The Rutles – The Rutles (1978)

One of rock's most enduring and insightful parodies, brilliantly mirroring The Beatles' career, “The Rutles” is the soundtrack to the spoof documentary television film “All You Need Is Cash,” which aired on NBC in the U.S. on March 22, 1978. The brainchild of Neil Innes and former Monty Python member Eric Idle, the film is beloved by Beatles fans worldwide and even features a cameo from George Harrison as a TV reporter. The Rutles themselves were Neil Innes as Ron Nasty (Lennon), Eric Idle as Dirk McQuickly (McCartney), Rikki Fataar as Stig O'Hara (Harrison) and John Halsey as Barry Wom (Ringo). The fifth Rutle, for recording purposes, was guitarist Ollie Halsall. It should be noted that Eric Idle does not perform on this CD. He lip-synched to Halsall’s vocals in the TV movie. This expanded CD issued in 1990 adds six tracks to the 14-track vinyl version first released by Warner Bros. in 1978. The soundtrack reached #63 on the Billboard album charts.

Musicians:

Neil Innes: Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Ollie Halsall: Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Rikki Fataar: Guitar, Bass, Sitar, Tabla, Vocals
John Halsey: Percussion, Vocals
Andy Brown: Bass


All songs written and produced by Neil Innes.

Tracks:

1. Goose-Step Mama*
2. Number Two
3. Baby Let Me Be*
4. Hold My Hand
5. Blue Suede Schubert*
6. I Must Be In Love
7. With A Girl Like You
8. Between Us*
9. Living In Hope
10. Ouch!
11. It's Looking Good*
12. Doubleback Alley
13. Good Times Roll
14. Nevertheless
15. Love Life
16. Piggy In The Middle
17. Another Day
18. Cheese And Onions
19. Get Up And Go*
20. Let's Be Natural

* bonus tracks for CD issue.

IVOR CUTLER : An Elpee and Two Epees (2005)

"Ivor Cutler's very earliest work was very hard to find in the decades after it was first issued. This compilation does an exemplary job of restoring it to wide availability, its 28 tracks combining everything from the 1961 LP Who Tore Your Trousers?, the 1959 EP Ivor Cutler of Y'Hup, and the 1961 EP Get Away from the Wall. Cutler's material would become more outrageously surreal on later recordings, perhaps, but these efforts are very much in step with the style for which he's beloved. With almost equal doses of spoken word and warbly singing with harmonium, these pieces take gentle pokes that subtly transform everyday experiences into something nearly surreal. It might be too gentle and subtle for those who like their comedy brash, or for Americans not attuned to his very British brand of humor. Still, it's easy to hear elements that the likes of the Bonzo Dog Band and Monty Python would take to more vivid (and more internationally accessible) extremes. And if it's not often laugh-out-loud funny, or too musically diverse, there's plenty of weird wordplay to generate amusement, such as his ode to a "Muscular Tree" and "Stick Out Your Chest," whose exhortative lyrics are totally undercut by Cutler's knowingly silly tone." - AMG

'Ivor Cutler plays "11 musical instruments including the harmonium, guitar, recorder, bamboo flute and 6 pianos". He has written 38 songs that might be described as a combination of Franz Kafka and the Goons.'

1. Here's A Health For Simon
2. Size Nine And A Half
3. Pickle Your Knees
4. Mary's A Cow
5. Gravity Begins At Home
6. Cowpuncher And A Bird
7. Boo Boo Bird
8. Steady Job
9. Obliging Fairy
10. First Love
11. Who Tore Your Trousers James
12. Are You Alright Jack
13. Red Flower
14. Do You Ever Feel Lonely
15. Warning To The Flies
16. Grass Seed
17. Market Place
18. Tooth Song
19. Egg Meat
20. Muscular Tree
21. Handymen
22. Sh Chi
23. Stick Out Your Chest
24. Turkish Bath Play
25. There's A Turtle In My Soup
26. Gruts For Tea
27. Get Away From The Wall
28. Tureen

jim said...
I thought you might like some Ivor Cutler...
THANKS, JIM!

Vivian Stanshall - Sir Henry at Ndidi's Kraal (1984)

Former Bonzo Dog leader Stanshall continued his Sir Henry "epic" with Sir Henry at Ndidi's Kraal, a record that probably raised hackles on its release in 1983, and maybe even more so now, with its portrayal of the white Englishmen and his superior attitude toward the black South Africans working for him -- at one point, he even paints letters of the alphabet on them (in white gloss) because he can't pronounce their names. But the thing to be remembered is that it's meant to be funny, a parody of those colonials who trampled unwittingly all over native customs in the name of Empire and civilization. On that level, it certainly succeeds, although following the narrative (assuming that's actually possible) is like finding your way out of the labyrinth; after so many twists and turns, it becomes almost impossible. Apart from one song, it's all spoken word, a vehicle for Stanshall's remarkable stream-of-consciousness wit and wordplay, while the musicians (including future Mekon Suzi Honeymoon) remain generally unobtrusive -- which is just as well, since the tale and its telling are quite mesmerizing without any accompaniment. So long as you don't ask what it's about, and take it as a gleeful exercise in the surrealism of the English language, you'll love this disc by the late Stanshall. - AMG

