Spike Jones

4-10-09 Spike Jones

I recently found some 50’s 7” 45rpm EP’s by Spike Jones, so it got me thinking about trying to compose a discography for him. I am really out of my depth; I know almost nothing about 78’s! (And I certainly don’t own any!).

LP 60 YEARS OF MUSIC AMERICA HATES BEST LIBERTY US LST 7154 1964? 11 TRKS stereo

LP BEST OF RCA DE LPM 10013 1960? 8 TRK Collection, mono

10" BOTTOMS UP (10") RCA US LPM 3054 1952 8 TRK EP

LPx2 CAN'T STOP MURDERIN' (Collection) RCA DE NL 89349 (2) 1974 23 TRK Collection

7" CARMEN MURDERED! (EP) RCA US EPA 440 1954 4 TRKS with pic sleeve, EP

7" CHARLESTON, THE / CHARLESTONO-MIO RCA US 47-3198 1953? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP DEPRECIATION REVUE SILVER SWAN LP 1002 1980? 16 TRK Collection (40's recordings)

CD DINNER MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VERY HUNGRY RHINO US R2 70261 1957? 17 TRKS mono

LP DINNER MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VERY HUNGRY VERVE US MGV-4005 1957? 17 TRKS mono

LP DINNER MUSIC FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T VERY HUNGRY VERVE JPN MV 2119 1957? 17 TRKS re-issue, insert, mono

7" FAVORITES (EP) RCA US EPA 288 1951 4 TRKS with pic sleeve, EP

LP I WENT TO YOUR WEDDING (Collection) RCA INT'L UK INTS 5052 1980 12 TRK Collection (50's recordings)

7" KIDS THE CLASSICS (EP) RCA US EPA 415 1953 4 TRKS with pic sleeve, EP

7" MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE (EP) RCA US EPA-5080 1959 4 TRK EP; with pic sleeve

LPx2 MURDERS AGAIN (Collection) RCA DE NL 89354 (2) 1973 20 TRK Collection

LPx2 MURDERS THEM ALL (Collection) RCA DE NL 89044 (2) 1973 17 TRK Collection

LP OMNIBUST LIBERTY US LST 7140 1960? 8 TRKS stereo

LP ON THE AIR! SANDY HOOK SH 20731983 17 TRK Collection ('43 + '44 recordings)

LP SPIKE JONES IN STEREO WARNER US WS 13321959 10 TRKS stereo, re-issue

LP THANK YOU, MUSIC LOVERS (Collection) RCA US LPM 2224 1960 12 TRK Collection, mono

LP THANK YOU, MUSIC LOVERS (Collection) RCA DE NL 89057 1960 12 TRK Collection, re-issue, mono

LP VERY BEST OF U.A. US UA-LA-439-E 1975 9 TRK Collection

CD WACKY WORLD OF SPIKE JONES (Collection) GOOD MUSIC DMC1-0570/SJK 1982 18 TRK Collection (50's recordings)

LP XMAS SPECTACULAR VERVE US MGV 20211959? 21 TRKS Xmas, mono

My dad was who first played me Spike Jones, in the early 60’s. He had taped part of “Dinner Music For Those Who Aren’t Very Hungry” off of the FM radio. When we went to Wallach’s Music City, the only LP in print was “Thank You, Music Lovers”, which is what we ordered and got. Hooked for life, as it were.

So, with several decades of record collecting under my belt, I confront myself with trying to assemble a discography for Spike Jones. Tough assignment! I know almost nothing about 78’s – no idea at all what originated as 78’s and later became 7” singles or EP’s.

The beautifully complete-looking double albums that RCA Germany did doesn’t have discography information – but so far, they’ve had all of the tracks I’ve read about, but didn’t know where to find (“Pop Corn Sack” etc.)

A friend in New Zealand said to me, “Yeah, shame people don’t take Spike more seriously. An artist like Billie Holiday has intricately prepared discographies, but Mr. Jones…?”