George Goldner started this label in 1956 along with Bill Buchanan and Dickie Goodman. Luniverse started life as "Universe," with the issue of the Buchanan and Goodman single "Flying Saucer," which was an instant hit (#3) and started the genre of "novelty break-in" records. Due to the prior existence of a label with the Universe name, the name was quickly changed to "Luniverse" with an "L" crudely drawn in on a couple of thousand of the first pressings of the singles.

The label and its principals were immediately sued by various other record labels for copyright infringement, but that legal challenge was soon thrown out with the finding that the record was a clever parody and a completely new work. This led to a followup single, "Buchanan and Goodman on Trial" (#80), "Flying Sauer the 2nd" (#18) and other similar offerings. Buchanan soon faded from the hit record scene, but Goodman continued making break-in records, as well as writing and producing for others, well into the 1980s.

There was only one known album (a Del Vikings album) issued on the label. The album was recorded as a nine-song acappella demo tape by Pittsburgh deejay Barry Kaye in 1956, which eventually got them signed to the tiny Pittsburgh-based Fee Bee label. When "Come Go With Me" started selling in 1957, FeeBee leased the record to Dot and the group (who were constantly changing personnel due to military commitments) had a top-10 record. Kaye decided to cash in on his audition tape, and overdubbed instruments and gave the tape to Luniverse, who released it. Dot sued, and the record was withdrawn. Today, original copies (which have only eight tracks) are quite collectible, although some 1970s reproductions exist (with ten tracks) which are worth much less. The original albums also are constructed with a "slick" on the front cover, that is, a paste-on color sheet, while the reproductions do not.

In addition to the one album, Luniverse released a total of 10 singles, seven by Buchanan & Goodman, one by Buddy Lucas, one by the Casual Three, and one by the Del Vikings. In addition, there were several bootleg 45s by the Del Vikings (not all necessarily from the LP).

		The first singles label had the label name of "Universe" (far left). When it was discovered that Universe had already been taken, the story goes that Goldner, Buchanan and Goodman sat down and altered the couple of thousand 45s already pressed by adding a hand drawn "L" in front of "Universe" (near left). Some examples have been found with the "L" drawn with a marker, and some even with a ball-point pen. Later pressings of this first record (which means by far the majority of these singles) had the corrected "Luniverse" label name in block letters.
		The second Luniverse singles label was yellow with a white horizontal band through the center hole (far left). The Luniverse LP label was similar to this second design, a yellow label with black print (near left). "Back to Earth" was just "Flying Saucer" renamed to try to get around the legal suits.

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with Luniverse Records. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (which are all out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 1997, 2000, 2003, 2019 by Mike Callahan.

