When it was about 14, Dr. Demento had his show on KPPC in Pasadena. Sunday nights at 9pm, I recall. Circadian 1972. Songs like this were great , until Wired Al showed up and spoiled the party.
For those who have never eaten a snack cake with an R.C. Cola, you're truly missing out. Go out and try it immediately. Won't work with a Coke or Pepsi. Coke is too sweet and Pepsi too sharp. But R.C. has a robust, almost musky aftertaste that cuts through the fatty sweetness of the snack cake.
EVERY Sunday night in Orange County, CA during the early-1970s I was glued to my radio, listening to Dr. Demento on 'a little bit of heaven, ninety-six point seven, KMET... tweedle-dee'. Man, oh man, I really miss those heady days.
To give credit where credit is due.... Never mind Dr. Demento; this song is "GET A LOAD OF THIS", performed by R. CRUMB & HIS CHEAP SUIT SERENADERS, written by band members Robert Armstrong & Allan Dodge, released on their eponymous 1st LP in 1974.
I used to tape DrDemento on Sunday afternoon and listen to the program through out the week,and I had this song ,I probably havent heard it since 79 Great find!
I have a few cassettes taken off the Demento show on KMET from that era, and a little from the Flo and Eddie Show. I was there from '73 - '76, end of high school.
This tune is fun but pretty straightforward, musically, compared to some of the other tunes played on Dr. Demento... which can be hard going for the average listener. They're doing a rural string band tune... basically a blues, some of the 20s-30s of which have lyrics about food etc., and updating it for the 'space age' food of the 1970s. The musical part is RIGHT ON because they're not merely trying to copy old time musicians, they ARE old time musicians, just of a later generation but following in the tradition of their heroes and making fresh music. The irony and humor comes with the very old sounding traditional music colliding with the space-age processed food of the lyrics! I don't think I need to spell this out, but of course some people won't otherwise get it. Another good one by them in this vein is "Shopping Mall". In my opinion, another thing that makes these great is that it isn't too hard to imagine original musicians from the original era, magically brought into the 70s/80s, looking around them and marveling at the newfangled technology, and writing songs about it just as songwriters have always occasionally referenced technology, lifestyle, etc in songs, but of course those songs coming out in their most familiar idiom and style. And yeah, the original artists/heroes/inspirations were great, and the Cheap Suit Serenaders also recorded more "serious" (or at least, less humorous) material than this, and were great!
For anyone who doesn't know, Crumb is super into obscure recordings from the 20s-30s. Check out "Keep it Clean" by Charley Jordan for what must have been the template for this song.
I still can't believe 'R.C Cola' is an actual product! That alone makes my day (I'm from the UK, hence I'm not entirely familiar with all the US brands!).
I remember back in day my oldest brother playing this record on his JVC while we built M80s in my mom's basement. Of course back then they were sorta legal.
Back then people wisely understood, "boys will be boys". Now, things like boys making fireworks are criminalized and felonies. It's one of many ways modern boys get emasculated
You should add Crumb's name to the title of the video. I was looking all over TH-cam for this under his name. Only found it remembering it's appearance on the Demento LP.
I still have this tune on vinyl on the Dr Demento's Delights album
ROFLOL!
When it was about 14, Dr. Demento had his show on KPPC in Pasadena. Sunday nights at 9pm, I recall. Circadian 1972. Songs like this were great , until Wired Al showed up and spoiled the party.
Bowling For Dollars, hosted by the late great Chick Hearn!
For those who have never eaten a snack cake with an R.C. Cola, you're truly missing out. Go out and try it immediately. Won't work with a Coke or Pepsi.
Coke is too sweet and Pepsi too sharp. But R.C. has a robust, almost musky aftertaste that cuts through the fatty sweetness of the snack cake.
ROFLOL!
RC Cola and a Moonpie used to be a big deal in the south...
EVERY Sunday night in Orange County, CA during the early-1970s I was glued to my radio, listening to Dr. Demento on 'a little bit of heaven, ninety-six point seven, KMET... tweedle-dee'. Man, oh man, I really miss those heady days.
Ditto!
LA County too, the Might MET K-MET 94.7 6-10. I started in 73, just as every adolescent boy looking for the obscure and DEMENTED!
To give credit where credit is due.... Never mind Dr. Demento; this song is "GET A LOAD OF THIS", performed by R. CRUMB & HIS CHEAP SUIT SERENADERS, written by band members Robert Armstrong & Allan Dodge, released on their eponymous 1st LP in 1974.
And they got it from a song by Charlie Jordan.
@@BegoneJonah Which?
@@papagreenemusic th-cam.com/video/H4Ri1MYXk94/w-d-xo.html
It's like Plexiglass Toiletseat by Styx, only on Dr. D could you find such things.
This was one of my favs on the old Dr. Demento Show on KMET in LA. I miss the doctor.
all time psychedulic favorite, all reet…RIP Dan Hicks….love to RCrumb, his royal crowness, and all the ships at sea….
