Spike [Import]

Product Description
2000 album release for the J-Pop superstar duo destined to take over the world. 13 tracks including, 'Cosmic', 'Destruction Pancake' and 3 written and produced by former Jellyfish drummer/vocalist Andy Sturmer. Standard jewel case.

Spike,Puffy Amiyumi,Sony/Epic,Rock/Pop,World Music

Average customer rating: My Spike Jones nostalgia trip. Big Fun Yesss! pre rock and roll anarchy! Timeless Musical Mayhem and Madness !

Spike Jones - Greatest Hits Spike Jones Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Contemporary Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Novelty Music | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Best of Spike Jones Let's Sing a Song of Christmas The Very Best of Stan Freberg Spiked!: The Music of Spike Jones (Not) Your Standard Spike Jones Collection ASIN: B00000JY9Y Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

1. Clink Clink, Another Drink
2. Leave The Dishes In The Sink, Ma
3. My Old Flame
4. Holiday For Strings
5. Chloe
6. Chinese Mule Train
7. Der Fuehrer's Face
8. The Sheik Of Araby
9. Dance Of The Hours
10. Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai)
11. William Tell Overture
12. I Went To Your Wedding
13. Ya Wanna Buy A Bunny?
14. Cocktails For Two
15. Winter
16. The Tennessee Waltz
17. Oh By Jingo
18. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
19. All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
20. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Customer Reviews:

My Spike Jones nostalgia trip........2007-02-07

The disk was all I expected. As might be expected, the reording and my memory were different. The difference was good, however.

Big Fun.......2006-12-28

I was so happy to find this. The family spent some great times together listening to the 78's. My Dad was a HUGE fan! I wish he were still around to listen to the CD quality. Mom and I had a great time reminiscing. I do have (1) very minor disappointment... I was used to and liked better a different version of "Hawaiian War Chant" it was my favorite as a kid. This one is much "quieter"

Yesss!.......2006-02-22

A lot of thanks to Ted Hering, who pointed out a lot of amazing, interesting details (such as the Hawaiian War Chant being the early version, but with a better sound than the Harlequin version,which I own too),especially because those details DO NOT FIGURE on the CD itself! Which means that, looking at/in/around the booklet, one might say: "Oh, I already have those!" Really brillant sound quality, as close to the original studio sound as possible. Great selection, great engineering! And indeed, as I stated some time ago reviewing another Spike Jones CD: if only we could find a "Carmen" in THIS sound quality. Where? When?

pre rock and roll anarchy!.......2004-12-25

Oh man, is this great... funny, wild, and even a little dangerous. Spike Jones was rock and roll before rock and roll... and he hated the form! Hated it. Which is too bad, because he seems to have planted some of the seeds for its birth; thumbing his nose at the high brows, total disregard for convention to name a few.
As for the music... Paul Frees's recitation of "My Old Flame" is so funny AND horrific it makes Eminem look like a wimp. Yes.
"Der Fuehrer's Face": listen to how the line "Superduper supermen" is delivered to find out what Spike and gang REALLY thought of the Nazis.
Doodle Weaver is THE secret weapon of Spike's arsenal. His performances on "Dance of the Hours" (at the Indy 500! Weaver's imitation of passing cars is so precise) and "William Tell Overture" (as a horserace, what else?) will live on long after we're gone. The only quibble is "Dance" comes on before "William Tell" and it really should be the other way around. Why? I don't want to spoil your fun; buy it and find out.
"Ya Wanna Buy A Bunny" is hysterical! Lots of great stuff on here, but my fave is "Chinese Mule Train". Racist as anything, true, but fall down funny (so I guess I'm going to h-e double hockey sticks...).
A warning: this is one of those cds you will either think is the greatest thing you've ever heard, or you will absolutely loathe it. There is NO middle ground. I hope you will think the former.

Timeless Musical Mayhem and Madness !.......2004-08-16

o.k. two of my faves are missing from this one... LAURA, and Spike Jones version of Carmen.... also interestingly, the versions are different than the ones on some other CDs currently available... but who's to complain... ? Spike Jones is Spike Jones and he was brilliant... What cracks me up is the way he can go from playing a tune so straight that you'd never guess that a few minutes later midgets'll be jumping out of tubas, air raid sirens going off, and all mayhem will be breaking lose. In fact, I love seeing the reaction of people who might really get into the "straight" intros to the tunes, and their face change colors when suddenly the madness begins. - - as "cornball" as some of the comedy is, some of it has a level of surrealistic irreverance and musical calculation that i takes the music to level of high art... I mean... Its one thing to fire shotguns in the air, break glasses and belching... but to have the band doing it in perfect time and key ? No wonder FRANK ZAPPA actually sited Spike Jones as a primary influence in his autobio... and he wasn't the only modern musician who's been influenced by Spike... I'm a straight Jazz organist... I recorded a new CD recently... I do a very NORMAL version of LAURA, but the truth is, in my head when I was playing it, maybe the other musicians were hearing Charlie Parker's version... but whenever I play LAURA, or even MY OLD FLAME its Spike I hear !

Average customer rating: Great nostalgia You always hurt (*CRACK-BOOM* EGAH!) the one you love Humorous big band music from the 40's This would probably be the one to get Absolutely hilarious...

The Best of Spike Jones Spike Jones Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Contemporary Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Novelty Music | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Spike Jones - Greatest Hits Let's Sing a Song of Christmas Strictly for Music Lovers Spiked!: The Music of Spike Jones Phil Harris - His Original & Greatest Hits ASIN: B000002WF6 Release Date: 1992-03-24

Tracks:

1. Cocktails For Two
2. William Tell Overture
3. Chloe
4. My Old Flame
5. The Glow Worm
6. None But The Lonely Heart
7. Laura
8. The Man On The Flying Trapeze
9. You Always Hurt The One You Love
10. Der Fuehrer's Face
11. Dance Of The Hours
12. Hawaiian War Chant

Amazon.com

Sure, you'll laugh at the zany sound effects (gunshots, auto horns, and sounds that can only be described as semiflatulent) and delightfully loopy monologues from the great Doodles Weaver (his absurd horse-race call on "The William Tell Overture" is classic). But Jones and his City Slickers display impressive musical chops as well. Just how easy can it be to play "Dance of the Hours" on a cowbell, anyway? "Der Fuehrer's Face" has huge historic interest, but the faux earnestness of the vocal is just as funny today as when it was recorded. An icon of irreverence, Jones turns the bland tunes of the day into infectious outbursts of madcap craziness. --Heidi MacDonald

Customer Reviews:

Great nostalgia.......2006-08-23

My Dad shared this one with me and now I am enjoying sharing it with my son. A wonderfully esoteric piece of music history.