01 N'Didid's Kraal - Part One
02 N'Didi's Kraal - Part Two
03 N'Didi's Kraal - Part Three

The Bonzo Dog Band - Cornology (1992 compilation box set)

Cornology is a 1992 compilation box set of the complete recorded output of The Bonzo Dog Band issued on the Parlophone, Liberty and United Artists labels.

The three CDs each have subtitles. Volume one is titled The Intro and contains the albums Gorilla and The Doughnut In Granny's Greenhouse. Volume two is subtitled The Outro and contains the albums Tadpoles and Keynsham. Volume three is titled Dog Ends and contains their final original album Let's Make Up And Be Friendly along with early Bonzo Dog singles, odds and ends and solo material.



* 1 Track listing
o 1.1 Disc one--The Intro (DADA is normal--normal is nice)
o 1.2 Disc two--The Outro (The noises of your bodies are a part of this CD)
o 1.3 Disc three--Dog Ends (Mothers with children please note: this CD is inedible!)

Track listing:

All tracks by Neil Innes and/or Vivian Stanshall except were noted
Disc one--The Intro (DADA is normal--normal is nice):

Tracks 1-15 from the album Gorilla. Tracks 16-27 from the album The Doughnut In Granny's Greenhouse

1. "Cool Britannia" (Traditional) – 1:00
2. "The Equestrian Statue" – 2:44
3. "Jollity Farm" (Les Sarony) – 2:28
4. "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" (George Cory, Douglass Cross) – 1:04
5. "Look Out, There's A Monster Coming" – 2:54
6. "Jazz, Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold" (Ash, Vernon Dudley Bohay-Nowell, Innes, Rodney Slater, Legs Larry Smith, Roger Ruskin Spear, Stanshall) – 3:10
7. "Death Cab For Cutie" – 2:56
8. "Narcissus" (Ethelbert Nevin) – 0:23
9. "The Intro And The Outro" – 3:03
10. "Mickey's Son And Daughter" (Connor, Edward Lisbona) – 2:43
11. "Big Shot" – 3:29
12. "Music For The Head Ballet" – 1:45
13. "Piggy Bank Love" – 3:03
14. "I'm Bored" – 3:07
15. "The Sound Of Music" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers) – 1:23
16. "We Are Normal" – 4:50
17. "Postcard" – 4:22
18. "Beautiful Zelda" – 2:27
19. "Can Blue Men Sing The Whites" – 2:47
20. "Hello Mabel" – 2:46
21. "Kama Sutra" – 0:39
22. "Humanoid Boogie" – 3:04
23. "Trouser Press" – 2:20
24. "My Pink Half Of The Drainpipe" – 3:33
25. "Rockaliser Baby" – 3:29
26. "Rhinocratic Oaths" – 3:21
27. "11 Mustachioed Daughters" – 3:49

Disc two--The Outro (The noises of your bodies are a part of this CD):

Tracks 1-11 from the album Tadpoles. Tracks 12-25 from the album Keynsham.

1. "Hunting Tigers Out In INDIAH" (Stanley Damerell, Evans, Hargreaves) – 3:06
2. "Shirt" (Spear) – 4:27
3. "Tubas In The Moonlight" (Spear) – 2:22
4. "Dr. Jazz" (Walter Melrose, Oliver) – 2:40
5. "Monster Mash" (Leonard Capizzi, Bobby Pickett) – 2:59
6. "I'm the Urban Spaceman" – 2:23
7. "Ali-Baba's Camel" (Noel Gay) – 3:31
8. "Laughing Blues" (Bradley) – 3:44
9. "By A Waterfall" (Fain Kahal) – 3:08
10. "Mr. Apollo" – 4:20
11. "Canyons Of Your Mind" – 3:03
12. "You Done My Brain In" – 1:41
13. "Keynsham" – 2:22
14. "Quiet Talks & Summer Walks – 3:37
15. "Tent" – 3:06
16. "We Were Wrong" – 2:32
17. "Joke Shop Man" – 1:23
18. "The Bride Stripped Bare By 'Bachelors'" – 2:39
19. "Look At Me, I'm Wonderful" – 1:46
20. "What Do You Do?" – 3:12
21. "Mr. Slater's Parrot" – 2:27
22. "Sport" – 3:30
23. "I Want To Be With You" – 2:16
24. "Noises For The Leg" – 1:54
25. "'Busted'" – 5:47

