Classical Composer Hears CLASSICAL GAS for the First Time: Mason Williams & Tommy Emmanuel (Ep. 741) 

"Where does the brass come from?" Well, when a piece of zinc and a piece of copper love each other very much...

I am OLD, 71 years old. I well remember when the original of Classical Gas came out. It was a big hit, which was surprising for such a song in that period of the '60s. I liked it very much, and so did my friends who actually were musicians. I play several instruments, from violin and guitar to concertina, harmonica, and Jew's harp.

40 yrs ago I performed this song while studying music in college in front of the great Charlie Byrd. Our Jazz professor invited him to come perform so he told us we better show up, bring our instruments and be ready to play. He called me out first. I got through the entire song without any major screw ups. Charlie smiled and said "great job". It was a great honor.

I finally got to see Tommy Emmanuel live a month ago, absolutely incredible. Was told a story in the auditorium where Tommy was doing a concert a few years ago and asked the audience, "Are there any guitar players in?", after an awkward silence a voice said, "Not anymore......" :)

This was all over the AM radio in 1968...My dad always had the radio on early in the morning and I used to wake up to it all the time before junior high school....

I heard the original performance on the Smother’s Brothers, and it was outstanding. •Even in 1968, it made a lot of other music pale by comparison. •It also really interested me that one person could be so skilled in two unrelated fields: highly barbed political comedy writing, and classical music composition and performance. •At an age when everyone asks, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ this was clearly my answer, ‘More than one thing!’ •I’m still ‘more than one thing’. Thanks, Mason, for showing us how it’s done. •Thanks, Dave, for sharing your delight and the details here.

Tommy is one of five guitarists that Chet Atkins awarded a master guitarist award to. That says everything.

I saw Mason Williams do this song live on The Smothers Brothers show many years ago. There was a video that was shown along with the music of paintings and art work from the Renaissance up to the 60s, flashing in time to the music . I still have the single

Still remember when Mason Williams released this incredible piece of music and all these decades later it's still incredible.

Back in the day, Mason Williams came to my high school for a concert in 1971. That concert is still one of my favorite concerts I've ever attended.

Yes toured in front of Jethro Tull in 1971. Steve Howe of Yes, was playing his guitar solo song the Clap. He borrows a riff from Classical Gas and instead of returning to his song , he finished with playing the rest of Classical Gas.Now this is in OKLahoma City where Mason Williams is from and at the end of song Jon Anderson said that was the first time that Steve played that version. Crowd went bananas 🎸🎼🎶

I believe it is absolutely impossible that any music player alive could not have heard "Classical Gas" before.

I saw Tommy live in 2016, and as he was doing his encore, I slipped backstage and waited for him at the dressing room door. He's a very gracious and accommodating man, and I handed him an album, asked him to sign it and told him it was my favorite album in the world. It was my copy of The Beatles' White Album. (Tommy does a jaw-dropping Beatles medley in every show, and they're usually different each time.) He smiled broadly, said, "it's up there for me, too," placed my album on the back of that very guitar you see him playing and he signed it for me. I wish there were a way to upload a photo, because I took two great shots. The first one is him in the process of signing it, and the second one is him holding it up to the camera for me. Such a prized possession and a stellar evening for me!

I am amazed that you have not heard this before, but then again I have not heard it for many years. Back in its day, it was played A LOT! It doesn't get old. I love to hear classical guitar. An old friend of mine used to play Classical Spanish guitar-- amazing and mesmerizing! Thank you for reminding me of this piece!

Tommy is undeniably one of the greatest living acoustic guitarists!

I grew up with Mason William's version, so it will always be #1 for me. Tommy's is amazing, very innovative, but just a bit too busy for me. I like things simple. Thanks for the back-to-back videos. They were great. (BTW, Mason has a transparent guitar that was filled with water and he had goldfish swimming around in it- I was always fascinated by that.)

Astounding that you’ve never heard this before……

Difficult to believe that you never heard this before. It's been covered many, many times by the likes of Glen Campbell, Chet Atkins, Neil Young, Dave Edmunds, and The Ventures. The Mason Williams Phonograph Record was a staple when I was growing up. Super talented man and absolutely awesome song.