You always hurt (*CRACK-BOOM* EGAH!) the one you love.......2006-07-28

Who else could gargle his way through the William Tell Overture, I ask you, than Spike Jones? This CD was first my grandmother's, then my mother's and now it's mine, and let me tell you, I am very proud to be in this hereditary line of musical insanity (strange as its existance is)! This is amazing stuff-HILARIOUS, innovative, imaginative (to say the least!), and gloriously over-the-top. I promise you, dear readers, my child will be humming Dance of the Hours before they know how to read, car-horns and all!

Humorous big band music from the 40's.......2005-04-18

Another reviewer says Spike Jones was like the Robin Williams of the 1940's. Good analogy. We would add, like Weird Al Yankovic too. Like Weird Al is, this was a really TALENTED band of their era that could play anything with great skill, and goofy humor. This is the best best-of for a good price. [And, if you REALLY love these samples, then opt for the 4-disk "Strictly For Music Lover's" collection instead. It has all these hits, plus many more gems.]

This would probably be the one to get.......2002-01-01

All of the well-known Jones numbers, BUT! If you don't get Spike's absurdist operatic parody (via hillbilly parody) "Pal-Yat-Chee" (on another disc) you don't yet have everything you need!

Also, for a whole nother dimension of fun, check out the VHS videos from Spike's 1950s TV show!

Absolutely hilarious..........2001-11-03

Spike Jones and the City Slickers were among the most accomplished musicians ever to fall all over the stage. Whatever kind of music you love, from jazz to opera, this insanity will tickle your funny bone. The William Tell overture in Spike Jones'
hands ranks as one of the five funniest skits I've ever heard, Abbott and Costello's `Who's On First?' included... and that is praise of the highest kind. Is good stuff! I also saw the Mickey Katz album here on Amazon. If I remember correctly, Katz was Joel Grey's father, a singer with an insane tenor voice, and an incredibly accomplished clarinet player... along with being a Spike Jones' alumnus. Is also good stuff!

Average customer rating: Life w/o music. . . I met them on a ferry boat Un magnífico pero incompleto CD. 15 years later I find it on Amazon. Awesome music

Do It A Cappella (1990 Television Show) Spike Lee Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD South Africa | Africa | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music 1980s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Television Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music 1980-1989 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Television Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Television Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Broadway & Vocalists | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 International | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 R&B | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Rockapella in Concert Comfort & Joy BOCA 2005: Best of College A Cappella Smilin' The Best of the Nylons ASIN: B000002H86 Release Date: 1990-09-24

Tracks:

1. I Need You - True Image
2. Don't Let Your Heart - The Mint Juleps
3. Zombie Jamboree - Rockapella
4. Looking For An Echo - The Persuassions
5. Phansi Em Godini (Down In The Mines) - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
6. I Want To Live Easy - The Mint Juleps
7. Under The Boardwalk - Rockapella With True Image
8. Up On The Roof - The Persuations
9. Higher And Higher - The Mint Juleps
10. Get Away Jordan - Take 6
11. N'kosi Sikeleli Afrika (God Bless Africa) - Ladysmith Black Mambazo
12. Pass On The Love - The Persuassions
13. The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Ladysmith Black Mambazo With The Mint Juleps

Customer Reviews:

Life w/o music. . ........2007-07-06

Kudos to Mr. Spike Lee! This genre of music is underrated, but the sound is amazing and all from the human voice. My personal fav is the Mint Juleps, they remind me of the Ethiopian women who sing while they gather food from their land. This is a lifetime investment!

I met them on a ferry boat.......2007-01-28

tonight im going to probably buy a album from them. i remember them as a kid but tonight i was on the ferry coming back to seattle and these wonderful singers were practacing in the little building before you get on the boat . they were trying to be humble as to who they were ,but it didnt work. i listened and it made me want to go out an buy anything of theirs. i only wish i had gotten their autographs, but they didnt want people to know they were around .

Un magnífico pero incompleto CD........2006-03-22

Este disco presenta un mágnífico conjunto de estilos "a capella".
Es representativo del documental dirigido por Spike Lee pero no está completo. Recoge actuaciones en el escenario e interpretaciones fuera de él, notándose la ausencia en el CD de grandes temas que solo se interpretaron en el escenario.
Por cierto, aprovecho para dar mi opinión sobre el vídeo VHS que ofrecen en su tienda: es muy caro, más aún teniendo en cuenta que se trata de VHS usado y no de DVD. ¿No sería posible que uds. se interesaran por la edición de ese vídeo en DVD sin que el precio se disparara?

15 years later I find it on Amazon........2005-12-08

I recorded this on VHS way back in 1990 as a preteen and wore down the tape many years ago. It hit me today to do an Amazon search for this amazing soundtrack and there it was. This random, never shown again performance on PBS was truly great in my book and I'm so glad to finally have it in my collection. Now my little girl is going to hop and sing around the living room trying to imitate the high kicks and octaves of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. That was my first introduction to a now lifelong devotion to a remarkable group. I'm so happy to finally get to introduce this soundtrack to my family! And this is by far the best recording of the Lion Sleeps Tonight ever. Disney should've snapped this up and put it on their soundtrack of The Lion King movie.

***
From this review, maybe a year after posting this, someone with the vhs let me buy their copy and also sent it over with it burned on a dvd. So yay. amazon hooked me up with this one. I'm pleased.

Awesome music.......2005-10-11

I bought the cassette tape back when the TV show was on. (I guess that dates me, eh?) But I love the vocals.. and it's a great tape to work out with! I listened to it so much, I've almost wore out the tape! I'm so glad to have been able to find the same thing on CD! YEAH!!

