Subject: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST Date: 28 Jan 00 - 01:22 PM Which song in the talking Blues format do you all find the funniest of the genre? |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Steve Latimer Date: 28 Jan 00 - 01:26 PM Dylan's TALKING WORLD WAR III BLUES. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: catspaw49 Date: 28 Jan 00 - 01:31 PM Either "TALKIN' CANDY BAR BLUES" by Paul Stookey or "TALKING VIETNAM POTLUCK BLUES" by Tom Paxton. Spaw |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Barbara Date: 28 Jan 00 - 02:19 PM "YOWZAH" and "IT DOES NOT PAY TO BE HIP" by Shel Silverstein are good too. Blessings, Barbara |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: kendall Date: 28 Jan 00 - 02:26 PM IT SURE AS HELL AIN'T COUNTRY by Kendall Morse. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: TerriM Date: 28 Jan 00 - 02:37 PM How about ALICE'S RESTAURANT MASSACREE by Arlo Guthrie? |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Vixen Date: 28 Jan 00 - 02:47 PM My vote goes for the TALKIN' CANDY BAR BLUES.
I 'spect I'll get a round of groans for nominating "BLUES (MY NAUGHTY SWEETIE GIVES TO ME)"
V |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: bobby's girl Date: 28 Jan 00 - 03:38 PM My vote definitely goes to Tom Paxton's TALKING VIETNAM POTLUCK BLUES - it's years since I first heard it but it still makes me laugh! |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Wesley S Date: 28 Jan 00 - 04:06 PM Whatever happened to talking blues? I don't see them much anymore - maybe I'm not looking in the right places. One current TB that I enjoyed is called "TALKIN' CAVAN" on Tim O'Brien's new CD called The Crossing. It's about his search for distant relations in Ireland. The whole CD is a mix of bluegrass and Celtic musicians and styles. Great stuff - check it out. |
Subject: Lyr Add: RV BLUES (Kendall Morse & Smokey Green) From: kendall Date: 28 Jan 00 - 04:35 PM THE RV BLUES (Kendall Morse & Smokey Green) If you want to get in trouble, I'll tell you how to do it Get an RV and then you're into it You fix all day and tinker all night, never get the damn thing running right Always breaking down, flat tires, fouled spark plugs.
I bought my rig about a year ago
Well, I cleaned her up as best I could
I'd like to sell it and get off this kick |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Micca Date: 28 Jan 00 - 05:59 PM There was a great one by Lonnie Donegan [TALKING GUITAR BLUES] in the 50s that went something like:
If you want to get in trouble let me tell you how to do it Well, I like it along with the Tom Paxton TALKING VIETNAM POTLUCK BLUES which he did at the Royal Albert Hall with this wonderful guitar intro which he played 3 times with a dreamy vacant expression!!! |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Bill D Date: 28 Jan 00 - 06:18 PM this thread...all about nothing includes the TALKIN' NOTHIN' BLUES. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Stewie Date: 28 Jan 00 - 09:21 PM My favourites are Dick Feller's 'LORD, MR. FORD', which still holds up pretty well after a couple of decades, and Ramblin' Jack's 'EAST TEXAS TALKING BLUES'. I'll post the lyrics as 'Lyr add' threads. Cheers, Stewie. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Sorcha Date: 28 Jan 00 - 09:41 PM Maybe..........Talkin' Blues now equals cowboy Poetry?????? |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST,Benjamin Date: 29 Jan 00 - 02:00 AM HESITATION BLUES (Rev. Gary Davis) |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: bseed(charleskratz) Date: 29 Jan 00 - 02:44 AM Woody Guthrie's "TALKING FISHING BLUES" is a pretty good one. --seed |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST Date: 29 Jan 00 - 07:45 PM TALKING BIRMINGHAM JAM by Phil Ochs was pretty damn funny |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Mark Roffe Date: 29 Jan 00 - 08:43 PM Talkin' LSD blues, which I learned in the sixties from a Sing Out magazine. It began: Well I was readin' in the paper, what did I see There's a brand new drug called LSD Some say it's good, some say it's bad Some say it's the weirdest thing they ever had Biggest thing since asprin... Twice as controversial. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Lanfranc Date: 30 Jan 00 - 06:29 PM Phil Ochs "TALKING AIRPLANE DISASTER" sticks in my mind, along with Paxton's "TALKING POP ART" and TALKING VIETNAM POTLUCK BLUES" OK, it's not quite in the standard meter, but how about "A BOY NAMED SUE" by Shel Silverstein - it's funny, talked and pretty much to a blues template?