Disc three--Dog Ends (Mothers with children please note: this CD is inedible!):

Tracks 7-17 from the album Let's Make Up And Be Friendly

1. "My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies" (Amberg, Bernauer, Raymond) – 3:02
2. "I'm Going To Bring A Watermelon To My Girl Tonight" (Conrad) – 2:03
3. "Alley Oop" (Dallas Frazier) – 2:32
4. "Button Up Your Overcoat" (Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, Ray Henderson) – 2:53
5. "Mr. Apollo" – 4:13 (Single Version) (German Version)
6. "Ready Mades" – 3:08
7. "The Strain" – 3:23
8. "Turkeys" – 2:10
9. "King Of Scurf" – 5:00
10. "Waiting For The Wardrobe" (Spear) – 2:47
11. "Straight From My Heart" – 3:06
12. "Rusty (Champion Thrust)" (Tony Kaye, Legs Larry Smith) – 7:05
13. "Rawlinson End" – 9:07
14. "Don't Get Me Wrong" – 4:53
15. "Fresh Wound" – 4:26
16. "Bad Blood" – 5:32
17. "Slush" – 2:20
18. "Labio-Dental Fricative" – 3:08 (Performed by Vivian Stanshall Sean Head Showband)
19. "Re-Cycled Vinyl Blues" – 3:32 (Performed by Neil Innes)
20. "Trouser Freak" (Spear) – 2:18 (Performed by Roger Ruskin Spear & His Giant Orchestral Wardrobe)

RE-POST: Neil Innes Book Of Records.....

Apparently, I Missed A Few In My Last Neil Post. Here It Is Again, With The Proper Corrections and a BIG BONUS!

Syd Barrett - Wouldn't You Miss Me? The Best of Syd Barrett (2001)

01 - Octopus
02 - Late Night
03 - Terrapin
04 - Swan Lee (Silas Lang)
05 - Wolfpack
06 - Golden Hair
07 - Here I Go
08 - Long Gone
09 - No Good Trying
10 - Opel
11 - Baby Lemonade
12 - Gigolo Aunt
13 - Dominoes
14 - Wouldn't You Miss Me (Dark Globe)
15 - Wined And Dined
16 - Effervescing Elephant
17 - Waving My Arms In The Air
18 - I Never Lied To You
19 - Love Song
20 - Two Of A Kind
21 - Bob Dylan Blues (Previously Unreleased)
22 - Golden Hair (Instrumental)

ROKY ERICKSON - I Have Always Been Here Before - The Roky Erickson Anthology (2005)

43 track comp of the 13th Floor Elevator's career. The later stuff is really great as well, despite his mental state.

Tracklisting
1. We Sell Soul - (with The Spades)
2. It's A Cold Night For Alligators - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
3. Your Gonna Miss Me - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
4. Creature With The Atom Brain - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
5. Stand For The Fire Demon - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
6. Reverberation (Doubt) - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
7. Bloody Hammer - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
8. Tried To Hide - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
9. Wind And More
10. Fire Engine - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
11. If You Have Ghosts - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
12. She Lives (In A Time Of Her Own) - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
13. Song To Abe Lincoln - (with Roky Erickson & Blieb Alien)
14. Slip Inside This House - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
15. Anthem (I Promise)
16. Splash 1 - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
17. Dust - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
18. Warning (Social And Political Injustices)
19. Beast
20. I Had To Tell You - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
21. Postures (Leave Your Body Behind) - (with 13th Floor Elevators)
22. You Don't Love Me Yet
23. Clear Night For Love
24. Right Track Now - (featuring Roky Erickson & Clementine Hall)
25. Red Temple Prayer (Two Headed Dog) - (with Roky Erickson & Blieb Alien)
26. Don't Slander Me
27. Starry Eyes - (with Roky Erickson & Blieb Alien)
28. Nothing In Return
29. Burn The Flames
30. Bermuda
31. Interpreter
32. When You Get Delighted
33. True Love Cast Out All Evil
34. Mine Mine Mind - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
35. For You (I'd Do Anything)
36. I Have Always Been Here Before
37. Click Your Fingers Applauding The Play - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
38. Please Judge
39. We Are Never Talking
40. I Think Up Demons - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
41. I'm Gonna Free Her
42. Don't Shake Me Lucifer - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)
43. White Faces - (with Roky Erickson & The Aliens)

Captain Beefheart - The Early Years 1959 - 1969 (European Bootleg, 1995 )

A nicely packaged European bootleg bringing together a whole bunch of rare and unavailable Magic Band goodies. Much of the content has since been included on the Grow Fins box set and Zappa's Mystery Disc CD but there are a couple of items here that are still not available commercially.

Overall the sound is pretty good although the Avalon tracks are not as good as they could have been (still great to get the very rare 'Blues Jam' track included though).

