No Essential series would deserve the name without the addition of the insanity that is Spike Jones & His City Slickers!
Having paid his dues in the ‘30’s, Spike came into his own (some would say ran riot!) in the 1940’s when he was signed to RCA where he had seven top ten hits all of them featured on this truly Essential double CD.
Using all manner of zany instruments from cowbells, klaxons, pistols, pots and pans and the infamous “latrinophone” (a toilet seat with strings!) Spike blazed a trail of devastation that would lead us directly to The Goons, The Bonzos, Zappa and even Weird Al Yankovic! Thanks Spike!
CD1
1. Hawaiian War Chant
2. My Old Flame
3. Chloe
4. Der Fuehrer’s Face
5. Little Bo-Peep Has Lost Her Jeep
6. The Jones Laughing Record (Introducing The Flight Of The Bumble Bee)
7. Laura
8. Drip, Drip, Drip (Sloppy Lagoon)
9. The Glow-Worm
10. Red Wing
11. I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
12. And The Great Big Saw Came Nearer And Nearer
13. Liebestraume
14. Leave The Dishes In The Sink, Ma
15. Our Hour (The Puppy Love Song)
16. By The Beautiful Sea
17. (I’m Forever) Blowing Bubble Gum
18. Love In Bloom
19. Behind Those Swinging Doors
20. None But The Lonely Heart (A Soaperetta)
21. The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along
22. Cocktails For Two
23. My Pretty Girl
24. Hotcha Cornia (Hotcha Chornya) (Russian Folk Songs)
25. Popcorn Sack
CD2
1. Cocktails For Two
2. Ill Barkio (Il Bacio)
3. You Always Hurt The One You Love
4. The Blue Danube
5. I Dream Of Brownie With The Light Blue Jeans
6. Hotcha Cornia (Hotcha Chornya) (Russian Folk Songs)
7. Down In Jungle Town
8. MacNamara’s Band
9. That Old Black Magic
10. I Kiss Your Hand Madame
11. William Tell Overture
12. As Time Goes By
13. Old MacDonald Had A Farm
14. My Two Front Teeth (All I Want For Christmas)
15. Serenade To A Jerk
16. Siam
17. Mother Goose Medley
18. I Wanna Go Back To West Virginia
19. Jones Polka
20. The Man On The Flying Trapeze
21. Barstool Cowboy From Old Barstow
22. Clink, Clink, Another Drink
23. People Are Funnier Than Anybody
24. Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye
25. Holiday For Strings