The Spike Jones Story

Musician/comedian Spike Jones produced a number of chart-topping hits in the 50s, as well as several half-hour television variety shows that played into the 60s. Combining interviews with original band members from Jones' "Musical Depreciation Revue" crew, and comments from Danny Thomas, Dr. Demento, Helen Grayco (Jones' second wife) and other family members, with a series of clips of Jones and company in performance, The Spike Jones Story offers an excellent example of the kind of zany free-wheeling craziness that used to be found on live television (now replaced by stupid sitcoms with endless laugh tracks). Jones, who knew classical music cold, rose to prominence as a musical satirist, recreating classic pieces with the addition of (literally) a few bells and whistles (and other sound effects, courtesy of people like Jones' regular Sir Frederic Gas). A generous sampling of Spike Jones' hits performed on the program include "Laura," "Cocktails For Two," "Der Fuehrer's Face," and "All I Want For Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth." The eventual emergence of rock 'n roll proved to be an insurmountable barrier to Jones (of songs like "Splish Splash," he would say: "how do you satirize that?"). The Spike Jones Story offers both the story of a man who would be a great influence on successive comics (the Monty Python troupe, for instance) as well as a glimpse into the heyday of early television. Highly recommended. (Available from most distributors.)