Customer Reviews

P.D.Q. Bach: WTWP Classical Talkity-Talk Radio

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let me say at the outset that this is not my favorite PDQ Bach album. I agree with other reviewers that the PDQ Bach works themselves are somewhat less inspiring that on other albums. But there is one aspect of this album that needs to be pointed out: it is an absolutely devestating parody of what has become of classical music radio stations. More and more I find (and apparently Schickele also finds) that classical stations have become watered-down affairs, bland, inoffensive-- "relaxing" they call it. Music for people who basically don't like music very much. You know, background music that you don't have to pay much attention to or think about too much. Basically, high class muzak. This album takes that whole thing on in spades. In fact, in some sense it's really too true to be funny. I swear, the classical station in Boston must really have a "no minor keys until after 11pm" rule, and if they're not quite "all Pachelbel all the time!", they certainly play at least 33% obscure baroque works, while playing maybe 2% romantic and *zero* percent 20th century. So while the comedy on this album may not be the very best, the parody is absolutely spot-on. For that, I say "Kudos!!"

Unlike 1967's Report from Hoople, the talk in this one is really annoying. Had it just been the Professor talking I would have liked it, but his co-hosts have to go. 25 minutes of good PDQ Bach tunes and 35 minutes of lame blather I couldn't even sit through once.

Not only is the music typical of the great JS Bach's forgotten son, but the script that Prof. Peter Schickele writes for this unorthodox classical radio station is absolutely priceless. It is a wonderful, but tasteful, parody of a classical radio station in North Dakota with a listenership of approximately two! The three deejays (the professor, Jocko, and Blondie) play off each other incredibly.

A volume worth having.

A typical(?) evening on Southern North Dakota's favorite(?) radio station. Ol' Professore Pete brings in a pair of accomplices in this outrage of some of the more sedate but none the less delightfully ridiculous pieces...the Safe Sextet of the lesser known orchestral instruments is a kick...but beware of the dangers of OD'ing on Pachabel!

Ok, it's not better than Citizen Kane. It's just that I played "Jocko" on this CD and had a great time doing it. I'm glad so many people reviewed and liked the recording.

Elliott Forrest

This is a satire of the annoying disc jockey "personalities" who are all-too-apparent on radio today. As is so often the case with this sort of satire, it mimicks what its mocking a little too closely while not providing enough in the way of humor. There are some good pieces, like the PDQ Bach folksongs, but the music faded to the background when viewed alongside the obnoxious radio personalities. Some of it, was not only annoying, but kind of poinless, like the Elvis parody. I'm a huge fan of PDQ, but this album was too much even for me.

Okay, I am not really a listener of classical radio stations, so
I cannot comment on whether this send-up of classical radio
stations is really fair. But, when I am trapped in a car without
my IPOD, I do listen to many pop radio stations and the
material on this CD with lots of annoying and stupid DJ
chatter is all too familiar. But that is the problem. Listening
to this CD is like watching a comedy skit that goes on and on
longer than it has to. Yes I did laugh a few times at the material
and the liner notes. But I cannot say this is really even "average"
PDQ material, hence the below average rating.

This is a CD that in several places brought tears to my eyes -- tears not of sadness, but of laughing so hard I cried. The hilarious parody of obnoxious and insulting sports talk show hosts (Jocko) reminds me of some all-too-real jerks on the radio now. The "Enos Presley" songs, Hound Dog and Love Me, were the real "tear jerkers" if you know what I mean. They are foisted upon the hapless "Prof" Schikele by his rambunctious co-hosts Jocko and Blondie, who figure that the station owner never listens and so it's okay to play something that's not classical on this otherwise "all Pachelbel all the time" station. "Enos," who didn't mind his name until they started calling his brother "Elvis the Pelvis" -- actually has quite an incredible voice: a combination of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and others. He is backed by an authentic and straight-faced "Jordanaires-like" group that is the perfect foil to his over-the-top parody of 50's Elvis-style pop.

Other hilarious songs are the four "Folk Song Upsettings" for soprano, piano, and "devious instruments" including Prof hitting himself over the head with cardboard tubes.

The reason I give this only a 4 rather than a 5 rating is that some of the actual PDQ instrumental music isn't that good. Sure, it's obviously not SUPPOSED to be good, but I mean it isn't bad or zany enough to be as funny as earlier PDQ Bach pieces like "My Bonnie Lass She Smelleth" and "Shleptet" and "The Stoned Guest," all of which were more inspired comedically and musically.

Still, this is definitely a CD to make you laugh. The best parts make it worth going through some less inspired sections.

If I had to choose one favorite P.D.Q. Bach album (I own them all), it would be this one.

It spoofs several radio cliches, including the playful banter of morning shows, and the endless public radio fundraising drives (unless you send money, they will play more P.D.Q. Bach). The music is widely varied as well, featuring everything from the ubiquitous Pachelbel Canon to an Elvis impersonation (supposedly by his younger brother Enos).