For a change this is a boot that has been compiled by a real fan and this shows in the sleeve notes which I'll include here:-

"The first track in this collection is probably the earliest recording of Don Van Vliet, recorded in a classroom at Antelope Valley College/High with Zappa on guitar and Beefheart on Vocals.

'Teenage Maltshop': believed to have been recorded circa 1963/4 at Zappa's Cucamonga studio Z, as part of a Teenage Opera, offered to Dot Records but turned down because of the distorted guitar. 'Metal Man...' also recorded in Studio Z in the main studio, but with Beefheart outside in the corridor to the studio singing whatever words were scribbled on the walls!

'Avalon Ballroom' 1966 was the first CB & Magic BAnd, probably CB, Doug Moon, Jerry Handley & Paul Blakely. This shows the influence of Howlin Wolf - he even says people have requested a Wolf song before singing 'Evil'.

'Frying Pan Acetate': An alt version. predates release on A&M.

'Almost Grown': Is an unreleased variation of a Chuck Berry song, & 'Call On Me': A much slower version than as released on Safe As Milk.

The 'Moody Liz Acetate', although very similar to the recently located Strictly Personal OT found by Sequel, is a White Label test Pressing with a similar as released version of 'On Tomorrow'. An item this fan would give my right arm to own.

Possibly more exciting is 'Korn Ring Finger'. Why this was not included on the Sequel CD amazed me ... An excellent track that you hope will never end.

This brings us up to the 'Trout Rehearsals' - they sound if they were made to be a part warm-up to the actual recordings. You can hear Don in the back throughout blowin his Sax from different parts of the room experimenting with the sound on 'Hair Pie' Variations. It was said by Beefheart that although the album was recorded very quickly, the amount of work that must have been put in by all the band members; to get to a stage where the instrumental backing was rteady for Beefheart to sing over these complex rhythms is awe inspiring ... & how he actually managed to add the vocals only he knows.

The immediate contrast between 'Moody Liz' & 'Korn Ring Finger' from the S. Personal Ots is extraordinary especially considering there is barely a year between the recordings ... 'Ella Guru' is a sheer delight to hear in its instrumental form, as are others on the CD.

These are not the digital recordings of the 90s ... But to be 'a fly on the wall' whilst one of the most amazing albums was being prepared for an unsuspecting public, & to hear some of the Early Years of Mr Don V Vliet playing with an equally very young Mr Zappa is a treat. We have included hopefully some of the rarities that maybe, just maybe will entice someone to try to dig into the vaults & find these hidden gems.

Next will be a look into the years 1970-1980.

'Ha Ha! That's Right...Just Dig It!!' D.V.Vliet 1969"

This was one of the great Beefheart boots when it was released. Unfortunately the projected Early Years Volume 2 never appeared.

You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1

You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore vol 1
1. The Florida Airport Tape (1:04)
2. Once Upon A Time (4:38)
3. Sofa #1 (2:53)
4. The Mammy Anthem (5:41)
5. You Didn't Try To Call Me (3:39)
6. Diseases Of The Band (2:22)
7. Tryin' To Grow A Chin (3:44)
8. Let's Make The Water Turn Black/
Harry, You're A Beast/
The Orange County Lumber Truck (3:28)
9. The Groupie Routine (5:41)
10. Ruthie-Ruthie (Brock/Berry) (2:57)
11. Babbette (3:36)
12. I'm The Slime (3:13)
13. Big Swifty (8:47)
14. Don't Eat The Yellow Snow (20:16)
15. Plastic People (Zappa/Berry) (4:39)
16. The Torture Never Stops (15:48)
17. Fine Girl (2:55)
18. Zomby Woof (5:39)
19. Sweet Leilani (Owens) (2:39)
20. Oh No (4:34)
21. Be In My Video (3:30)
22. The Deathless Horsie (5:29)
23. The Dangerous Kitchen (1:50)
24. Dumb All Over (4:20)
25. Heavenly Bank Account (4:06)
26. Suicide Chump (4:56)
27. Tell Me You Love Me (2:09)
28. Sofa #2 (3:01)

Tom Waits - Nighthawks at the Diner (1975)

Nighthawks at the Diner is a 1975 album by Tom Waits, released on Asylum Records. The title was inspired by Edward Hopper's 1942 painting Nighthawks.

The album's working title had been "Nighthawk Postcards from Easy Street," but it was shortened to Nighthawks at the Diner.

The album was recorded live in Record Plant Studios, in front of a small invited audience. This gives the record an intimate feeling as Waits spends time telling stories, jokes and explaining the stories behind his songs through seven separate introductions.

