The Pyramids Play the Original Penetration! was a charting album for
The Pyramids in 1964. It contained their
surf music track "
Penetration” as well as a minor hit "Here Comes Marsha".
Background
The album contained the hit "Penetration" which spent a total of ten weeks in the charts, peaking at #18 on the week of April 4, 1964.[1] There was also some small success with the B-side, "Here Comes Marsha". It became regional hit in Texas thanks to deejays playing that side.[2]
By February 22, 1964, the album was out, released on Best BR 16501 with Billboard mentioning "Penetration" as receiving singles attention, and "
Louie Louie", "Out of Limits" and "Road Runnah" as other danceable tunes. The
stereo version was released on BRS 36501.[3][4]
On the Best Records BR 16501 release, two of the album's tracks are not by the Pyramids. "Road Runnah" is by the Road Runners and "Out of Limits" is by
the Marketts.[5][6]
The album was re-released in 1982 on What Records? W12-2404.[7][8][9]
Chart performance
By March 7, the album was listed in the Breakout albums New Action LPs section. This was a section that showed the non-charting albums which were getting major attention by dealers in major markets.[10] By March 28, it was in the Billboard Top LPs chart at #121, having moved up 9 notches from the previous week's position of 130.[11] By April 4, it was at #119.[12] On the 11th of April it was at its fifth week in the chart and had moved down to #120.[13] In the same week, it was also at its eighth week in the Music Vendor chart at 118, having moved down 6 notches from the previous week's position of 112.[14] Also that week their single "Penetration" was at 59, having moved down eleven notches from the previous week's position of 48.[15]