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Saw these guys in Vancouver earlier this summer as they supported Nick Lowe, who was the opening act for Elvis Costello’s kick off of his world tour. The “Los Straitjackets” we’re very tight - Nick let them play a couple of their instrumentals on their own in addition to his stuff. They played in their Mexican wrestling masks. Everyone was in great form. The evening closed with Nick and Elvis singing “Peace, Love and Understanding.” So moving!
Me too. I saw them this summer at Tanglewood in MA. Great show!!
Saw these guys in Vancouver earlier this summer as they supported Nick Lowe, who was the opening act for Elvis Costello’s kick off of his world tour. The “Los Straitjackets” we’re very tight - Nick let them play a couple of their instrumentals on their own in addition to his stuff. They played in their Mexican wrestling masks. Everyone was in great form. The evening closed with Nick and Elvis singing “Peace, Love and Understanding.” So moving!
You lucky duck. I wish that I could have been there too!
I was close with Krupa's long-time friend and publicist for his first big band. Gene might have used Benzedrine because many musicians did for those long road trips. I didn't hear of him using heroin, but his "girl singer," Anita O'Day, certainly had a problem with it. All that matters today is, they made great music.
Longtime RP member (and hopefully not former) misterfixit has posted in RP song comments that he got to know Gene Krupa when he came to visit misterfixit's dad and mom at their home. Dad was IIRC a nightclub owner and sometime jazz musician.
Apparently Gene was a great guy but had trouble standing or sitting still and would frequent the bathroom. I believe misterfixit surmised in retrospect that Gene was "powdering" his nose.
The only thing Krupa ever got in trouble is for marijuana. I've never heard a thing about heroin. "Amphetimines or Cocaine " are often attributed to any hyperactive individual. It's a false rap that I've dealt with myself. Please respect the dear departed.
I was close with Krupa's long-time friend and publicist for his first big band. Gene might have used Benzedrine because many musicians did for those long road trips. I didn't hear of him using heroin, but his "girl singer," Anita O'Day, certainly had a problem with it. All that matters today is, they made great music.
Spying no - joining Yes!!
YES!!
I was just going to post the same thing. Not to be missed live. Actually great musicians and the music isn't just a novelty act.
like straights cats ? like brian setzer ?
I love all versions of this tune!!! Los Straitjackets does a a KICK ASS version!!!!
Chair dance break!
I AGREE!!!!!!
Gene Krupa, who was a friend of my father, Zebe Mann, was a frequent visitor to our house when he was on the west coast. He acted like what we would call "Manic" today. Later on I discovered that when he wasn't on Heroin he was on Amphetimines or Cocaine. He was still one of the top 5 drummers every. He was funny, and never stood still for a moment even at the dinner table.
The only thing Krupa ever got in trouble is for marijuana. I've never heard a thing about heroin. "Amphetimines or Cocaine " are often attributed to any hyperactive individual. It's a false rap that I've dealt with myself. Please respect the dear departed.
The original, written by Louis Prima, does have lyrics, and he recorded it with them included. But Benny Goodman made it famous, without the lyrics, and most subsequent covers covered Goodman's arrangement, not Prima's. The Andrews Sisters also recorded a cover with lyrics.
Either way, with or without, it's the best tune of the Swing Era.
good to know the background of such a great tune...thanks
The original, written by Louis Prima, does have lyrics, and he recorded it with them included. But Benny Goodman made it famous, without the lyrics, and most subsequent covers covered Goodman's arrangement, not Prima's. The Andrews Sisters also recorded a cover with lyrics.
Either way, with or without, it's the best tune of the Swing Era.
Gene Krupa, who was a friend of my father, Zebe Mann, was a frequent visitor to our house when he was on the west coast. He acted like what we would call "Manic" today. Later on I discovered that when he wasn't on Heroin he was on Amphetimines or Cocaine. He was still one of the top 5 drummers every. He was funny, and never stood still for a moment even at the dinner table.
I'm sure this list is incomplete, but as far as major releases go, there are a TON!
https://secondhandsongs.com/work/26461/versions
Here's one, probably not on that list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iOQk8Sdv-g
I'm sure this list is incomplete, but as far as major releases go, there are a TON!
https://secondhandsongs.com/work/26461/versions
I was just going to post the same thing. Not to be missed live. Actually great musicians and the music isn't just a novelty act.
Misterfixit, you have so many cool stories to tell. Please, share them with us! Your childhood sounds like it was a bit crazy but a LOT of fun.
Had no idea that Krupa was amped up so often. The mother of a high school friend said that she saw him perform when she was in her teens or twenties and he was so mesmerizing that she got up from her chair and started walking towards the stage like she'd been hypnotized. Two waiters had to hold her back.
Gene shows up in an early scene of "Ball of Fire", a really good 1942 Howard Hawks screwball comedy with Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper. You get to see his technique up close as he and Barbara perform "Drum Boogie", once with the Gene Krupa Orchestra and again at a stage-side table as Gene drums with a pair of wooden matches. Here's the clip:
https://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/377588/Ball-Of-Fire-Movie-Clip-What-Does-Boogie-Mean-.html
Thanks for that clip!