Side One

1. "(Opening Intro)" 2:58
2. "Emotional Weather Report" 3:47
3. ""(Intro)" to "On a Foggy Night"" 2:16
4. "On a Foggy Night" 3:48
5. ""(Intro)" to "Eggs and Sausage"" 1:53
6. "Eggs and Sausage (In a Cadillac with Susan Michelson)" 4:19

Side Two

1. ""(Intro)" to "Better Off Without a Wife"" 3:02
2. "Better Off Without a Wife" 3:59
3. "Nighthawk Postcards (From Easy Street)" 11:30

Side Three

1. ""(Intro)" to "Warm Beer and Cold Women"" 0:55
2. "Warm Beer and Cold Women" 5:21
3. ""(Intro)" to "Putnam County"" 0:47
4. "Putnam County" 7:35
5. "Spare Parts I (A Nocturnal Emission)" Waits, Chuck E. Weiss 6:25

Side Four

1. "Nobody" 2:51
2. ""(Intro)" to "Big Joe and Phantom 309"" 0:40
3. "Big Joe and Phantom 309" Tommy Faile 6:29
4. "Spare Parts II and Closing" Waits, Weiss 5:13

Personnel

* Pete Christlieb – tenor sax
* Bill Goodwin – drums
* Jim Hughart – upright bass
* Mike Melvoin – piano, electric piano
* Tom Waits – vocals, piano, guitar

Jack Kerouac - Reads on the Road (1999)

While Rhino's compilation might mark a better place to start, Reads on the Road is certainly a worthy collection of some of Jack Kerouac's narratives and poetry, embellished by some actual singing. Kerouac is a more enjoyable author to hear reading on disc than most, since his prose had much of a jazz rhythm, and since he was an engaging reader/performer himself. The big find on this 74-minute CD is the 28-minute excerpt from On the Road his most famous and widely-read book, found on '50s acetates that had been thought lost. "On the Road" is presented as it was discovered, with just Kerouac's voice, but guitarist Vic Juris and Hammond organist John Medeski recorded music in 1998 for his early-'60s musical song-poem "On the Road" (a separate performance from his reading of material from the book). It's unexpected, and amusing if not brilliant, to hear Kerouac sing three jazz standards by the likes of Sammy Kahn, Johnny Mercer, and Gordon Jenkins in the late 1950s (presented with the original musical backing, by unknown musicians). David Amram, who had provided musical backup for Kerouac's readings in the late 1950s, wrote and recorded music in 1998 for two more Kerouac poems, cut by Kerouac in the back of a record shop, including the previously unpublished "Washington D.C. Blues," which runs for 17 minutes. Ending the set is Tom Waits, backed by Primus, doing yet another "On the Road," for which Waits put music to Kerouac's prose.

1 Aint' We Got Fun 02:34
2 On the Road (Jazz of the Beat Generation) 28:45
3 On the Road 02:18
4 Come Rain or Come Shine 03:42
5 Orizaba 210 Blues 09:34
6 When a Woman Loves a Man 02:57
7 Leavin' Town 03:04
8 Washington D.C. Blues 17:46
9 On the Road 03:58

Bonzo Dog Band - Normal Hawaiians

11 Mustachioed Daughters
Blind Date
The Strain
Cygnet Committee
Sail Away
Lead Us
Go Out Into the Open
I've Got A Braun New Girl
Ready Mades
Mattress Man
Dr. Rock
Brain Opera

Frank Zappa - Pregnant (1972, Compilation)

There seems to have been a double-LP version in the US (note: most people are quite certain that there never was a US Pregnant), but all we have here is a track list for the single LP version:

1. Hungry Freaks, Daddy (03:30)
2. How Could I Be Such a Fool? (03:28)
3. Uncle Bernie's Farm (02:09)
4. Son of Suzy Creamcheese (01:37)
5. Love of My Life (03:05)
6. Who Needs the Peace Corps? (02:46)

7. Mother People (02:34)
8. Jelly Roll Gum Drop (02:17)
9. Who Are the Brain Police? (03:30)
10. I Ain't Got No Heart (02:35)
11. Trouble Comin' Every Day (02:35)
12. Motherly Love (02:47)

The cover, credited to a Jürgen E Gesang (funny name), is by far the ugliest ever on a Zappa album (and it also appears on a various-artists compilation from Argentina called Sound Monsters

Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - Keynsham (1969)

