ALBUM REVIEW

SPIKE JONES & HIS CITY SLICKERS - STRICTLY FOR MUSIC LOVERS -
(Proper Box 5)

Released in 1999 by England's Proper Records Ltd., this 4-CD package provides a comprehensive overview of Spike's peculiar brand of "musical depreciation" during the earlier part of his career, from 1941 through 1947.

The 95 tracks are far from the Jones aggregation's entire output during the period covered. But they do provide almost 5 hours of work by the only organization that managed to play pistols, cowbells, washboards, razzers, and I-don't-know-what-all, in concert with legitimate musical instruments, all on key. Certainly sufficient to amuse all but the most stuffed of shirts.

Tracks are in chronological order, and encompass commercial recordings, transcriptions for radio airplay, and live "in concert" sessions. The 24 pages of liner notes provide a pr�cis of Spike's career and sufficiently-detailed track information.

Reasonably priced, this is a definite "must" if you are Spike's kind of "music lover."

Track listing:

DISC ONE

1. BARSTOOL COWBOY FROM OLD BARSTOW Vocalist : Del Porter - Los Angeles, August 8, 1941
2. BEHIND THOSE SWINGING DOORS Vocalist : Del Porter. Additional vocals : King Jackson & Carl Grayson; belches : Jimmy Thomasson - Los Angeles, August 8, 1941
3. RED WING Vocalist: Del Porter - Los Angeles, August 8, 1941
4. THE COVERED WAGON ROLLED RIGHT ALONG Vocalist : Del Porter - Los Angeles, August 8, 1941
5. CLINK, CLINK, ANOTHER DRINK Vocalist : Del Porter & The Boys in the Back Room; Hiccups : Mel Blanc - Los Angeles, January 12, 1942
6. LITTLE BO-PEEP HAS LOST HER JEEP Vocalist : Del Porter, Collidophone : Willie Spicer - Los Angeles, April 7, 1942
7. PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES IN YOUR OLD KIT BAG Vocalists : The City Slickers - Standard Transcriptions, April 20, 1942
8. THREE LITTLE WORDS Vocalist : King Jackson - Standard Transcriptions, April 20, 1942
9. WHEN BUDDAH SMILES Standard Transcriptions, April 20, 1942
10. YOU'RE A SAP MISTER JAP Vocalists : The City Slickers - Standard Transcriptions, April 20, 1942
11. NEVER HIT YOUR GRANDMA WITH A SHOVEL (SOFT BOILED BALLADS) Vocalists : The Boys in the Back Room - Standard Transcriptions, April 20, 1942
12. HORSEY, KEEP YOUR TAIL UP Vocalists : The Quartet - Standard Transcriptions, July 17, 1942
13. CAMPTOWN RACES Vocalists : Cousin Luther Roundtree & Uncle Spike Jones - Standard Transcriptions, July 17, 1942
14. JOHN SCOTTER TROT Standard Transcriptions, July 17, 1942
15. LOVE FOR SALE Standard Transcriptions, July 17, 1942
16. MOANIN' LOW Vocalist : King Jackson - Standard Transcriptions, July 17, 1942
17. CHEATIN' ON THE SANDMAN Vocalists : The Boys in the Back Room - Standard Transcriptions, July 17, 1942
18. COME JOSEPHINE IN MY FLYING MACHINE Vocalists : King Jackson & The Boys in the Back Room - Standard Transcriptions, July 17, 1942
19. THE SAILOR WITH THE NAVY BLUE EYES Vocalists : The Boys in the Back Room - Standard Transcriptions, July 17, 1942
20. DER FUEHRER'S FACE Vocalists : Carl Grayson & The Boys in the Back Room, Collidophone : Willie Spicer - Los Angeles, April 7, 1942
21. HOTCHA CORNIA (HOTCHA CHORNYA - RUSSIAN FOLK SONGS) Sneezaphone : Willie Spicer - Los Angeles, July 28, 1942
22. I WANNA GO BACK TO WEST VIRGINIA Vocalists : Del Porter and The Boys in the Back Room, Trainaphone : Willie Spicer - Los Angeles, July 28, 1942
23. WATER LOU (DRIP, DRIP, DRIP) Vocalist : Del Porter - Standard Transcriptions, July 31, 1942

