Seymour Swine & The Squeelers: Blue Christmas

Back in 1985, I spied an unusual single at one of the local record stores in Beckley, WV. Without hearing it, I was intrigued and so I bought it. I am glad that I did, as it became a Christmas staple of my radio show for nine years. While I am not much on novelty records, this is my favorite holiday novelty tune – Seymour Swine and the Squeelers with their rendition of “Blue Christmas.”

Until recently, I thought this was a one man effort and it sounded as though it was recorded in someone’s living room with one other person “laughing all the way.” Seymour Swine was Denny Brownlee who was also armed with a kazoo. The Squeelers comprised only one person – Bill Lynn on acoustic guitar. Seymour Swine’s vocals are instantly reminiscent of Porky Pig.

There are no identifying marks on this record to tie it to a real artist or label – perchance to avoid litigation with Warner Brothers or Mel Blanc or both. But now you know the culprits. You can't miss this single - the label is piggy pink adorned with pigs dancing around a Christmas tree. A Christmas wreath surrounds the center hole.

When I played this version of “Blue Christmas” on the air, it always generated numerous requests for more plays. I have included it as our Friday Flipside, as both sides of the record are identical.

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain: Fly Me Off The Handel

It is Fun Friday and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain explores Georg Friedrich Händel’s pervasive chord progression that has contributed to many popular tunes in the last 60 years.

I learned about the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain when a cousin of mine sent me a link to one of their other performances. I was hooked and explored YouTube for more videos by the band that has a large following in their homeland.

Today’s song is a medley that contains:

• Georg Friedrich Händel’s “Harpsichord Suite in G Minor”
• Bart Howard’s “Fly Me to the Moon,” as made famous by Frank Sinatra
• Francis Lai & Carl Sigman’s “(Where do I Begin) Love Story,” sung by Andy Williams
• Charles Fox & Norman Gimbel’s “Killing me Softly with his Song,” made popular by Roberta Flack
• Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey of the Eagles’ “Hotel California”
• Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris’ “I will Survive” – the 1978 hit for Gloria Gaynor

Other versions of this mashup include “Autumn Leaves”; however, the round at the end is quite confusing with the extra tune. One of my favorite parts is the intentional substitution of colitas with fajitas in "Hotel California. It makes sense - "the warm smell of fajitas."

Have a good day.

Tom Lehrer: Poisoning Pigeons in the Park

The fabulous Fun Friday feature foday (sorry, I couldn’t resist having another word beginning with “F”) is by Professor Tom Lehrer. As Lehrer is the sultan of satire, he found the strangest ideas to translate into songs that are on par with what one might find in musical theater. Today, we provide his irreverent look at “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park.” No animals were hurt in the preparation of this blog.

Lehrer, a former Harvard mathematics lecturer, often wrote songs on controversial subjects that included the arms race, the cold war, the sexual revolution, the environment, the Vietnam War, Vatican II, and racism. In addition, he performed lighthearted numbers that dealt with a number of subjects; however, many were related to educational topics such as, grammar, the periodic table of elements, and the new math.

I first heard Lehrer’s music on Dr. Demento’s show in the mid 1970s. It wasn’t until the end of the decade that I found his first album at flea market at the Huntington (WV) Civic Arena. Although today’s song did not appear on “Songs by Tom Lehrer,” the 10 inch album from 1953 provided 12 songs that dealt with a variety of social and humorous topics. It is reported that he recorded all 12 cuts in one hour’s time at a cost of $15. The initial pressing was of 400 copies.

LYRICS:

Spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here.
Life is skittles, and life is beer.
I think the loveliest time of the year
Is the spring! I do - Don't you? 'Course you do.
But there's one thing that makes spring complete for me
And makes every Sunday a treat for me

All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park...
Every Sunday you'll see my sweetheart and me
As we poison the pigeons in the park

When they see us coming the birdies all try and hide
But they still go for peanuts when coated with cyanide
The sun's shining bright, everything seems alright
When we're poison pigeons in the park

We've gained notoriety
And caused much anxiety
In the Audubon Society with our games...

They call it impiety,
And lack of propriety, and
Quite a variety of unpleasant names.

But it's not against any religion
To want to dispose of a pigeon ...

