William Tell Overture (Spike Jones song)
Encyclopedia
Spike Jones
and his City Slickers recorded a cover of Gioachino Rossini's William Tell Overture
. This version reproduces the original with significant modification of style and replaces the conclusion with the imitated horse race calls of the famous announcer Clem McCarthy
.
Jones released his version as a single in 1948 and it peaked at #6 on the charts. The song was included on the album Spike Jones Is Murdering the Classics in 1971 and has frequently been included in various "greatest hits" compilations.
The recording begins with the "Storm" portion of the overture, played frenetically, with the band accompanied by barking dogs and clanging objects of various kinds. The progression is brought to a sudden end with the "Bang!" of one of the famous guns in Jones's unique percussion section.
The "Call to the Cows" begins with normal instruments and artificial bird chirps. The next part is played on pots and pans and bicycle horns, each one in perfect tune, followed by a crash. Finally, the melody is rendered by gargling, concluding with a "gulp."
The "Finale," a.k.a. the "Cavalry Charge," is played on the normal instruments of a big band
, mostly as an underscore to the commentary of Doodles Weaver
, who is describing a horserace. Weaver introduces the racehorses, some of them bearing a name similar to a real horse (Stoogehand for Stagehand
, Dogbiscuit for Seabiscuit
) and some of them with joke names ("Girdle" in the stretch).
Perennially trailing the field with distant 20-to-1 odds is the horse Feetlebaum (one of Weaver's radio-show characters was Professor Feetlebaum). The horse's name is always spoken in a deep, two-note "foghorn" cadence. During the race, Feetlebaum keeps falling farther and farther behind the field.
As the race nears its finish, the announcer goes on a tangent, impersonating broadcaster Clem McCarthy
, who had called the famous Seabiscuit-War Admiral match race in 1938 and also the famous Joe Louis-Max Schmeling boxing rematch of the same year. In this case, Weaver's now gravelly-voiced track announcer begins describing a boxing match.
The song concludes with Weaver announcing the winner... Feetlebaum!
The City Slickers and Doodles Weaver recorded a sequel, describing the Indianapolis 500
and underscored by Dance of the Hours
. Near the conclusion of the race, a horrific accident (or the sound effects thereof) demolishes all the cars, a horse's whinny is heard, and Weaver announces the winner... Feetlebaum!
Spike Jones
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
and his City Slickers recorded a cover of Gioachino Rossini's William Tell Overture
William Tell Overture
The William Tell Overture is the instrumental introduction to the opera Guillaume Tell by Gioachino Rossini. William Tell premiered in 1829 and was the last of Rossini's 39 operas, after which he went into semi-retirement, although he continued to compose cantatas, sacred music and secular vocal...
. This version reproduces the original with significant modification of style and replaces the conclusion with the imitated horse race calls of the famous announcer Clem McCarthy
Clem McCarthy
Clem McCarthy was an American sportscaster and public address announcer. He also lent his voice to Pathe News's RKO newsreels. He was known for his gravelly voice and dramatic style, a "whiskey tenor" as sports announcer and executive David J...
.
Jones released his version as a single in 1948 and it peaked at #6 on the charts. The song was included on the album Spike Jones Is Murdering the Classics in 1971 and has frequently been included in various "greatest hits" compilations.
The recording begins with the "Storm" portion of the overture, played frenetically, with the band accompanied by barking dogs and clanging objects of various kinds. The progression is brought to a sudden end with the "Bang!" of one of the famous guns in Jones's unique percussion section.
The "Call to the Cows" begins with normal instruments and artificial bird chirps. The next part is played on pots and pans and bicycle horns, each one in perfect tune, followed by a crash. Finally, the melody is rendered by gargling, concluding with a "gulp."
The "Finale," a.k.a. the "Cavalry Charge," is played on the normal instruments of a big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
, mostly as an underscore to the commentary of Doodles Weaver
Doodles Weaver
Winstead Sheffield Weaver , who used the professional name Doodles Weaver, was an American actor and comedian on radio, recordings, and television. He was the brother of NBC executive Sylvester "Pat" Weaver and the uncle of actress Sigourney Weaver.Born in Los Angeles, Weaver was given the nickname...
, who is describing a horserace. Weaver introduces the racehorses, some of them bearing a name similar to a real horse (Stoogehand for Stagehand
Stagehand (horse)
Stagehand was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is the only horse to ever win the Santa Anita Handicap and the Santa Anita Derby in the same year....
, Dogbiscuit for Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
) and some of them with joke names ("Girdle" in the stretch).
Perennially trailing the field with distant 20-to-1 odds is the horse Feetlebaum (one of Weaver's radio-show characters was Professor Feetlebaum). The horse's name is always spoken in a deep, two-note "foghorn" cadence. During the race, Feetlebaum keeps falling farther and farther behind the field.
As the race nears its finish, the announcer goes on a tangent, impersonating broadcaster Clem McCarthy
Clem McCarthy
Clem McCarthy was an American sportscaster and public address announcer. He also lent his voice to Pathe News's RKO newsreels. He was known for his gravelly voice and dramatic style, a "whiskey tenor" as sports announcer and executive David J...
, who had called the famous Seabiscuit-War Admiral match race in 1938 and also the famous Joe Louis-Max Schmeling boxing rematch of the same year. In this case, Weaver's now gravelly-voiced track announcer begins describing a boxing match.
The song concludes with Weaver announcing the winner... Feetlebaum!
The City Slickers and Doodles Weaver recorded a sequel, describing the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
and underscored by Dance of the Hours
Dance of the Hours
Dance of the Hours is a short ballet from Act 3, Scene 2 of the opera La Gioconda composed by Amilcare Ponchielli. It depicts the hours of the day through solo and ensemble dances. The opera was first performed in 1876 and was revised in 1880...
. Near the conclusion of the race, a horrific accident (or the sound effects thereof) demolishes all the cars, a horse's whinny is heard, and Weaver announces the winner... Feetlebaum!