Bonzo Dog Doo/Dah Band "Gorilla" 1967*****

I have two versions of this LP (the second one was a gift with the express instruction to use for the blog). One is credited to Bonzo Dog Doo/Dah Band and the other to Bonzo Dog Band. This musical collective actually started as The Bonzo Dog Dada Band but they got tired of explaining Dada to people and changed it to the nonsensical "Doo/Dah" before dropping it altogether. In the meantime they had released their debut Gorilla which in subsequent reissues is released under both name variants. The result is a very English mix of comedy, jazz, music hall, pop, and everything else you can think of. It is upbeat, timeless, and good-naturedly funny - it never fails to make me laugh because it's all about the delivery, not just the jokes. It starts off with a short trad jazz hymn to "Cool Britannia", followed by one of the more conventional numbers: "The Equestrian Statue" sounds like that whimsical psychedelic pop of The Kinks and Beatles circa '66-'67. Next we get a cover of a 1929 novelty song called "Jollity Farm" and a parody of crooner classic "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". The band displays their ability in different styles by including a comedic calypso number ("Look Out, There's a Monster Coming"), trad jazz ("Jazz Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold") and rockabilly ("Death-cab for Cutie") - the latter song being one of their most famous, as it was included in the contemporary Beatles film Magical Mystery Tour. The Beatles were friends and fans of the group, they even endorsed a Beatles parody film featuring assorted Bonzos and Monty Pythons (Neil Innes played John Lennon's counterpart, Ron Nasty). So many different styles, and that's just Side 1 of the LP! Side 2 opens with "The Intro and the Outro", presenting the "members of the band" playing increasingly exotic musical instruments - apparently these bandmembers include Adolf Hitler, John Wayne and "Quasimodo, on bells". The multitude of instruments was such the studio didn't have enough channels to fit them all playing at the same time, so each instrument fades out after a few seconds to make way for the next. 30's cartoon tune "Mickey's Son and Daughter" is followed by jazz-noir parody "Big Shot". "Music for the Head Ballet" sounds like classical music played by one of those mechanical street organs still used here in the Netherlands. "Piggy Bank Love" is a Beach Boys-turn-psychedelic pastiche, and "I'm Bored" another manic music hall number. The album closes with "The Sound of Music" disparaging Hollywood musicals. While none of the abovementioned songs brought anything new musically, this particular melange, combined with the band's anarchic humor (The Monty Python connection should be indication enough) made it sound at once quaintly old fashioned and fresh. It sounds just as fresh (or timeless) 50 years later, especially the more joyful upbeat numbers. Perfect remedy for a bad day: if one listen to "Jollity Farm" doesn't improve your mood, nothing will.

**** for Cool Britannia, The Equestrian Statue, Jollity Farm, Look Out, There's a Monster Coming, Jazz (Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold), Death-cab for Cutie, The Intro and the Outro, Mickey's Son and Daughter, Big Shot, Piggy Bank Love, I'm Bored

** for I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Narcissus, Music for the Head Ballet, The Sound of Music