Telly

"People know that singing is not my bag," says Telly Savalas on the liner notes to this 1974 release, "but if I say, 'Hey, this is how Telly feels about this or that song,' I can't mistakes. I can only make mistakes by pretending to be a great singer".

A classic example of the "famous actor makes a record" genre, Telly uses his ill-begotten allotment of vinyl to thrill us with mediocre versions of "Something", "You and me against the world", "Rubber bands and bits of string", and many (far too many) others. Unfortunately, Telly's classic New York drawl gets drowned out by the music on all but a few of the tracks, making this album practically worthless even to die-hard Kojak fans.

What is an actor doing making a record, you ask? Telly answers this question by modestly saying, "I was asked to make a record". One has to wonder exactly who did the asking, though.

dmc says:
now I know why I haven't had a good sex life 1994 was a very bad year for me (03-24-1998)

Bill Beckett says:
Remember when Telly got into a fight with Led Zeppelin? Wanna Know who lost? WE DID!!! Cuz Plant & Page won't go away!!! (03-20-1998)

Scott from Long Island, N.Y. says:
Telly and I were alumni from the same high school on Long Island. Sewanhaka High School, Floral Park, New York. He was the class of 1944 and I graduated back in 1983. I am sorry he is gone. A wonderful actor and from what I heard, a even nicer gentleman. Who loves ya baby? We all do! He was a true "New Yawker" through and through. (03-17-1998)

Mr. Dingle (electricelf@loop.com) says:
It's a fabulous album! Rubber Bands and Bits of String Rocks! When is it going to come out on CD, finally? (02-06-1998)

Michael B. says:
See Telly strike the drunken pimp stance right before his eyesockets bleed in 'Horror Express', the best Italian horror movie with Telly Savalas on a train ever made. (01-20-1998)

Paul Brookes says:
Strange but true ? just days after visiting this page, I walked into a Charity Shop in Manchester to be greeted by Telly's shining pate on top of the record pile. I have to agree with your sentiments ? however to be fair, if the musical range of the song is less than about half an octave Telly does attempt to 'sing'. Mysteriously for such an old record, there was hardly a scratch on it, as if it had hardly been played. Spooky eh? Also the sleeve notes have to be the funniest I've ever read. Great site by the way Frank! (01-06-1998)

jason black (hellstorm@webtv.net) says:
telly is the pimp!... i once met him at O'hare airport and he gave me his cole slaw. (11-23-1997)

Nicholas Savalas (virtualnick@msn.com) says:
Thank you - whoever you are - for remembering my uncle with this page. However 'tongue in cheek' this site may be, I recall that Uncle Telly once remarked that a career "was a failure, not if you were good or bad, but if you weren't remembered." A lovely surprise finding this tribute. I'll tell the rest of the family. Thanks again. (11-23-1997)

Guest says:
Who loves ya Baby (11-16-1997)

Mike Smith (VADER440@aol.com) says:
Kojak is the man. That's all there is too it. We miss ya Telly (11-09-1997)

stephen savalas (stephenb@christa.unh.edu) says:
"You should have known before you started... She'd leave you broken hearted... Easy come and easy go, It doesn't matter Even so... ...OPAH! " -Telly Savalas Thanks for the memories, Telly- I hope that they have a five-star wing for Player's Club International Members in heaven... (11-06-1997)

Carl says:
Kojak will never die !!! (10-26-1997)

Charles says:
Telly was great! I thought he was spectacular in "Kelley's Heroes" with Clint Eastwood. Of course "Kojak" is classic 70's television! (10-15-1997)

Mike Ewanus (kendoll@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca) says:
Hi Frank. Are you familiar with "separated at birth"? -- side by side pictures of two celebrities who look as if they could be related? Well, try listening to Telly Savalas followed by Leonard Cohen (and when you've done that, try spinning some Wayne Newton followed by k.d. lang). Love the museum. Still can't see the pictures. (06-07-1997)

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