Buchanan & Goodman - “The Flying Saucer (Parts 1 & 2)

In 1956, Dickie Goodman and Bill Buchanan pioneered a new kind of record called the “break-in” with their massive hit single “The Flying Saucer.” It utilized snippets of other performers’ work, including Chuck Berry, Don Cherry, Etta James, Smiley Lewis, Nappy Brown, Little Richard, and Fats Domino, and resultantly Goodman was taken to court on multiple counts of copyright infringement. In the end, Goodman’s song was declared a work of parody, and the matter was settled out of court. Although many people consider Goodman the father of sampling, musique concrete composers were the first to employ the idea. However, it is doubtful that the technique would’ve gained such widespread popularity, especially its use in radio bumpers, without Dickie Goodman’s contribution. Over the years, Dickie managed to record quite a few break-in records. One such record, a Jaws send-up entitled “Mr. Jaws,” would even grace the pop charts in 1975. Goodman took his own life in 1989, but his son Jon has continued to promote his father’s work, even releasing a break-in record of his own, “Return of the Flying Saucer.”