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Great song. Bill, you should play the acoustic version by Tommy Emmanuel sometime. Wow.
Second that. But I doubt Tommy had a non-acoustic version of this as well? I first heard Classical Gas from Tommy's Live at Sheldon Concert Hall, years ago. Tommy was on fire then, fast, fresh and funny. But I had never heard of Mason Williams before that, so glad it's here!
68'....
Amongst all of the psychedelic music, boogie music, the Temps singing Cloud Nine, long hair, my first doobie, bell bottoms (which I had to hide at a friends house cause mummy and daddy didn't want me to be a hippie), Chuck Taylors, Vietnam propaganda, draft-dodgers, more propaganda, draft card burning, (FU Westmoreland, you sinister a-hole), carpet bombing, Laos, Cambodia, Bobby, MLK...
In the middle of all of THAT, comes this angelic song. It was so different from EVERYTHING else (it's hard to describe in words). It was heaven sent. It stood above the fray. And eveyone from anywhere in America loved it.
Awesome story and thanks for sharing the memory! FWIW, 20-20 hindsight has shown us that Westmoreland was a sh*tty general. Anybody who supported the war should have NOT supported Westmoreland. And the blind support for Westmoreland, his strategy, and the war drove us to a national tragedy. Unfortunately our generals in Afghanistan took Westmoreland's lead, and that led us to an identical outcome.
The vinyl were lost during some moves I made at that stage of youth.
Thank YOU for getting it back!
ah! you're from "the 'burgh?" me too.
How yinz dewin'?
Earned 3 Emmys!
ah! you're from "the 'burgh?" me too.
How bout them toad suckers, ain't they snappy. . .
Brilliant seque; only Bill could bring it off!
Cows with Guns
Classical Gas
This takes me back about 55 years and KDKA-AM
Ahhhh. racing slot cars on huge public tracks while listening to this on the juke box.
Slot cars? Go look them up. The big ones were really alot of fun.
One of the few things my dad, my brother and I did together back in Ft. Walton Beach circa 1966-67. I think my 91 year dad old still has them stashed in and old box in his garage. The twin engine Lotus would never stay on the track. That baby was fast.🏎
I had had a 1/24 scale Cox La Cuccaracha with an oversized Mabuchi motor back then! Real fast & took turns super great!!! Very cool!!
Ahhhh. racing slot cars on huge public tracks while listening to this on the juke box.
Slot cars? Go look them up. The big ones were really alot of fun.
One of the few things my dad, my brother and I did together back in Ft. Walton Beach circa 1966-67. I think my 91 year dad old still has them stashed in and old box in his garage. The twin engine Lotus would never stay on the track. That baby was fast.🏎
I remember trying to learn to play this.
Really outstanding! But there seems to be an issue with the audio quality?
I second that. I just played Tommy Emmanuel's version last night to a friend who didn't know the original....how can a 60yo not know the original? Tommy version is fantabulous.
Anybody else having flashbacks of Match of the Day....
In the 70's I was mobile DJ and often finished my set at the end of the night with this.
Why? Because almost no-one could dance to it.
Almost no one!
He'll make a fine Dad one day
https://youtu.be/viyufRQKlto
In the 70's I was mobile DJ and often finished my set at the end of the night with this.
Why? Because almost no-one could dance to it.
Almost no one!
Keep well everyone in these difficult pandemic times.
Cows with Guns
Classical Gas
In the 70's I was mobile DJ and often finished my set at the end of the night with this.
Why? Because almost no-one could dance to it.
Amongst all of the psychedelic music, boogie music, the Temps singing Cloud Nine, long hair, my first doobie, bell bottoms (which I had to hide at a friends house cause mummy and daddy didn't want me to be a hippie), Chuck Taylors, Vietnam propaganda, draft-dodgers, more propaganda, draft card burning, (FU Westmoreland, you sinister a-hole), carpet bombing, Laos, Cambodia, Bobby, MLK...
In the middle of all of THAT, comes this angelic song. It was so different from EVERYTHING else (it's hard to describe in words). It was heaven sent. It stood above the fray. And eveyone from anywhere in America loved it.
And Europe
It was on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour that he (Mason Williams) created and perpetuated the 1968 "Pat Paulsen for President" campaign, an elaborate political satire.[20] Williams also helped launch the career of entertainer Steve Martin. Martin was hired by Williams as a writer on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, for which his contributions were initially paid out of Williams' own pocket.[22] In 1968, he won an Emmy Award for his work as a comedy writer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.[23]
Other television personalities he has written for include Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Dinah Shore, Roger Miller, and Petula Clark.[24] In 1980, Williams briefly served as head writer for NBC's Saturday Night Live, but left after clashing with producer Jean Doumanian.[25] In 1988, Williams received his third Emmy nomination as a comedy writer for his work on The Smothers Brothers 20th Reunion Special on CBS.[23]
Agreed! This tune always grabbed me as a kid. I knew someone who could play it on the piano and made an absolute pest of myself requesting it. And if I could play it on the guitar, I'd count mine as a life well lived.
but not these days.......
Wow. Cruel teacher.
Oh you kids! Scratches and hiss from an LP was just part of the deal. I can't listen to CD versions of CSN&Y, Yes, Beatles, ZZ Top — without hearing the pops and crackles embedded in the LPs I wore out.
