Does humour belong in music (inspired by Jake Thackery)
Posted by: Guido Fawkes on 17 September 2006
As a fan of HMHB, I think humour is an essential ingredient in songwriting. To me Nigel Blackwell is the finest lyricist since Anonymous (you know the guy who wrote all those great folk songs).
I've always liked Jake Thackery, Bonzo Dog Band, They Might Be Giants, Tom Lehrer, Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias, Television Personalities as well as the humour injected by many other artists.
So any great humourous records you'd like to recommend?
I've always liked Jake Thackery, Bonzo Dog Band, They Might Be Giants, Tom Lehrer, Alberto Y Los Trios Paranoias, Television Personalities as well as the humour injected by many other artists.
So any great humourous records you'd like to recommend?
Posted on: 17 September 2006 by Tam
Dear ROTF,
As we mentioned on a previous thread, there is, of course, Tom Lehrer.
I would also put in a plug for Flanders and Swann. Indeed, I recently bought a box set containing their records and have been very much enjoying them - indeed, I have been considering writing a thread on them.
Lastly, is a curious artist I encountered at a festival Fringe show five or six years ago called Philip Jeays. He's been likened to Jacques Brel - whether he is or not I cannot say. His songs are a strange mix, some of which are a little too soppy and don't work that well, for me, but some are hysterically funny - I think if you go to his website you can listen to samples of some of his songs (I would suggest the aptly named 'The Laughing Song', 'Geoff' and 'Madame').
I'd finish off with Beethoven - Charles Mackerras's recent performance of Beethoven 1 had some lovely moments of humour - it was just lovely.
regards, Tam
As we mentioned on a previous thread, there is, of course, Tom Lehrer.
I would also put in a plug for Flanders and Swann. Indeed, I recently bought a box set containing their records and have been very much enjoying them - indeed, I have been considering writing a thread on them.
Lastly, is a curious artist I encountered at a festival Fringe show five or six years ago called Philip Jeays. He's been likened to Jacques Brel - whether he is or not I cannot say. His songs are a strange mix, some of which are a little too soppy and don't work that well, for me, but some are hysterically funny - I think if you go to his website you can listen to samples of some of his songs (I would suggest the aptly named 'The Laughing Song', 'Geoff' and 'Madame').
I'd finish off with Beethoven - Charles Mackerras's recent performance of Beethoven 1 had some lovely moments of humour - it was just lovely.
regards, Tam
Posted on: 17 September 2006 by northpole
I recall a track by Lowden Wainwright III with him screeching about a Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road Stinking to High Heaven. I thought it was hilarious - unfortunately it was playing when I embarked on a car journey with a few less than compatible family members - other than the song, (and me cackling away to myself of course), the silence was deafening!
Peter
Peter
Posted on: 17 September 2006 by kuma
Sure.
Love Randy Newman and his witty and satirical lyrics.
Love Randy Newman and his witty and satirical lyrics.
Posted on: 17 September 2006 by BigH47
Victor Borge was a favourite of mine. Not music per se but his routines were based around the piano.
Posted on: 17 September 2006 by SteveGa
quote:Originally posted by Tam:
Lastly, is a curious artist I encountered at a festival Fringe show five or six years ago called Philip Jeays. He's been likened to Jacques Brel - whether he is or not I cannot say. His songs are a strange mix, some of which are a little too soppy and don't work that well, for me, but some are hysterically funny - I think if you go to his website you can listen to samples of some of his songs (I would suggest the aptly named 'The Laughing Song', 'Geoff' and 'Madame'). regards, Tam
Geoff is a wonderful song full of bitterness and loathing. I'm a bit biased as I know Philip Jeays' manager so... go buy one of his albums! I would suggest "October" but it is deleted. "Cupid Is A Drunkard" is a good starting point.
Steve
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:Originally posted by SteveGa:quote:Originally posted by Tam:
Lastly, is a curious artist I encountered at a festival Fringe show five or six years ago called Philip Jeays. He's been likened to Jacques Brel - whether he is or not I cannot say. His songs are a strange mix, some of which are a little too soppy and don't work that well, for me, but some are hysterically funny - I think if you go to his website you can listen to samples of some of his songs (I would suggest the aptly named 'The Laughing Song', 'Geoff' and 'Madame'). regards, Tam
Geoff is a wonderful song full of bitterness and loathing. I'm a bit biased as I know Philip Jeays' manager so... go buy one of his albums! I would suggest "October" but it is deleted. "Cupid Is A Drunkard" is a good starting point.
Steve
Dear Tam, Steve
Philip Jeays has decent quality MP3s on his site (thanks for the link Tam) and it does sound a lot like the Scott Walker sings Jacques Brel album that I have and enjoy very much. The mp3s sound great.
Thank you for the recommendation - A Philip Jeays elpee will definitely find its way in to my next music order.
All the best, Rotf
PS - Flanders and Swan are wonderful IMHO - I bought the box set for my parents as they are big fans too. I saw Donald Swan perform some years ago on a new year's eve: a realy nice man and a brilliant entertainer.
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:Originally posted by BigH47:
Victor Borge was a favourite of mine. Not music per se but his routines were based around the piano.