DISC TWO

1. THE SHEIK OF ARABY Vocalists : Del Porter, King Jackson & Carl Grayson - Standard Transcriptions, July 31, 1942
2. OH! BY JINGO Vocalist : Del Porter - Standard Transcriptions, July 31, 1942
3. I'M GOING TO WRITE HOME Vocalist : Del Porter - Standard Transcriptions, July 31, 1942
4. HI HO MY LADY Vocalist : Del Porter - Standard Transcriptions, July 31, 1942
5. I KNOW A STORY Vocalist : Country Washburne - Standard Transcriptions, July 31, 1942
6. ST-ST-ST-STELLA Vocalist : Del Porter - Standard Transcriptions, July 31, 1942
7. HOTCHA CORNIA (HOTCHA CHORNYA - RUSSIAN FOLK SONGS) Declamation : Beau Lee - Los Angeles, November 12, 1943
8. DOWN IN JUNGLE TOWN Vocalist : Del Porter - Los Angeles, November 12, 1943
9. AS TIME GOES BY Vocalists : The Nilsson Twins (Elsa & Eileen) & Red Ingle - Los Angeles, November 12, 1943
10. PEOPLE WILL SAY WE'RE IN LOVE Vocalists : The Nilsson Twins - Recorded "In concert" 1943
11. G.I. HAIRCUT (Uhknown) 1943
12. IT NEVER RAINS IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA Vocalists : Carl Grayson & Red Ingle - Recorded "In concert" 1943
13. WANG WANG BLUES Vocalist : Del Porter - Recorded "In concert" 1943
14. MY LITTLE GIRL Vocalist : Beauregard Lee - Recorded "In concert" 1943
15. THE SOUND EFFECTS MAN Vocalist : Del Porter - Recorded "In concert" 1943
16. RAGTIME COWBOY JOE Vocalists : The Nilsson Twins, Beauregard Lee & Del Porter - Recorded "In concert" 1943
17. THE VAMP Vocalist : Del Porter - Recorded "In concert" 1943
18. HE BROKE MY HEART IN THREE PLACES Vocalists : The Nilsson Twins - Recorded "In concert" 1943
19. BESAME MUCHO Vocalists : Carl Grayson & Red Ingle - Recorded "In concert" 1944
20. I'M GOIN' BACK TO WHERE I CAME FROM Vocalist : Del Porter - Recorded "In concert" 1944
21. THE TROLLEY SONG Vocalists : The Nilsson Twins - Recorded "In concert" 1944
22. THERE'S A FLY ON MY MUSIC Clarinet virtuoso : Del Porter; Interruption : Larry Keating - Recorded "In concert" 1944
23. ROW, ROW, ROW Vocalist : Del Porter; Trumpet : George Rock - Recorded "In concert" 1944
24. I WANNA A GAL JUST LIKE THE GAL THAT MARRIED DEAR OLD DAD Vocalist : Beauregard Lee - Recorded "In concert" 1944
25. JINGLE BELLS Entire Cast - Recorded "In concert" 1944

DISC THREE

1. COCKTAILS FOR TWO Vocalists : Carl Grayson & The City Slickers - Los Angeles, May-June 1944
2. AND THE GREAT BIG SAW CAME NEARER AND NEARER Vocalists : Del Porter & The Boys in the Back Room - Los Angeles, May-June 1944
3. RED GROW THE ROSES Vocalists : Mixed Quartet - Standard Transcriptions, June 1944
4. JAMBOREE JONES Vocalists : The Nilsson Twins - Standard Transcriptions, June 1944
5. WHITTLE OUT A WHISTLE Vocalists : Mixed Quartet - Standard Transcriptions, June 1944
6. CASEY JONES Vocalist : Country Washburne - Standard Transcriptions, June 1944
7. AT LAST I'M IN FIRST WITH YOU Vocalists : Mixed Quartet - Standard Transcriptions, June 1944
8. THE CITY SLICKER POLKA Vocalists : The Nilsson Twins - Standard Transcriptions, June 1944
9. DOWN BY THE O-HI-O Vocalist : Beauregard Lee - Standard Transcriptions, June 1944
10. HOLIDAY FOR STRINGS With vocal effects - Los Angeles, November 29, 1944
11. COCKTAILS FOR TWO Vocalist : Carl Grayson - Los Angeles, November 29, 1944
12. LEAVE THE DISHES IN THE SINK, MA Vocalist : Del Porter - Los Angeles, November 29, 1944
13. SERENADE TO A JERK Vocalists : Judy Manners & Red (Jerk) Ingle - Los Angeles, January 13, 1945
14. DRIP, DRIP, DRIP (SLOPPY LAGOON) Vocalist : Del (Water-on-the-brain) Porter - Los Angeles, January 13, 1945
15. CHLOE Vocalist : Red (Swamphead) Ingle - Los Angeles, January 13, 1945
16. THE BLUE DANUBE Vocalists : Carl Grayson, Del Porter & The Boys in the Back Room - Los Angeles, mid-August 1945
17. BLACK BOTTOM Los Angeles, mid-August 1945
18. TOOT TOOT TOOTSIE, GOODBYE Vocalist : Del Porter - Los Angeles, mid-August 1945
19. MACNAMARA'S BAND Vocalist : Carl Grayson - Los Angeles, mid-August 1945
20. SIAM Vocalists : Del Porter, Carl Grayson & Red Ingle - Los Angeles, mid-August, 1945
21. LIEBESTRAUME Vocalist : Red Ingle; Narrator : Richard Morgan - Los Angeles, September 10, 1945
22. YOU'LL ALWAYS HURT THE ONE YOU LOVE Vocalists : Carl Grayson & Red Ingle - Los Angeles, September 10, 1945
23. THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC Vocalist : Carl Grayson - Los Angeles, September 10, 1945
24. MOTHER GOOSE MEDLEY (Intro - Brahm's Lullaby; The Farmer in the Dell; Hi Diddle Diddle; Sing a Song of Sixpence; Little BoyBlue; Hickory Dickory Duck; Jack &Jill; Old King Cole; LondonBridge is Falling Down; Brahm's Lullaby. Animals & Birds : Dr. Horatio Q Birdbath & Chorus - Los Angeles, February 11, 1946
25. HAWAIIAN WAR CHANT Vocalists : Spike Jones & His Wacky Wakakians - Los Angeles, February 11, 1946