I've been playing acoustic and electric guitar for forty years, and I've never seen anyone handle the acoustic as cleanly and as powerfully as Tommy. That man has earned all the accolades he gets.

"Classical Gas" was released as a single from The Mason Williams Phonograph Record in 1968. "Classical Gas" won three Grammys that year for "Best Instrumental (theme) Composition", "Best Instrumental (theme) Performance", and "Best Instrumental Orchestra Arrangement", Mike Post, arranger.

Tommy Emmanuel is new to me. My jaw is on the floor 😲

When I was younger classical gas by Mason Williams was a must to be played nearly everywhere. When I saw the subject the music jumped from the past and I could hear playing before you actually played it. This is a timeless composition. Even now it will spread out again because not only did you react to it, you put it into the ether for millions to listen to it. Thank you for bringing such a great song back into the present.👋👋👋👋👏👏👏👏😊😊😊😊

Tommy is an Australian national treasure, check out stuff he did live with his brother Phil. Tommy's professional career started at the age of six and his list of credits is mind blowing.

I watched Mason Williams perform this on the Smothers Brothers Show in the 1960s, and my mother bought the album for me, too. The music that surrounded me in the 1960s gave me quite the eclectic taste. Thanks for reacting to Classical Gas!

He also included Walk Don't Run which was done by the Ventures

No matter who interprets this song, it's the song that comes through. Another often overlooked cover is Mason Williams - Classical Gas w/ Deborah Henson-Conant where Mason Williams is accompanied by a harp. Genius all around. Thanks for this reaction and welcome to the Classical Gas appreciation population.

as good as tommy is on youtube (and he's phenomenal), nothing can replace seeing him live. bucket list experience. he is touring the east coast this spring...highly recommend tickets.

We did an arrangement of this as a Marching Band. Our Director, Joe David, expected excellence. He didn't give us fluff pieces.

The original is one of my all time favorites. 💗😊

"Kendy" here. So glad you listened to it and loved it. I think about half of those 27M plays on RU-vid were me playing it for people. 😂😂😂😂 Always a pleasure to listen to it with you.

First time I heard this was, I think, on Johnny Carson and played by Jim Stafford.

You should check out Jim Staffords version. Great playing, and really funny.

I still own the 45. Never gets old. And the unmistakable sounds of the Wrecking Crew.

First time I've caught your channel, and it's because I was about 6 weeks from graduating from Benson High in Omaha when Classical Gas first hit the airwaves and I freaking LOVED this piece. They played it a lot and it always put me in a great mood. And then I find out you're from Omaha, too! *All* props to Mr. Emmanuel but the original will always be my favorite.

Amazing you never heard it. Before it hit BIG on AM radio I saw him "finger synch) it on Glen Campbell's Goodtime Hour. Solid radio play for years, even up through the mid to late 70s. Tommy is a truly great player, but I've never preferred any guitar players' version (and they all tried it) over Williams' original. After playing bits and pieces of it for years, I finally had to learn the orignal when I retired 14 years ago. One more thing, Tommy is a steel-string player, very few pieces on classical. He is quite the Tele/Strat player, as well (his brother was slmost as good as Tommy when they performed as a duo back in the 70s and 80s.)

Seen Tommy play in 1977 in a coffee shop Darlinghurst Sydney. Just amazing and his brother Phil joined in. 🔥👍🤙

Seeing that Beatles album on your wall, I'm sure you'll love Tommy Emmanuel's many Beatles covers! It's amazing what this man can do with only his guitar.

When Tommy and his friends get together and jam... I can believe in the supernatural.

I saw the premier on the Smothers Brothers show. I am stinking old.. It made me decide to learn to play guitar.

Who needs a full classical orchestra or full jazz ensemble when you're Tommy Emmanuel? All he needs to do is record it once and then overdub himself two times and he'd have a full guitar orchestra or jazz ensemble. ;)

I had the pleasure of watching Tommy Emmanuel last year in a small 3000 seat venue and was only a few rows from the stage. He was absolutely mind blowing!! I had no idea!! And he was fun!

