[ul][li]I am appalled no one has mentioned the modern master, Tom Lehrer. Give me “The Vatican Rag,” “Poisoning Pidgeons in the Park” or “National Brotherhood Week” any day. (I even did “Tomfoolery,” the musical revue of his music in '93.)[/li][li]Let us not forget those of us with a classical bent have long admired P.D.Q. Bach. His Echo Sonata for Two Unfriendly Groups of Instruments still kicks me in the butt, and “Oedipus Tex” and the “Missa Hilarious” are keepers, if you get classical music jokes, that is…[/li][li]Spike Jones, of course, is the granddaddy of them all. “Cocktails for Two” I’ve always wanted to do correctly, myself.[/li][li]I think, though, one of my favs comes from an old Dr. Demento CD - “The Cockroach That Ate Cincinatti.” “I thought Ben looked a little bit ratty… sorry 'bout that…” (I will also admit a fondness for “Existential Blues” as well.)[/li][li]I, personally, like Weird Al.[/li][li]Not quite novelty, but Lynn Lavner for the dykes and Romanovsky & Philips for the gay boys certainly deserve mention - they are humor in music with camp and cabaret thrown in for good measure.[/ul][/li]Esprix
Next time I want your opinion I’ll beat it out of you.
Worst- The Rappin’ Duke. In fact, if we held an awards ceremony, it would take home several trophies- worst John Wayne impersonation, worst rap tune, worst eighties tune, song that you would most like to replace in your head with a bullet, etc…
And for best, I’m currently very fond of Chris Rock’s “There Is No Sex In The Champagne Room”. It stands on its own as well as parodying that awful “Sunscreen “song””.
Ballad of the Uneasy Rider (Charlie Daniels)
Well I was takin’ a trip out to LA
tooling along in my Chevrolet
Tokin’ on a number and diggin’ on the radio…
“Up against the Wall Redneck Mother” Ray Wylie Hubbard (who’s got a great album out)
Spike Jones was great, so was Danny Kaye.
I liked that other one Spike did, entirely non-musical instruments?
-One of my faves (even though I hear it a billion times every year) is The Hanukkah Song and The Hanukkah part two.
-I like “I’m An Asshole” by Denis Leary too, still makes me laugh.
“Boobs a Lot” was recorded by the Holy Modal Rounders.
I’ve tried to find a few:
*A version of “Kids,” derived from the song in Bye Bye Birdie, but not the one on the album More Teenage Triangle by Paul Petersen, Shelley Fabares, and James Darren. A version I heard in Spring 1961 was more detailed.
*A song with this verse: I had a horse and his name was Tex…
…Signed his name with an X, made his livin’ forgin’ checks.
Some favorites from the Dr. Demento show:
**“The Schnauzer (artist unknown), a parody of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer”: I am just a canine so my tail is often pulled…
**New York, New York” by Bill Landfier, recorded in reverse so when it is played forward the backward-decaying is quite prominent.
**“What Is a Freen?” by Steve Allen.
**“O-Vlade, O-Divac,” artist unknown, a spoof of the Beatles’ song, honoring the Serbian center formerly with the Lakers.
**“Camouflage,” by Frank Ridgeway, giving a Marine-in-Vietnam flavor to the “Vanishing Hitchhiker” urban legend.
**“Alice’s Restaurant Masacree,” by Arlo Guthrie, a Thanksgiving classic.
**“Are You Lonesome Tonight,” by Elvis Presley, in which he breaks up laughing.
“If you drive an automobile, please drive carefully–because I walk in my sleep.”–Victor Borge
I’ve always liked Squirrels, done to the tune of the Beastie Boys’ Girls. (I think; I actually don’t know which came first, or if the Beasties were covering someone else’s song.)
And Dead Puppies is one of those songs I’ve always hated to love. (“They don’t come when you call, they don’t chase squirrels at all, dead puppies aren’t much fun, no…”) Does anyone know who did that one? Kinda sounds to me like Bill Murray, but then again it kinda doesn’t.
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
Oops, one of these days I’ll learn to search before I ask. “Dead Puppies” was done by The Ogden Edsl Wahalia Blues Ensemble Mondo Bizzario Band and the lead singer was Bill Frenzer. I got the “Bill” part right
“I hope life isn’t a big joke, because I don’t get it,” Jack Handy
Well you guys left out that horrible
Banana nanna fofanna, shirley shirley bo birley …
Who was that??? Shirley Ellis I think but I can’t think of the name of the song. Anyone?
“I think it speaks to the duality of man sir.”
(private Joker in Full Metal Jacket)
This may well be the most esoteric question asked on this board, but there’s already been mentions of the Bonzo Dog Band and Bill Murray on this thread so I’ll take a shot.
On the BDB’s album The Doughnut in Granny’s Greenhouse the first song is We Are Normal which has a long intro with various people speaking. One of these people (the one who says “He comes some normals. They look like normal Hawaiians”)sounds exactly like Bill Murray. I realize it’s extremely unlikely that Murray was doing voice work for a 1968 British novelty album, but does anyone know for sure?
The punk band, The Dickies, were also a great novelty song band.
Some of their classics: Stukas over Disneyland
Stuck in a Pagoda with Tricia Toyota
She’s a Hunchback
If Stuart Could Talk (about a talking penis) Bowling with Bedrock Barney
Doggie Doo
You Drive Me Ape(you big gorilla)
Manny Moe & Jack