So, if Sunday you're free, why don't you come with me
And we'll poison the pigeons in the park
And maybe we'll do in a squirrel or two
While we poison the pigeons in the park
My pulse will be quickenin' with each drop of strychnin'
We feed to a pigeon, it just takes a smidgen
To poison a pigeon in the park

Mose Allison: Your Mind Is On Vacation

For Fun Friday’s, it’s probably the original put down song – Mose Allison and a live version of “Your Mind is on Vacation.”

While this isn’t the original recording of the song, it’s a pretty good live recording if you can put up with the occasional audio drop out. I’ve been familiar with this song since the early sixties as a copy of the 45 came into our family’s hands at that time.

I suppose this promotional single on Atlantic was given to my brother Chuck by his college buddy Russ Hatter who worked at WGOH radio in Grayson, KY. They certainly didn’t play any jazz and I’ve inherited about 30 jazz singles on the Riverside and Pacific Jazz labels. This was the only one on a major label of the bunch - well, I guess even Atlantic at the time was an indy label as well. 

This is a great little song that I used to play frequently on my Wednesday night jazz program on WKCC. Mose knows how to sling a lyrical insult as well as serve up some great piano chops. Enjoy this amusing song . . . “cause your mind is on vacation and your mouth is working overtime.”

Your sitting there yackin' right in my face
Coming on like you own the place
If silence was golden
You couldn't raise a dime
Cause your mind is on vacation and your mouth is working overtime

You're quoting figures, you're dropping names
You're telling stories, you're playing games
You always laugh when things ain't funny
You try to sound like you don't need money
If talk was criminal, you'd lead a life of crime
Cause your mind is on vacation and your mouth is working overtime

You know that life is short and talk is cheap
Don't make promises that you can't keep
If you don't like the song I'm singing, just grin and bear it
All I can say is if the shoe fits wear it
If you must keep talking please can you make it rhyme
Cause your mind is on vacation and your mouth is working overtime
Cause your mind is on vacation and your mouth is working overtime
Cause your mind is on vacation and your mouth is working overtime

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks: How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?

It’s Fun Fridays and my feature song is from Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks’ first album, “Original Recordings.” This tune has received its fair share of airplay on Dr. Demento’s show. The pertinent and rhetorical question Dan and the gang ask is “How Can I Miss You If You Don’t Go Away?”

My first experience with this band that defies categorization was with their second album, “Where’s the Money?” I briefly heard this album at my brother Chuck’s house during late 1973 and the music as well as the album’s cover prompted me to buy it in the first place. On second thought, it was primarily the cover that really intrigued me.

The LP's cover contained a strange collection of instruments. This musical menagerie includes the likes of Sid Page’s fiddle (mostly obscured), an Epiphone vintage guitar amplifier from the 30s or the 40s, a bowed zither called a Marx Pianolin, a bass drum with its head painted with a cheesy Hawaiian scene (despite there being no drummer in the band), Naomi Ruth Eisenberg’s fiddle, Dan Hicks’ Guild guitar, Jaime Leopold’s double bass, and a Gibson Style A mandolin.

I don't know, I always liked collections of instruments. I bought Pink Floyd's "Ummagumma" because the back cover had the band's equipment lined up on an air strip like it was the armaments of a fighter jet, but I digress.

Reverse of Pink Floyd's Ummagumma LP

Add to the mystique of this eclectic collection of Dan Hicks et al's instrumentation, the zoot suit era clothing and a custom designed cover package screamed to me from the record racks. It was even on Blue Thumb, an independent American label that I had become familiar with from recordings by Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Dave Mason, and Mark-Almond. To beat it all, it was a live recording that was of studio quality.

So I bought it, loved it, and sought out more Hicks’ LPs. As the second album was my first, the first album was my second – boy that sounds like something quasi spiritual – I was introduced to the original lineup of the band and some of their earlier tunes including our feature today – “How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away?” The 1969 album “Original Recordings” was his/their only record for CBS’ Epic label.

One writer described Hicks’ music as occurring at the “intersection of cowboy folk, jazz, country-swing, bluegrass, pop and gypsy music.” It won’t be for everyone, yet I believe most will at least find this ditty somewhat amusing.

Happy Friday (late as it might be) – tomorrow, I’ll feature the progressive rock/folk band Renaissance.

Ames Brothers: Rag Mop

The Fun Fridays tune today is a novelty song that was written in 1949 by Deacon Anderson and Johnny Lee Wills. “Rag Mop” (sometimes spelled as “Ragg Mopp”) was initially made famous in 1950 by the Ames Brothers.