Average customer rating: Still one of my favorites Costello At His Creative Best Becoming Elvis One of the best records to ever feature a Sousaphone! One of his most interesting albums...

Spike (With Bonus Disc) Elvis Costello Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Blood & Chocolate (With Bonus Disc) Mighty Like a Rose King of America All This Useless Beauty (With Bonus Disc) Brutal Youth (With Bonus Disc) ASIN: B00005MLTW Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

1. ...This Town
2. Let Him Dangle
3. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
4. Veronica
5. God's Comic
6. Chewing Gum
7. Tramp The Dirt Down
8. Stalin Malone
9. Satellite
10. Pads, Paws And Claws
11. Baby Plays Around
12. Miss Macbeth
13. Any King's Shilling
14. Coal-Train Robberies
15. Last Boat Leaving

Tracks:

1. Miss Macbeth (demo)
2. ...This Town (demo)
3. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror (demo)
4. Coal Train Robberies (demo)
5. Satellite (demo)
6. Pads, Paws And Claws (demo)
7. Let Him Dangle (demo)
8. Veronica (demo)
9. Tramp The Dirt Down (demo)
10. Baby Plays Around (demo)
11. Put Your Big Toe In The Milk Of Human Kindness (demo)
12. Last Boat Leaving (demo)
13. The Ugly Things
14. You're No Good
15. Point Of No Return
16. The Room Nobody Lives In
17. Stalin Malone (vocal version)

Amazon.com essential recording

Even with records as diverse as Get Happy!!, Almost Blue, and Imperial Bedroom preceding it, you could call Spike the beginn ing of Elvis Costello's super-eclectic period. The 1989 disc, here augmented wit h an hour's worth of inspired demos and B-sides, offered everything from the bed rock New Orleans sounds of Al len Toussaint and the Dir ty Dozen Brass Band to clanging rockabilly, Paul McCartney collaborations (including the sparkling po p hit "Veronica"), and a jazz-ballad standard in the making ("Baby Plays Around" ). And that's only the half of it. As Costello relates in new liner notes, he ha d ideas for several records: "I seem to have elected to make all five albums at once." Such a thing could've gone precious way fast, but nerve, imagination, tun es, and a double dose of anger assured that it didn't. A broadside or three on t he state of England and the world also made Spike hardly less bilious tha n This Year's Model. (Try the coldly mournful "Tramp the Dirt Down" or th e skronking, Marc Ribot-a ssisted "Let Him Dangle.") Heard seemingly everywhere in its day, it deserves the fresh listens this reissue will occasion. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

Still one of my favorites.......2007-06-03

I think I own every Elvis Costello album ever made, and I have to say this one is probably my favorite. Some of the punkish energy of his first few albums are replaced here with a more jaded realism, but the lyrics show his growth as a songwriter. "God's Comic" has some of the funniest lines I've ever heard, and "Tramp the Dirt Down" is one of the most scathing anti-Thatcher songs ever recorded. It's a must for any music lover, especially Costello fans.

Costello At His Creative Best.......2007-02-23

Though I've been an Elvis Costello fan almost since the beginning, some of his albums have been a little harder to get into than others. However, I liked Spike from the start and had it on CD already but decided to get the Rhino reissue when I saw how much the listener gets for just a little money.
Well, not only do you get better sound quality than previously, you get a load of mostly very worthwhile demos and outtakes as your bonus. My favorites on Disc 1 are: the sneering This Town; the anti-gallows anthem Let Him Dangle; the call to introspection of Deep Dark Truthful Mirror; the playful Veronica; the melancholy God's Comic, the horn-driven Chewing Gum; the clever, hate-filled anti-Thatcher screed Tramp The Dirt Down; the horn-based instrumental Stalin Malone; the dreamy Satellite; Miss MacBeth; Coal Train Robberies; and the plaintive Last Boat Leaving. That's almost the whole disc, you say. Well, that's how good it is!
The bonus disc offers even more songs. Many of them are acoustic, demo versions of the fully fleshed-out songs on Spike. My favorites here mirror those on disc one, but I think the addition of the vocal version of Stalin Malone and the jaunty Point Of No Return do much to make the Rhino set a must-have. About the only one that sounds out of place is You're No Good. I had enough of that when Linda Ronstadt's rendition was played on the radio ad nauseum.
Spike finds Elvis Costello at his creative best. Though I disagree philosophically with him on many points, I respect the way he approaches issues he cares about because he seems to have real viewpoints based on rational thought rather than just parroting someone else's nonsense about whatever is the cause du jour like some musicians I can think of. The quality of his songwriting keeps me coming back again and again.
If you have not already done so, you should add this edition of Spike to your CD collection. Its one that will never gather dust in mine!

Becoming Elvis.......2007-02-11

This is the album where Mr. Costello breaks away from the Attractions and becomes Elvis. For the first time Elvis shows us his great sense of humor along with his obvious songwriting and performing skills. There are several glimpses of what is to come in the future, but my particular favorites are "Veronica" and the beautiful "Satellite" with Chrissie Hynde lending her beautiful vocals to the perfomance. A must for any Elvis Costello fan, or any fan of music, for that matter.

One of the best records to ever feature a Sousaphone!.......2003-11-22

I remember being completely bowled over when this album came out, to the point that I wedged "Veronica" onto the radio station playlist I worked for at the time and giving copies of the CD to a whole mess of people on my Holiday Gift list that year. In the dozen years since its original release, my appreciation of "Spike" has not diminished in the least.

Stylistically (and from the liner notes, geographically) all over the map, it holds together almost on the sheer force of the songwriting. Freed from Sony/CBS, he embarked on a record that was easily as ambitious as "Imperial Bedroom," but this time with a greater cast of players. "This Town," the disc's opener, featured Paul McCartney playing a trademark propulsive bass line and Roger McGuinn on his 12 String Rickenbacker. It kicks the album off with a bitter rant worthy of the trinity of Elvis' first three albums and a classic put down line "You're nobody till everybody in this town thinks you're a ba...rd."

