What recording cracks you up?

Subject: What recording cracks you up?
From: frogprince
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 10:22 PM

What recording, particularly by someone you classify as a folk performer, really puts you on the floor laughing? There are numerous cuts that do it for me, but some stand out.

The two at the top of my personal list are actually narrations mixed in with the songs on albums. My absolute favorite is from Gamble Rogers, titled, "Saturday Afternoon", about two young boys wreaking havoc in a Satuday movie matinee. My (very close) runner-up is Utah Phillip's classic "Moose Turd Pie".

As songs go, Lou and Peter Berryman and Christine Lavin both have numerous items that are high on my list.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 11:23 PM

Uncle Bonsai - "Penis Envy"

Charlie King - "Terra Nova High"

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Peace
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 03:00 AM

"Little Brown Shack Out Back" by Billy Ed Wheeler.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 04:14 AM

Anything and everything by Les Barker

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 07:30 AM

Tom Leher...

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: JennyO
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 07:53 AM

First that came to mind was Les Barker, but we have our own funny man, Martin Pearson. Sometimes he tries very hard not to be funny, but he can't help it, particularly when he gets together with John Thompson of Cloudstreet as "Never the Twain". I love the way they bounce off each other!

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: alanabit
Date: 04 Jun 06 - 08:06 AM

I'm a big Tom Lehrer fan. I think Shel Silverstein wrote some of the funniest character sketches I have ever heard. Britain's own Jake Thackeray had some wonderfully perverse ideas. Les Barker has an ear for the wicked rhyme and is also very clever with assonance. The folk scene has lent itself well to supporting original comic talent. I think it is because we have a listening audience, which allows original thinkers enough time to get across their ideas. In Britain, Billy Connelly, Jasper Carrot and Mike Harding all emerged from that scene. I should think it probably happens in other countries too.
If you want to hear a very original comic talent, who really cracks me up with his dry wit,have a listen to Mudcat's own Big Al Whittle, who posts here as Weelittledrummer.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: mrdux
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 01:46 AM

I still get a kick out of Steve Goodman's rousing "Lincoln Park Pirates" and Tom Paxton's "Talking Vitenam Potluck Blues."

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: muppitz
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 07:20 AM

I echo what Les in Chorlton says, Les Barker is the man for funnies!

Also, the first time I heard Eric Bogle's "Silly Slang Song" I had a split side or two!

muppitz x

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 07:30 AM

Just about all of the Homer & Jethro stuff. Arlo's Alice's Restaurant, Motorcycle song, The Ballad of Ruben Clamso in The Key Of A.

Dylan is my favourite songwriter, he has written some of the most meaningful songs of our time. But, he also had some very funny ones. "I Shall Be Free", "Talkin' World War III Blues", "Hava Negilah Blues", "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" to name a few. He could be very funny when he wanted to.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 07:34 AM

A few more. Jerry Reed's "Amos Moses", a lot of Ray Stephen's Stuff including Gitarzan, Mississippi Squirrel Revival and the one about the lodge convention, the title escapes me.

All of this without even mentioning Frank Zappa, where do you start with him?

Earache My Eye and Basketball Jones by Cheech & Chong.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: alanabit
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 07:45 AM

"Evil Freddy" and "Iditarod", by Mudcat's own Alaska Mike, both made me laugh out loud when I heard them. The former song has a wicked take off of social worker/psycho babble about a reformed bandit, who,
"...saw his life more clearly." It cracks me up every time I hear that one.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Mr Fox
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 07:53 AM

All Around My Hat (the album). What do you mean "it's not meant to be funny"?

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 10:18 AM

Phil Ochs - "The Party" from "Pleasures Of The Harbor."
Frank Zappa - "Who Needs The Peace Corps?" from "We're Only In It For The Money."

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 10:39 AM

One of my favorite performers is Seamus Kennedy. His recordings, like his live performances, make me laugh whenever he wants me to laugh. He also makes me cry whenever he wants to, which is fine except when he does it in front of a couple thousand people. Ever seen a monster like me sob? It ain't pretty.

Also, Bill Gallaher's "The Man Song" just slays me.

Mick

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 10:43 AM

Tom Lehrer's 1965 album, "That Was The Year That Was," and his first album, "Songs By Tom Lehrer."

The "crepitation" contest album.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: M.Ted
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 09:32 PM

It's not "folk", unless you consider that there are theatrical traditions, but Noel Coward's "There Are Bad Times Just Around the Corner", preformed by the author, is one of the funniest things I've every heard--

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Nancy King
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 09:56 PM

Well, if we can include Tom Lehrer, it seems to me we can include Flanders and Swann, who contributed some real side-splitters!

