I recall watching Spike Jones TV Show on NBC in 1954. I was only 5 yrs old but I liked that his show was original and a parody of many big bands of that Era. His City Slickers were great musicians and brought happiness to my ❤ with their wild antics!
Spike Jones was known to be an all-business task master, and you can bet that his musicians and comedians were the best in the business--impeccable timing was a critical skill, especially for the TV shows and concerts Jones gave.
Their outfits remind me of my dear departed Dad. He had a brilliant mind, but his taste in clothing... not so good. He was an executive at a major contactor for the military industrial complex, but that never got in the way of his love for plaid sport coats and loud ties that would embarrass a used car salesman. One coworker quipped, "Nice jacket, Paul! Do the rest of the boys in the band have them too?" 😆
I remember my mother introducing me to Spike Jones and explaining how the real genius was in how his band did every thing live in one take due to technical limitations of the time. In an era sampling being normal it is easy to forget how difficult it was to perform acts like this back in the day even without the incredible physical performance.
When I saw the Flo and Eddie Mothers back in 71(?) with FZ playing conductor and Aynsley Dunbar running around the drum kit, the name Spike Jones popped into my head at one point.
@@doctorcraptonicus7941And playing each other's. Spike spikes it, best vaudeville imaginable. Be sure to view "Cocktails for 2". Just occurs to me: his guy is Red Skelton with musical talent thrown in.
Looking at all of the various surviving footage, you can tell that Jones was a pretty intense, high-strung guy. He's always in motion, and probably not one to take a blown note or missed timing the best from one of his band members.
They were pretty darn good musicians, but their madcap, zany craziness isn't for me. I find nothing amusing or funny, or even mindly entertaining, about their acts. Those loud suits really hurt the eyes. Spike's constant gum chewing is distracting.
