The Legendary Stardust Cowboy

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The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, born Norman Carl Odam on October 10, 1947 in Lubbock,Texas, is an incoherent rock and roll performer who invented an early example of the genre that came to be known as psychobilly in the 1960s. While often considered a novelty artist, he considers himself a serious performer.

He recorded his only “hit,” the song Paralyzed, in 1968, in what was, apparently, a moment of spare time in a recording studio in Texas. T-Bone Burnett played drums on the record. The lyrics to this magnum opus are unintelligible snarls, growls, and similar vocalisms, surrounded by frantic strumming on acoustic guitar, Burnett’s equally frantic drumming, and occasional yelps of what sounds like the song’s title, “Paralyzed!”

Five hundred copies of the single were initially pressed. It earned the Cowboy an appearance on Laugh-In, the TV comedy show. Unfortunately, a musicians’ strike forced the postponement of some follow-up TV appearances for Odam, and by the time the strike was over, his 15 minutes of fame were up. Paralyzed went on to be featured on several Doctor Demento compilations, and it often appears prominently in lists of the worst recordings ever made. The Cowboy has recorded a number of songs since Paralyzed. I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship was covered by David Bowie on his Heathen album. Odam returned the compliment by recording his version of Space Oddity.

David Bowie has been a fan of the Legendary Stardust Cowboy, who likes to be called “The Ledge”, since he heard “Paralyzed”. Bowie himself has said that the “Stardust” in “Ziggy Stardust” is taken from The Legendary Stardust Cowboy.
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