The. Most. Beautiful. Guitar. Composition. EVER.

You should watch Rick Beato's interview with him.

I saw Tommy Emmanuel perform several years ago, and when he was performing this song, he broke a guitar string. Instead of of stopping, he just shifted his fretting hand and kept the song going. He might have missed two notes on the transition, but no more than that. The man is unbelievable, even when you hear him play with your own eyes! He is not to be missed.

In the summer of '68, The Original Classical Gas Video "3000 Years of Art" was shown on The Smothers Brothers. It was a great combination of visual and musical art. "Written by Mason Williams CLASSICAL GAS was one of the earliest records that used a visual to help present and promote a recording on television. It probably qualifies as one of the earliest music videos. During the time that CLASSICAL GAS was a hit and I was the head-writer for THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR. I had seen a film titled “GOD IS DOG SPELLED BACKWARDS” at The Encore Theater, an offbeat movie house in L.A. The short film was a collection of approximately 2500 classical works of art, mostly paintings, that flashed by in three minutes. Each image lasted only two film frames, so one saw twelve images a second! At the end of the film the viewer was pronounced “cultural” since they had just had “3000 years of art indelibly etched in their brains in 3 minutes!” The film was the work of a UCLA film student named Dan McLaughlin. I contacted Dan and told him that I was interested in the idea of using his film as a visual for CLASSICAL GAS to air on THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR. (His original sound track had been Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.) THE COMEDY HOUR offered him enough money to finance a new film he wanted to make in exchange for the right to change the original soundtrack from Beethoven’s 5th Symphony to CLASSICAL GAS and air it on the show. As a “music video” it was first shown on THE SUMMER BROTHERS SMOTHERS SHOW (Glen Campbell was the host) in the summer of 1968. The impact of the film on television opened the door to the realization that the viewer’s mind could not only absorb, but was excited by this degree of visual input. It was the beginning of the use of streams of fast-images now called kinestasis. Over the years it has been exploited effectively by television commercials, documentaries, etc. THE COMEDY HOUR also created other films in the kinestasis style. The most notable of these being a montage of the major news photo images of 1968 compressed into a four minute film titled “American Time Capsule”. Dan McLaughlin was asked if he would like to make the film, but being an experimental filmmaker, wasn’t interested in repeating himself, so Tom Smothers hired Chuck Braverman to create this and other films for the show. As a result of the response to the CLASSICAL GAS music video and my interest in bringing new visual concepts to the show, in September of 1968 I wrote a comedy piece for the show projecting the concept that someday DJ’s as VJ’s (Video Jockeys) would play hit tapes on TV, a prophesy of what was to later become MTV. (The original sketch from my journal is included.) When I approached THE COMEDY HOUR with the idea, the producers said, “What the hell are you talking about, DJ’s on TV? That ain’t funny!” They passed on the idea."

I also have a version that Mason Williams did without the brass or the other instruments. Just the acoustic on it's own. Tommy Emmanuel has a brother Phil, who isn't a bad strummer either. Saw them live together back in the 90's Sydney pub scene quite often.

Tommy must be seen live to truly appreciate how amazingly full a single guitar can sound. And the joy he has while playing is so evident. If I remember correctly, Mason did a version of this on The Smothers Brothers Show playing a clear plexiglass guitar with goldfish swimming in the guitar body….

Heard this as a child back in the late 60's. The world stopped for me until the song was finished. Still cool to this day.

Tommy is an absolute beast on the guitar! I love his version but the original takes me back to being a kid in the 70's and hearing it on the radio quite often.

As an eight year old music nerd in 1981, This was one of the songs my teacher taught me. Thank you,Susie… wherever you are.

