Spike Jones Fan site

Chatbox (all posts)

Roy on Tuesday 29 July 2008 - 04:01:27

Thanks to Ted Hering, the "Desperadoes Doom" is now available for download. - A hard to find novelty from Barbary Coast Records. This track is the final cut on the LP. The saloon band is picked off one-by-one by music critics.

ted.hering on Sunday 22 June 2008 - 19:30:44

Ron, you can find several with a Google or Yahoo search (click on "Images"). Flickr seems to have a growing assortment. Still, there aren't as many photos of Spike as you might expect. I wonder why that is?

Ronald E. Villa on Sunday 22 June 2008 - 00:58:35

Ted, thank you for this information. I have been trying to get pictures of the band from 1945 to 1960. I haven't located many on the internet. Can you direct me to a source for the pictures. Best Regards, Ron

ted.hering on Saturday 21 June 2008 - 03:26:56

Hi, Ron,
The Ink Spots parody starred band members Sir Frederick Gas (with the 'natural' hair), Freddy Morgan, and Bernie Jones.

Ronald E. Villa on Thursday 19 June 2008 - 02:42:28

can someone provide me with the names of the 3 band members in the "Ink Spots" parody " You only Hurt the One You Love. Thanks, Ron

ted.hering on Saturday 22 March 2008 - 19:30:39

Hi, Sunni,

I've posted a photo of Charlotte with Spike's Other Orchestra in the Forum section.

Sunni 1 on Friday 14 March 2008 - 01:31:05

I would like to find a photo of Spike Jones' orchestra showing harpist Charlotte Tinsley - because I have the harp
Charlotte used when she first worked with Spike.

ted.hering on Tuesday 19 February 2008 - 11:44:44

Hi, Glenn, Yes, sometimes Spike had has secretary sign his letters... so the letterhead doesn't prove the signature is really Spike's. Can you make a scan of your letter? I can probably identity the signature.

ted.hering on Tuesday 19 February 2008 - 11:37:15

Hi, Jaime! The Perez Prado number appears on the Paramount VHS, "A Spike Jones Musical Wreck-We-Um." Unfortunately the Art Tatum clip has never been issued, but the segment appeared on YouTube about a year ago. It might still be there.

countrydobro on Monday 18 February 2008 - 16:26:33

I found the answer to my question..."In a Persian Market."

G. Andes on Sunday 17 February 2008 - 15:15:31

I came across an old letter from Spike, on his letterhead, apparently with his classic signature, How can I tell for sure if it is authentic? Does anyone have a copy of his signature?

countrydobro on Sunday 17 February 2008 - 15:04:11

Can anyone tell me the name of the first song in "The Persian Market Medley?"

Jaime Jaramillo on Saturday 16 February 2008 - 10:02:40

I'm looking for copy (VHS or DVD) of programs where King of mambo perez Prado appears and another one with famous blind jazz pianist Art taum

Paulo on Tuesday 12 February 2008 - 07:46:37

Hi there!
I love all the songs I've heard on The Spike Jones Story documentary shown on the Brazilian TV a coule of decades back and I own "Radio Days" but I've looked all over for the COMPLETE lyrics of Spike Jones and all I've found were just a couple of them. Can anyone one help me out with this one? Thanks.

Paul Frees on Wednesday 06 February 2008 - 14:58:27

I have a Musicraft 78 by "Sherman Stewport and his Stimulated Six" and it sure sounds like Spike's sidemen.
Can anybody out there give me any details

ted.hering on Friday 07 December 2007 - 18:37:12

H i, DCM, look for a box set of DVDs titled "Spike Jones the Legend." You'll find 4 hours of Spike the City Slickers from their early TV shows.

bonestd on Tuesday 20 November 2007 - 09:20:00

I just love Doodles - Nature Boy

DCM on Tuesday 20 November 2007 - 07:58:48

Can someone please tell me about the availability of DVDs of the band?

grayling on Thursday 25 October 2007 - 12:47:26

Thanks, Ted - this is exactly what I wanted though I didn't know the name of the instrument.

ted.hering on Tuesday 16 October 2007 - 21:58:41

The "Sadivarious" was played by Sir Frederic Gas (real name: Earl Bennett). The sound was actually from a leather reed he had in his mouth.

The "Ink Spots" parody was done a couple times on television. The third member of the trio was Dick Morgan in 1952, and Bernie Jones (Ole Svenson) in 1954.

grayling on Tuesday 16 October 2007 - 04:10:09

Which of the City Slickers played a piece of wood like a violin in the "Poet and Peasant Overture" in "Fireman Save My Child"? He had a mass of black hair, sang "Chloe" and was one of the trio in a skit of "The Inkspots". Freddy Morgan was the second - who was the third singer? Thanks in advance.

Randy Skretvedt on Thursday 04 October 2007 - 00:25:27

Regards "Chloe," it seems as though Spike's version is based on the Paul Whiteman record of it, made on February 27, 1928. If I remember correctly, I think Red Ingle's vocal is also kind of a parody of Austin Young's on the Whiteman record.

ted.hering on Saturday 22 September 2007 - 15:13:08

You want either "The Jones Laughing Record" (the 1946 original), or "The Flight of the Bumble Bee" from the album "Dinner Music for People who Aren't Very Hungry." (The Dinner Music version is a Hi-Fi remake without the laughing. "Dinner Music" has been issued on CD, but is now out of print. You still find it occasionally on eBay.) "The Laughing Record" appears on several CD compilations, including "Spike Jones is Murdering the Classics."

contramusic on Friday 21 September 2007 - 15:29:02

From where can I obtain a cd containing a track of 'Flight of the Bumblebee'?

ted.hering on Saturday 15 September 2007 - 13:02:03

Max: Yes, that is interesting. Of course Spike toured Australia in 1955 and even appeared as a contestant on the Jack Davey radio show. Spike's record 'What Is A Disc Jockey' was issued in Australia, but not in the USA. (Was 'Are My Ears On Straight' released in Australia? It did come out in NZ.

Max on Saturday 15 September 2007 - 01:28:27

You may be interested in the fact that as a disc jockey in Sydney in the 60's that I met and spoke often to Spike Jones on my radio show and he sent me a Christmas card every year until his death.

ted.hering on Friday 14 September 2007 - 20:10:29

I've always liked "Chloe" by Fats Waller, but it's a pipe organ instrumental. No singing.

Grandpappy on Friday 14 September 2007 - 10:56:17

Wonderful! Thanks very much. I would not have thought of Satchmo as one of the possibilities. Would you like The Hawaiian War Chant by Felix Mendelssohn and his Hawaiian Serenaders?

Roy on Friday 14 September 2007 - 08:49:09

I have just uploaded the version of Chloe by Louis Armstrong... I hope this is what you're looking for.

Grandpappy on Thursday 13 September 2007 - 14:34:48

What I am looking for is an orthodox, non humorous , dramatic version of the song "Chloe" that Spike so ably takes the p*** out of, sung by an orthodox, non humorous etc. singer for the purpose of comparison. Maybe I should have asked for a "straight faced" version or, being British, a "stiff upper lipped" version!