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Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: ddw Date: 30 Jan 00 - 10:44 PM There's a pretty good one in the digitrad called TALKING FOLK MUSICIAN PURIST SNOB BLUES that's pretty funny. Still, I think my favorite is still Paxton's TALKING POP ART. david |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GeorgeH Date: 31 Jan 00 - 01:38 PM Peggy Seeger's "Talking Want Blues" is still my favourite . . G. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST,Sarah-HS Date: 31 Jan 00 - 01:48 PM Hmmmm. I wonder if this counts as talking blues: Hank Williams (as Luke the Drifter): "EVERYTHING'S OKAY" |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Pontiac Joe Date: 01 Feb 00 - 10:53 AM I like Bromberg's BULLFROG BLUES |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Songster Bob Date: 01 Feb 00 - 04:58 PM Mention has been made of the "TALKING GUITAR BLUES", attributed to a latter-day performer, but originally called "Red Foley's Talking Blues," I think, and picked up by most of us who do it from Woody Guthrie. Mention has been made of my "TALKING FOLK MUSICIAN PURIST SNOB BLUES," with kind words for which I thank you. That one was based, in the opening line, anyway, on Woody's "TALKING DUST BOWL BLUES," which I've always liked a lot.
The original "TALKING BLUES" was recorded in 1926 by Chris Bouchillon, a string band performer whose singing voice was only so-so, so the producer said, "Why not just talk one of these songs? I really like the way you talk." The resulting number starts, Bob Clayton |
Subject: Lyr Add: TALKIN' SEATTLE BLUES (Todd Snider) From: Clinton Hammond2 Date: 01 Feb 00 - 05:37 PM You folks never heard the "Talkin' Seattle Blues" By Todd Snider? Lemme see if I can find it... TALKIN' SEATTLE BLUES As recorded by Todd Snider on "Songs for the Daily Planet" (1994)*
CHORUS: Hey, hey, my, my,
Well, I was in this band goin' nowhere fast.
Now to fit in fast, we wear flannel shirts.
Now to fit in on the Seattle scene,
Well, we spread the word through the underground CHORUS
Well, they made us do a video but that wasn't tough,
Well, we blew 'em away at the Grammy show
Well, our band got dropped and that ain't funny, [* Another "live" version of this song, called "TALKING SEATTLE GRUNGE ROCK BLUES" appeared on "Near Truths and Hotel Rooms" (2003). Only a few phrases are changed.] |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST,Rev Carr Date: 01 Feb 00 - 11:50 PM I nominate the old Bob Dylan rarity "TALKIN' BEAR MOUNTAIN PICNIC MASSACRE BLUES." It's hard to find, but it's hilarious (and based on a true story). |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Steve Latimer Date: 02 Feb 00 - 11:19 AM Clinton, I have never heard that one, but it's a beauty. Do you remember the Weird Al one that was a send up on the whole Seattle sound? Something to the effect of "this is the part of the song that's really quiet, (Full grunge Chords heavily distorted) and this is the part of the song that's really loud" Funny as hell. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST,simon-pierre Date: 03 Feb 00 - 01:15 AM Dylan's «TALKIN' HAVA NEGEILAH BLUES». That's all the lyrics... |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Clinton Hammond2 Date: 03 Feb 00 - 03:23 AM Steve It's a ghost track on Todd Snider And The Nervious Wrecks album Songs For The Daily Planet... My mom also has a video tape of them on Austin City limits, with slightly differnt lyrics... Great energy! Great songwriting! Great music all'round! ;-) |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST,guest Date: 03 Feb 00 - 11:20 AM Has anyone heard the SIGNIFYIN' MONKEY? That's maybe the funniest blues I have ever heard, with "ANSWER TO THE LAUNDROMAT BLUES" running a distant second. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Skipjack K8 Date: 03 Feb 00 - 12:21 PM My favourite for the last 20+ years is Charlie Daniels 'UNEASY RIDER'. It taught me more about American social history than any other single document. Skipjack |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST,Jon Nickleodeon Date: 03 Feb 00 - 02:02 PM Does anyone know the words to TALKING POP ART, by Tom Paxton thanks |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: okthen Date: 04 Aug 00 - 07:44 PM alan ever heard "THE FATHER OF A BOY NAMED SUE" by Shel Silverstein, cash would NOT have recorded that cheers bill |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: MarkS Date: 04 Aug 00 - 11:56 PM Don't forget David Bromberg's "BEWARE, BROTHER, BEWARE." Not the same as talking blues by Dylan, Guthrie, or Elliot, but still funny and entertaining. "Don't DO that!" |