Nancy

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Brían
Date: 05 Jun 06 - 10:35 PM

Well, if we're going to mention Tom Lerher as folk music, then I'm going to recommend the Firesign Theater, I Think We're All Bozos On This Bus. Now pardon me while I inflate my shoes and step on the rubber line. By the way, I recommend the Wall of Science, because it's my favorite.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Amergin
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 01:22 AM

Australian country singer John Williamson has got a few good ones....like Bill the Cat...about a cat that ate their budgie and so they got him neutered....it upset him so he left home....

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 09:20 AM

the Berrymans - 'F word'
Tom Lehrer - The Hunting Song

our very own Bernard Bolan writes a lot of sily ditties, about Basingstoke (a very male cat who sat in the fire), Corgi & Bess (royalty & a different dog), garden gmomes & other interesting facets of life.

political & public sevice parodies by my wonderful friends
The Shiny Bum Singers

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: melodeonboy
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 01:54 PM

Just about anything by Peter Buckley-Hill.

(If you haven't heard of him, just ask any Cambridge regulars to explain!)

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Scoville
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 02:04 PM

I grew up with the Chipmunks Christmas songs, and, although we never owned recordings, my father was fond of both "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor" and the one about the Cadillac vs. the Nash Rambler.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: jaze
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 02:35 PM

John Prine-"Please Don't Bury Me" also his "Dear Abby"

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 02:36 PM

The Red Clay Ramblers' I've Got Plans

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 02:40 PM

Seasonal of course but Bob James Christmas Parodies, especially "Walking Round In Women's Underwear", have me in hysterics.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: frogprince
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 02:47 PM

Ah, yes; "Later on, if ya wanna, we can dress like Madonna"...

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Scoville
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 02:48 PM

. . . and the Red Clay Ramblers' "Merchant's Lunch", for that matter.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Cool Beans
Date: 06 Jun 06 - 03:00 PM

Martin Mull's "Middle Class Blues"
John Prine and Fred Koller's "Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian."
"Essen," by Billy Hodes and His Catskill Cowboys, klezmer comedy from the 1950s.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Grab
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 10:04 AM

The Berrymans for sure, although there's so many good ones of theirs that it's hard to pick a favourite.

"The Sick Note" is pretty much an automatic nomination too.

Les Barker's writing is great, but it *has* to be done by someone else - his delivery ruins it.

Graham.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 10:12 AM

"Cheatin'" by the Berrymans, also their song that starts "When the Whatcha-callems blossom by the back porch."

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 10:49 AM

In defence of Les B, I have to disagree Grab. Having booked him numerous times at my own clubs, and gone to see him at other venues, I would say that there has never been anyone better at working an audience, and damn few as good.

To watch him riding a punch line to extract the last possible chuckle, and then dropping an ad lib to get another howl of laughter, is to watch a great master of his art playing the listeners like a musical instrument.

I can't help feeling that you must have caught his act on a (very rare) bad day.

Don T.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Jimmy Twitcher
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 11:17 AM

Well, as you can tell from my handle, I love funny songs. Perhaps the premier parody artist in filk is Bob Kanefsky. One late night of singing, as he relates the story, someone sang "No Man's Land" by Eric Bogel, to appropriate sentiment. Someone else then wondered aloud how someone who could have written that moving song could have also written "Moggy the Cat." Someone else then asked if you could believe that those two songs were on the same album. That set Bob to thinking, "Perhaps they're really the same song . . ." The following is the result, one of the funniest songs I've ever heard sung:

Nobody's Moggy Lands

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Snuffy
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 12:38 PM

Grab is right, Don. Les is a superb turn, but his speciality is reading his verses.

But his parody songs really have to be sung by someone else (the more high-profile the better) to get the proper effect.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Grab
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 01:36 PM

Don, I'll reserve judgement then until I've seen him again. But I'm not going to make any effort to do so (or spend any extra).

Only seen him once, a couple of years back, and we walked out after about 15 minutes without hardly cracking a smile. People around were laughing, but, crucially, they were also reciting the lines as they went, so they obviously already knew his stuff and they knew what was coming. "Riding" the punchlines only works up to a point, and we could have nipped out and got a quick half in the time between lines. Snuffy's point about *reading* his verses is also very relevant - if I ever see an alleged pro on stage having to read what he's doing line by line from a book, then forget it, I'm out the door (and that's even more important for storytellers or poets). That contributed to destroying any connection to what he was doing.

I forgot another very talented man too - Jake Thackray. Again, too many good songs to pick a favourite.

Graham.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Charmain
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 04:00 PM

I know its not folk but I recently heard that Cd of the mad old rich woman who hired out the Albert Hall so that she could perform her favourite Operatic Arias - haven't laughed so much in my whole life

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: gnu
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 04:19 PM

Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers... every recording. Some shockin good me zon!

