Spike Jones In Stereo
Omnivore, 2025
9/10
Listen to Spike Jones In Stereo
Originally recorded in 1959, this spooky effort from Spike Jones and company saw them scoring this live like a movie that gave monsters a voice with plenty of unpredictable fun.
“I Only Have Eyes For You” opens with vocals by Dracula and Vampira in the conversational versus singing moments amid soft background noises and instruments, and “Poisen To Poisen” follows with an interview with a Famous Poisenality that adds much to the eerie setting.
Frankenstein makes an appearance in the middle, where “Everything Happens To Me” brings keys and light drums into the storytelling, while “Monster Movie Ball” recruits singing from the Fiend-Ager via the retro rock’n’roll that will get everyone on the dance floor.
Deeper still, the quick and busy “My Old Flame” enlists I.M. Arson’s pipes alongside the sound of sirens before the creepy story is told, and “Spooktacular Finale” exits with The Entire Ghastly Cast contributing vocals that pause to allow for lively brass and plenty of novelty noises, something Jones built his career on.
This highly creative record is newly remastered, available on LP for the first time in nearly 50 years, and also on CD. Jones influenced legends like Dr. Demento and “Weird Al” Yankovic, and it’s pretty clear after spending any time with his work that there are few artists as innovative as him.
Travels well with: Memphis Slim- Memphis Slim U.S.A.; Vince Guaraldi- Oh, Good Grief!