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/ News

Catching "Pac-Man Fever" Once More

August 10, 2010 By Mike Duquette 2 Comments

It was one of the most unusual novelty records of the decade - not to mention one of The Second Disc's first Reissue Theory posts - and now it looks like it's coming back out on CD. That's right: Fuel 2000 is reissuing Buckner & Garcia's Pac-Man Fever.

Such was the mania for the classic arcade game in 1981 that Columbia released this most unusual of singles, which hit the Billboard Top 10 in 1982. An LP of other game-oriented novelty tracks followed. What added to the kitsch value was the authentic sound effects from each game mixed into the songs; in the pre-digital, pre-emulator days, they were sourced from recording in front of the arcade cabinets themselves. (That led to one of the more interesting goofs in music history: one can hear a deli order being placed in the intro to "Pac-Man Fever.")

Now, one of the sticking points about the LP itself and this new reissue: it's not yet been confirmed if this is going to be a reissue of the original, long-out-of-print Columbia LP or the just-not-as-good re-recording released on K-Tel in 2002. We've sent a message to the label asking confirmation, and we'll of course let everyone know once we find out. There will be some bonus tracks on here as well: the duo's other attempted 1982 novelty "E.T. I Love You" and "Hostage" - both of which appeared on the group's latter-day compilation Now & Then.

Order the set here (it's supposedly out today) and hit the jump to get the track list.

Buckner & Garcia, Pac-Man Fever (Fuel 2000, 2010)

  1. Pac-Man Fever
  2. Froggy’s Lament
  3. Ode to a Centipede
  4. Do the Donkey Kong
  5. Hyperspace
  6. The Defender
  7. Mousetrap
  8. Goin’ Berzerk
  9. E.T. I Love You
  10. Hostage

Tracks 1-8 released as Columbia LP RC 37941, 1982
Track 9 released as Columbia single 18-03167, 1982
Track 10 released on
Now and Then (Garbuck, 2009)

Categories: News

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Mike Duquette

Mike Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he was a teenager. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, holding positions at Legacy Recordings and Rhino Records and contributing to Allmusic, Discogs, City Pages, Ultimate Classic Rock and Mondo Records, for whom he penned liner notes for his favorite piece of music: John Williams' Oscar-winning score to 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.' Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with his wife, a cat named Ravioli, twin daughters and a large yet tasteful collection of music.

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Comments

  1. Jacob says

    August 11, 2010 at 9:50 pm

    I haven't heard this, but I am interested. If this turns out to be the original recording, I will have to pick this up.

    Reply
  2. Galley says

    September 4, 2010 at 8:31 am

    I saw it in the store. According to the info on the back, it appears it is the re-recordings.

    Reply

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