Weird Al Yankovic for song parodies.

And... as for the mention of Frank Zappa above... "Flakes" absolutely cracks me up... "Wanna buy some Mandy's, Bob?" (Bob Dylan - and the harmonica by "Bob"... it'll get yer senses reelin! Yes it willlll!)

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: NightWing
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 06:31 PM

Anything by the Asylum Street Spankers. Most recently, "The Birthday Spanking Song" (to the tune of the William Tell Overture) and "Closer", which has a filthy enough subtitle that I will not repeat it here.

I recently got to see them when they came through Boulder (Colorado, USA). Great fun!

They have apparently (???) gone away from their strict acoustic militancy. In a small room, they miked up. I had never been in this place before; must have had really horrible acoustics.

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 07:04 PM

Well, lots of folks with reeeely good senses of humor here.
My hands-down fave (right this minute), if I have to have one, is Barbara Dane's "I Haven't Done Anything Wrong, And I'll Never, Ever Do It Again" from the Reagan/Ollie North/Iran/Contras/Guns scandal in the '80s. First heard it driving down a major thoroughfare in south Austin. Laughed so hard I wept, convulsed over the steering wheel, only avoided a nasty accident because the other driver was in better control of his vehicle. Had to pull off the road and gasp for 5 minutes before I could go on. Whatsizzname's "Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" is another goodie, and I agree with all the Tom Lehrer and Les Barker fans....Tw

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: bobad
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 07:23 PM

A very clever and funny parody by Dan Bern - "talkin' woody, bob, bruce & dan blues" from his album "Smartie Mine." Anybody heard it?

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 08:03 PM

"we walked out after about 15 minutes without hardly cracking a smile. People around were laughing, but, crucially, they were also reciting the lines as they went, so they obviously already knew his stuff and they knew what was coming."

Monty Python fans had that effect too some years ago...


In the 1970s there was "The Portsmouth Symphonia"... they would run an ad in the paper giving the date they had hired the hall for, the playlist (all Classical!) and say, BYO instrument, music...

I'm not making this up, you know!

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 06 - 08:31 PM

A song by Rodney Carrigan "Dear Penis"

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Artful Codger
Date: 08 Jun 06 - 06:18 PM

Red Clay Ramblers: "The Ace" and "I Was Only Teasin' You"

Uncle Dave Macon: "The Bible's True" (though I'm not sure he meant it to be satirical)

Boys of the Lough: catafable about the baby

Harry Belafonte: "Man Smart, Woman Smarter" and "Man Piaba"

Uncle Bonsai: (oh so many)

Susan Werner: "When They Make the Movie of My Life"

Homer & Jethro: "Fascination" (and many others)

Pete Sutherland (Arm & Hammer String Band): The Shopping Song

Mike Hunt: Giovanni Montini (the Pope)

Well, that's a start...

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: freightdawg
Date: 08 Jun 06 - 06:43 PM

Steve, the Ray Stevens title you were looking for is "Shriner's Convention."

A couple of years ago I heard a song, oft requested apparently, played on a radio station in far west Texas. The song was about a truck full of Viagra that hit an oil spill on the road and fell down a cliff into a lake which provided water to a small city. The description of the results was absolutely side splitting - I had to really watch where I was driving I was laughing so hard. Among the casualties (?) of the spill was the firefighting hoses, and the holy water at the local church. Anyway, the song ended with the townspeople making plans to re-oil the highway the next time a shipment of Viagra was on its way.

Anyone know the name of the song or have access to the lyrics?

Thanks in advance.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: frogprince
Date: 08 Jun 06 - 07:18 PM

Freightdawg, we heard that live about two years ago in West Virginia; put "There's viagra in the water" in search, and it comes right up.
(The lyric, that is...)

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: GUEST,saulgoldie
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 12:59 PM

Lotsa stuff by P.D.Q Bach, Victor Borgia, Anna Russell, and Firesign Theater, fer shur. Recordings by Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner--2000 year old man!--Shelley Berman, some Allen Sherman, Bill Cosby, George Carlin.

Yeah, Lou and Peter Berryman, Tom Lehrer. And a terribly maritime punny song from Kip Adotta called "Wet Dream."

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 08:59 PM

"Victor Borgia," - Victor Borge, real name - Readers Digest is floggig a 3 DVD set of all his classic preformances - that must be around elswehere too.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: frogprince
Date: 09 Jun 06 - 09:04 PM

Love the Berrymans; I would say my very top pick of their stuff is "Uncle Dave's Grace"; very non-P.C.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: LadyJean
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 12:38 AM

I don't remember who recorded "Bunce the Seadog", about a dachsund mix who mates, very publicly, with an afghan hound. But the first time I heard it, I was on the floor.

