The Great Pretender

"The Great Pretender" is a 1956 Capitol Records single by Stan Freberg, covering and spoofing the hit song by the Platters. Freberg plays the vocalist who clashes with his pianist (also played by Freberg, actual piano playing by Paul Smith, accompanist for Ella FitzgeraldTip of the Freberg: The Stan Freberg Collection, 1951-1998. Booklet. p. 13. Rhino Records.). As with most Freberg records, the orchestra was directed by Billy May, while the backup group, Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires, was credited as "The Toads" for the first time (a name they'd retain for subsequen Freberg rock and roll parodies). The ending is a self-reference to "The Yellow Rose of Texas."
The Muppets lip-synced to "The Great Pretender" on Tonight! on October 11, 1956.Shemin, Craig. Sam and Friends: The Story of Jim Henson's First Television Show. p. 60
==Sam and Friends airings==
* February 5, 1959. ibid. p. 337-338
* April 1, 1960.ibid. p. 447
==References==
* A second season Bear in the Big Blue House episode is titled "The Great Pretender."
==Sources==
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Category:Sam and Friends Segments
Category:Muppet Songs
Category:Musical References