I guess it's one for DVD. I have seen one of his shows and he's a very funny man.
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:Originally posted by northpole:
I recall a track by Lowden Wainwright III with him screeching about a Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road Stinking to High Heaven. I thought it was hilarious - unfortunately it was playing when I embarked on a car journey with a few less than compatible family members - other than the song, (and me cackling away to myself of course), the silence was deafening!
Peter
Crossin' the highway late last night
He shoulda looked left and he shoulda looked right
He didn't see the station wagon car
The skunk got squashed and there you are!
You got yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high Heaven!
Take a whiff on me, that ain't no rose!
Roll up yer window and hold yer nose
You don't have to look and you don't have to see
'Cause you can feel it in your olfactory
You got yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high Heaven!
Yeah you got yer dead cat and you got yer dead dog
On a moonlight night you got yer dead toad frog
Got yer dead rabbit and yer dead raccoon
The blood and the guts they're gonna make you swoon!
You got yer
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
You got yer dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high Heaven!
C'mon stink!
You got it!
It's dead, it's in the middle
Dead skunk in the middle!
Dead skunk in the middle of the road
Stinkin' to high heaven!
All over the road, technicolor man!
Oh, you got pollution
It's dead, it's in the middle
And it's stinkin' to high, high Heaven
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:Originally posted by kuma:
Sure.
Love Randy Newman and his witty and satirical lyrics.
Kuma
I only know a couple of Randy's songs: Mama Told Me Not To Come and I Love LA - is there one album you'd recommend that I could try
Thanks, Rotf
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Nigel Cavendish
Practically anything by Les Barker: or the Kipper Family.
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Bob McC
'She was sharing her spin dry
with a guy in a tie die
when she caught my reflection in the chrome
I knew that she'd seen me
cos she dropped her bikini
the one that I got her in Rome'
Little Does She Know by The Kursaal Flyers
Much of their stuff had whimsical lyrics like this.
with a guy in a tie die
when she caught my reflection in the chrome
I knew that she'd seen me
cos she dropped her bikini
the one that I got her in Rome'
Little Does She Know by The Kursaal Flyers
Much of their stuff had whimsical lyrics like this.
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Tam
quote:Originally posted by SteveGa:
Geoff is a wonderful song full of bitterness and loathing. I'm a bit biased as I know Philip Jeays' manager so... go buy one of his albums! I would suggest "October" but it is deleted. "Cupid Is A Drunkard" is a good starting point.
Steve
In that case he'll be pleased to know I have them all. Would you ask him if there's any chance he'd come back to the Edinburgh festival again.
regards, Tam
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Shayman
Jegsy Dodd
Jonathan
Jonathan
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Michael_B.
quote:Originally posted by Tam:
I'd finish off with Beethoven - Charles Mackerras's recent performance of Beethoven 1 had some lovely moments of humour - it was just lovely.
And Mozart... or were you just thinking of the others (another Schnabel quote)....
Chhers
Mike
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by SteveGa
The request has been made Tam.quote:Originally posted by Tam: In that case he'll be pleased to know I have them all. Would you ask him if there's any chance he'd come back to the Edinburgh festival again.
regards, Tam
Steve
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Henners
As a newbie here I suggest anything by Frank Zappa, the whole lot makes me laugh. But that may just be me
:-)
:-)
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:Originally posted by Henners:
As a newbie here I suggest anything by Frank Zappa, the whole lot makes me laugh. But that may just be me
:-)
Hi Henners - there's quite a lot on the forum about Frank. I have his first 20 or so albums - up to Drowning Witch. There are some funny moments, but I'm not keen on his amalgamation with the Turtles on Filmore East, Just Another Band From LA and so on, where he tries some comedy routines. I think his best work was We're Only In It For The Money where the comedy is there, but more discrete (or should that be Discreet). One thing about FZ is that his music is always pretty interesting.
What's your favourite elpee by the great man?
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Aiken Drum
Mike Harding has provided some classic humour in his time, and Max Boyce has many funny songs (Hymns and Arias comes to mind).
Cheers
Brad
Cheers
Brad
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by manicatel
Spinal Tap has got to get a mention, & The Rutles made me chuckle as well.
matt.
matt.
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by SteveGa
The Truth About 1812 Classical with words! Black Country humour recorded in the Black Country in the 70’s. Well worth buying if you can find it.
Jake Thackray “Live Performance”, “La-Di-Dah”. Difficult to find but worth getting if you like his sort of thing “The Last Will & Testament”, “Jake's Progress”, and “On Again! On Again!”, “Live At The Lobster Pot Vol 1 & 2”.
Mike Harding Come on Mike – get touring again! “One Man Show” and “Captain Paralytic and The Brown Ale Cowboy”
The Goodies a bit purile but Black Puddin’ Bertha is good. Did the best version of “Wild Thing” I have ever heard.
Tom Lehrer almost anything.
Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Country music guaranteed to offend
Paddy Roberts “Strictly for Grown-Ups” and “Songs For Gay Dogs”. 1960’s humour – don’t really hear about him anymore although this has just been re-released. Possibly too much of hos time?
