Spike Jones

[CharlieH.]

(Based on a small deviation on the mambo thread)

He's best remembered for his insane renditions of popular tunes, and his dastardly murdering of the classics (Pal-Yat-Chee, anyone?). But don't let the comedy fool you- His band consisted of top notch virtuosi that were not averse to wigs and funny suits, and whose instrumentations featured anything from cowbells and car horns to gunshots and just about anything that made noise. He was adept at poking fun at everyone and everything, including Peter Lorre, Vaughn Monroe (who got so angered by Spike's rendition of Riders In The Sky that he got it banned), russians, old folks, jeeps and most famously, Adolf Hitler.

But don't take my word for it - Let Spike himself show you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEtEKjW4cLU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHUu_cRthXQ
(The hiccuping drunkard is Mel Blanc)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbE7SdsgcL0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCuGjXs81Ic

Any other fans of the king of corn 'ere?

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

His version of My Old Flame is great!

Two minutes of Peter Lorre is hilarious.

 

[The Captain]

"My name is Richard and I'm a Spike-a-holic"!

Yes, Charlie, I saw Spike at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha when I was a teen-ager (the "dark ages" to you, kid!) Along with the bands neon-stripped suits, what I liked was their prelude to the gongs/gunshots/horns that most folks associate with Spike Jones. When the band wanted to sound mainstream it could, and then - BEDLAM! BTW, FYI, 60 minutes veteran Mike Wallace (using his birth name, Myron Wallace, was the announcer on a tape I have of a Spike Jones show; He went far, I guess!