Side 1 Side 2
1. YOU DONE MY BRAIN IN (Innes) 1.40
An Affirmation of madness.
2. KEYNSHAM (Innes) 2.20
"We" are introduced.
3. QUIET TALKS & SUMMER WALKS (Innes) 3.15
All the romance of the novel.
4. TENT (Stanshall) 2.30
A penetrating inquiry & some recreations.
5. WE WERE WRONG (Stanshall) 2.30
Nostalgic routine. Spot the deliberate fag.
6. JOKE SHOP MAN (Innes) 1.23
The Armoury of Deception.
7. THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE BY "BACHELORS"
(Stanshall/Innes) 2.35 Welcome t' Club Foot
8. LOOK AT ME, I'M WONDERFUL (Stanshall) 1.45
A warning.. 9. WHAT DO YOU DO? (Innes) 3.15
Nihilist chant before deciding, decoding, decanting,
n' chanting, N' baku, disgorging, dat's gorging piglets!
10. MR. SLATER'S PARROT (Stanshall) 2.18
Own-up Time. A paradox. Homely fun.
Demands for the right to live like a civilised human-bean.
11. SPORT (Stanshall) 3.20
(THE ODD BOY) Unusual flash-back.
Rehearsals for the Rape of the mind.
12. I WANT TO BE WITH YOU (Innes) 2.15
Sounds reasonable.
13. NOISES FOR THE LEG (Stanshall) 2.15
Procession of the Freaks. A horrid dream.
14. "BUSTED" (Stanshall/Innes) 5.40
Finale & extravaganza. Pate & Putty. The "ballet" of the
streets & an astounding wind-up. The End.

THE LINER NOTES

By Prof. Harvey J. Satan

WELCOME TO KEYNSHAM!

Population: 6 Bonzo's, their instruments, their songs, and YOU.

[ Whereas most people are NOT aloud to talk about "Keynsham"....I knew the right palms to cross with silver....and can henceforth reveal as much as I was aloud to be told by the locals.....at least until the full moon comes out. ]

Now read on....

SIDE ONE: Our journey begins with the cryptical warning, "I have personally won over....". This personal overthrow seems to have been achieved with the help of heavy machinery! Have androids taken over Keynsham? The first song, "You Done my Brain In", is all Neil, and a rocking good song about the alienation of relationships. Our singer loves the object of his affections so much, he can't even bare to be near her! We are then given our first warning about NOT mentioning the secrets of "Keynsham". And then we are given the very psychedelic song of "Keynsham" which weaves intricate word plays into lyrics, not unlike John Lennon's works, but tells us precious little about "Keynsham". This is followed by the very gentle, "Quiet Talks & Summer Walks", a song about the world seen through the eyes of a flower...yes, in "Keynsham" even the flowers are watching! Next the local dentists seems to be extracting not only teeth, but information as well! We are then treated to the wonderfully looney and loud, "Tent"! "Tent", I believe has always been a fan favourite just because it is so obnoxious in it's intentions and lyrics, and Vivian's vocals! ( He is very much loving singing this song! ).Next is, "We Were Wrong", a hilarious duet, with a lyric exchange between a couple....the twist here is, the couple is "Legs" Larry Smith & Vivian Stanshall. This song has a sort of 50's sound to it, and a great Neil duet on piano & organ. We then run into, "Joke Shop Man", a bit of a creepy song. It sings the virtues of the items a novelty shop sells, and then ends with a sort of haunting mantra of sound, that seems to indicate all of the Joke Shop's wares are suddenly marching on the city! "Bride Stripped Bare By "Bachelors", the next track in your song book, is a look at The Bonzo's themselves, as they arrive in "Keynsham" and receive a less than warm welcome. This may be the only song in which all the Bonzo's sing a solo line. We round out this side with, Look At Me I'm Wonderful", another coupling of "Legs" Larry Smith and Vivian Stanshall. This time it's a delightful poke at smarmy showbiz singers. ( And we fade out to the sounds of more machinery.....was the singer a machine trying to be a human? )

SIDE TWO: Our flip side starts off with the gently inquisitive, "What Do You Do?", Neil's look on the drudgeries of daily life. We are then treated to a really bad pun, followed by: "Mr. Slater's Parrot". This song is a delightful throwback to the early Bonzo sound, you can almost picture them all running about the stage squawking like parrots. Next, with the help of some simple hypnosis, we are reminded of our youth via, "Sport ( The Odd Boy )". This song is unique in it's change in styles,it starts off as baroque with the harpsichord, then becomes medieval with the recorder and drum, and then progresses into a rocking jam for bass and bells! Also amusing is the lyrical commentary that boys whom do not indulge in sport, are basically useless to society. Neil then indulges us in a rock ballad, "I Want To Be With You". ( You might almost think of this as his first song for Yvonne, his wife.). But all is not hearts and flowers, we soon learn that the local military have become werewolves! And to accompany this revelation, we are given "Noises For The Leg", an eerie horror film instrumental, featuring Roger Ruskin Spear on the theremin. Closing out our trip to "Keynsham", is the show stopping, "Busted", a commentary on Youth, Alienation, and The Police....it's actually more comical than it sounds. And as the song fades out, we hear our train taking us out of "Keynsham", and on to pastures new.