Ivor Biggun “The Fruity Bits..” An aquired taste?
Flanders & Swann a bit dated but good all the same
Noel Coward When he was funny he was funny.
Shirehorses “Our Kid Eh” for the title more than anything and If You Tolerate This Piss – Manic Street Sweepers
The Rutles “Archaeology”
Max Miller “The Cheeky Chappie Sings”
Eric Idle “Rutland Isles”
Randy Newman Almost anything but “Twelve Songs”, “Sail Away”, “Good Old Boys”, “Land Of Dreams”. Even his “Greatest Hits”.
Neil Innes “The Innes Book of Records”
OBC “Monty Python’s Spamalot”
A couple of things that makes me laugh but are deadly serious (tongue in check serious!)
The King “Gravelands”. Elvis returns to haunt a Belfast postman and persuades him to record an album of tracks that Elvis wishes he had done. Really well done – good impersonation.
El Vez “Boxing With God”, “Graciasland”, “Pure Aztec Gold”. Not so much an Elvis impersonator, El Vez takes songs – moves them sideways and then twists them.. Songs with a message though, so I’m not sure if it really belongs here.
I must have missed something – I’ll add it when I think!
Steve
Jake Thackray “Live Performance”, “La-Di-Dah”. Difficult to find but worth getting if you like his sort of thing “The Last Will & Testament”, “Jake's Progress”, and “On Again! On Again!”, “Live At The Lobster Pot Vol 1 & 2”.
Mike Harding Come on Mike – get touring again! “One Man Show” and “Captain Paralytic and The Brown Ale Cowboy”
The Goodies a bit purile but Black Puddin’ Bertha is good. Did the best version of “Wild Thing” I have ever heard.
Tom Lehrer almost anything.
Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys Country music guaranteed to offend
Paddy Roberts “Strictly for Grown-Ups” and “Songs For Gay Dogs”. 1960’s humour – don’t really hear about him anymore although this has just been re-released. Possibly too much of hos time?
Ivor Biggun “The Fruity Bits..” An aquired taste?
Flanders & Swann a bit dated but good all the same
Noel Coward When he was funny he was funny.
Shirehorses “Our Kid Eh” for the title more than anything and If You Tolerate This Piss – Manic Street Sweepers
The Rutles “Archaeology”
Max Miller “The Cheeky Chappie Sings”
Eric Idle “Rutland Isles”
Randy Newman Almost anything but “Twelve Songs”, “Sail Away”, “Good Old Boys”, “Land Of Dreams”. Even his “Greatest Hits”.
Neil Innes “The Innes Book of Records”
OBC “Monty Python’s Spamalot”
A couple of things that makes me laugh but are deadly serious (tongue in check serious!)
The King “Gravelands”. Elvis returns to haunt a Belfast postman and persuades him to record an album of tracks that Elvis wishes he had done. Really well done – good impersonation.
El Vez “Boxing With God”, “Graciasland”, “Pure Aztec Gold”. Not so much an Elvis impersonator, El Vez takes songs – moves them sideways and then twists them.. Songs with a message though, so I’m not sure if it really belongs here.
I must have missed something – I’ll add it when I think!
Steve
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by SteveGa
quote:Originally posted by Yeldarb:
Mike Harding has provided some classic humour in his time, and Max Boyce has many funny songs (Hymns and Arias comes to mind).
Cheers
Brad
Max Boyce - We All Had Doctor's Papers, Live At Treorchy, The Incredible Plan and I Was There. A folk singer and humourist. very good live with a decent audience.
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by glenda
Louis Jordan - "Beware" and "There ain't nobdy here but us chickens" makes me laugh every time I play them - and that must be a few dozen spins by now.
Glenda
Glenda
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Bob McC
Neil Innes
How Sweet to Be An Idiot and everything by the fabulous, now touring
Bonzos!
How Sweet to Be An Idiot and everything by the fabulous, now touring
Bonzos!
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by kuma
quote:Originally posted by ROTF:
I only know a couple of Randy's songs: Mama Told Me Not To Come and I Love LA - is there one album you'd recommend that I could try
ROTF,
Why of course, you need to get the 'Sail Away'.
Political Science lyrics is hilarious.
No one likes us-I don't know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
But all around, even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one and see what happens
We give them money-but are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful
They don't respect us-so let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them
Asia's crowded and Europe's too old
Africa is far too hot
And Canada's too cold
And South America stole our name
Let's drop the big one
There'll be no one left to blame us
We'll save Australia
Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo
We'll build an All American amusement park there
They got surfin', too
Boom goes London and boom Paris
More room for you and more room for me
And every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town
Oh, how peaceful it will be
We'll set everybody free
You'll wear a Japanese kimono
And there'll be Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow
So let's drop the big one now
Let's drop the big one now
Posted on: 18 September 2006 by Guido Fawkes
quote:Originally posted by kuma:quote:Originally posted by ROTF:
I only know a couple of Randy's songs: Mama Told Me Not To Come and I Love LA - is there one album you'd recommend that I could try
Why of course, you need to get the 'Sail Away'.
Thanks Kuma, I definitely will - the lyrics are great.