LUNIVERSE LABEL ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Cover	Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents
	LP-1000 - Come Go with the Del Vikings - Del Vikings [7/57] The album is mono. Hey Senorita/Somewhere Over The Rainbow/Come Go With Me/Heaven In Paradise//(How Can I Find) True Love/Yours/I'll Remember (In the Still Of The Night)/White Cliffs Of Dover
	RELATED DISCOGRAPHY
	LUNIVERSE (Boot) LP-1000 - Come Go with the Del Vikings - Del Vikings [197?] 1970s reproduction, some pressed on orange vinyl. This repro has ten tracks; the original album only has eight tracks. The album is mono. Hey Senorita/Somewhere Over The Rainbow/Come Go With Me/Heaven In Paradise/Willette//(How Can I Find) True Love/Yours/I'll Remember (In the Still Of The Night)/White Cliffs Of Dover/Down By The Stream
	...And to continue the Looney-verse story... UFO (Boot) UFO550 - The Flying Saucer! (30 Rock N' Roll Comedys) - Various Artists [1996] Surface noise on most tracks (original master tapes, huh?). Interestingly, some of the cut-in records have been replaced with clean stereo versions. This whole CD is probably worth the price just to hear the beginning of "The Trial" by Herb B. Lou, which starts with the bass voice (a la Cozy Cole) saying, "Flopsy, Part One, uh, Part... oh, let's go on with it!" The Flying Saucer, Parts 1 & 2 - Buchanan & Goodman (M)/Buchanan & Goodman On Trial - Buchanan & Goodman (M)/U.F.O. (The Answer To The Flying Saucer) - Syd Lawrence (M)/The Banana Boat Story - Buchanan & Goodman (M)/Flying Saucer The 2nd - Buchanan & Goodman (M)/The Creature - Buchanan & Ancell (M)/Buchanan & Ancell Meet The Creature - Buchanan & Ancell (M)/All About Elvis, Parts 1 & 2 - P.Q. Rock & Roll (M)/The Trial - Jerry Samuels (M)/Santa & The Sattelite, Parts 1 & 2 - Buchanan & Goodman (M)/The Flying Saucer Goes West - Buchanan & Goodman (S)/Russian Bandstand - Spencer & Spencer (M)/Outer Space Looters, Parts 1 & 2 - Mad Martians (M)/The Story Of Daddy Cool - Daddy Cool (M)/The Tragedee, Parts 1 & 2 - Kelly & Me (M)/Flying Saucer The 3rd - Buchanan & Goodman (S)/Marty On The Planet Mars, Parts 1 & 2 - Marty (M)/The Mummy - Bubi & Bob (M)/Frankenstein Of '59 - Buchanan & Goodman (M)/Frankenstein Returns - Buchanan & Goodman (M)/The Trial - Herb B. Lou (S)/Stagger Lawrence - Spencer & Spencer (M)/The Thing - Bill Buchanan (M)/Space Ship - Missles (M)
	LUNIVERSE/HOT (CD) HTCD 33205-2 - Greatest Fables - Dickie Goodman [1997] Henry Stone's Hot Productions from Miami, Florida has released this CD in conjunction with the estate of Dickie Goodman, so this may be the first "legit" reissue of this stuff. No matter. Most are taken from records, and lousy ones at that. The tracks marked "E" would have been mono except for the annoying two-channel surface noise and other turntable-generated sonic anomalies (like the cartridge rubbing against the vinyl on warped records). Those marked "S*" have had stereo versions of the records used for break-ins substituted for the original mono ones. Return of The Flying Saucer 97 (S)/Flying Saucer, Part 1 [Buchanan & Goodman] (E)/Flying Saucer, Part 2 [Buchanan & Goodman] (E)/Flying Saucer The 2nd [Buchanan & Goodman] (E)/Flying Saucer The 3rd [Buchanan & Goodman] (M)/Flying Saucer Goes West [Buchanan & Goodman] (S*)/Buchanan & Goodman On Trail [Buchanan & Goodman] (E)/Santa & Satellite [Buchanan & Goodman] (E)/Santa & Satellite, Part 2 [Buchanan & Goodman] (S*)/Santa And The Touchables (M)/The Touchables In Brooklyn (E)/Ben Crazy (E)/Batman And His Grandmother (E)/The Ride Of Paul Revere (E)/Frankenstein Of 59 [Buchanan & Goodman] (M)/Frankenstein Returns [Buchanan & Goodman] (M)/Stagger Lawrence [Spencer & Spencer] (M)/Senate Hearing (M)/Harry's Jockstrap (E)/Congressional Medal Of Honor (E)/Get A Job (S)/On Campus (M)/Luna Trip (M)/Watergrate (S)/Mr. President (E)/Energy Crisis (S)/Mr. Jaws (M)/Speaking Of Ecology (E)/The Constitution (S)/Superfly Meets Shaft (E)/Kong (E)/Super Duperman (E)/The Return Of The Jedi Returns (S)/Hey E.T. (S)/Attack Of The Z Monster (S, with false start)/Election 84 (S)/Safe Sex Report (E)/Horror Movies (M)

Thanks to Bernd Kratochwil, Brian Phillips, and Gary Del Carlo.



Back to the George Goldner Story


Back to the Discography Listings Page


Back to the Both Sides Now Home Page