GA Russell Posted October 17, 2015 Report Posted October 17, 2015 I remember from ca. 1967 onward seeing The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band albums, and maybe on the English charts, but I never heard them.Has anyone heard them? Have an opinion? Recommend?http://www.amazon.com/Original-Album-Series-BONZO-BAND/dp/B00NIUEDHK Quote
mjzee Posted October 17, 2015 Report Posted October 17, 2015 I remember hearing them back in the day. Humor is very subjective, and 40-year old humor perhaps more so. Quote
T.D. Posted October 17, 2015 Report Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) I heard isolated tunes on the radio back around the time, found them funny, but never listened in depth. I recall that opinions varied, and I expect the humo(u)r would be rather "British". I wouldn't mind hearing a bit more, but would not be inclined to invest in a multi-disc box. Regarding comedy of said era, despite being somewhat of an Anglophile I'd rather revisit the Firesign Theater, but I haven't gotten around to doing that either... Edited October 17, 2015 by T.D. Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted October 17, 2015 Report Posted October 17, 2015 Get whichever album has "Equestrian Statue." It is brilliant. Quote
JSngry Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 I love those guys. Did not know about that set, but just one-clicked it, thanks for the tip!Not sure if the all-in package is necessary for all but hardercore fans (and I am one), but there was a two-LP set back in the day that should be perfect for darn near everybody, although it's just a few bucks more for the box. http://www.amazon.com/The-History-Bonzos-Bonzo-Band/dp/tracks/B0000011PI/ref=dp_tracks_all_2#disc_2But yeah, the highlights are many, and for me, they hold up very well. Thinking of them as just a "comedy band" is selling them way short. Put them in a playlist with Roy Wood & Carla Bley and you're in for a good time. Get whichever album has "Equestrian Statue." It is brilliant. HELLO!Python-ites into Ruttle-ites take note of common denominator Neil Innes.Vivian Stanshall was a pretty interesting guy too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_Stanshall Quote
GA Russell Posted October 18, 2015 Author Report Posted October 18, 2015 Thanks guys! Of course it didn't occur to me to visit YouTube. I didn't know that Viv Stanshall was involved with them. Quote
JSngry Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 "Do you like soul music?" "...No..."They were deeply into the Dadist/Absurdist vibe of the time, comedy/humor/whatever you want to call it...not so sure that the aim was just to get laughs..if it was it was the proverbial laughing to keep from crying. We are normal and we want our freedom. Quote
felser Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 Count Basie Orchestra on Triangle. Quote
jlhoots Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) We're all just bozos on this bus - right???Jeez - I just realized that's The Firesign Theater. Edited October 19, 2015 by jlhoots Quote
JSngry Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 Post-Bonzo Stanshall, 1970(?) On a Bonzos album, but originally released as a Stanshall single, produced by Keith Moon: This is comedy in the way that Cruisin' With Ruben and The Jets was comedy - totally equal parts poke, hug, and frustrated disbelief that any sane person would not get the necessity of the unresolvable ambiguity.And really, how far of a road is it from this to Bryan Ferry and early Roxy Music? Not all that much very? Quote
sidewinder Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 (edited) Post-Bonzo Stanshall, 1970(?) On a Bonzos album, but originally released as a Stanshall single, produced by Keith Moon: Saw that on TV when it was broadcast - on one of those BBC Arts shows I think. The short-lived 'Big GRunt' band - bizarre !They used to crop up quite a lot on TV a lot back in the day. Check out the 'Ginger geezer' book for a very interesting account of the Bonzos and Vivian Stanshall's life. He had his demons with the drink, lived for a period living in a harbour-side dillapidated tug-boat in Bristol, I recall. Definitely an original.The Beeb was more interesting in those days.. Edited October 18, 2015 by sidewinder Quote