Subject: Lyr Add: FRATERNITY BLUES (Townes Van Zandt) From: GUEST,Ely Date: 05 Aug 00 - 07:51 PM FRATERNITY BLUES As recorded by Townes Van Zandt on "Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas" (2008)
I decided to improve my social station. The car I drove, the books I read, the food I ate, the booze I drank, the girls I took out,--my breath.
They said, "Kid, we don't much like the way you walk, They said, "You got to learn to bubble. You got to bubble with enthusiasm." I started bubbling.
The most important thing, you can't forget, But I learnt it.... I can whip through that son-of-a-beta backwards in five seconds.
Then they hit me with some pretty bad news But I paid it.... I'm no trouble-causer and besides, I figured that's life--if you want good friends, they're gonna cost you.
Well, it finally got to be party time. Brandy Alexanders, frozen daiquiris, reciting the Greek alphabet to one another.
I could see I was gonna do my very best Walked inside and bubbled.... All over a couple of their dates.
So, now everything's back to normal again, Really give 'em something to bubble about. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: okthen Date: 05 Aug 00 - 09:17 PM has to be ALICE'S RESTAURANT MASSACREE |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST,Rich(stupidbodhranplayerwhodoesn'tknowbetter Date: 06 Aug 00 - 05:45 PM My all-time favorite has got to be Woody Guthrie's "TALKING HARD WORK" It's hysterical. It may be a stretch, but Ron Thomasin's intros during live performances of the Dry Branch Fire Squad are also really funny. I heard a few people complain that "ONce he gets to talkin', he forgets that he's SUPPOSED to be playin' music up there", but I think that's half of their charm. If you don't have the opportunity to see them, their "Live...At Last' CD is a must. Rich |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Miss`Ippe Date: 07 Aug 00 - 04:53 PM How 'bout John Hurt's "COFFEE BLUES",,,,,,,,,love that Maxwell House! |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: ddw Date: 07 Aug 00 - 09:47 PM I'm not sure they qualify as "talking blues," but a bunch of Ray Stevens's things are hilarious — the one that comes to mind first is The Day I Taught Charleen McKenzie How To Drive. Great stuff!. david |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: SmokinBill Date: 18 Mar 04 - 03:03 AM Dan Bern's "TALKIN' ALIEN ABDUCTION BLUES" is a more recent classic. Here's a little of it: I don't know what made me go out that night At that hour I'd have normally been in bed But I found myself lookin' up at the sky At a very bright light straight overhead It flashed green Then Red Santa Claus colors I stood there frozen in that light Then I started hearin' this kind of whir The lights got louder and the noise got brighter And I felt a sudden chill Brrrrrrrr It was cold I shouldn't have gone out without a coat My mom was right again ... Bill Smokin Bill's Digital Depot |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: John MacKenzie Date: 18 Mar 04 - 03:26 AM I always liked TALKING POP ART by Tom Paxton John |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST,Shlio Date: 18 Mar 04 - 03:41 AM ALICE'S RESTAURANT MASSACREE is the funniest, but Dylan's "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" comes a close second. The lyrics are here |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: ced2 Date: 18 Mar 04 - 07:10 AM Talking Nursery Rhyme Blues.. words generally strung together by an odd collection of people I know/knew... verses vary according to what takes your fancy. A sample:- Little Miss Muffet, Sat on her tuffet, Eating her curds and whey, Along came a spider, Which sat down beside her, So she crushed it with her spoon, Mixed well with her curds, And carried on eatin' Delicious. |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Strollin' Johnny Date: 18 Mar 04 - 08:13 AM 'Flat-Pack Furniture Blues' is hilarious. Don't