Not only was “Rag Mop” the Ames Brothers’ first hit, it was the last #1 record on Billboard’s pop charts that was only released on 78 rpm disc. Subsequent number one records either were simultaneously released on 78 rpm and 45 rpm discs or only as 45s. Because of its rockin’ beat and swing inspired piano and guitar, the song was used by a number of western swing bands during the period.

As big as this song was, my first experience with the tune wasn’t from any of the legitimate releases. I first heard it in the early 1960s when Cecil, the sea-sick sea-serpent, sang it on an episode of Beany and Cecil. Bob Clampett based his animated series on ABC after a puppet show that he developed and produced for Los Angeles TV from 1949 to 1954.

I watched Beany and Cecil every Saturday morning; however, I can only remember a two isolated events surrounding the adventures of the crew of the Leakin’ Lena. One of these that I remember is villain Dishonest John’s signature sound, “Nya-ah-ãhh!” The other is R-A-G-G-M-O-P-P as sung by Cecil. That was over 45 years ago and I still remember the song. It is only fitting that I provide also that cartoon episode: “D.J. the D.J.”

Beany & Cecil: "D.J. the D.J."

Lyrics:

M
I say M-O
M-O-P
M-O-P-P
Mop
M-O-P-P
Mop Mop Mop Mop

R
I say R-A
R-A-G
R-A-G-G
Rag
R-A-G-G M-O-P-P
Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Rag Mop
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Rag Mop
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Rag Mop
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Rag Mop
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
R-A-G-G M-O-P-P
Rag Mop!

A
I say A-B
A-B-C
A-B-C-D
A-B-C-D-E
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H

I
I say M-O
M-O-P
M-O-P-P
Mop
M-O-P-P
Mop Mop Mop Mop

R
I say R-A
R-A-G
R-A-G-G
Rag
R-A-G-G M-O-P-P
Rag Mop

Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Rag Mop
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Rag Mop
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Rag Mop
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
Rag Mop
Doo-doo-doo-DAH-dee-ah-dah
R-A-G-G M-O-P-P
Rag Mop!

Soundcatcher68: Mashup

It is Fun Fridays, and while I play novelty tunes on the final workday of the week, I also feature different mixes and mashups. Soundcatcher68, from Italy, created the following mashup featuring Madonna, Tears for Fears, and Depeche Mode. This is a very smooth job of editing and the three tunes work well together.

Soundcatcher68 liberally used the Madonna’s “Frozen” and Tears for Fears’ Shout; however, only keyboard parts from Depeche Mode’s Stripped were used.

Madonna – “Frozen”

Tears for Fears – “Shout”

Depeche Mode – “Stripped”

Jimmy Cross: I Want My Baby Back

As we move towards Halloween, our Fun Friday’s selection is the 1965 semi-hit by Jimmy Cross, “I Want My Baby Back.”

Recorded by radio show producer Jimmy Cross, this record was a campy parody on the teenage death laments of the late 50s and early 60s. The more infamous recordings of this morbid genre were “Teen Angel” by Mark Dinning, “Last Kiss” by J. Frank Wilson, “Tell Laura I Love Her” by Ray Peterson, “Dead Man’s Curve” by Jan and Dean, and “Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las.

Who would have thought that a song about necrophilia would have charted in the Hot 100 – but this composition by Perry Botkin, Jr. and Gil Garfield barely made it – peaking at 92 in February 1965.

“Baby, I dig you” . . . have a Happy Halloween.

Ray Stevens: I Need Your Help Barry Manilow

Well, it’s another a Fun Friday and I reach back to 1979 with a classic Ray Stevens’ tune, “I Need Your Help Barry Manilow.”

I remember the first time I heard this song, I was working part-time at the original WAMX in Ashland, KY and the record had just been released. One of the full time jocks, I think it was Randy Berry (AKA Bobby Rich), played this on the air while I was in the control room getting ready for a rare weekday shift. I was at the station filling in for one of the full-time jocks who was out sick.

Randy Berry (AKA Bobby Rich) - then WHTN PD & Ernie G. Anderson - overnights at WGNT

February 1981 - at a going away party when I left Huntington for WCIR in Beckley

Immediately, it had me rolling in the floor of the control room and I thought it was one of the best bits Stevens had ever done. There were two parts of the song that I loved. The first was the recitation towards the end where Ray strings all of those Manilow song titles together into a coherent dialog.