Afterward: It's hard to say if this album was ever meant to be a fully realized "concept" album or if it was altered in the final stages and quickly cobbled together. The complete "story", as read in the gatefold sleeve of the album seems to suggest this album was originally going to be both songs and words, rather than songs and bits of chat. The album works in it's final form, the spoken bits seem to add more mystique to it all, but one wonders how the fully completed narration would've sounded? ( Of course, if you are sitting around with friends, you could all get together and act it out for yourself! )

The score so far: At this point "Do Not Adjust Your Set" was over. The Bonzo's had done extensive touring, with bands like "Cream", "The Who", and the up and coming "Led Zepplin". The toils of touring were beginning to take their toll, and the differences in music styles between band members was also becoming a strain. ( How does one hold together a band who's members want to play "Trad. Jazz", "Rock" and "Avant Garde" ? ) This album was a good mix of styles, but it was becoming harder to accommodate all in the band. Not to mention the comings and goings of some band members, making it difficult to keep track of who wanted to still be a Bonzo!

EPILOGUE: As the lads exited the serene, yet slightly terrifying confines of this land known as "Keynsham", they found themselves at a true fork in the road. Three roads to take, three choices to make. The signs up ahead read thusly: "The Brain Opera", "The Break Up", and "The Contractual Obligation". Which would they choose? In true Bonzo form, it would be ALL three! ( More on that below and in our next episode, titled: "Let's Make Up And Be Friendly" )

NEIL INNES

Plenty of Time
This Love of Ours
Slaves of Freedom
Lamour Perdu
Godzilla's Return
God Is Love
Let's Go Crazy
Mississippi Moon
Children's Song
When Does A Dream Begin
Don't Make Me Use My Imagination
Elvis & The Disagreeable
Backing Singers
Early Morning Train
Paranoia
Keep On Rockin'
Something To Say
Another Lonely Man
Caveman's Dream
Godfrey Daniel
Drama On A Saturday Night
Humanoid Boogie
La Vie En Rose
Now She's Left You
I'm the Urban Spaceman
9-5 Pollution Blues
Dream On
Happy Ending
All In The Name Of Love
Amoeba Boogie
Blue Suede Schubert
Boring
Catchphrase
Et Cetera
Kenny and Liza
Knicker Elastic King
Love Is Getting Deeper
Montana Cafe
Spontaneous

also:
Vivian's "Great Life" with Neil Innes - Neil Innes discusses the life of his Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band colleague and friend Vivian Stanshall

Songs The Bonzo Dog Band Taught Us - Various Artists

A collection of original 1920's and 1930's novelty jazz and British Dance Band recordings that inspired, influenced and were covered by The Bonzo Dog Band


1 Leslie Sarony With Jack Hylton And His Orchestra - Jollity Farm
2 BBC Dance Orchestra, The - Mickey's Son And Daughter
3 Savoy Havana Band, The - I'm Gonna Bring A Watermelon To My Girl Tonight
4 Jack Hylton And His Orchestra - Button Up Your Overcoat
5 Percival Mackey And His Band - On Her Doorstep Last Night
6 Rhythmic Troubadours, The - Ali Baba's Camel
7 Jack Hylton And His Orchestra - By A Waterfall
8 Hal Swain And His Band - Hunting Tigers Out In India (Yah)
9 Albert Whelan - My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies
10 Jack Hylton's Jazz Band - Laughing Waltz
11 Whispering Jack Smith - All By Yourself In The Moonlight
12 Noël Coward - A Room With A View
13 Bebe Daniels & Ben Lyon - Little Sir Echo
14 Jack Payne And His Dance Orchestra - Make Yourself A Happiness Pie
15 Jay Wilbur And His Band - We'll All Go Riding On A Rainbow
16 Billy Cotton And His Band - Skirts
17 Continental Five, The - The Sheik Of Araby
18 Jack Hylton And His Orchestra - Bell Bottom Trousers
19 Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers - Dr. Jazz Stomp
20 Ray Starita And His Ambassadors - The Flies Crawled Up The Window
21 Jay Whidden And His Band - I Lift Up My Finger And I Say "Tweet Tweet"
22 Savoy Havana Band, The - Masculine Women And Feminine Men
23 Leslie Sarony - Misery Farm
24 Roy Leslie - Omar Khayam's Cave
25 Jack Hodges The Raspberry King - Everything Is Fresh Today
26 Savoy Havana Band, The - Last Night On The Back Porch
27 Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians - I Love To Bumpity Bump

By Jingo It's British Rubbish

'











This unusual and very amusing CD features the well matched Alberts, Temperance Seven, and the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. The song, "Ukelele Lady" stars Peter Sellers. Whereas some of the music is American, The Alberts proclaim, "it may be rubbish, but at least it's English rubbish". Songs are mainly from the 1920s. "On her doorstep last night" also appears on the Music of the 20th Century CD performed there by Jack Payne and his Band (1929). The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band started their career in offbeat trad jazz before branching off into areas of rock, blues, and the just plain wonderfully weird for weird's sake. "You're driving me crazy was a 1960's number one for the Temperance Seven.

