Camp Saginaw in Oxford, PA have hit eBay. (Hat tip to David Latterman for confirming the location.) I have serious doubts they were licensed by Midway.

Off-Topic Tuesday: "80's Arcade" by Irish Elvis

Irish Elvis (a.k.a. Sean Tiedeman) created this short song for his film "The King of Arcades". Reverb Nation is now the only place to hear it and it comes with an intro as long as the actual song.

On this charts July 10, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #85 (down 7) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums.

Week 39: Buttons

Buttons were all the rage in the '80s, at least for a time. So naturally there were Pac-Man Fever buttons of various sorts. And probably mostly unlicensed. Here are some examples.

On the charts July 3, 1982

40 years ago today, the Pac-Man Fever album was #78 (down 4) on Cash Box Top 200 Albums.

Week 38: "Circa: Now" album by Rocket From the Crypt

Perhaps the oddest Pac-Man Fever-related item, I debated whether to even include it. There are no Buckner & Garcia songs on this 1992 punk album. There's no Pac-Man on this album.

It's just that the CD is printed to look sort of like a PMF 45. I would never have known this existed of I hadn't seen a bare copy of the CD in a used CD shop. (Scans courtesy http://Discogs.com.)