Best wishes to Mark and his recovery from the accident. Thanks for reacting to this piece, it is truly one of a kind. I'm currently 57 and I grew up with the original Mason Williams song and have always loved it... it truly is an incredible blend of not just great guitar playing but a wonderful meld of orchestral instruments that give it a truly epic feel. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the cover by Tommy Emmanuel. There is absolutely no question that he is a phenomenal guitar player, but he sped up the tempo and he showed off way too much and this cover has no "love" of the original... it's like a kid saying, "Hey ma!!! Look at me! I can do it faster!". There is no "soul" to his performance. Just technique. The technique is brilliant, granted, but without the soul it's just not a truly great piece of music anymore... no matter what 23 million RU-vid viewers say. Thanks again. Always interesting to hear your thoughts on some of my all time favourite music. Cheers! ~Dan

Tommy Emmanuel recently did a series of duets and with Molly Tuttle on the Guitarist RU-vid channel. That's two of the greatest acoustic guitarist in the world playing together and it's absolutely magical.

Ladies and Gentlemen, he is now doing Classical Gas.

I would also highly suggest Tommy Emmanuel's version of Somewhere over the Rainbow. It gives me chills every time

Right before Tommy went into the "Saturday" section, he did a portion of a 1960 song by the Ventures called "Walk Don't Run." Thanks for the great reactions to both versions of the tune.

Original Version superb. I absolutely hate the Tommy Emmanuel version. How to ruin an perfectly fantastic tune.

You've got Pink Floyd, Beatles, Yes & Deep Peurple albums on the wall behind you - and you look like you were born in the early to mid-1960's, just like me - and you claim to be hearing CLASSICAL GAS for the first time??? That song was playing on every AM radio station in the US, incessantly, from 1968 onwards! I don't know who you're trying to kid, but I call BS!

Absolutely wonderful music. I'm glad you've joined the party.

Check out the version that Tommy does with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

My favorite song for years (I bought the single when it first hit the charts way back then)...And then Tommy E. (my favorite acoustic guitar player)got hold of it...and wow! I love these guys. Thanks so much for doing this one!

Not gonna lie. I didn't love Tommy Emmanuel's cover. It was too frantic for the piece, and worst of all, I could hear squeaky fingers sliding along the guitar strings. That's just so painful to my ears. I used to believe that that squeaky finger thing was unavoidable until I heard one guitarist who ALMOST NEVER does that. Here are two of his performances where he covers Mason Williams' fabulous "Classical Gas." Younger version: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YPJRR74a9xE.html Older version: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-V4Ga67EDrKI.html

This song still gives me goosebumps!! Thanks for playing it!

Cant believe you aren't familiar with this song . Living near UNT school of music you hear this alot.

How could he have not heard Classical Gas before this? great video, love these

Tommy's cover was okay. His skill with the guitar is really off the chain, but, as one who grew-up listening to Mason Williams original, I have to say I prefer that original. But, that's how I am with most things. Nothing beats the original because, well, it's the original. There are lots of good covers of a lot of good music, but, as a rule, for me, the original always wins the contest. One original I've not heard any covers of is Raymond Lefevre's orchestra performing: "Soul Coaxing". A memorable, very moving piece. Worth a listen.

I got to see Tommy several years ago from the third row when he was touring with Martin Taylor (what a great name for a guitarist), and of course Tommy did "Classical Gas". Amazing performance as always, and I've yet to see anyone play with such unadulterated joy.

Please check out brilliant Australian Tommy Emmanuel's own composition named, "INITIATION". It is incredible ! Tommy wrote is after being at an Australian indigenous/first nations' ceremony. The music transports you into that ceremony. It's spine -tingling ! Tommy and his equally brilliant guitarist brother Phil (deceased) taught themselves to play guitar by listening to music, when young, on the radio. They didn't realise at first that there were many instruments making the sounds so somehow worked out ways to imitate those sounds believing it was only guitar playing that they were hearing. Tommy has performed around the world to sell-out concerts. He is world-famous.

One of my favorite songs as an adolescent back in the 60s. Superb!

"Tour de force" doesn't begin to cover this performance. He is A-MAZING1

I was lucky enough to hear this and hear Tommy in a little 50-person gathering about 20 years ago unreal.

It may have been called, "Classical Gas", but it was full of funky, cool vibes...no need to overanalyze, number or label it, just enjoy it for the cool little classical-jazz ditty that it is. ;)

Tommy is a master. One of the all time greats.

I prefer the original for it's pure epicness. Tommy's version is great too, it's pure guitar porn,.

