The Mark IV

The Mark IV were a rock/pop quartet who had their biggest hit in 1959 with the novelty song, "I Got A Wife" (Mercury 71403). "I Got A Wife" was set to a lively polka beat, and reached #24 in U.S. charts, and #14 in Canadian charts (http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?artist=8234). The song was later covered by Frankie Yankovic and other polka bands.

The B-Side of "I Got A Wife" was "Ah-Ooo-Gah", a straight 50's rocker punctuated with an old-timey car horn effect.

Previous to "I Got a Wife", the group released at least two singles on Cosmic Records. One of these was "Goose Bumps" b/w "Booblee Ah Bah Doo Baa" (Cosmic 702; 1957). Both of these songs fit into the catagory of Doo Wop, with the nonsense title of the 2nd side suggesting the "novelty" direction the group would later take. The Dick Marx Orchestra is also credited on these two songs.

The other known Cosmic release was "(Make With) The Shake" b/w "45 R.P.M. (Cosmic 704; 1958). "(Make With) The Shake" was a song in a vein similar to Danny and the Juniors' "At The Hop". It charted at #22 in Canada (U.S. chart info unknown).

After the novelty success of "I Got A Wife", Mercury quickly followed up this release with at least two more Mark IV novelty singles. One of these was "Move Over Rover" b/w "Dante's Inferno" (Mercury 71445; 1959). The other was "Mairzy Doats" b/w "Ring Ring Ring Those Bells" (Mercury 71481; 1959).

Songwriting for all of these songs, except "Mairzy Doats", is credited to Edward C. Mascari and Erwin Herbert "Dutch" Wenzlaff, the later of which was a one time producer at Mercury. Mascari and Wenzlaff also wrote and produced songs for other artists, including "Foggy Mountain" for Danielle Blanchard, and "Stop, Look and Listen" for Ralph Marterie and his Marlboro Men. Additionally, Wenzlaff is credited with having arranged and conducted "You Wouldn't Listen" for The Ides of March on Harlequin Records (1966).