But that kind of bitterness is nothing compared to "Tramp The Dirt Down," quite simply the angriest, harshest anti-Thatcher rant ever laid to tape. It is also, oddly enough, set to a gorgeous arrangement that includes Irish fiddles, pipes and a bouzouki. It may also be the saddest song EC has ever recorded. "God's Comic," in comparison, is almost cinematic in its scope and nearly as marvelously arranged. "God's Comic" is as wickedly sly in its humor as "Tramp The Dirt Down" is critically indicting.

Oh yes, and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band made "Spike" field such marvelous curves in "Deep Dark Truthful Mirror," "Stalin Malone," and the aforementioned referenced Sousaphone on "Chewing Gum." New Orleans piano legend Allen Toussaint's playing on "Mirror" is one of the many of "Spike's" instrumental highlights.

Of the six CD's Elvis recorded for the WB, "Spike" was the best. Rhino's addition of a cleaned up mix makes it indispensable. As for the bonus disc, it is basically a blueprint of the album, plus B-sides of singles, the most noteworthy of which was the well known "You're No Good." This belongs in your library.

One of his most interesting albums..........2003-09-26

Like many others, I was utterly confused the first time I heard this album. It covers so many different styles and it is nowhere near as focused as Elvis' earlier work. At it's worst, it has some interesting, yet rather aimless, musical experiments. This is the case with Stalin Malone and a few other tracks. But when it's good, it's really good. God's Comic, Let Him Dangle, This Town, Tramp The Dirt Down, Veronica, and Mirror are all among the best songs he's ever recorded. It's certainly enough to forgive some of the album's weaker points. If you're into Elvis, this is must buy. If you are new to his music, you would definitely be better off with earlier recordings like Get Happy and Armed Forces. This is a very experimental album, but it has some of the best songs you'll ever hear. Give it a listen and approach it with an open mind.

Average customer rating: Great set of wartime rarities Cure for the Blues Standard Transcription Collection

(Not) Your Standard Spike Jones Collection Spike Jones Manufacturer: Collector's Choice ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Contemporary Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Novelty Music | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Strictly for Music Lovers Spike Jones - Greatest Hits Fonk Spiked!: The Music of Spike Jones The Spike Jones Story ASIN: B00007JR3K Release Date: 2003-04-08

Album Description

Holiday blues comin' on? Well, put a spike in `em! Here's the zaniest, wildest and just plain sickest Collectors' Choice Music exclusive yet—79 tracks from Spike Jones and his City Slickers! These represent Spike's complete Standard Transcription sides, but these tunes are anything but standard; Mr. Jones brought his full bag of tricks for these non-commercial recordings (made in Hollywood during the early `40s). Add to that the fact that most of these have never been on CD or even LP, and any lover of Spike's mayhem-filled mixture of laughs and hot licks is going to flip over this set! Notes and great pictures accompany this 3-CD walk on the wacky side from the greatest novelty band of all time.

Customer Reviews:

Great set of wartime rarities.......2003-05-14

Spike Jones was the king of the novelty song performers, with hits like "Der Fuehrer's Face" and the parody version of "Sheik of Araby" becoming huge hits during World War II. This is a swell 3-CD set, gathering a full eighty-one of Jones' best tracks from his 1940s heyday, drawn from an extensive archive of radio broadcasts made for the Standard Transcription service. The tightness of his City Slickers band is amply demonstrated in these manic, kookily orchestrated performances. Toots, squonks, blatts and bleats whiz by at lightning speed, as one daffy song after another will delight devoted fans. Amazingly, Jones had the unusual, almost unique ability to perform a repertoire almost entirely made up of comedic material, and yet still be quite listenable and engaging. His jazz chops were hardly in question, and from time to time Jones would dash off a non-novelty ballad or two, just to give the rubes something to think about. Of course, just as often he would perform a song that *sounded* like a straight ballad, but would turn out to be another goof. (One great example of this is the sultry "Serenade To A Jerk," sung in slinky, burlesque tones by Myrtle Horwin.) This collection may seem a little overwhelming, but like his studio recordings, these radio performances have a certain brilliance and joie de vivre about them that will leave you enchanted. Definitely worth checking out!

Cure for the Blues.......2003-04-25

Here's the zaniest, wildest and just plain sickest Collectors' Choice Music exclusive yet-79 tracks from Spike Jones and his City Slickers! These represent Spike's complete Standard Transcription sides, but these tunes are anything but standard; Mr. Jones brought his full bag of tricks for these non-commercial recordings (made in Hollywood during the early `40s). Add to that the fact that most of these have never been on CD or even LP, and any lover of Spike's mayhem-filled mixture of laughs and hot licks is going to flip over this set! Notes and great pictures accompany this 3-CD walk on the wacky side from the greatest novelty band of all time.

Standard Transcription Collection.......2003-04-12

This collection has remastered material from the large stack of Standard Transcription discs from the early 1940's. There are many songs not recorded on RCA, many on the theme of wartime ("48 Reasons Why"), and the quality is excellent. The packaging is threadbare but this is an essential CD package for true music lovers.

Average customer rating: Some Tunes Duplicated; Some Tunes Missing Very happy with this package! Spike Jones A great set for beginner and established fan alike!! Not For City Slicker Beginners

Strictly for Music Lovers Spike Jones Manufacturer: Proper UK Boxed Sets ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Contemporary Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Novelty Music | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Broadway & Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Box Sets | Stores | Music Comedy & Spoken Word | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Pop | Box Sets | Stores | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Comedy & Spoken Word | Miscellaneous | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: (Not) Your Standard Spike Jones Collection Let's Sing a Song of Christmas The Best of Spike Jones Spiked!: The Music of Spike Jones Spike Jones - Greatest Hits ASIN: B00003ZKVH Release Date: 1999-06-18

Tracks:

1. Barstool Cowboy From Old Barstow
2. Behind Those Swinging Doors
3. Red Wing
4. The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along
5. Clink, Clink, Another Drink
6. Little Bo-Peep Has Lost Her Jeep
7. Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag
8. Three Little Words
9. When Buddah Smiles
10. You're A Sap Mister Jap
11. Never Hit Your Grandma With A Shovel
12. Horsey, Keep Your Tail Up
13. Camptown Races
14. John Scotter Trot
15. Love For Sale
16. Moanin' Low
17. Cheatin' On The Sandman
18. Come Josephine In My Flying Machine
19. The Sailor With The Navy Blue Eyes
20. Der Fuehrer's Face
21. Hotcha Cornia (Hotcha Chornya-Russian Folk Songs)
22. I Wanna Go Back To West Virginia
23. Water Lou (Drip, Drip, Drip)

