What a time it was. The surprise of Sputnik in the early fifties led to a space race, a technological competition that had a profound impact on popular music (not to mention popular culture), providing musicians (and would-be musicians) a rich source of inspiration and contributed to some of the most iconic, as well as comic and out of this world, songs of the era. Themes of space travel, the moon and Mars, and even flying saucers were rampant on the airwaves. And one can only ascribe the fear of aliens to the number attempted novelty bits that reflected that trepidation.  Laughter is, after all, a natural way for fear to be released in humankind. This week we’ll be sharing some of the classics, as well as the unknowns, including Jesse Belvin & His Space Riders, The Drivers, Merv Griffin, The Big Bopper, Dave & The Detomics and quite a few more that even if we were to share their names, you’d probably scratch your head anyway.

No.	Artist	Title	Album	Buy
1	The Mello-Tones	Flying Saucer	Vocal Groups
2	Jerry Engler	Sputnik (Satellite Girl)	That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 6 (Us Decca, Vol. 2)
3	Harmonica George	Sputnik Music	This Is The Blues Harmonica
4	Roosevelt Sykes	Sputnik Baby	Voodoo Lou
5	Astronaut Neil Armstrong	The Moon Landing	Great Speeches of The 20th Century – Volume 3 – the Dreams, Inspirations & Accomplishments
6	Gil Scott-Heron	Whitey On The Moon	The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
7	Hightower, Dean (George Barnes)	Moon Rocket	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
8	Chris Kenner	Rocket To The Moon	The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 5]
9	The Drivers	My Astronaut	The King Records Story – Part 1
10	Johnny Greco	Rocket Ride	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
11	Vernon Green & The Medallions	Rocket Ship	Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space
12	Jesse Belvin & His Space Riders	My Satellite	Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space
13	The Larks	Rockin' In The Rocket Room	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
14	Educational	Duck and Cover	Educational
15	The Tornados	Telstar	Rock Instrumental Classics, Vol. 2
16	Jimmie Haskell & His Orchestra	Rockin' In The Orbit (Space Satellite)	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
17	Don Lang & His Frantic Five	Red Planet Rock	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
18	Speedy West	Space Man In Orbit	Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space
19	Joe Montgomery	Planetary Run	Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space
20	Galen Denny	Gonna Build A Rocket	Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space
21	Merv Griffin	The Screamin' Meemies From Planet 'X'	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
22	The Royal Guardsmen	Smallest Astronaut	The Best of the Royal Guardsmen
23	Sheb Wooley	The Purple People Eater	Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary Collection: The Greatest Novelty Records Of All Time [Disc 1]
24	The Big Bopper	The Purple People Eater Meets The Witch Doctor	The Greatest Novelty Songs, Disc 2
25	John Mauceri: Hollywood Bowl Orchestra	Herrmann: Outer Space [From "The Day the Earth Stood Still"]	Journey To The Stars: A Sci-fi Fantasy Adventure [John Mauceri  The Sound of Hollywood Vol. 10]
26	Buddy Morrow & His Orchestra	Men Into Space	Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space
27	Billy Riley, The Little Green Men	Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
28	The Marketts	Out of Limits	Billboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1964
29	Nervous Norvus	Kibble Kibble (The Flying Saucer Song)	Stone Age Woo
30	Freddy Sunder	Flying Saucers	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
31	Dave & The Detomics	Detomic Orbit	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
32	The Equadors	Sputnik Dance	Sputnik! The Launch of the Space Race – 65 Years First Sputnik in Space
33	Leonard Nimoy	A Visit To A Sad Planet	Spaced Out – The Best of Leonard Nimoy & William Shatner
34	Lightnin' Hopkins	Happy Blues For John Glenn	The Complete Prestige-Bluesville Recordings [Disc 3]
35	David Rose & His Orchestra	Forbidden Planet	Destination Forbidden Planet (37 Outer Space Shock Treatments)
36	David Bowie	Space Oddity	Singles: 1969-1993 Disc 1