Bill Cosby's "The Chicken Heart that Ate Up New York" is another classic, though not a song, it is a recording.

Seumas Kennedy is also pretty funny.
It was interesting watching Azzizi the first time she heard him. I come from a family that told stories like that at the dinner table. I knew what I was in for. Azizzi hadn't been exposed to that sort of humor before. Not that she didn't think he's funny, just that she wasn't quite used to it.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 02:55 AM

It is worth repeating from Les Barker that:
"Daschounds with erections can't climb stairs"

Stanley Accrington is also very funny live and on record.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: weerover
Date: 10 Jun 06 - 03:06 PM

Patrick Sky and Loudon Wainwright are usually good for a smile or two, and some of Cathal McConnell's introductions to Boys of the Lough material are hilarious. On his day, my favourite would be the late Danny Kyle, though he is unlikely to be familiar to many on the western side of the Atlantic.

wr.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Big Jim from Jackson
Date: 11 Jun 06 - 10:22 AM

Amergin, I'm with you on the John Williamson stuff. I'd add his and Pixie Jenkins' "Teach Me To Drive" to your list.
For Christmas I'd want to hear Frank Kelly's "Twelve Days Of Christmas". And then there is Mike Agranoff. His "Ten Ton Molly" and the one about the song writer and the character in the song having a fight (can't remember the title just now) are both absolute screams.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:58 AM

It's a playground song, extremely silly, and I doubt it's ever been recorded, but it goes...

I ulllellloosed to plllalllay my olllollllold banjolllolooo
And relllelllest it olllolllonnn my kneeeleeleeleleeeee
But nowlolooow my strilllilings are brolllollloken alllallland it's
Nolollooo more ullellooose to meeleleeleleelelee.

I toololoook it toololooo a ballallanjo shollolop
To seelelee what theyleley could dololoololooo
They selleled your strillillings are brollolloken alllallland it's
Nolollooo more ullellooose to youloloololoololoo.

My sister and I can't keep a straight face when singing it and neither can any member of the family, so we used to use it when we were in trouble with the parentals - worked every time ;-) We also soundchecked with it at a recent open mic night and had people giggling away.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 10:30 AM

DON'T LEAVE YOUR RECORDS IN THE SUN - John Hartford
DANCING IN THE BATH TUB - John Hartford

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: GUEST,Elaine
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 03:26 PM

Here is the link to the lyrics:

http://www.camille-west.com/camille_west_lyrics-viagra_in_the_waters.htm

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Jon W.
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 04:09 PM

Garrison Keilor had a great parody of "La Donna e' Mobile" that started "I am a tenor. My voice is marvellous"

Not sure if he sang it or it was a guest, I haven't heard it in years.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: moongoddess
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 04:36 PM

Anything by Patrick Sky, and Martin Mull's "I've Played Some Shitholes, But This Takes The Cake"

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 05:19 PM

I heard a bootleg recording of Pat Patterson reading excerpts from Jehovah's Witness tracts. Downright hilarious! Get it if you can possibly find it.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 05:22 PM

Oh, and he was playing the banjo to accompany the JW readings. Should have mentioned that too.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 05:26 PM

Has everyone forgotten The Kipper Family? Only Sid now; but their parodies of "all time favourites" has had every, well nearly every, folkie splitting their sides.
Michael

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 05:59 PM

Where are the Corries in all of this? Both their original songs and their parodies can be very funny.

Also, heard a few years ago on the John Peel show, 'Drop kick me Jesus over the Goal posts of Life' Some Country and Western number, by an unknown group. Absolutly hilarious, in an unintentional way.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: Michael in Swansea
Date: 15 Jun 06 - 06:16 PM

Bobby Bear or is it Bare?

Dropkick me Jsus through the goalposts of life
End over end neither left nor to right
Straight through the heart of those rightous uprights
Dropkick me Jesus through the goal posts of life

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 11:27 AM

It's not folk but give Spike Jones a listen. Excellent musicianship and hilarious!

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: kendall
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 04:10 PM

I don't know that anything really "Cracks me up" but I really like the Woodchucks parodies.

Spike Jones is an old favorite too.

Subject: RE: What recording cracks you up?
From: frogprince
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 05:59 PM

Kendall, is there an act out there called the Woodchucks, or are you thinkin' of the Chipmunks? If you meant the Chipmunks, I would never make a mistake like that myself!

(Says Dean, who made a reference to the TV show "Muffy the Vampire Slayer" on a thread a couple of days ago...)