|
Spike Jones: (December 14, 1911 – May 1, 1965 Zany Music Comedian |
|
Spike Jones was famous for adding gunshots, bells, whistles and other effects into songs, making them sound crazy. He would also parody songs, although usually this would consist of singing a song in a different mood, e.g. a happy love song might be sung in a sobbing tone. This became known as ‘Spiking’ a tune. A great deal of contemporary parodists, such as Weird Al Yankovic, look back to Spike for inspiration. These sound files are from a three-disc LP set called Spike Jones. These are actually highlights from his 1940s radio show. These files are not the highest quality, sorry. Click to play, or right click and select “Save Target As” to download. Note: I put these files up as a means of exposing more people to this delightful music form; if there is a copyright issue, email me and I will remove them ASAP. |
|
Record 1, Side 1: 1. Der Fuhrer’s Face - Made in early 1942, this song lampoons Hitler and his Nazi cronies. 2. Pass the Biscuits, Mirandy - Funny hillbilly ballad. 3. Chloe - The old sentimental song, murdered as only Spike could! 4. Hotcha Cornia (Black Eyes) - Wacky instrumental. 5. Hawaiian War Chant - Zany rendition of this tune, complete with puns! 6. William Tell Overture - Horse Race Style!
Record 1, Side 2: 1. I’m Getting Sentimental Over You - The Tommy Dorsey hit, Spiked! 2. Holiday for Strings - The classic David Rose piece, murdered by Spike! 3. Cocktails for Two - Why NOT to get drunk! 4. (All I Want for Christmas is) My Two Front Teeth - The Original! 5. Dance of the Hours - Indy 500 style! 6. Ghost Riders in the Sky - As sung by two old wannabes.
Record 2, Side 1: 1. Tiger Rag - Hilarious! 2. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court - Parody of an Arthurian story; fits a gallon of puns into a five-minute space! 3. Nature Boy - The Nat King Cole hit, sung by the bumbling Doodles Weaver! 4. Liebestraum - The Franz Liszt piece, played as the composer did NOT intend! 5. Want Ads - Hilarious lampoon of the classified ad section of the paper!
Record 2, Side 2: 1. In a Persian Market - Filled with puns, although they are funny in the context of the Big Band Era. 2. Pootwaddle Cigarette Commercial - Shows the dangers of smoking in a hilarious way! 3. You Can’t Be True Dear - The old hit, travelogue style! 4. Barney Google - The old Dixieland hit; these are the real words! 5. Portia and the Hollywood Wolf - Comical fairy tale-like story.
Record 3, Side 1: 1. Farandole - The Bizet classical piece played as only Spike can! 2. Yes Sir, That’s My Baby - An old Dixieland song, sung and played as if by an old entertainer. 3. Minka - The only straight (non-Spiked) performance in the set! 4. San Antonio Rose - The old western song, Spiked! 5. You Always Hurt the One You Love - Sung and played in Spike’s inimitable manner! 6. Tchaikovsky Medley - Tchaikovsky’s most famous compositions, delightfully murdered by Spike! 7. Love in Bloom - Sung in the style of two VERY bad wannabes. Hilarious!
Record 3, Side 2: 1. Minnie the Moocher - The old Cab Calloway big band hit, lampooned as only Spike could get away with. 2. Old Time Medley - 1890’s songs, played in the Spike Jones style! 3. Flight of the Bumblebee - The pianist playing this favorite has allergies. 4. Chantez, Chantez - Spike Jones goes French! 5. Smiles Medley - Medley of happy old songs. 6. Dark Moon - The beautiful Patty Page song, done in the style of Homer and Jethro. 7. The Big Bands - Medley of famous bands’ signature tunes, parodying their unique styles. See if you can identify them! 8. Another Old Time Medley - The title says it all!
Doodles Weaver One of the funniest members of the group was Doodles Weaver (Obviously a stage name). He was famous for singing a song as if he was dyslexic, changing the words around. These are some examples taken from some of Spike’s old radio shows, which are available in the Internet Archive.
3. Chicago 4. Chloe (different version than the one above) 7. Give a Man a Horse He Can Ride 10. How Soon 11. I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover 13. Lazy Bones 14. Loch Lomond 15. My Blue Heaven 17. Nature Boy 18. Near You 19. Oh, Susanna 20. Peg O’ My Heart 21. Sioux City Sue 22. Sonny Boy 23. When You and I Were Young, Maggie 24. When It’s Springtime in the Rockies 25. When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbing Along
|