Collecting Krofft – The Bugaloos Japanese 45 and Other Foreign Releases
Collecting Krofft – The Bugaloos Japanese 45 and Other Foreign Releases
The Bugaloos Japanese 45
The Krofft series The Bugaloos aired from 1970 to 1972 on American TV. The hit children’s series also re-ran in daily syndication from 1978 to 1985, introducing the next generation of kids to the musical teenagers from Tranquility Forest. Kind and gentle, the Bugaloos hung out around nature all day, singing and playing instruments. They were occasionally threatened by the untalented, feather-loving Benita Bizarre (played by the spectacular Martha Raye), always scheming to steal the Bugaloos’ natural musical talent for herself.
Bugaloos release from France, 1971
The actors were talented musicians and singers in their own right. The beautiful, cute-as-a-button butterfly Joy was played by Caroline Ellis, who played percussion and sang. Grasshopper I.Q. was played by singer and guitar player John McIndoe. Harmony the bumblebee was played by Wayne Laryea, who played keyboard and sang backup. Finally, Courage was played by John Philpott, a ladybug who played drums and sang. Sparky the firefly was performed by the one and only Billy Barty and voiced by the legendary Walker Edmiston (also playing voices on the Krofft’s H.R. Pufnstuf, Pufnstuf, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Enik on Land of the Lost, and various Lidsville characters), who reacted adorably when the Bugaloos sang.
33 1/3 release from South East Asia, 1971
The Bugaloos album, very rare on the secondary market, was released in 1970. The studio recordings were on the album, but often the track heard in the television episodes was a demo track. The single “For a Friend”/ “The Senses of Our World” charted on Billboard on Dec. 18, 1970 at #118.
Bugaloos album on Capitol Records, 1970
This Japanese single (American Capitol Records #2946, Japan release #CR2696) shows all four Bugaloos in street clothes instead of their iconic winged costumes from the show, which is a nice change. Everyone looks young, fabulous, and headed for success. Grab this one, if you can!
Those fabulous Bugaloos!