AfricaBrass Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 (edited) I know this is a really stupid question. One of my favorite Saturday Night Live sketches is the one in which Christopher Walken is a record producer. He's producing the BOC song, Don't Fear the Reaper. His main contribution to the production is the addition of cowbell to it. Well, whenever I hear that song on the radio, etc... I always hear the cowbell in my head. It just doesn't seem right without it. Has this happened to any of you, or is it just my own psychosis? Edited October 21, 2003 by AfricaBrass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 It's alright, AB; we're here to help you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 Thanks Moose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJ Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 I missed that sketch, but sounds funny. I always loved the Walken SNL character that was the "come up to my penthouse and look at my etchings" type, in the smoking jacket with the slimey moustache and affected pronounciation of the word "champagne." Damn funny stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 I always loved the Walken SNL character that was the "come up to my penthouse and look at my etchings" type, in the smoking jacket with the slimey moustache and affected pronounciation of the word "champagne." Damn funny stuff. Ah.... you're talking about The Continental. That's one of my favorite sketches too! Walken's my favorite SNL host. :rsmile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzdog Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 I know this is a really stupid question. One of my favorite Saturday Night Live sketches is the one in which Christopher Walken is a record producer. Call him famed Record Producer Bruce Dickenson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mule Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 Not sure which I like more, Chris Walken hosting SNL or Kevin Spacey on SNL doing an imitation of Chris Walken.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 I know this is a really stupid question. One of my favorite Saturday Night Live sketches is the one in which Christopher Walken is a record producer. Call him famed Record Producer Bruce Dickenson! Mule, I'm with you, Walken imitations are always good. :rsmile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 "I gotta have more cowbell, baby!" The spoof was VH1's Behind the Music: Blue Oyster Cult. Here we see Jimmy Fallon (on the drums), Chris Kattan, Will Ferrell, Chris Parnell, and Horatio Sanz portraying the band in a recording studio. Walken plays record producer Bruce Dickenson. This is how it began: Announcer: After a series of staggering defeats, Blue Oyster Cult assembled in the recording studio in late 1976 for a session with famed producer Bruce Dickinson. And, luckily for us, the cameras were rolling. Bruce Dickinson: Alright, guys, I think we're ready to lay this first track down. By the way, my name is Bruce Dickinson. Yes, the Bruce Dickinson. And I gotta tell you: fellas.. you have got what appears to be a dynamite sound! Eric Bloom (Chris Parnell): Coming from you, Bruce, that means a lot. Buck Dharma (Horatio Sanz): Yeah. I mean, you're Bruce Dickinson! Alan (Chris Kattan): It's incredible! Bobby (Jimmy Fallon): I can't believe Bruce Dickinson digs our sound! Dickinson: Easy, guys.. I put my pants on just like the rest of you - one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records. [ the group laughs ] Alright, here we go. "Don't Fear the Reaper" - take one. [ exits into the control booth ] [ the group begins the song. Bobby slaps the drums, Eric jams his guitar, and Gene bangs on a cowbell. ] Eric: [ distracted by Gene banging the cowbell ] Okay! Wait! Wait! [ the group cuts off their instruments ] Bruce, could you come in here for a minute, please? Dickinson: [ stepping out of the booth ] That was gonna be a great track. Guys, what's the deal? Eric: Are you sure that was sounding okay? Dickinson: I'll be honest.. fellas, it was sounding great. But.. I could've used a little more cowbell. So.. let's take it again.. and, Gene. Gene Frenkle (Will Ferrell): Yeah? Dickinson: Really explore the studio space this time. I mean, really.. explore the space. I like what I'm hearing. ----------------------------- Ok, to make a long story short, Gene starts banging on the cowbell and dancing wildly about, even running into another bandmate. The music is stopped again and Eric comments that he finds Gene's cowbell playing distracting. So they try to cut another track and this time Eric and Gene start arguing over the cowbell. Gene defends himself by stating that if Bruce Dickenson wants more cowbell, he should get more cowbell. The funniest part of this speech is that Will Ferrell breaks character and starts laughing, wich in turn causes everyone else to do the same. Anyway, they cut another track and this time it works out beautifully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 Here's a link to a Windows Media version of the skit. Blue Oyster Cult Behind the Music This sketch changed the song forever for me (for the better). "I had a fever and the only perscription was more cowbell." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 (edited) The sketch was actually a clever allusion to the recording session for Bud Powell's 'Un Poco Loco'. Alfred Lion thought that Max Roach was using too much cowbell. That's why they did several takes of the tune. If you listen carefully, you'll notice that the cowbell on the Master take is a lot more muted. Blue Note legend has it that Max and Alfred almost had a fistfight over this issue. