Songwriter. Bill Buchanan is given credit for making the first "break-in" novelty records in the mid-1950s with Dickie Goodman. Using pre-recorded songs, "Break-in" records made a sound collage to tell a science-fiction tale by cutting and splicing the lyrics and adding a speeded-up human voice being a radio announcer. The announcer was reporting Earth was being invaded by outer space aliens. Their first record was "Flying Saucer," which was a more humorous than frightening tale, and was fashioned similar to Orson Wells "The War of the Worlds." The record was a success, reaching #3 on the National Billboard. They used songs by Elvis, The Platters, Little Richard, and others. This followed with "Flying Saucer #2" and "Santa and the Satellite" in 1957, "Flying Saucer Goes West" in 1958, and "Flying Saucer #3" in 1959. At this point in 1959, his professional relationship with Goodman ended. Although he and Goodman did not obtain permission to use the pre-recorded songs, artists of the original songs did not successfully sue as their records sales increase in popularity. Buchanan met Goodman while working in the music department of 20th Century Fox. In 1962 he co-wrote "Please Don't Ask About Barbara," which Bobby Vee recorded and reached #15 on the Hot Billboard 100. Later in life, he became the president of the manufacturing of Disk-Go Cases, a plastic cylindrical portable 45 RPM record storage unit.
Songwriter. Bill Buchanan is given credit for making the first "break-in" novelty records in the mid-1950s with Dickie Goodman. Using pre-recorded songs, "Break-in" records made a sound collage to tell a science-fiction tale by cutting and splicing the lyrics and adding a speeded-up human voice being a radio announcer. The announcer was reporting Earth was being invaded by outer space aliens. Their first record was "Flying Saucer," which was a more humorous than frightening tale, and was fashioned similar to Orson Wells "The War of the Worlds." The record was a success, reaching #3 on the National Billboard. They used songs by Elvis, The Platters, Little Richard, and others. This followed with "Flying Saucer #2" and "Santa and the Satellite" in 1957, "Flying Saucer Goes West" in 1958, and "Flying Saucer #3" in 1959. At this point in 1959, his professional relationship with Goodman ended. Although he and Goodman did not obtain permission to use the pre-recorded songs, artists of the original songs did not successfully sue as their records sales increase in popularity. Buchanan met Goodman while working in the music department of 20th Century Fox. In 1962 he co-wrote "Please Don't Ask About Barbara," which Bobby Vee recorded and reached #15 on the Hot Billboard 100. Later in life, he became the president of the manufacturing of Disk-Go Cases, a plastic cylindrical portable 45 RPM record storage unit.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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