Would love to hear Keith Moon bang the skins on this one!
"Oh, you know, every song is 'Wipeout' to him..."
Gene Krupa, who was a friend of my father, Zebe Mann, was a frequent visitor to our house when he was on the west coast. He acted like what we would call "Manic" today. Later on I discovered that when he wasn't on Heroin he was on Amphetimines or Cocaine. He was still one of the top 5 drummers every. He was funny, and never stood still for a moment even at the dinner table.
Misterfixit, you have so many cool stories to tell. Please, share them with us! Your childhood sounds like it was a bit crazy but a LOT of fun.
Had no idea that Krupa was amped up so often. The mother of a high school friend said that she saw him perform when she was in her teens or twenties and he was so mesmerizing that she got up from her chair and started walking towards the stage like she'd been hypnotized. Two waiters had to hold her back.
Gene shows up in an early scene of "Ball of Fire", a really good 1942 Howard Hawks screwball comedy with Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper. You get to see his technique up close as he and Barbara perform "Drum Boogie", once with the Gene Krupa Orchestra and again at a stage-side table as Gene drums with a pair of wooden matches. Here's the clip:
https://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/377588/Ball-Of-Fire-Movie-Clip-What-Does-Boogie-Mean-.html
msymmes wrote:
It's nice. Horner's is great.
Was thinking Prima with my request, yet LOVE the shake up!!!! ;D
Los Straitjackets - Sing, Sing, Sing
The hangover set.
Benny Goodman with Krupa on the skins. Prima's band may have done it, but I haven't heard that one.
Louis Prima wrote this tune, and recorded it first, though Goodman's version is probably the best known. This is a good version too.
Benny Goodman with Krupa on the skins. Prima's band may have done it, but I haven't heard that one.
Gene Krupa, who was a friend of my father, Zebe Mann, was a frequent visitor to our house when he was on the west coast. He acted like what we would call "Manic" today. Later on I discovered that when he wasn't on Heroin he was on Amphetimines or Cocaine. He was still one of the top 5 drummers every. He was funny, and never stood still for a moment even at the dinner table.
Thanks for the anecdote.
Kitsch tends to stick to acting, so far as I know, Friday Night Lights, John Carter. The guy is a stud, but as far as I know he is not in this band.
Wholeheartedly agree. These guys work their tails of and put on a hell of a fun show!
Water for the elephants!
Why Rock - "super sacko"!
When my drum teacher, who is a jazz drummer, first heard this, he said "You'd swear it was written as a surf song."
I play this tune, and so I've spent a lot of time listening to alternative versions of it. Listen again to the Benny Goodman version, all 7+ minutes of it, and you'll wonder how Gene Krupa stayed awake, although the groove is a bit deeper than on this version. For dynamics, though, the Straitjackets, hands down.
Gene Krupa, who was a friend of my father, Zebe Mann, was a frequent visitor to our house when he was on the west coast. He acted like what we would call "Manic" today. Later on I discovered that when he wasn't on Heroin he was on Amphetimines or Cocaine. He was still one of the top 5 drummers every. He was funny, and never stood still for a moment even at the dinner table.
Wholeheartedly agree. These guys work their tails of and put on a hell of a fun show!
Is it swing?
Is it jazz?
Is it rock?
Is it surf?
Is it rockabilly?
Who cares,just enjoy!
The best version of this song for me is Benny Goodman's band, playing in the Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert in January 1938. It always struck me as one of the first rock n' roll songs, even though it clocks in at 12+ minutes.
I stumbled across my parents' LPs of this concert when I was in the 8th grade and proceeded to play the hell out of them...One of the best live concerts I've ever heard.
To cover a song and make it different and interesting - without insulting the original singer and/or songwriter is extremely creative. Since many covers are done of songs that are considered "anthems" or "classics" or defining of one genre or another, I consider it more difficult at times than performing one of your own original pieces. Of course, that is IMHO...
That's like saying that "if someone thinks it's in tune, it is." Somethings groove, some things do not. This does not.
No, it's quite different, actually. You can measure whether something's in tune objectively.
Groove is completely subjective. For instance, I can't hear a groove (or, as a sidenote, even a melody) in most of the Radiohead stuff I hear and yet a lot of the locals here tell me they do.
Look at some of the videos of these guys doing this on YouTube. The audience pretty obviously thinks it grooves. That's all that matters.
That's like saying that "if someone thinks it's in tune, it is." Somethings groove, some things do not. This does not.
Who died and made you the grooveking?
That makes no sense. If someone thinks it grooves, then it does.
That's like saying that "if someone thinks it's in tune, it is." Somethings groove, some things do not. This does not.
Like all the people who think this version grooves. Fact:It doesn't.
That makes no sense. If someone thinks it grooves, then it does.
Like all the people who think this version grooves. Fact:It doesn't.
But no, they don't. They really don't. Listen to the original if you want to hear 'that'.
Los Straitjackets.. for the Win!
support your RP!
!
Like it!
Costumes bad. Music good.
LOL! GREAT MUSIC!!