Customer Reviews

Spiked

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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The premise behind this CD is to reveal the inventive sides of Spike that go beyond the usual collection of "greatest hits." You'll find obscure gems, including the COMPLETE "Nutcracker Suite." Some previously UNISSUED tracks appear here, including a stereo version of Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse," the catchy theme used in so many Warner Brothers cartoons. Sound quality is remarkably good: clean, full sound -- without fake "stereo" reverb. Excellent album notes.

This CD is not to be underestimated. For all the cowbells and vacuum cleaners, it's really a fine piece of craftsmanship, with every sound effect tuned and timed just right. The `Powerhouse' track is outstanding, and the corny lyrics in the other songs are a delight.

Check out the liner notes by novelist Thomas Pynchon.

A rare WELL DOCUMENTED compilation, that gives a pretty good idea of Spike's evolution, environment and ideas. Plus a couple of extremely rare "unvollendete" cuts! Not to miss, along with the "Musical Depreciation Revue Anthology". Yeah!

Spike Jones was a rarity: a musical comic. And this compilation shows him at his ridiculous best, offering a sampling of musical jokes that even the musically unsophistocated will find funny to the point of exhausting laughter.

Jones was perhaps most famous for his take-offs of popular romantic songs, and this collection offers two of his best. In "Laura," Jones allows the song a lushly orchestrated verse... and then uses sound effects to ridicule the song's romantic lyrics. "Deep Purple" is even more extreme: the singer is as sleepy as his song (in fact he dozes off once or twice), and when the "Deep Purple Falls" it does so with a disconcerting crash. Other Jones recordings subvert the original version of the music in equally unlikely ways. "Holiday for Strings," written specifically for strings, has cowbells, carhorns, even chickens clucking--but NO strings, and if you can get through the final seconds of the song with out laughing until you cry you probably deserve a prize.

If you've often heard of Spike Jones but have never actually heard very much of his music, this collection is an excellent choice, and it should keep you entertained for hours on end. The CD comes with fairly detailed liner notes about Spike Jones and his orchestra and career as well. Strongly recommended for any one in need of a REALLY good laugh set to music!

It is good to hear the unique talent of Spike Jones and his group. I had been a fan since years ago. My favorite is the Nutcracker Suite...which is nearly impossible to find!
Thanks!

What can possibly be said that's new about the original Spike Jones. Of course there isn't anything else like it. You'll be surprised how he tops himself. And where did he find the musicians? If you take all of the cartoon music you've ever heard and toss it into a bin of insanity, shake it and then listen, you'll hear some of the most talented musicians and orchestrators in the world.

My interest in this is the Nutcracker Suite, but to my supprise I enjoyed most of the other tracks.
For those with a sense of the ridiculous, enjoy!

Before there was Weird Al Yankovich, before there was PDQ Bach, before there was Allan Sherman - there was Spike Jones. He and his Merry Men of Musical Mayhem delighted audiences - and themselves - with musical parodies, spoofs, noisemakers and just plain silliness. You cannot think of cowbells, air horns and whistles being used as musical instruments without thinking Spike Jones first!

"Spiked" is definitely a worthy addition to your collection. Unlike his "Best Of" series, this includes rarely-heard songs - some of which were previously unreleased - and two making their world premiere!

Of course, it includes some of the old standards, such as "Laura," "Man on the Flying Trapeze" and "Holiday For Strings," but it also includes such rarities as "Powerhouse," "Frantic Freeway," "I Dream of Brownie with the Light Blue Jeans" and the complete "Nutcracker Suite." Even after his death, Spike Jones has remained fully ingrained in our pop culture. I remember hearing "I Dream of Brownie" on the "Chuck Jones, the Magic Man" show when I was a kid (in the early 60's) and laughing out loud. I even remember a former host on KUSC-FM, using "Frantic Freeway" as background music for his traffic reports!

Also included in the linear notes is a very interesting history of Spike Jones and his music.

If you're in a Weird mood - and Want a Whiff of this Wonderful World of Wackiness, I would "Wreckommend" this CD!

I was not a first generation Spike Jones, but I have to say this is pretty cool. This is the kind of music I used to dig on Tom and Jerry cartoons and just didn't know where to find it. This isn't a lot of the common novelty songs (Like Der Fuher's Face, Cocktails for Two.) But I think it's better because you get some things you wouldn't find elsewhere. Frantic Freeway, Powerhouse, and a really interesting version of the Nutrcracker Suite.

Lovers of Spike Jones and the era that spawned him will enjoy this cd. I bought it for my mother, and greatly enjoy listening to it myself.