JSngry Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 Just found this about what is presumably that clip: http://gingergeezer.net/Articles/articlebiggrunt.htmlbiG GRunt did indeed play a number of well-received live shows, with the strength and imagination of the music matched by Spear's dazzling pyrotechnics and outlandish robotic devices. They also performed live on "Marty Amok", a BBC1 special featuring the comedian Marty Feldman, which amazingly still exists on the original color videotape (although it has sadly never been repeated).Did not know about that book, thanks for pointing it out! Quote
sidewinder Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 Count Basie Orchestra on Triangle.Val Doonican - "Hello There" Just found this about what is presumably that clip: http://gingergeezer.net/Articles/articlebiggrunt.htmlbiG GRunt did indeed play a number of well-received live shows, with the strength and imagination of the music matched by Spear's dazzling pyrotechnics and outlandish robotic devices. They also performed live on "Marty Amok", a BBC1 special featuring the comedian Marty Feldman, which amazingly still exists on the original color videotape (although it has sadly never been repeated).Did not know about that book, thanks for pointing it out!No probs, the book is strongly recommended.Might be the Marty Feldman show I caught but not sure, so long ago now. In any event, they left a strong impression ! Quote
JSngry Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 First thing I think of on that video and the robots is the Godley & Creme directed video of Rockit...would the Bonzos - who by all accounts had an almost Zaapa-esque theatricality to their live preentation have been impactful to them pre-10 CC? Not musical, but...a seed planted, maybe? Quote
A Lark Ascending Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 Had a big hit with the jug-bandish 'Urban Spaceman' in the UK.I remember seeing them on a teatime kids programme in the late 60s/early 70s doing a song called 'Sport'.''Sport, sport, masculine sport, equips a young man for society.Yes sport turns out a jolly good sort. It's an odd boy who doesn't like sport.''The parody spoke to me as a kid who loathed everything about sport and smelly changing rooms. Stanshall used to be a regular on Peel's programmes doing recitations. Quote
romualdo Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 Love this band & their insane humour - have all of their LPs which I played heavily to my children when young - as a result some songs have now been etched into their psyches e.g. Hunting Tigers Out In India, Mickey's son & Daughter, Beautiful Zelda, Ali Baba's CamelBTW the "Urban Spaceman" single was produced by an Apollo C Vermouth (aka Paul McCartney)I presume the current US band "Death Cab For Cutie" took their name from one of the titles from the Bonzos first album "Gorilla""The odd boy lay down by the football field, took out a slim volume of Mallarme"………… one of my fav lines Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 I still have my copy of "Gorilla". Quote
danasgoodstuff Posted October 18, 2015 Report Posted October 18, 2015 http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Life-Albums-1967-1972/dp/B004FUZLX2/ref=pd_sim_15_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1MN4V2GT4A92BGM7SE68&dpID=61HwEtJWzCL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160All that, plus bonus tracks. Quote
Stereojack Posted October 19, 2015 Report Posted October 19, 2015 I was a big fan back in the day, although I think they began to fizzle after the first three albums, which were brilliant:Gorilla, Urban Spacemen (aka The Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse), Tadpoles.The fourth album Keynsham was uneven.The fifth and final album, Let's Make Up and be Friendly, was very weak, and struck me as a contract fulfiller. Quote
felser Posted October 19, 2015 Report Posted October 19, 2015 http://www.amazon.com/Dogs-Life-Albums-1967-1972/dp/B004FUZLX2/ref=pd_sim_15_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1MN4V2GT4A92BGM7SE68&dpID=61HwEtJWzCL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160All that, plus bonus tracks.Yes, that's the one I own. Much better in every way than the OAS. Much more material, much better sound if you like the mastering on these sets (I love it, but YMMV), much better packaging. And under $22 shipped (mine was under $15 shipped, so may be worth waiting out). Quote
sidewinder Posted October 19, 2015 Report Posted October 19, 2015 The fourth album Keynsham was uneven.A bit like the place itself ! Quote
clifford_thornton Posted October 19, 2015 Report Posted October 19, 2015 Had a few, including Gorilla, at one point but couldn't justify keeping them as I could never really get into the music. May try again someday. Quote
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