Tracks:

1. The Sheik Of Araby
2. Oh! By Jingo
3. I'm Going To Write Home
4. Hi Ho My Lady
5. I Know A Story
6. St-St-St-Stella
7. Hotcha Cornia (Hotcha Chornya-Russian Folk Songs)
8. Down In Jungle Town
9. As Time Goes By
10. People Will Say We're In Love
11. G.I. Haircut
12. It Never Rains In Sunny California
13. Wang Wang Blues
14. My Little Girl
15. The Sound Effects Man
16. Ragtime Cowboy Joe
17. The Vamp
18. He Broke My Heart In Three Places
19. Besame Mucho
20. I'm Goin' Back To Where I Came From
21. There's A Fly On My Music
22. Row, Row, Row
23. I Wanna A Gal Just Like The Gal That Married Dear Old Dad
24. Jingle Bells

Tracks:

1. Cocktails For Two
2. And The Great Big Saw Came Nearer And Nearer
3. Red Grow The Roses
4. Jamboree Jones
5. Whittle Out A Whistle
6. Casey Jones
7. At Last I'm In First Wtih You
8. Down By The O-Hi-O
9. Holiday For Strings
10. Cocktails For Two
11. Leave The Dishes In The Sink, Ma
12. Serenade To A Jerk
13. Drip, Drip, Drip (Sloppy Lagoon)
14. Chloe
15. The Blue Danube
16. Black Bottom
17. Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye
18. MacNamara's Band
19. Siam
20. Liebestraume
21. You'll Always Hurt The One You Love
22. That Old Black Magic
23. Mother Goose Medley
24. Hawaiian War Chant

Tracks:

1. Old McDonald Had A Farm
2. I Dream Of Brownie The Light Blue Jeans
3. The Glow Worm
4. Laura
5. Jones Polka
6. The Jones Laughing Record
7. William Tell Overture
8. My Pretty Girl
9. Rhapsody From Hunger (Y)
10. I'm In The Mood For Love
11. When Yuba Plays The Rhumba On The Tuba
12. (I'm Forever) Blowing Bubble Gum
13. Love In Bloom
14. The Man On The Flying Trapeze
15. Popcorn Sack
16. Our Hour (The Puppy Love Song)
17. My Old Flame
18. People Are Funnier Than Anybody
19. By The Beautiful Sea
20. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
21. I Kiss Your Hand Madame
22. All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
23. Ill Barkio (Il Bacio)
24. None But The Lonely Heart (A Soaperetta)

Amazon.com

The genius of Spike Jones--as a songwriter, bandleader, and musician--is often overshadowed by his comedic schtick. But make no mistake, Jones was a musician and a damn fine one at that, whether on a set of drums, singing into a mic, or with a car horn. This bargain-priced, four-CD set from the U.K. label Proper, goes a long way toward setting Jones's record straight. In the 1930s and '40s, while American dance and jazz orchestras were just finding their mature footing and popularity, Jones was there to sabotage their efforts with great playing, parody tunes ("I Dream of Brownie with the Light Blue Jeans," "I'm Forever Blowing Bubble Gum"), and, oh yes, gunfire. As novelty artists go, Jones was one of the best. He hired great musicians for his Cityslickers, he wrote memorable songs, and he was a snappy dresser, too. This set features more of the musician than you'll ever need, but its supercheap price, nice liner notes, and great music (that still sounds hilarious after all these years) make it a steal. --Jason Verlinde

Album Description

Budget-priced four disc box set featuring 95 tracks by the comic genius, including nine #1 million-selling hits, 'Der Fuerher's Face', 'Cocktails For Two', 'Glow Worm', 'All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)', 'Clink Clink Another Drink', 'Sheik Of Araby', 'Oh By Jingo', 'Holiday For Strings' and 'William Tell'. Also includes a fully illustrated 24 page booklet. Each CD comes in a separate standard jewel case & together they come packaged within a thick, full color slipcase box. 1999 release.

Album Details

A Special Four CD Set of Recording from the Original Master of Humorous Records. His Hilarious Trailblazing Recordings Are Studied and Revered by Most of Today's Modern Humorists and Are Regular features of the Dr. Demento Show.

Customer Reviews:

Some Tunes Duplicated; Some Tunes Missing.......2007-08-03

Fun to listen to, but there are numerous duplications throughout the four disks, as if the producers just slapped the thing together without editing. And there are significant missing titles. For example, missing tunes include "Morpheus," "Chinese Mule Train," and "Ya Wanna Buy a Bunny?" All in all the music brought back fond memories of my childhood.

Very happy with this package!.......2007-01-23

I just bought this 4 cd set couldn't be happier.Quality is wounderful.

Spike Jones.......2007-01-20

This set had many more songs than I had collected before. The quality of the recordings was excellent.

A great set for beginner and established fan alike!!.......2006-11-26

This wonderful 4 disc set of Spike Jones material running from 1941 to 1947 is a set to be cherished by long time fans and a fantastic starter set for those trying to find out what Spike was all about.For 95 songs, four discs,a 23 page booklet and at a price like this you'd be foolish to pass up this bargoon!!
The set features alot of his major material from his RCA catalogue with the rest made up from his transciptions,various live performances and V discs.Some rare,some not heard often,some heard quite frequently over the years but all a delight to the ears.
Keep in mind that none of this material is direct from the major labels who own the masters but are derived from 78s culled from private collections.There are more than a few cuts that are of inferior quality and/or have had some annoying reverb added to the remixing but overall the sound is quite acceptable and generally satisfying.I recently reviewed another Jones CD by the name of "Fonk" put out by another similar company as this one(Proper Records) called Harlequin Records(another indie company),both coincidentally produced in England.To make a long story short I would take this CD set,sound wise, over that poorly and unevenly mastered one.And "Fonk"(one CD) is not that terribly less in price than this (four CD) set.
One other minor criticism I should mention is that while each CD comes in its own protective cardboard sleeve I have had a devil of a time(every time) taking a CD out to be played.They seem to get stuck in the sleeve easily and I've had to learn how to carefully cajole them out without scratching the playing surface.If this should happen to you just keep practising you'll soon find out what works best for you.But indeed a minor annoyance.
So if you're a Spike Jones fan like myself and legions of others what are you waiting for......Feetlebaum ??? Get out there and get this bargain priced set and enjoy every last loving "crash","fonk" and car horn honk that Spike and his zany but talented troupe have to offer up in this must get set.

