How Big'A Boy Are Ya? Vol. 1

Roy D. Mercer's shtick involves phoning unsuspecting folks from his roost at Tulsa, Oklahoma, radio station KMOD and blamin' 'em for one ridiculous thing or another. Mercer's accusations are prefaced by wild yarns and followed by demands for a few hundred dollars. Of course, the people he calls aren't so agreeable and that's when Roy threatens to whup some ass. Mercer's marks respond in wildly different ways. The guy on "Dead Hamster" isn't threatened at all; he can't stop cracking up at Mercer's convoluted tale featuring a stylishly attired, piano-playing hamster. The man at the other end of the line on "Bird Dog" is all macho. It sounds like he can't wait to tangle with Mercer and even gives the professional prankster detailed directions to his house. Each track has a Candid Camera ending where writer-producers Brent Douglas and Phil Stone let on that the call is just a gag. Even these sections provide some added yucks. --Fred Cisterna