Jim Nabors displays his sizeable comedy and vocal talents

The recently departed Jim Nabors is best known for his acting on The Andy Griffith Show and its spin-off Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., and secondarily for his career as a balladeer. For this 1965 LP, sung entirely in Nabors’ nasal “Gomer Pyle” voice, his singing and comedy came together. With songs written by the legendary Billy Edd Wheeler, John Loudermilk and Roger Miller, the material is several cuts above the typical TV star cash-in, and with Nabors twin talents as a vocalist and comedian, the results are funny, entertaining and endearing. Like any comedy album, it’s not likely to get spun as frequently as a straight music album, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly you’ll be singing along, and if you have kids, they may just love the tongue-twisting “Hoo How, What Now?” and the corny rock ‘n’ roll of “Heart Insurance.” [©2017 Hyperbolium]