Spike Jones: The Legend

[tippycanoe99]

The Spike Jones suit... class.

[Jcolinsol]

It's a shame that Spike Jones always gets pigeonholed as a novelty act, when actually it's some of the best big band stuff out there.

[SimuLord]

Weird Al has a strong appreciation for the craft of parody music that could only come from listening to and really understanding what Spike Jones was all about. Nowadays a lot of musicians---in all genres---look at the tools first and then create the music around them. The end result is the Autotuned garbage that passes for modern music. True craft is left to art houses and established performers who built an audience before that stuff came along.

[EvilUncleFrank]

Spike Jones was punk rock before the "inventors" of punk rock were even born. There, I said it.

[himself801]

Van Dyke Parks, who has worked with Brian Wilson & Lowell George (of Little Feat), in an Endless Sky interview comments quite favorably about his recording techniques.

[SirPornAlot]

thats porn?

[datfri13]

I was born in 1942 and used to listen to my parents' Spike Jones records before he was ever on TV. I also liked Homer and Jethro and of course, Stan Freberg! I'm glad Wierd Al came along to take up the torch of wacky musical parody, and I could certainly hear Spike's influence in Wierd Al's recordings.

[Krygeryo]

@datfri13 Born in 1987, my dad played this for me, and I'm glad he did. The legacy goes on.

[Celtiki]

Spike in drag... Too funny!!

[Mavericker7]

I wonder if Max Headroom was inspired in part by Spike Jones. lol.

[edditude09]

I always felt Spike had some presence in Al's career from the 1st time I heard Al's songs.

[Eero59]

Where can you buy that SUIT?

[OofusTwillip]

@Eero59 - Ah, the "Slicker Suits"! There are several Zoot Suit companies that sell them, though not officially as "Slicker Suits".

[Eero59]

Where can I buy that SUIT?

[callmesora]

ah spike jones. Love his stuff, I was introduced to his music at a early on in my life. When I was younger (under 10) I would love listening to old radio shows from the golden age of radio on cassettes. Shows like dragnet, Sherlock Holmes, Dick Tracy, Spike Jones, War of the Worlds, and a huge slew of others.

Spike Jones was one of my favorites.

Just remember........ Beatlebomb~!

[stickman2012]

two musical geniuses....Go Figure! =).

[wackyben86]

I'm 23 and I enjoy the music of Spike Jones. My first song was probably All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (playing around Christmas time), but it was at the age of 15 when I became a fan after listening to Cocktails For Two off of my Wacky Favorites CD. Spike is a legend.

[jusaLOSER]

of Course AI would be inspired by the man! jones utilized sound effects and made music out of it! Al uses sound effects almost ALL the time in every one of his albums! bring on the next album Weird Al we love ya!

[redrightbear]

Check out the band "Telex" with the tribute song "Spike Jones" - Telex have their own brand of dry musical humour. Spike was enjoyed by many.

[arthurinuk]

Thanks for that - I have to agree with other comments: Al's appreciation of Spike Jones and the obvious warmth he feels towards him endears me - in turn - to Weird Al :D

[TheCanine2]

It's cool of Weird Al to acknowledge someone that early in the history of broadcast American music. Most Rock musicians wouldn't go back that far. I'm more impressed with Al as time goes on...he's actually a rather bright guy...and very funny.

[TheGidgetMidget]

I adore Spike Jones. Man, people had talent back then. Also, I love me a plaid suit. A man who's confident enough to pull of a bright yellow plaid suit and make it look not tacky is one heck of a man.

[actressgenie1]

both great men

[hughreed621]

Where can you buy this DVD?

Cheers

[gweena]

Hi - It's available @ Amazon. Enjoy.

[nitrate6971]

Besides Spike there was Martin Denny, who made his music on Asian and Pacific island instruments(different style of music), and Rhasam Roland Kirk, who played jazz with African instruments. But nobody did what Spike did.

[Dulcimerea]

His talent was so extraordinary, and what a sense of humor. Classic and timeess. He is one for the ages.

[BanditRingtail23]

My first introduction to Spike Jones was "Two Front Teeth", oh I only just found that out now. XD I had no idea it was his creation! (Still curious who sings it though.)

My first known encounter with his music was the cassette version of the Mairzy Doats albums, a collection of similar novelty songs from around his time. It included the Cocktails for Two along with Mairzy Doats and others. Good times! Wish I could've seen him in action.

[Auxlt]

George Rock the trumpet player sang Two Front Teeth. He is credited for being one of the kingpins of the band.

[edditude09]

I always felt there was a connection for Wierd Al and Spike Jones. My dad would play Spike Jones records some on 78's and would always make me laugh. I feel thats what Al got from Spike. Al likes to make people Laugh and he likes to Laugh.

[TrowaRF]

Reflecting on Al's words at the end of this clip, if Spike was here today, he'd probably say something along the lines of "you have to be crazy to emulate me". Weird Al is a certifiable loon, but that's why we love him. If he was sane, he wouldn't have such a huge following. Same for Spike Jones.

Sanity and comedy do not mix.

[rushangus]

I think that you did achieve it AL!