Not For City Slicker Beginners.......2006-07-28

If you are going to introduce Spike and the Slickers to somebody, pick one of the other "Best of" compilations that contain the final released versions of their hits! The reason for this is simple: those versions are the tight, finely tuned performances that made us fans. I consider this CD set an historical archive rather than a "best of collection". Although you'll hear many of the old favorites, they are "pre-release" (my terminology) versions: looser and not as, well, "good" as the final versions. For long time fans, like me, it is interesting to hear these recordings. But if you are brand new to Spike you will not get the true impression of just how great these guys were. Buy a plain old "best of" CD first, memorize it, treasure it, love it, then get this set. Incidently, this CD collection proves that not everything Spike did deserved presvervation, especially some of his "straight recordings". That was too harsh...I am glad I heard those numbers, but I am now trying to forget I heard them. 'Bye now.

Average customer rating: It'd be a GREAT collection IF... Two and a half hours of Spike Jones

Essential Collection Spike Jones & His City Slickers Manufacturer: West End ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Novelty Music | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Spike Jones - Greatest Hits (Not) Your Standard Spike Jones Collection Let's Sing a Song of Christmas Fonk The Best of Spike Jones ASIN: B000I2KPHI Release Date: 2006-09-25

Tracks:

1. Hawaiian War Chant
2. My Old Flame
3. Chloe
4. Der Fuehrer's Face
5. Little Bo-Peep Has Lost Her Jeep
6. The Jones Laughing Record (Introducing The Flight Of The Bumble Bee)
7. Laura
8. Drip, Drip, Drip (Sloppy Lagoon)
9. The Glow-Worm
10. Red Wing
11. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
12. And The Great Big Saw Came Nearer And Nearer
13. Liebestraume
14. Leave The Dishes In The Sink, Ma
15. Our Hour (The Puppy Love Song)
16. By The Beautiful Sea
17. (I'm Forever) Blowing Bubble Gum
18. Love In Bloom
19. Behind Those Swinging Doors
20. None But The Lonely Heart (A Soaperetta)
21. The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along
22. Cocktails For Two
23. My Pretty Girl
24. Hotcha Cornia (Hotcha Chornya) (Russian Folk Songs)
25. Popcorn Sack

Tracks:

1. Cocktails For Two
2. Ill Barkio (Il Bacio)
3. You Always Hurt The One You Love
4. The Blue Danube
5. I Dream Of Brownie With The Light Blue Jeans
6. Hotcha Cornia (Hotcha Chornya) (Russian Folk Songs)
7. Down In Jungle Town
8. MacNamara's Band
9. That Old Black Magic
10. I Kiss Your Hand Madame
11. William Tell Overture
12. As Times Goes By
13. Old MacDonald Had A Farm
14. My Two Front Teeth (All I Want For Christmas)
15. Serenade To A Jerk
16. Siam
17. Mother Goose Medley
18. I Wanna Go Back To West Virginia
19. Jones Polka
20. The Man On The Flying Trapeze
21. Barstool Cowboy From Old Barstow
22. Clink, Clink, Another Drink
23. People Are Funnier Then Anybody
24. Toot Toot Tootsie, Goodbye
25. Holiday For Strings

Customer Reviews:

It'd be a GREAT collection IF..........2007-02-23

Disc 1 would play.

I've ordered this set twice...from different vendors...and both times, Disc 1 would NOT load, would NOT play...on ANY CD machine or computer at home or at work. Try it if you want but make sure the seller has an easy return policy.

I'll give it 1 star for disc 2, which was fine. But I really wanted "Popcorn Sack" and that's on disc 1.

Two and a half hours of Spike Jones.......2007-01-27

This double-CD set contains 50 tracks, representing Spike's output from 1941 to 1947. Most of the tracks (40) are from Spike's RCA Victor records; the rest (10) are from military-issue "V-Discs." You'll find Spike's biggest hits, and some very obscure stuff as well (such as the weak "My Pretty Girl"). Curiously, two of the songs are duplicated from disc #1 to disc #2.

I'm amazed at how the noise from the original 78 rpm records has been totally removed. The trade-off is that sometimes the sound is a bit bassy, or even "hollow" (like an MP3 file with a low sample rate). On the other hand, some of the other tracks are very good. (This is probably the best master of "Chloe" I've heard.) But here's a good decision: None of the tracks have ADDED any sound to the original recordings, such as reverberation or "stereo" effect.

The album notes are brief, perhaps rehashed from Wikipedia. But the song credits (soloists and composers) are thorough.

The band picture on the front cover was taken in 1957, 10 years after the latest recording session in this set.

Average customer rating: Like Monty Python? You'll (probably) love the Goons!

Very Best of Goons Goons , and Spike Milligan Manufacturer: Disky Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Radio Shows | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Vol. 2: Classic Goons Sketches The Goon Show Classics (BBC Radio Collection) Classic Comedy Sketches The Goon Show Classics (BBC Radio Collection) The Goon Show Classics (BBC Radio Collection) ASIN: B0006GVK5M Release Date: 2005-04-13

Tracks:

1. Tales of Old Dartmoor
2. Dishonoured
3. Tale of Men's Shirts
4. Silly Old Baboon
5. Another Lot
6. Brass Band Samba
7. I've Got a Photograph of You
8. Wormwood Scrubs Tango
9. Tower Bridge
10. Missing Number 10 Downing Street
11. Red Fort
12. Robin Hood & His Merry Men
13. Call Up
14. Sewers of the Strand
15. My Darling Little Baby
16. Postman's Knock
17. Cougher Royal
18. Word Power
19. Q 5 Piano Tune
20. Ning Nang Nong
21. Python
22. Purple Aeroplane
23. Frank J Itchikutchi
24. Nothing at All
25. Sex, Food & A Pig
26. Morning in Puckoon

