A Comic Playlist

This is the result of a prompt from my friend Bill O'Neil when I said I couldn't write anything related to comedy.

I can’t actually write comedy and find reading some comic books difficult sometimes. Spike Milligan's “Puckoon” and Harvard Lampoon’s “Bored of the Rings” are books that burn out way too soon. Having said that I always find the writing of Douglas Adams very entertaining so I can take some comedic writing.

I am a great fan of stand up because that is immediate comedy, although you get people like Billy Connolly who can hold your attention for a very long time without delivering a punchline (but he always does) then you can get people like Steven Wright with the total immediacy of “Voodoo Acumounture”. I do like comic memes as they do brighten my day.

This however is a Comic playlist and going to me ten songs which you may or may not be aware of and there will be a lot missing from this list such as Alan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah” and Napoleon XIV’s “They’re Coming To Take Me Away Haha” although I will tag them to the end of the YouTube playlist that you can listen to here.

So here are the ones that I have chosen.

Stop All The Clocks - Mundo Jazz

This is a Vimeo video and not on Youtube so I need to embed it here for you. Mundo Jazz were fronted by my Facebook friend Dan Freeman a comedy writer and playwright, and this take on WH Auden’s solemn piece makes me laugh every time I watch it. I hope you can watch this video in your part of the world because it will make you smile.

I'm Going To Bring A Watermelon To My Girl Tonight - Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band

A twenties song, suggestive and funny. The Bonzos were great musicians, intelligent with an excellent eye for comedy both visually and aurally.

Anarchy in the UK (Sex Pistols cover) - Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias

When I saw them at King Georges Hall in Blackburn I actually fell on the floor laughing, again they did a lot of brilliant original material but this cover of the Sex Pistols song is just very funny in my opinion.

The Sick Note (Murphy and The Bricks) - The Dubliners

This is both clever and very funny, The Dubliners cover all times of songs but this will have you more than smiling. If you don’t know them just investigate them on YouTube or buy a couple of CDs

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Frank Kelly

You may know Frank Kelly as Father Jack from the series “Father Ted”, but this take on the Twelve Days of Christmas again will make you more than smile.

70's Rock Must Die - Lard

Jello Biafra’s (Dead Kennedys) anti-rock noise band destroying seventies rock. I know this may not sit well with a lot of people but I find it highly amusing

Plastic Jesus - King Earl Boogie Band

A great singalong by ex Mungo Jerry members which has been covered by a few others, but this is just uplifting and very funny.

Silver Bullet (Kill Bob Seger Right Now) - The Briefs

This probably sits well with Lard’s “70's Rock Must Die” again another anti-rock dinosaur song which always makes me smile.

D.I.V.O.R.C.E - Billy Connolly

This take on the Tammy Wynette classic is extremely funny. Again Billy’s original material is very funny and as this is a total rewrite keeping the tune and title, I suppose this is at least partly original. I couldn’t add the live video to the playlist so I will include it here, although there is a lyric version on the playlist.

Strangeways Hotel - Mike Harding

Mike Harding is a serious folk artist and a great comedian too. This is one of his comic songs about the prison in Manchester. This contains some comedy intro to the actual song.

Salome Maloney - Dr John Cooper Clarke

Punk poet, DJ and comedian his poems can be serious or funny but all have a point. This is from his first album and is definitely on the funny side poking fun at lots of people who have high opinions of themselves.

Conclusion

These are just ten songs and poems I have picked up on, this has barely scratched the surface but I hope you will search more out for yourself.