Saw him live in concert a few years ago. So fun! He's not only an amazing guitarist, but also a great entertainer. One of the best concerts I've ever been to.

Nobody that hasn't heard Tommy Emmanuel's version is ready for it. 🤣

I used to go and see Tommy and his brother (Phil, rest in peace) play in the local hotels around Sydney suburbs, Australia in the 1980s. They were absolute legends. The chemistry between them was amazing. Standing jus a meter or 2 away. I can still see the joy on their faces playing. I used to listen to a lot of great bands and musicians like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Van Halen. Went to concerts like Dire Straits, Queen, ACDC and many others. No one plays the guitar better than Tommy. Especially live.

Well, I really didn't care for the second rendition though I know it was difficult and creative. Still Mason Williams version is from my childhood so.....Anyway, I was wondering how the song would translate for a marching band/stage band. My grandson plays the baritone and I could see that but not sure what you do for the violins etc. What do you think? (I am not a musician!)

I recall the original Classical Gas being used on some TV show or other when I was a kid in the 70s, and always liked it. Then the great Tommy E. comes along and absolutely blows it out of the park. The man is truly unparalleled - an absolute genius on the guitar.

Years ago the company I worked for made a custom pre-amp for Maton to put in to Tommy's guitar. Probably used a different one now though. The pre-amps have fet-mics to pick up sound from inside the guitar as well.

Due respect to Doug and apologies for the critical hand grenade I am about to lob, and I know I will get scorch marks from ya’ll but… The original Classical Gas is my absolute favorite piece of music. It resonated when I was three years old in 1968. The memory is crystal clear. As a guitarist, I purposefully did not learn it to retain whatever mystery it holds for me. All that said, no cover version can hold a candle to the simple grace of the original. Emmanual, though clearly a better technical guitarist than Williams, fails to move me. That run to start his version felt more like ego than anything musical. He turned a lovely simple work into… “Look at me shred!”… yawn. Flame away all!

Glen Campbell, another great guitarist, did some live versions of this. They're on YT. Mason Williams also wrote for his show as well.

Maybe there is a lesson for all you younger people. Explore the old stuff. You will learn from it and most importantly , like it. I've been a music junkie since the 60s and nothing beats the old tunes.

You don't need to be a professional and tell us what chords he's playing! Just let the music take you over....

This song does have such a great hook. It hooked me and is on my playlist on my phone. I prefer the original by Mason Williams. I actually have the studio version and a live version on my phone. There is a slight difference in the orchestral backing. The woodwinds are more prevalent. One of the great instrumentals!

Tommy is an incredible musician but for those of us who grew up with the piece he is just mucking it up and losing its true essence and flow. I will always prefer the original. Short sweet and perfect! 👍🏻

The Mason Williams original was one of the first pieces of music that I purchased as a single. It was so unique for its time. I appreciate the TE version but it doesn't have the same flow for me. In fact I would love to hear Steve Howe play it!

The guitar tone of the original version is really more flamenco than classical. The core chord progression fits with flamenco stylings too and lends itself to the improvised extensions and techniques used by Tommy Emmanuel and others (as well as jazz and pop influences which are also in the original to some extent).

The urban myth is solved. Not written by Clapton.

What's the idea of showing off that you know some of the keys, who cares? Just shut up and let your listeners enjoy the music.

did you noticed at 11:26 when he played this up down part,his thumb isnt moving at all,looks like he dislocated it just for this moment.

Glen Campbell did a great cover with the Boston Pops as well. Check it out!

Try Bernie's tune with Tommy Emmanuel & Martin Taylor.

if you enjoyed that, you should check him out playing Initiation.

Mason came out with an instrumental version of this song. It's really quite enjoyable as a solo piece - try to listen to it when you get a chance.

I love the original by Mason Williams & often use the vinyl 45 as an opener for a DJ set.

You've never heard Classical Gas before? Really?

Classics is a complete calssic tune from a time ago, also check out john williams version and sky tocata

How on earth did this guy never hear the song previously??

He added a bit of Walk, Don't Run in there before the Saturday bit.

The Shadows did a good cover of this, and that is where I heard it the first time, Hank Marvin,