The Greatest Of The Johnny Mann Singers

At The Bottom Of The Fair

The Greatest Of The Johnny Mann Singers At The Bottom Of The Fair is a unique 1964 promotional souvenir album that stands as a fascinating cross-section of mid-century pop culture, corporate marketing, and Cold War-era novelty.

The World’s Fair Connection

  • The Exhibit: The album was produced as a special promotional souvenir for a highly publicized exhibit at the 1964 New York World’s Fair: Architect Jay Swayze’s “Underground Home.” This was a fully engineered, luxury subterranean bunker designed to showcase safe and comfortable underground living during the height of the Cold War.
  • The Concept: Visitors walked downstairs to tour the subterranean house, and this record (released under Liberty Records catalog number JMS-49001) was created to commemorate that journey to “the bottom of the fair.”

Here is the track list for the 1964 promotional souvenir album The Greatest Of The Johnny Mann Singers At The Bottom Of The Fair (JMS-49001), along with the original albums and years these recordings first appeared:

Song TitleOriginal Johnny Mann Singers AlbumRelease Year
The Bottom Of The FairExclusive World’s Fair Recording1964
Cotton FieldsGolden Folk Song Hits1962
Cayuga’s WatersAlma Mater1959
Walk Right InGolden Folk Song Hits – Volume 21963
The Three BellsGolden Folk Song Hits1962
Hello DollyInvisible Tears1964
Do Come BackExclusive World’s Fair Recording1964
ShenandoahGolden Folk Song Hits1962
Rovin GamblerGolden Folk Song Hits – Volume 31964
Foggy Foggy DewGolden Folk Song Hits – Volume 21963
Midnight SpecialGolden Folk Song Hits – Volume 31964
Tell Me WhyAlma Mater1959

Note: “The Bottom Of The Fair” (the opening theme) and the brief 58-second outro “Do Come Back” were unique pieces recorded specifically for this project to frame the underground bunker exhibit experience at the fair.

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