Grex Music2 Conference

Item 157: The Music (?) of Spike Jones

Entered by cloud on Sat Oct 17 01:59:42 1998:

Today I was (re) listening to a collection of Spike Jones' music.  It occured
to me how brilliant, insane, and actually inovative he was.  Inovative?  Why,
yes, as far as I know, he basically introduced the use of sound effects into
music, long before sampling came out.  Today, in a lot of the music I listen
to, I'll hear many inserted sound effects, albiet to a much different end than
Spike's (usually).

Any comments?
11 responses total.
#1 of 11 by albaugh on Sat Oct 17 05:10:15 1998:

Yes, Spike Jones was the classic master of sound gags, long before Peter
Schickle arrived on the scene (though I very much like PDQ Bach).

#2 of 11 by md on Sat Oct 17 11:37:00 1998:

In some secluded rondevous
(crash, thud "Whoopee!")
That overlooks the avenue
(honk-honk, screeeech, CRASH!)
Someone is having a delightful chat
("Yack yack yack yack yack")
Of this and that
("Yack yack yack yack")
And cocktails for two
(clink clink)

He was a very funny guy.  He played off fads and trends,
he deconstructed revered classics long before decinstructed
was even a word.  I used to see him on his TV show all the
time when I was a kid.  He permanently warped my brain.
Somewhere around here I have an album of his called "Dinner
Music for People Who Aren't Very Hungry."  It's why I say
"who" instead of "that" to this day.

#3 of 11 by bruin on Sat Oct 17 13:50:53 1998:

And don't forget the parts in Spike Jones' "Cocktails For Two" where there
were sound effects of guzzling the booze.

#4 of 11 by tpryan on Sun Oct 18 23:42:41 1998:

        REgarding "Cocktails For Two", also think that this was all
done, perfectly timed within one take.  No going back and dubbing
in the needed parts later. No multitracking in those days.  Heck
no tape in those early days, it was straight to 78 master.
        The Spike Jones Anthology, a 2 CD set from Rhino records was
expertly put together, and contains a thick booklet inside.  Find
it at Borders.

#5 of 11 by lumen on Mon Oct 19 22:24:10 1998:

OOohhh, sweet!  Betcha Dr. Demento is plugging that one on his show.

#6 of 11 by tpryan on Mon Oct 19 22:30:56 1998:

        I would guess so, he did a lot of the writting of the booklet
notes.

#7 of 11 by lumen on Wed Oct 21 03:09:32 1998:

that's right-- he did :)

#8 of 11 by tpryan on Wed Oct 21 23:15:48 1998:

        I'm listening to it right now.

#9 of 11 by cloud on Thu Oct 22 01:12:13 1998:

What is Doc. Demento's real name again?

#10 of 11 by happyboy on Fri Oct 30 02:38:45 1998:

the "Latrinophone"  a harp strung toiletseat!

#11 of 11 by cloud on Fri Nov 6 02:16:57 1998:

And other modern inventions.

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