Customer Reviews

Musical Depreciation Revue Anthology

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This compilation of Spike Jones recordings features many of the band's famous decimations of popular songs ("Cocktails for Two," "The William Tell Overture (Beetlebaum)," "Liebestraum," "Hawaiian War Chant," etc.). This set digs a little deeper than the usual Jones reissue, by including the more obscure numbers. "Leave the Dishes in the Sink, Ma" is an early hillbilly ditty co-written by Milton Berle; "By the Beautiful Sea" was almost immediately suppressed in the '40s because of a supposedly suggestive vocal; "The Late, Late Movies, Part II," a comedy routine by Paul Frees as a late-show pitchman, has been issued before but now it has an entirely different music track! (The familiar ragtime-piano background is now lounge-band jazz.) The anthologists, apparently determined to feature the rare stuff, bumped some of the Jones classics and made them bonus tracks: "Holiday for Strings" is one of The City Slickers' all-time best, with the band coming on like a four-alarm fire; "Laura," first half dead serious and last half crazy, is a shining example of how good and how disciplined the Jones musicians were. These and other tunes should have been included in the basic package. All in all, a fine collection, but make sure you get those bonus tracks.

During his career and for 20 years after, Spike Jones was criticized as much as he was enjoyed for his crude satires and often puerile humor. But there was a lot more to Spike than just inane humor--his City Slickers were crack musicians who could literally play in any style from Dixieland to classical with the correct figuration.

This collection centers around his most popular recordings for RCA with a few fillers chosen by Dr. Demento. Some of these fillers are excellent, such as "The Sheik of Araby," "Clink Clink Polka," "Jones Polka" and the very rare "By the Beautiful Sea." Others, like "Ya Wanna Buy a Bunny?," "Wyatt Earp Makes Me Burp" and the track from the Spike Jones Spooktacular, are quite simply childish with no real musical appeal. I would much rather have had "Chinese Mule Train," "MacNamara's Band" and the hysterically funny "Drip, Drip, Drip [Sloppy Lagoon]" in their place.

The transfers are superb. I had some of these records on the original 78s and can vouch that this is EXACTLY how they sounded. The liner notes are likewise excellent, with complete documentation, rare photos and original record labels (though the record labels are awfully dark and hard to read). Overall, highly recommended.

RHINO's SPIKE JONES ANTHOLOGY is a comprehensive and hilarious gathering of some of the best City Slickers 1940s and early '50s recordings. With a body of work as extensive as that of Spike Jones, naturally individual favorites might have gotten overlooked, yet no other Jones/Slickers album of this size contains so many super tracks. Sound quality is excellent on these 78 record to digital transfers. A highly informative 52-page booklet completes the package. For all lovers of zany music. Highest recommendation.

TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
DISC ONE -- 59:28
DISC TWO -- 63:44

Although this compilation only gets you into the RCA recordings, it's one of the very rare WELL DOCUMENTED albums. This one is an absolute must, along with the "Spiked" album. Yeah!

This 2-disc set is a compilation of the best songs by Spike Jones and his band, the master parodyist of the big-band era. Even if you don't know the songs being parodied, the frantic comedies are just as enjoyable. From unusual percussion (e.g. a cow-bell xylophone), to funny voices (e.g., on perhaps the band's most famous song "All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"), to elaborate routines with everything (e.g., "The William Tell Overture", narrated as a horse race) -- Spike is amazing!

If you're into zany music, do check out Spike Jones...

Spike Jones was the leader of the most successful novelty band of the pre-rock and roll era. He made many hilarious records, and this collection features 40 of them. This is seriously funny stuff, and anyone who is into musical comedy needs to get it.

Other than finding an alternative track listing under this simular title "Musical Depreciation Revue: The Spike Jones Anthology", I LOVED IT! Funny ol' stuff, and here's the alternate track listing too:
1. Clink, Clink, Another Drink
2. Der Fuehrer's Face
3. The Sheik of Araby
4. Hotcha Cornia (Black Eyes)
5. Cocktails for Two
6. Leave the Dishes in the Sink, Ma
7. Chloe
8. That Old Black Magic
9. You Always Hurt the One You Love
10. Liebestraum
11. The Glow Worm
12. Hawaiian War Chant
13. Jones Polka
14. Love in Bloom
15. The Man on the Flying Trapeze
16. My Old Flame
17. All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
18. The William Tell Overture
19. By the Beautiful Sea
20. None But the Lonely Heart (A Soaperetta)
21. Ya Wanna Buy a Bunny?
22. Dance of the Hours
23. Wild Bill Hiccup
24. Barney Google
25. Rhapsody from Hunger (Y)
26. Black Bottom
27. Pal-Yat-Chee
28. April Showers
29. I Went to Your Wedding
30. I'm in the Mood for Love
31. The Late Late Late Movies, Pt. 2
32. I Only Have Eyes for You
33. Holiday for Strings [*]
34. Laura [*]
35. Happy New Year [*]
36. Ill Barkio (Il Bacio) [*]
37. Morpheus [*]
38. Yes! We Have No Bananas [*]
39. Secret Love [*]
40. Black and Blue Danube Waltz, Paris Symphony (Texas) [*]

This 2-disc set is a compilation of the best songs by Spike Jones and his band, the master parodyist of the big-band era. Even if you don't know the songs being parodied, the frantic comedies are just as enjoyable. From unusual percussion (e.g. a cow-bell xylophone), to funny voices (e.g., on perhaps the band's most famous song "All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"), to elaborate routines with everything (e.g., "The William Tell Overture", narrated as a horse race) -- Spike is amazing!

If you're into zany music, do check out Spike Jones...

Spike Jones and group have entertained generations with their musical satire. They are as fresh today as they were decades ago.

A must for any human being who even has a slight sense of humor!!!! BUY IT!!