I heard a great interview a few years back with Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips. When his mother passed, he and his siblings wanted to make a mix tape of all her favorite songs - songs she had played to the family while they were growing up. However when they put it together, they all realized it would not work because the versions were too pristine, they did not include any of the scratches, pops and hisses that they had come to know on his Mom's 45's and albums. Its a great story, one that has really stuck with me through the years.
Amongst all of the psychedelic music, boogie music, the Temps singing Cloud Nine, long hair, my first doobie, bell bottoms (which I had to hide at a friends house cause mummy and daddy didn't want me to be a hippie), Chuck Taylors, Vietnam propaganda, draft-dodgers, more propaganda, draft card burning, (FU Westmoreland, you sinister a-hole), carpet bombing, Laos, Cambodia, Bobby, MLK...
In the middle of all of THAT, comes this angelic song. It was so different from EVERYTHING else (it's hard to describe in words). It was heaven sent. It stood above the fray. And eveyone from anywhere in America loved it.
Amongst all of the psychedelic music, boogie music, the Temps singing Cloud Nine, long hair, my first doobie, bell bottoms (which I had to hide at a friends house cause mummy and daddy didn't want me to be a hippie), Chuck Taylors, Vietnam propaganda, draft-dodgers, more propaganda, draft card burning, (FU Westmoreland, you sinister a-hole), carpet bombing, Laos, Cambodia, Bobby, MLK...
In the middle of all of THAT, comes this angelic song. It was so different from EVERYTHING else (it's hard to describe in words). It was heaven sent. It stood above the fray. And eveyone from anywhere in America loved it.
All the major art works flash through my brain as fast as they can, just like they did when I saw it on the Smothers Brothers.
try this link
https://vimeo.com/612081
Anybody remember racing slot cars on big indoor tracks? Cool.
All the major art works flash through my brain as fast as they can, just like they did when I saw it on the Smothers Brothers.
\
Oh you kids! Scratches and hiss from an LP was just part of the deal. I can't listen to CD versions of CSN&Y, Yes, Beatles, ZZ Top — without hearing the pops and crackles embedded in the LPs I wore out.
Second that.
This is the song that made me first pick up a guitar. Oh thank you.
one would think this would be the song to make you put it down.
This is the song that made me first pick up a guitar. Oh thank you.
All the major art works flash through my brain as fast as they can, just like they did when I saw it on the Smothers Brothers.
I am in the same club.
Rootmann wrote:
re cover: I agree. It's just cool.
sajitjacob wrote:
I love the album cover, I have no idea why, so don't ask me.
Can completely relate - my Dad use to crank this up in the car
I love the album cover, I have no idea why, so don't ask me.
Picky!! It is 45yrs old, not something that's just been recorded - give him a break!
Still a goosebumps moment for me - and Radiohead are still dirging away on the main feed!
Yes. Different times and different musical tastes, Hannio. This has really grooved for a lot of people over the decades. As for Radiohead, I think people will turn on them eventually--"dirging away" indeed.
johnjconn wrote:
And it took so long to bake it. But you still have the recipe...right?
My world began to change with this song.
Superb.
Agreed
kurtster wrote:
I was just thinking the same thing and wanted to post the same thought.
But it was the late 60's, not the 70's.
kurster, you are RIGHT AS RAIN! It was late 60's.
I just looked at a playlist of episodes and was amazed at the stars they had on that show.
From Wikipedia (and confirmed on https://smothersbrothers.com/episodes.htm):
George Harrison,
Joan Baez,
Buffalo Springfield,
Cass Elliot,
Harry Belafonte,
Cream,
Donovan,
The Doors,
Janis Ian,
Yank Barry,
Jefferson Airplane,
Peter, Paul and Mary,
Spanky and Our Gang,
Steppenwolf,
The Who,
Simon and Garfunkel,
Ray Charles,
The Hello People and even
Pete Seeger were showcased during the latter years of the show despite the advertiser-sensitive nature of their music.
I agree. Very overproduced.
And yet 45 years on still gets airplay and still gives goosebumps. Go figure. I guess most people just have no taste...
I was just thinking the same thing and wanted to post the same thought.
But it was the late 60's, not the 70's.
Love the song that followed as well, guitar riffing as a bridge..
I agree. Very overproduced.
Picky!! It is 45yrs old, not something that's just been recorded - give him a break!
Still a goosebumps moment for me - and Radiohead are still dirging away on the main feed!
Hannio wrote:
I agree. Very overproduced.
Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSOUJbg6TAE&list=FLO3Bcbj1TIVHisTi99JRCaA&index=19
lemmoth wrote:
I agree. Very overproduced.
That's so funny (as in strange) - The first time I heard this song was as the theme song of one of the DJ's at the local AM/FM radio station. I called in to ask what it was and who did it, and after that, the next time I heard it was by somebody like Henry Mancini. I loved the song itself, so I recorded it on Dad's Ampex reel-to-reel while he was at work, and when he got home, I played it for him. He and Mom loved it, so when I finally got the original recorded, I played it for them, and they were puzzled. "Why would this guy mess up a perfectly good Mancini song?"
I laughed until I cried.
Awwwwww Cynaera, RIP Ann 🙏