Ali and His Gang vs. Mr. Tooth Decay

I'd heard about this record years ago, and it sounded pretty good. I finally picked up a copy the other day, and -- sweet jesus -- this thing is better than anything I could have hoped for. It could be the single best record I own.

Start with Muhammad Ali spending 40 minutes discussing tooth decay. Add appearances by celebrity guest stars like Frank Sinatra and Richie Havens, a bunch of kids, and some truly wooden dialog straight out of a dental textbook. Throw in a song that doesn't make any sense. And if that isn't enough for you, top it off with narration by Howard Cosell.

It was more than enough for me. A sugar high is nothing compared to what I felt listening to this treasure. One track isn't enough. You want to listen to the whole thing straight through, like I did, and you want to do it twice to catch all the details. Then you want to play it in your car. Your walkman. Your bathroom -- while brushing and flossing your teeth, of course. One thing is for sure, I'll never look at ice cream the same way again.

Oh, and one more thing -- check out this amazing artwork from the back cover featuring trippy cartoon versions of Ali and the gang relaxing in Brother St. John's organic garden. Far out!

BLG says:
Actually, Richie Havens and Cassius Clay were old friends. My father-in-law had a garage on Orchard Street in New Haven, CT where Havens practiced and where he met Ali on several occasions. (04-06-2010)

dirk nerkle (dirknerkle@comcast.net) says:
I know the people who produced this album! I still have a copy that's factory sealed!!! I've never listened to it...I'm not sure I could stomach it... (05-25-2008)

jason beers (jason@brannockdevice.com) says:
The lyric is "Maybe sometimes FEUD".

I have this album and the same with different (and super lame) artwork. (04-11-2008)

Ron (rmbanks32@msn.com) says:
I have an Ali album that has never been opened. I have no ideal what it is worth. Can some one help me.

Thanks
Ron (02-14-2008)

George says:
I actually had this album as a kid. My dad used to take my brother and I to Deer Lake Penn. to watch Ali train. We met Ali on numerous occassions. I have some old 8mm video footage along with some pictures. I remember taking this album to school and playing it for my classmates and teacher. I told my classmates that I met Ali and not one of them believed me, until I brought in a picture with me and Ali. I remember being the most popular kid for awhile after I brought that picture in. He was and still is the greatest ever. (02-13-2008)

Aaron Abelt (aabelt@impact-group.com) says:
Hey y'all, I'll sell my copy of this album if anyone is interested. I've had it since I was a kid when it came out. It is in pretty good shape. Cover is a little weathered, a few light scratches on the vinyl. Still has the sleeve inside with pictures. email me and make an offer. Aaron aabelt@impact-group.com (11-29-2007)

Tracy says:
What's really scary is in the upper right corner it says this is Volume I. (11-02-2007)

J. A. says:
That lyric, if anyone still cares, is:

"Ali's always gettin' blamed for things he didn't do/just because he likes to scrap, and maybe sometimes you/people wanna blame the man/although he wasn't there." (10-11-2007)

haywood jablomy says:
Wanna bet nyscof is a John Bircher? Those wackos still think fluoridated water is a commie plot. (07-17-2007)

amandapdx says:
Hey Keith, you asked about the lyrics on the theme song. I can fill in the first part, but would love to know what the second one is. Anyone else? "Ali's always getting blamed for things he didn't do. Just because he likes to SCRAP, and maybe sometimes -----" (06-27-2007)

nick kulasa (kato1974@comcast.net) says:
just sitting in front of the computer trying to remember things from my childhood when i remembered this album. hearing these sound bites brought back alot of memories. wish i knew what happened to my album. its pretty cool that people still talk about the album, i thought it would have been forgotten but im glad it hasn't. (03-22-2007)

Dr Philgud says:
The greatest boxer of all time gives back to society by trying to educate kids in a fun way and Nyscof has to give him grief about it. What ever the current facts (or falacies) are about flouride are irrelevant.

Hey Nyscof, what have you done lately to try to benefit any poor kids. You and all others like you are a bunch of schmucks!

(03-03-2007)

Keith says:
My mom gave me a copy of this record shortly after ir came out. I was about six, I think. I'm not really sure why. I didn't have a particular interest in Muhammad Ali, although he was pretty much the hottest sports figure in the world at the time. Maybe she thought it would make me brush my teeth more often. Anyway, I've got entire sections of this record committed to memory. ("ICE CREEEAM? Oh nooooooo!" and, of course, "Sugar Cuba, boy I've never felt so bad in my life before.") I've tried to tell other people about this dentagogical pop opera, and they think I'm making it up. Glad there are other fans out there. I don't know what happened to my childhood copy, but I've got a bid on a replacement on eBay right now. Heh heh heh. One quick question: I've never understood this lyric. Can anybody fill in the blanks? "Ali's always getting blamed for things he didn't do. Just because he likes to ------, and maybe sometimes -----" ??? (02-18-2007)

Mykal07 says:
Wow, I think I was way too under the influence of flouride to remember this. But after listening to it, I agreed with other comments this is just too surreal.

I laughed al the way through it, and the great Sinatra, must of had some financial difficulties to do this. Richie Havens, I can understand but Sinatra?

Oh my, I better go rinse with some flouride right now (even though I filter it out of my water...)

lol (01-04-2007)

David Dow says:
Nyscof if an idiot. Poor people are more prone to dental decay due to the processed sugar content of cheaper foods and poor nutrition, not because of fluoridated water.

Go take your conspiracy theory bull somewhere else. This is the most amazing record ever and I will not have you belittle my main man Muhammad!!!!!!! (12-13-2006)

Linda (downstlouis10#aol.com) says:
I bought this record for my son Christopher Mansfield when he was a small child, to help him want to keep his brushing up. I think he still has the record.
Linda Governick (12-11-2006)

Jorge (fudz@aol.com) says:
Is this guy nyscof@aol.com even a dentist? Yes, flouride is neither a nutrient or essential for healthy teeth, but the flouroapetite barrier that it forms on the enamel has significantly reduced the incidence of tooth decay. Although true that low-income people are getting most of the decay, it's not a reason to go on an anti-flouride, bleeding-heart tirade with a presentation of one-sided "facts" on the subject. Merry Christmas! (12-10-2006)

Highway Cinema says:
As they were saying on billboards in Berkeley, CA in 1976, FLORIDATE CANDY NOT WATER. (12-10-2006)

nyscof (nyscof@aol.com) says:
It's too bad that organized dentistry used Ali in this way.

Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy teeth. After 60 years of water fluoridation reaching 2/3 on public water supplies and virtually 100% via the food supply, tooth decay is a national "silent" epidemic - mostly in the poorer neighborhoods that usually are fluoridated.

American children were never fluoride deficient. They were and still are dentist deficient. Dentists are gung ho about throwing fluoride chemicals at low-income families; but very few of them will allow them in their dental chairs.

On November 9, 2006, the American Dental Association advised their dentists, but not the public, that fluoridated water is not to be added to infant formula because just a little too much fluoride permanently damages and discolors children's permanent teeth. Not surprisingly, with the spread of fluoridation across the country, tooth-damaging dental fluorosis has increased; but low-income folks have to wait for their cavities to fester and spread to enable emergency room treatment and ten times the cost of a simple filling and forget about getting treatment for elective cosmetic dentistry to cover up those fluorosed teeth.

For more info
Fluoridation 101
http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

Fluoridation News Releases
http://tinyurl.com/6kqtu

Tooth Decay Crises in Fluoridated Areas
http://www.fluoridenews.blogspot.com/

Fluoride Action Network
http://www.FluorideAction.Net (12-04-2006)

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