I have been humming this tune since 1974 and longing to hear it again. Ahhhhhhh.....
I used to tape DrDemento on Sunday afternoon and listen to the program through out the week,and I had this song ,I probably havent heard it since 79 Great find!
Thank you!
No way!
I can’t believe this!
It's no use! Give up!
For the it was David & Son Sunflower Seeds followed by RC Cola, the image at 2:40 was the packaging motif I recall. So great hearing this again.
This one flashed back on me like an earworm, so I searched for it! Thanks for posting it so long ago.
Thank you!
I think I still have this on a tape from Doctor Demento somewhere thanks for putting it out there
ROFLOL!
6-10pm Sunday nights. KMET and Dr. Demento. 1978. How I miss those days. It made Junior Highschool bearable.
I have a few cassettes taken off the Demento show on KMET from that era, and a little from the Flo and Eddie Show. I was there from '73 - '76, end of high school.
Made the Military bearable at that time, too. Stationed at George AFB in Victorville, Ca.
This tune is fun but pretty straightforward, musically, compared to some of the other tunes played on Dr. Demento... which can be hard going for the average listener.
They're doing a rural string band tune... basically a blues, some of the 20s-30s of which have lyrics about food etc., and updating it for the 'space age' food of the 1970s.
The musical part is RIGHT ON because they're not merely trying to copy old time musicians, they ARE old time musicians, just of a later generation but following in the tradition of their heroes and making fresh music.
The irony and humor comes with the very old sounding traditional music colliding with the space-age processed food of the lyrics! I don't think I need to spell this out, but of course some people won't otherwise get it. Another good one by them in this vein is "Shopping Mall".
In my opinion, another thing that makes these great is that it isn't too hard to imagine original musicians from the original era, magically brought into the 70s/80s, looking around them and marveling at the newfangled technology, and writing songs about it just as songwriters have always occasionally referenced technology, lifestyle, etc in songs, but of course those songs coming out in their most familiar idiom and style.
And yeah, the original artists/heroes/inspirations were great, and the Cheap Suit Serenaders also recorded more "serious" (or at least, less humorous) material than this, and were great!
This is the best music analysis I've ever read, seriously, thanks
R. Crumb the artist
Added photos were a great touch with a Beef burrito to finish.
For anyone who doesn't know, Crumb is super into obscure recordings from the 20s-30s. Check out "Keep it Clean" by Charley Jordan for what must have been the template for this song.
Interesting!
Me too, lived in OC from 1974 until 1993. Loved Dr. Demento !
Barbara Stanwyck on the RC Cola advert = AWESOME!
I still can't believe 'R.C Cola' is an actual product! That alone makes my day (I'm from the UK, hence I'm not entirely familiar with all the US brands!).
Heard this on Dr. Demento and never knew who did it. Bless you.
+Eric Pratt www.amazon.com/Robert-Crumb-Cheap-Suit-Serenaders/dp/B00008Y4CS
I'm thinking about Zippy the Pinhead while I'm hearing this....
I remember back in day my oldest brother playing this record on his JVC while we built M80s in my mom's basement. Of course back then they were sorta legal.
ah ha, just softa' if you came though that age with all you finger skin and no ringing in the ears you HADN'T lived!
Back then people wisely understood, "boys will be boys".
Now, things like boys making fireworks are criminalized and felonies.
It's one of many ways modern boys get emasculated
going to eat some frozen pizza and nacho cheese doritos right now. need some rc cola to complete this
All systems, FULL POWER!
Is he seriously saying, "pink burrito?" Lol!
Sounds like it to me...
"Big burrito"
@@papagreenemusic The company El Paso do a tomato flavoured burrito that's pink, could be a reference?
@@system1912 The lyric is "big burrito" as far as I know, but only R. Crumb or one of the other 'Suits could answer your question...
I always though it was pink burrito, too.
@rickbusinessman Snack Cakes with RC Cola -- that was much of my childhood, right there!
Well said, Rick.
Love the good Doctor!
Thanks, folks, for watching this slide show!
thanks very much
Pure genius.
You should add Crumb's name to the title of the video. I was looking all over TH-cam for this under his name. Only found it remembering it's appearance on the Demento LP.
1:48 OMG Peter Pan is making TV Dinners :-P
@ 1:48 OMG Peter pan is making TV Dinners :-P
I
There were....MEAT Twinkies?!
NO clue. ROFLOL!
😜👍
LOVE IT!!! Thanks for doing this! CSS Rule!
Thank you!
Seriously... what the heck is a pink burrito??
Air In Productions
I don't know what that is, but the correct lyric is "takes a big burrito".
pink burrito was a novelty snack cake similar to a pink snowball crossed with a twinkie and also a penis reference ala ding-dongs
Go to urban dictionary.