know who wrote it but a guy called John Mitchell (a.k.a. Mitch) from, I think, the Sheffield area does it. Brilliant. :0) :0) |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: John P Date: 18 Mar 04 - 09:36 AM I used to do "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carrol as a talking blues. On the grunge thing, I live in Seattle and one time I was in a recording studio and the engineer was all amazed. His last client was a band from the midwest somewhere that played grunge. They flew to Seattle and booked three days in the studio, recorded and album, and flew home. All so the album cover could say "recorded in Seattle". What a wierd thing popular perception is . . . John Peekstok |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 18 Mar 04 - 11:29 AM ALICE'S RESTAURANT MASSACREE is a hoot, all right, but it's not a talking blues, methinks. It doesn't really conform to the "rules" or understood format of a talking blues. I'd call it a recitation or a monologue with musical interludes. Which doesn't change the fact that it's a GREAT WORK OF ART! Dave Oesterreich |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 18 Mar 04 - 11:55 AM I like and regularly perform TALKING UNDERTAKER BLUES . I don't have any idea where I got this. It's not in the DT. It may possibly have a tune to it, but I've never heard anyone perform it but me. Click above and enjoy! Dave Oesterreich |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: GUEST Date: 18 Mar 04 - 12:19 PM I guess you gotta be world famous to be appreciated |
Subject: RE: Funniest Talking Blues Song From: Gorgeous Gary Date: 18 Mar 04 - 07:49 PM I have a few favorites, although they're all out of the filk community. My favorite is "TALKIN' BUILDING Q BLUES" by Indianapolis filker (and degreed ethnomusicologist...) Barry Childs-Helton which is a send-up of the US-government-is-hiding-a-UFO idea. There's also Frank Hayes' "LIKE A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER" which is a shortening (hmm...perhaps a poor choice of words there...) of "Matty Groves". Actually, I sang the latter at an Open Sing once; the theme was "Long and Short". -- Gary |
Subject: Lyr Add: TRAVELIN' MAN (Pink Anderson) From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 18 Mar 04 - 11:02 PM I do Pink Anderson's "Travelin' Man" as a talking blues. I've heard Roy Book Binder do it with a true melody, but I couldn't remember how the melody went so I just made it into a talking blues. TRAVELIN' MAN (Pink Anderson) Folks, I want to tell you 'bout a man named Bloom He come from down in New Orleans And made his living stealing chickens And anything he could see That popeyed man could run so fast That his feet wouldn't stay in the road And if a freight train passed, no matter how fast He could always get on board CHORUS He was a travelling man Certainly was a travelling man He was the most travellin'est man There ever was in the land He travelled East, he travelled West Was known for miles around And he never got caught & he never got whupped Til the police shot him down Well Bloom went down to the spring one day To fetch himself a pail of water The distance this rascal had to traverse Was approximately three miles & a quarter Now he filled up the bucket & started back Then he stumbled & fell down He ran back to the house, grabbed another bucket And caught the water b'fore it hit the ground Well the police shot him with a rifle And the bullet went thru his head The folks was comin' from miles around Just to see if that boy was dead Telegrammed down south where his mama lived She was all upset with tears She walked up & opened the coffin lid But that fool had disappeared Now Bloom was on the Titantic Ship When it was sinking low He was standing outside the railing And he had his head hung low Well the people who saw him jump overboard Said 'Get a load of that crazy fool!' But just 45 minutes after that He was shooting craps in Liverpool Now the police caught that Bloom at last They had him up to hang one day The judge leaned over, said 'My good man Do you have any last words to say?' He asked the courtroom to bow their heads To bow their heads in prayer Then he crossed one leg & winked one eye And vanished straight up in the air Bruce |
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