"Hello, Mandy? It's me. I'm here at the Copa.
You know, the Copacabana.
I know I don't write the songs that make the whole world sing but
I do know one thing, Mandy...
I can't smile without you... Forget Lola...
Remember that weekend in New England? I thought then that
This could be the magic at last... Now here I am...
Tryin' to get the feelin' again!"

My second favorite part of this parody was the unexpected and unlikely rhyme of with the word “lucky” – “yucky” in the final chorus.

I don’t remember the song getting much airtime on WAMX other than some sporadic play – I don’t think it was ever in regular rotation. Apparently, this was the rule rather than the exception with most stations with a Contemporary Hit Radio format as it only charted at 49 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Ray’s take on Manilow was better received on Adult Contemporary radio, where it peaked at #11.

Junior Brown: My Wife Thinks You're Dead

It’s Fun Friday and today we cross the tracks to the country side of the spectrum with Junior Brown’s 1995 recording of “My Wife Thinks You're Dead.” This song peaked at 68 on Billboard's Country charts. 

I first heard Jamieson “Junior” Brown on West Virginia Public Radio’s Mountain Stage a number of years ago. One of the first things that attracted me to Brown’s music was his unique voice coupled with his humorous lyrics. But you don’t have to listen to very much of Brown’s music to realize that he is a talented guitarist and lap steel guitarist.

Live Version

The instrument that Brown plays is a custom built axe of his own design. The Guitsteel is a double neck instrument that looks like fraternal conjoined twins. Brown thought, “there are double neck guitars and double neck steels, what about a double neck with one of each.” The guitar rests on a stand to make changing between instruments easier. The steel slide fits into a pocket in the upper guitar neck. He is a master of both and that is evident immediately.

Regarding the video, the ex-girlfriend is played by Gwendolyn Gillingham-McIlvaine who measures at 6’7”. It adds to the comedic effect of the song when she stands next the much shorter Brown. The wife in the video is played Brown's actual wife, Tanya Rae Brown, who also supplies the rhythm guitar for his band.

While Brown is branded as a country artist and called the “Hillbilly Hendrix,” his musical influences go beyond the cowboy hat. The following cut represents Browns acumen in sounding exactly like the late Jimi Hendrix.

Here’s Junior Brown doing “Foxy Lady.”

Sam Tsui & Kurt Schneider: Don't Stop Believing

It is another Fun Friday and as usual another interesting tune – that, well, it just happens to make listening to music more enjoyable.  Today’s feature won’t make you laugh, but it is guaranteed to make you smile.  Our feature is the “You Tube Singing Sensation,” Sam Tsui (pronounced Shoo-ee) doing the Journey classic from 1981, “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Actually this is a cover of a cover. It follows the arrangement of the song as done for the Fox TV series, Glee.  So Sam, he is, covers the cast of Glee’s cover of Journey’s top 10 hit.  Take 2 from column A and add 5 from column B for the special today – as five Sams harmonize on this tune – sort of a Sams’ Club of his own.



None of this could be possible without Sam’s childhood friend, Kurt Schneider. Sam and Kurt have been honing there musical and production talents while attending one of the more prestigious universities in the US, Yale.   Sam sings, acts, and writes music; Kurt writes music and scripts, edits and produces video, and has the ability to play numerous instruments. Together they make a great musical combination and it is real synergy with these two.

The five Sams on this tune really look and sound as though they are together singing at the same time.  Something this complicated could only be produced in the digital age as an analog version would definitely degrade with as many generations needing to accomplish this amazing feat.  By the way, all of the instrumentation is by Kurt Schneider.  Both are part of the team that runs Noodle House Studios.

Another great example of their talent features no less than six Sams and one Kurt doing their arrangement of a Michael Jackson medley.



I would have expected these two to be fine arts or at the very least media majors, but their chosen majors have no direct connection to their performance skills.  Kurt is majoring in math while Sam is studying classical Greek.  I would be surprised if these two young men don’t have successful careers at some level in the entertainment industry. They have the drive, originality, and talent to make this happen.

For more about this dynamic duo, see last week’s interview from the Bonnie Hunt Show (aired September 24, 2009).