Customer Reviews:

Like Monty Python? You'll (probably) love the Goons!.......2007-06-14

In all fairness, I don't have this particular collection, but I have heard several of the radio shows on it. The Goons (The Goon Show, to give the radio show its proper title) were 1950's British radio comedians Spike Milligan (yes, that Spike Milligan), Harry Secombe (whom some of you may know as a talented Welsh tenor), and Peter Sellers (yes, that Peter Sellers) with occasional guest shots. The Goons were a good deal of the inspiration for Monty Python's Flying Circus, and the action is every bit as zany at times. Be warned (unless they've done a wonderful job of remastering) that these are 1950's radio shows recorded onto LP and transferred to CD, so you will get hiss and pop. Also, the accents can sometimes be a bit hard to get through. Listen to one show several times until you can make out the various voices -- Spike and Peter play about eight characters each. Also, being a 1950's radio show, they have requisite musical bits by harmonicist Max Geldray and singer Ray Ellington and his quartet -- sometimes eminently missable, sometimes worth listening to because Max and Ray get to join in the fun! For more details check www.thegoonshow.net .

Average customer rating: THIS IS SO FANTASTIC I LOVE IT TAKES ME WAY BACK Time for a laugh Very pleased! the best in holiday fun GREAT CHRISTMAS NOVELTY SONGS & LOVELY STANDARDS!

Let's Sing a Song of Christmas Spike Jones Manufacturer: Verve ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Contemporary Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Novelty Music | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Verve | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Spike Jones - Greatest Hits The Best of Spike Jones Strictly for Music Lovers (Not) Your Standard Spike Jones Collection Spiked!: The Music of Spike Jones ASIN: B00000AE47 Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

1. Jingle Bells Medley: Santa Claus Is Comin To Town/The Christmas Song/Jingle Bells
2. All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
3. The Night Before Christmas Song
4. Rudolph, The Red Nose Reindeer
5. Silent Night
6. Sleigh Ride
7. My Birthday Comes On Christmas
8. Snow Medley: The First Snow Fall/Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
9. Nuttin' For Christmas
10. Deck The Halls Medley: Deck The Halls With Holly/Away In A Manger/It Came Upon A Midnight Clear...
11. White Christmas Medley: Winter Wonderland/Silver Bells/White Christmas
12. The Angel In The Christmas Play
13. Christmas Cradle Song
14. Frosty The Snowman
15. Hark Medley: Hark, The Herald Angels Sing/O, Little Town Of Bethlehem/Joy to the World...
16. Christmas Alphabet Medley: Christmas Alphabet/Merry Christmas Polka/Christmas In America
17. Wouldn't It Be Fun To Be Santa Claus's Son/Christmas Island
18. Victor Young Medley: It's Christmas Time/Sleep Well, Little Children
19. Here Comes Santa Claus
20. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Customer Reviews:

THIS IS SO FANTASTIC I LOVE IT TAKES ME WAY BACK.......2007-05-14

I HAVE THE RECORD ALBUM FROM MY PARENTS. THE ORIGINAL,FROM 1956. WE ALL LISTENED TO THIS GROWING UP.I JUST LOVE IT. IT IS VERY VINTAGE AND A GREAT CD TO ADD TO ALL THE OTHER TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MUSIC.EVERYONE SHOULD GET THIS.

Time for a laugh.......2007-01-24

This cd is very well put together.Many years ago Spike Jones was the rage of the music industry.He actually could play quite well and he usually started his songs out that way however..part way through all heck would break loose.He did crazy things with the music but it was very funny,If you want to get happy play this cd.

Very pleased!.......2007-01-22

Not only does this cd have lots of fun songs on it, it also has some really beautiful ones too. We all really liked it- from grandparents to our toddler. I have and will continue to recommend it and plan on buying one next year for my parents.

the best in holiday fun.......2007-01-10

Right out of your childhood. This album has it all. Great funny wild songs for the kids and kid at heart and wonderful music to sing along too.
My Mom use to play this album when I was a kid, listening to it now brings back all the memories of my youth at christmas. Now I share this with my own kids (who sing these tunes even when its not christmas).
You will NOT be disappointed with this cd and will love EVERY song. Put it in and sing outloud while driving around the neighborhood looking at christmas displays. Make it a family tradition!

GREAT CHRISTMAS NOVELTY SONGS & LOVELY STANDARDS!.......2006-12-01

I bought this cd mainly for the songs "All I Want For Christmas is my Two Front Teeth," and "I'm the Angel in the Christmas Play," which are done in a wonderfully funny "mean little kid" voice. I was pleasantly surprised by two more songs "My Birthday Comes on Christmas" and "If I Was Santa's Son," which are also done in the "mean little kid" voice and are very funny, especially "My Birthday Comes on Christmas" (one verse he sings, "Ohhh, I get so mad!!" in a tantrum-like scream!) These songs are wonderfully funny and add to the charm of the holidays. While listening to the cd I was surprised by the great holiday arrangements of the other songs. The singers do a great job and the songs are very Christmassy and cheerful! Some of the songs are also done by a childrens group and are pleasant enough, however, I was disappointed that the song, "I'm Getting Nothing For Chrismas" was done by the kids instead of the "mean little kid's" voice. I found out later that the version of this song that I heard on the radio (in the "mean little kid's" voice) was done by Stan Freberg and is available on the "Dr. Demento's Greatest Christmas Novelty CD," along with another classic "I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas." If you like Christmas songs that put you in the Christmas spirit, while tickling the funny bone at the same time, then this cd is for you!

