Oh wow. And to think that the only part of that entire live skit that went wrong was when Spike could not get his drum stick to bounce like it should have. That performance was just pure genius! And the three sax players who are working the keys of somebody else's keys made this performance even more amazing.
This is classic Spike Jones... most likely it's the same props and same crew who went with him touring during the war years, brining comedy to those needing it during to dark times.
Did anyone else notice that it looks like he is chewing something while playing his solo on the cowbell marimba? And most people can barely walk and chew at the same time.
Even Weird Al admitted his music is (to steal a line from Dan Fogelberg) a poor attempt to imitate the man. As Al put it, the stuff he uses ProTools and other mechanical means to create was done with nothing more than a whole lot of imagination and some jerry-rigging that would do MacGyver proud by Spike.
What talent, what fabulous collection of musicians and all done without the benefit of multi track sound equipment that they seem to need these days Spike was a true genius and his type is sadly lacking today,my favorite muso is George Rock,he could play anything Spike could come up with and you could not beat Freddie Morgan for comedy.
These guys came to Melbourne in the early 1950s - Jones had the same yellow and brown check suit - and performed at the old Festival Hall in South Melbourne. They would have been my earliest musical influence, I think - and thank God for that! Fabulous concert and seeing them live added a huge dimension to hearing the records.
Considering that this tune is from Aram Katchaturian's ballet"Gayne", one wonders at this point if anyone remembers the original work. "Saber Dance" has been performed by more orchestras than anyone can remember, but this rendition will likely stay etched in listener's minds forever.
@AcoustiColor - January, 1954. Sax Trio, Left to Right: Bill DePew, Bill Hamilton, Bernie Jones. (This line-up was copied very closely in the 1994 movie, "Radioland Murders.")
since i knew Mike Patton's Mr. Bungle before I met with Spike Jones' Murdering the classics, I have to say this is very Patton-esq
Andrewboobtube 5 days ago
never enough cowbell.
valsetz 3 weeks ago
Thanks, cocaine !
visioneerone 1 month ago
Oh wow. And to think that the only part of that entire live skit that went wrong was when Spike could not get his drum stick to bounce like it should have. That performance was just pure genius! And the three sax players who are working the keys of somebody else's keys made this performance even more amazing.
Tobimar 1 month ago
Play it backwards and you can hear someone say "Frank Zappa"
melflames 2 months ago 2
awesome
Timzurita020196 2 months ago
Cowbells!
DouglasCPalmer 2 months ago
What a guy.... he could do it all: sing, dance, act, play countless instruments, INVENT instruments....they don't make them like him any more :P.
altareggo 2 months ago
Like the Sabre Dance wasn't hard enough to play!
peesyweesy 2 months ago
MORE COWBELL!!!
tweakfreak87 3 months ago
This is classic Spike Jones... most likely it's the same props and same crew who went with him touring during the war years, brining comedy to those needing it during to dark times.
MarleneBomer 4 months ago
Spike always seems to be chewing gum while playing.
sturdleyburdeux 4 months ago
Aqui ele vai bem mais além. Olha o que o cara faz com o trompete.
elcastro369 4 months ago
Did anyone else notice that it looks like he is chewing something while playing his solo on the cowbell marimba? And most people can barely walk and chew at the same time.
deurerdan 4 months ago
looks likea bunch of hobos....
woodzbeartex 5 months ago
@woodzbeartex But genius hobos!
IWearAGreyCardigan 2 months ago
I think we ought to have a retro America's Got Talent. See what the judges think of this and expose more of our good and humorous history!
cateyemarble 5 months ago
the orignal and still the best..
catfishbates1 5 months ago
Nice!
BooBop1987 5 months ago
These guys were freaking amazing. No one has come close.
taiyo888 5 months ago
Even Weird Al admitted his music is (to steal a line from Dan Fogelberg) a poor attempt to imitate the man. As Al put it, the stuff he uses ProTools and other mechanical means to create was done with nothing more than a whole lot of imagination and some jerry-rigging that would do MacGyver proud by Spike.
SimuLord 6 months ago
What talent, what fabulous collection of musicians and all done without the benefit of multi track sound equipment that they seem to need these days Spike was a true genius and his type is sadly lacking today,my favorite muso is George Rock,he could play anything Spike could come up with and you could not beat Freddie Morgan for comedy.
adoreslaurel 6 months ago
And working the gum hard the whole time.
1966speedracer 6 months ago
I would go see then if they were still performing!
Dust6chap6 7 months ago
yeesh, he was an acrobat too!
sunsdomain 7 months ago
i think frank zappa heard some of spike´s records
atzmanmusic 7 months ago
These guys came to Melbourne in the early 1950s - Jones had the same yellow and brown check suit - and performed at the old Festival Hall in South Melbourne. They would have been my earliest musical influence, I think - and thank God for that! Fabulous concert and seeing them live added a huge dimension to hearing the records.
dontrombo 7 months ago
Cowbells, bagpipes, banjo and a tuba- what's not to like? And with the orcghestra leader holding a revolver, who's going to complain?
1kittin 7 months ago
Considering that this tune is from Aram Katchaturian's ballet"Gayne", one wonders at this point if anyone remembers the original work. "Saber Dance" has been performed by more orchestras than anyone can remember, but this rendition will likely stay etched in listener's minds forever.
IBScaramouche 7 months ago 2
Needs more cowbell!
donaldinks 8 months ago
Anyone who likes this,Buy Frank Zappa's "Weasels Ripped My Flesh", similar but different, in all the Weird Sounds and Voice noises!
waynedanberry 8 months ago
Sensational!!
acla9000 10 months ago
Spike Jones just boggles your mind-musical anarchy
ignatzratsky 11 months ago
when was this recorded? :]
AcoustiColor 1 year ago
@AcoustiColor - January, 1954. Sax Trio, Left to Right: Bill DePew, Bill Hamilton, Bernie Jones. (This line-up was copied very closely in the 1994 movie, "Radioland Murders.")
tkhering 7 months ago
***I'm not sure how this could possibly be more epic, unless there were breasts in it somewhere.***
timpani!
1kittin 1 year ago
Spike Jones - the worlds first punk musician : )
gasplut 1 year ago 25
A masterpiece :)
farnumbp 1 year ago
Cowbell FTW. And plaid suits, and sax threesome, slide trombone pants, handstand on trumpets and and and...
I'm not sure how this could possibly be more epic, unless there were breasts in it somewhere.
petitequinte 1 year ago 35
@petitequinte The only way this could be any better would be if it had tits and was on fire
ZephyrFiction 2 months ago 2