DISC FOUR

1. OLD MCDONALD HAD A FARM With vocal chorus - Los Angeles, February 11, 1946
2. I DREAM OF BROWNIE WITH THE LIGHT BLUE JEANS Vocalists : Carl Grayson& The Barefooted Pennsylvanians - Los Angeles, February 11, 1946
3. THE GLOW WORM Vocalists : Red Ingle & Aileen Carlisle with chorus - Los Angeles, February 11, 1946
4. LAURA Spike Jones & his other Orchestra with the City Slickers. Vocalists : Jimmy Cassidy, Red Ingle & Dr. Horatio Q Birdbath - Los Angeles, May 6, 1946
5. JONES POLKA Vocalist :Mickey Katz - Los Angeles, May 6, 1946
6. THE JONES LAUGHING RECORD (Introducing the Flight of the Bumble Bee) (After Rimsky-Korsakov - long after) Trombone : Tommy Pederson (with Frank Leithner - sneezes plus George Rock, Dick Morgan, Red Ingle & others) - Los Angeles, September 28, 1946
7. WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE Commentary : Doodles Weaver - Los Angeles, October 7, 1947
8. MY PRETTY GIRL Vocalists : The Boys in the Back Room. Whistling : Dr. Horatio Q Birdbath - Los Angeles, October 17, 1946
9. RHAPSODY FROM HUNGER (Y) Boy : Spike Jones; violin solo : Dick Gardner - Los Angeles, October 17, 1946
10. I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE Vocalist : George Rock - Los Angeles, October 17, 1946
11. WHEN YUBA PLAYS THE RHUMBA ON THE TUBA Spike Jones and his Other Orchestra; Tuba : Country Washburne - Radio Transcriptions - Los Angeles, November 1946
12. (I'M FOREVER) BLOWING BUBBLE GUM Vocalist : George Rock - Los Angeles, February 10, 1947
13. LOVE IN BLOOM Vocalists : The Barefooted Pennsylvanians, Dr. Horatio Q Birdbath & The Salvina Sisters - Los Angeles, February 10, 1947
14. THE MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE Vocalist : Doodles Weaver - Chicago, March 24, 1947
15. POPCORN SACK Vocalists : The Boys in the Back Room, Paul Frees & Sir Frederick Gas - Los Angeles, July 25, 1947
16. OUR HOUR (THE PUPPY LOVE SONG) Vocalists : The Tailwaggers, Dr. Horatio Q Birdbath, George Rock & Sir Frederick Gas - Los Angeles, July 25, 1947
17. MY OLD FLAME Vocalists : PaulJudson&Paul Frees - Los Angeles, October 7, 1947
18. PEOPLE ARE FUNNIER THAN ANYBODY Vocalists : Dick & Freddie Morgan - Chicago, November 5, 1947
19. BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA Vocalists : The Salt Water Tuffies; Barker, Dick Morgan; Interruptions : George Rock - Chicago, November 13, 1947
20. I'M GETTING SENTIMENTAL OVER YOU Vocalists : The Barefooted Pennsylvanians (Sir Frederick Gas, Dick Morgan & George Rock) - Chicago, November 13, 1947
21. I KISS YOUR HAND MADAME Vocalists : Paul Judson & The Ben Ghost Singers - Chicago, December 4, 1947
22. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS (IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH) Vocalist : George Rock - Chicago, December 4, 1947
23. ILL BARKIO (IL BACIO) Vocalists :Ina Souez & Horatio Q Birdbath - Chicago, December 23, 1947
24. NONE BUT THE LONELY HEART (A SOAPERETTA) Girl : Helen Grayco; Boy : Spike Jones; violin solo : Dick Gardner - Chicago, December 30, 1947

Copyright � 2002 - Doo Wop Gino

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Last updated 18 January 2002.

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