Average customer rating: best song: "tramp the dirt down" Horrible! Overproduced? BAH! The High-Water Mark of Costello's Creativity First and favorite

Spike Elvis Costello Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Brutal Youth When I Was Cruel Mighty Like a Rose All This Useless Beauty King of America ASIN: B000002LGU Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. ...This Town...
2. Let Him Dangle
3. Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
4. Veronica
5. God's Comic
6. Chewing Gum
7. Tramp The Dirt Down
8. Stalin Malone
9. Satellite
10. Pads, Paws And Claws
11. Baby Plays Around
12. Miss Macbeth
13. Any King's Shilling
14. Coal-Train Robberies
15. Last Boat Leaving

Amazon.com essential recording

Elvis Costello's Warner Brothers debut saw him shooting for new standards of literacy and sophistication. Leaving behind the raw spleen of Blood and Chocolate, Spike used a multitude of guests and luminaries--Paul McCartney, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, guitarist Marc Ribot--to flesh out wordy, acerbic tales of soldiers and graceless women (for example, the Margaret Thatcher of the enraged "Tramp the Dirt Down"). For many fans, the songs were too artful by half, with knotty arrangements that belied an absence of memorable music. The Beatle-esque hit "Veronica" notwithstanding, Spike smacked of cleverness on the grand scale. --Barney Hoskyns

Customer Reviews:

best song: "tramp the dirt down".......2007-05-05

I have always thought this album was underrated. Some of the performances on here aren't his best; they were better at the live shows from this tour(the attractions are missed).
But it has some of his best songwriting. And the Margaret Thatcher epic (Tramp...")is unspeakably beautiful.

Horrible!.......2006-03-10

Now despite what anyone says this is unlistenable. I loved Costello but here really...avoid at all costs.

Overproduced? BAH!.......2006-01-14

This is Costello at his most varied: you get melancholy Celtic tinged balladry on "Tramp the Dirt Down" and "Any King's Schilling", funky instrumental horn number "Stalin Malone", loose cacophonous rock and roll on "Pads, Paws, and Claws", the circus-music-from-Hell of "Miss MacBeth" and avant-pop meter-shifting "Chewing Gum". This also proved to have one of Costello's few pop charters with his Paul McCartney collaboration on "Veronica", a bristling snappy pop number.

Though this doesn't seem to get the respect of other Elvis outings, I find myself wondering why. Track for track, there's little here I find subpar and it's extremely listenable. What's here musically NEEDS to be here...removing instruments wouldn't improve the songs that are multi-layered and the sparer songs don't really need to be "beefed up" either.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"This Town" is a snide materialism anthem that insists nice guys finish last: "You're nobody 'til everybody in this town/Thinks you're a bastard". Roger McGuinn and Paul McCartney guest on guitar and bass. "Let Him Dangle" offers a tale of a man wrongly convicted as proof of the inequity of capital punishment and casts a jaundiced eye toward the participants. ("Outside Wandsworth Prison there was horror and hate/As the hangman shook bentley's hand to calculate his weight..") This also possesses the most interesting "instrumental contribution": Michael Blair plays Oldsmobile hubcap(!). "God's Comic" imagines a Deity who lounges in bed drinking soda as he observes Earth and wonders if the monkeys shouldn't have been offered dominion instead. The "Now I'm dead..." chorus is infectious. Anti-Margaret Thatcher ode "Tramp the Dirt Down" is pure vitriol as Costello gleefully imagines ensuring she's good and buried upon her demise. (He'd get his wish a year after this was released.) It features great lines like "And then (they) expect you to say "thank you" straighten up, look proud and pleased/Because you've only got the symptoms, you haven't got the whole disease". "Pads, Paws, and Claws" details a dysfunctional couple: he betrayed by alcoholism, she by the thrill she gets eviscerating him with her tongue in his stupors.

LOWS:
Costello's indictment of the work-a-day soldier in "Any King's Schilling" is weak: He never really sharpens his claws on the lyrics. There's no hook to speak of in "Coal Train Robberies".

BOTTOM LINE:
The sneering Amazon review aside, this just plain SOUNDS GOOD: a great and varied disc that still sounds cohesive despite the multitude of textures here. I would NOT recommend this edition, however (unless you are very short of cash) as Rhino has reissued this with a bonus disc of interesting demos (a version of "Stalin Malone" with vocals intact, for instance and the Disney-esque "Dip Your Big Toe in the Milk of Human Kindness") for a modest cost.

The High-Water Mark of Costello's Creativity.......2005-05-05

My liking for the music of Elvis Costello goes back a long way, way back to the beginning of his appearance on the international scene. I don't have all his recordings and because he is so prolific, I haven't been able to keep up with everything he's done. But I do have a dozen or so of his albums and with that sample in mind, consider Spike to be one of his best.
I bought Spike on cassette back when it first came out and liked it enormously, but hadn't listened to it for several years until I recently spotted it while shopping for CDs. As memories of it were fond, I bought it and when I put it on, all the old memories came flooding back. Spike is a tremendous recording, with virtually nothing I'd consider filler. Song after song, it continues to delight fifteen years after it was first issued.
Though I am often politically at odds with Costello, I like his intelligent, straightforward, biting and caustic musical attacks on what he considers to be the sources of the world's ills. I also like his lyrically blunt and candid approach to interpersonal relations.
Here are my favorites: a sneering This Town, the anti death penalty anthem Let Him Dangle (I disagree, but at least he has an argument), the call to introspection in Deep Dark Truthful Mirror, the playful Veronica, the melancholy God's Comic, the wonderful horn-driven Chewing Gum, the clever but hate-filled anti Margaret Thatcher screed Tramp the Dirt Down, the horn-based instrumental Stalin Malone, the dreamy Satellite, Miss MacBeth, Coal Train Robberies, and the plaintive Last Boat Leaving. Hey, that's almost the whole album, and yes, that's how good it is!
If you are already an Elvis Costello fan, and don't have this, what's holding you back? If you are new to his music, you certainly can't go wrong starting with Spike. It is one of the best albums of its time and it represents the high-water mark of Costello's huge reservoir of creativity.

First and favorite.......2004-08-01

I'll never forget seeing Costello for the first time on Saturday Night live. It sent chilss up my spine. Then I spotted this CD in the mall one day when vacationing. That was the best summer of my life, and this CD was the soundtrack for that wonderful time. Just about every song is very special--I especially like "Deep dark truthful mirror," "God's comic," "Veronica," "Baby plays around," and "Last boat leaving." I also love the chord structure of "This Town."
I bought this simlutaneously with "Revolver," and it was and is every bit as creatively tangible as that album.

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