I remember I first discovered Dr. Demento @ 13 years old on KKRL radio out of Carroll Iowa back in 1983....I had never heard of you or Spike or Kipp Adotta or Wild Man Fischer, or ANYTHING LIKE IT!! It changed my life and I have always have had a "Demented" sense of humor since...Thank you THE DR. DEMENTO SHOW!!

[stacyblue1980]

spike in drag at 2:00! omg thats hilarious!

5*****

[gweena]

There ya go.

[spikejones42]

you know what they ought to do is make a movie about him like the buddy holly story or la bamba maybe it would teach this generation some culture

[OctoBox]

I could see Jim Carrey playing Spike Jones in a movie

[gweena]

How about Justin Timberlake?

[OctoBox]

Well I guess Justin could do it -- hahaha.

Spike was extremely animated and physical -- Jim is already there, then again maybe the juxtaposition of "bringing sexy back" and "never hit your grandma with a shovel."

[zbelm]

I actually find JT's movements more comical than Carrey's! Spike needs to be recognised for his genius - the guys that were the 'City Slickers', too! I greatly admire Weird Al's work too, but it hardly measures up to Spike Jones' efforts - especially the shows.

[drcoxcentral]

Shoot, I don't care as long as a movie is made about him, that guy is comedy god, I betcha Weird Al goes to the Spike Jones altar and worship him daily.

[Juliaflo]

Jim Carry would not only play Spike Jones, he would BE Spike Jones.

[ludovica36]

I love to watch Weird Al speak like this with such enthusiasm... You really get to sense his enjoyment

[PayoFyah]

what is the name of the song in 0:37....and 0:47???

please gweena ;D

[cellolee]

Anton Rubenstein - Melody

[gweena]

There are two within those times: "Melody in F," played on the flit guns and "Pass the Biscuits Mirandy" played on the cowbells. Hope that helps.

[PayoFyah]

thanks

[PayoFyah]

@gweena thanks a lot...(two years after the comment...and still havent downloaded the songs

[Limp73]

Before there was Frank Zappa,there was Spike Jones!

[redravensounds]

Bravo!! Huzzaa! Spike is some of my earliest memories, from a little black and white screen, along with Red Skelton. Yes, Al, you do indeed carry on the tradition - the world can not live without humor and music, and Spike melded them both perfectly - a consummate musician as well. A trait that Al shares.

[harihead2]

How delightful to find Weird Al talking about another one of his heroes. Great to see. Thanks for posting this!

[g0b0ts]

I just want to say that both Spike Jones and "Weird" Al have always been my favorite comedic musicians. When I was younger, my grandfather had a Spike Jones album... I was hooked. And I've enjoyed Al every since he's been making albums. From Beetlebum to White & Nerdy... they are both genius.

[sakara18235]

yes, THIS spike is a legend, and trippier than scum timothy leary...spike lee is a bum...and the spike channel shows mostly junk.

[coon460305]

As I was re-watching this again I noticed the visual resemblance to another great comic, Red Skelton .... something about the face.

It then occurred to me that, considering the resemblance, and Spike's rabid, fast-action timing --

Doesn't he kind of remind you of what Red Skelton would be like if he had done a lot of cocaine or amphetamines ????

A silly thought -- and I love 'em both.

[coon460305]

A genius, indeed. Some of my earliest memories of TV were of Spike Jones. Our whole family would be rolling on the floor halfway through most of his numbers.

Back then I was too young to recognize him as a comic genius ... he was just a wonderfully crazt, funny, unpredictable guy on TV who made us laugh.

A few yrs ago it occurred to me that there might be some tapes available ... and I found a couple on eBay. Only then did I realize what a masterful and innovative talent he was.

[sturdle]

Spike is pure genius.......

[bdicat]

I was close to Spike, he was my mothers brothers sons friends moms aunts, friend.

[johnroders]

man if spike and Al would combined that would be a heavenly match

[johnroders]

where is this from?

[xlrv1]

To call Spike Jones a TV musical satirist is misleading. He was already famous before television.

[coon460305]

True, but I think most of us know him from television, and it's probably what made him as famous as he was back then.

Milton Berle was famous long before television, too, but he's still called "Mister Television."

Certainly a "musical satirist whose fame was widespread because of TV" would be more technically correct.

[xlrv1]

Well, I remember playing Spike Jones 78 albums when I was a little kid in the 1940s, and it sure seemed to me that he was famous. When making historical statements we have to dig in somewhat deeper terrain than the one that "most of us know."

[Doby]

who picked this a hole to comment on genius??

[gweena]

Personally, I believe Al is a talented lyricist and contemporary music satirist. With that in mind we chose him to speak to Spike's brilliant melding of comedy and music and we're thrilled with his participation in the launch of this new DVD package. So to answer your question, we, The Estate of Spike Jones chose Al to comment on genius.

[ElveeKaye]

Well, you picked the perfect spokesman. I love both of them dearly. My mother had a couple of albums of Spike Jones' music, and I listened to them obsessively until they pretty much became unplayable (no CDs or MP3s back then, only vinyl records, of course!) I still find myself singing Spike's goofy songs and was delighted to see that some film footage of him has been preserved.