ENGLISH LIT 344 / COMEDY & SATIRE

Who's Who in American Comedy

Jones was a bandleader in the 1940's and early 50's, whose group performed satirical versions of popular songs; well-known classical numbers would be performed with gunshots, whistles, cowbells, and screwy vocals. His group, known as Spike Jones and his City Slickers came to popularity during World War II "Der Fuehrer's Face" which made fun of Adolf Hitler. This was followed by his version of the romantic ballad "Cocktails for Two" Hawaiian War Chant," "Chloe," "Holiday for Strings," and "You Always Hurt the One You Love." Each holiday season you will most likely still hear his rendition of "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." Jones is one of the early artists in a succession of musical parodists that can be traced from the "Hoosier Hot Shots," to the Marx Brothers, Stan Freberg, Peter Schickele (P.D.Q. Bach), The Goons, Frank Zappa, and "Weird Al" Yankovic. Here's a clip that clearly illustrates how he may have influenced Wierd Al.