1. Morse code melody - Alberts
2. Sahara - Temperance Seven
3. Ali Baba's camel - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
4. Everybody loves my baby - Temperance Seven
5. On her doorstep last night - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
6. Hard hearted Hannah - Temperance Seven
7. Sleepy valley - Alberts
8. Jazz delicious hot disgusting cold - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
9. Vo do do de o blues - Temperance Seven
10. I'm going to bring a watermelon - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
11. To my girl tonight - Milligan, Spike & The Massed Alberts
12. You gotta go now - Milligan, Spike & The Massed Alberts
13. You're driving me crazy - Temperance
14. Dr Jazz - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
15. Pasadena - Temperance Seven
16. By a waterfall - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
17. Kaiser drag - Temperance Seven
18. My brother makes noises for - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
19. Talkies - Sellers, Peter & The Temperance Seven
20. Ukelele lady - Sellers, Peter & The Temperance Seven
21. Blaze away - Alberts
22. Running wild - Temperance Seven
23. Jollity farm - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
24. Thanks for the melody - Temperance Seven
25. Laughing blues - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
26. TCP (That certain party) - Temperance Seven
27. Hunting tigers out in Indiah - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
28. Goodbye dolly gray - Alberts

Happy New Year 2010!

New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls and humbug resolutions. - Mark Twain

Various Artists: Its Midnight Xmess Part III

Various Artists: Its Midnight Xmess Part III

1. Reindeer n' Whiskey - The Iguanas
2. Celebrate! - Whooping Cranes
3. "Yuh, Xmess" - Gorhounds
4. My Sears Catalogue - Sharky's Machine
5. Xmas Will Never - The Love Pushers
6. Merry Christmas, Baby - The Senders
7. Mrs. Claus Has Menopause - The Sterilles
8. Staring in the Eye of God - The Woofing Cookies
9. Are You Ready for Christmas - Luther n' B.B.B.'s
10. One Winter's Night - The Brood
11. December Mourning - Crocodile Shop
12. Christmas Comes to Those Who Wait - Dimentia 13
13. The Last Noel - John Frankovic

Various Artists: A Midnight Christmas Mess

1. Christmastime Here (Could Never Be Like That) - Wednesday Week
2. On Comet - The Point
3. Christmastime With You - The Cheepskates
4. Here's What I Want on a Christmas Day - Justin Love
5. Christmas Dance - Johnny Rabb
6. Gotta Get Lucky for Xmas - Johnny Rabb
7. Xmas Time (It Sure Doesn't Feel Like It) - The Dogmatics
8. Last Minute Rush - The Cheepskates
9. Merry Christmas - Plan 9
10. Christmas Tyme (Baby) - Yard Trauma
11. Forget It - Nadroj & The Wolrats
12. Schizophrenic X'mas - The Suburban Nightmares
13. Gloria (in Excelsis Deo) - The Tryfles
14. It's Christmas (A Time for Giving) - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
15. Silent Night (J.D.'s Salute to Phil Spector) - Droogs

Various Artists: Oh! No! Not Another... Midnight Christmas Mess Again!!

Various Artists: Oh! No! Not Another... Midnight Christmas Mess Again!!

1. Hazy Shades of Winter - The Slickee Boys
2. Christmas I'll Be Home - The Vipers
3. Star - The Cheepskates
4. Santa is Comin' Down Again - The Psycho Daisies
5. Santa Ain't Santa - Woofing Cookies
6. Jesus Christ - The Love Pushers
7. O Tannenbaum Now - Das Furlines
8. Blue Christmas - The Ravens
9. Wreck These Halls - Howard & Jag's X-mas Vacation
10. Sleighbell Bop - The Holidays
11. Coal in My Stocking - The Backbones
12. Christmas Eve at KNL (Kansas Neurological Institute) - The Iguanas
13. Snow is Falling - Dementia 13

David Rose-Little Drummer Boy

Side One
01 Carol Of The Bells
02 Little Drummer Boy
03 The Christmas Waltz
04 The Christmas Tree
05 The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
06 I Saw Three Ships
Side Two
01 MEDLEY:
Deck The Hall
The First Noel
Joy To The World
02 MEDLEY:
Silent Night
O Come All Ye Faithful
03 The Twelve Days Of Christmas
04 Toyland
05 MEDLEY:
Christmas Is Coming
Angels We Have Heard On High

(reissue of 'The David Rose Christmas Album' Capitol ST 2853 Released in 1968,
and by the way, many of the songs from this LP came from the Main St. Christmas Area Music Loop at Disneyland.)