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in Richard Cook's book. Bertrand. Edited October 21, 2003 by bertrand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzdog Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 The sketch was actually a clever allusion to the recording session for Bud Powell's 'Un Poco Loco'. Alfred Lion thought that Max Roach was using too much cowbell. That's why they did several takes of the tune. If you listen carefully, you'll notice that the cowbell on the Master take is a lot more muted. Blue Note legend has it that Max and Alfred almost had a fistfight over this issue. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in Richard Cook's book. Bertrand. I'd have to say, I don't think the sketch was a direct allusion to that particular incident. I think it is supposed to be lampooning the state of Hard Rock in the 70's and the whole Behind the Music phenomenon. If the Soft White Underbelly didn't epitomize Rock in the 70's I don't know who does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJ Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 (edited) Â Â The Mule Posted: Oct 20 2003, 07:34 PMÂ Â Not sure which I like more, Chris Walken hosting SNL or Kevin Spacey on SNL doing an imitation of Chris Walken.... Spacey does a great Walken, but I'd give the "best imitation" nod to Jay Mohr for sure...un-freakin'-believable! Edited October 21, 2003 by DrJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mule Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 The sketch was actually a clever allusion to the recording session for Bud Powell's 'Un Poco Loco'. Alfred Lion thought that Max Roach was using too much cowbell. That's why they did several takes of the tune. If you listen carefully, you'll notice that the cowbell on the Master take is a lot more muted. Blue Note legend has it that Max and Alfred almost had a fistfight over this issue. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in Richard Cook's book. Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 The sketch was actually a clever allusion to the recording session for Bud Powell's 'Un Poco Loco'. Alfred Lion thought that Max Roach was using too much cowbell. That's why they did several takes of the tune. If you listen carefully, you'll notice that the cowbell on the Master take is a lot more muted. Blue Note legend has it that Max and Alfred almost had a fistfight over this issue. I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned in Richard Cook's book. Bertrand. Thanks Bertrand! I've never heard that story. I'll have to listen to the various takes. Heck, I don't need any excuse to listen to Bud Powell. :rsmile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Burke Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 Actually, the "cowbell" sketch is second only to the old synchronized swimming sketch (featuring Harry Shearer, Martin Short and Christopher Guest) as my favorite of all time. I'm particularly, fond of Chris Kattan's grossly exaggerated, "Don't blow it for us, Gene!". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkertown Posted October 21, 2003 Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 The SACD multichannel mix of this song actually de-emphasizes the cowbell a bit. It's there, but kinda muted. Bruce Dickinson would be sooooo disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 21, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2003 The SACD multichannel mix of this song actually de-emphasizes the cowbell a bit. It's there, but kinda muted. Bruce Dickinson would be sooooo disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertrand Posted October 22, 2003 Report Share Posted October 22, 2003 OOPS! Revisiting this thread, I see that some people did not realize that I TOTALLY made up that story about the cowbell on 'Un Poco Loco'. Sorry about the confusion! Bertrand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 OOPS! Revisiting this thread, I see that some people did not realize that I TOTALLY made up that story about the cowbell on 'Un Poco Loco'. Sorry about the confusion! Bertrand. Oops on my part! I feel like one of those old Bunny Bunny cartoons when a picture of a sucker appears over someone who's been gullible. Heck, I always wanted to write an autobiography someday and call it "Gullible's Travels" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 Do you think that I'd get in trouble if I went to a Blue Oyster Cult concert and took a cowbell with me? I've got a fever.... and the only prescription is..... MORE COWBELL!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 I can just see Buck Dharma chasing after James T. Cat, screaming "GET THAT FUCKING COWBELL OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!" I want the video! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 yeah, does someone have a link the the video - the audio is a scream! Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted October 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 I can just see Buck Dharma chasing after James T. Cat, screaming "GET THAT FUCKING COWBELL OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!" I want the video! That would be a great video! I bet those BOC guys really HATE this sketch. I think we should organize a large group to go to a BOC concert and pull the cowbells out at the appropriate time. Eric, I have a copy of the video in Windows Media Format at work. If you want a copy of it, I'll find a way to get it to you tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Burke Posted October 23, 2003 Report Share Posted October 23, 2003 (edited) yeah, does someone have a link the the video - the audio is a scream! Eric It's on the recently-released Best of Will Ferrell which should be at any self-respecting video store. I went ahead and bought it. First of all it's cheap. Secondly, it features his SNL tryout, a great blooper reel, and an unaired skit that's (now) another one of my faves. Funny stuff..... Edited October 23, 2003 by Brandon Burke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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