Monday, July 27, 2009

Great Lost Singles of the 60s (An Occasional Series)

You know, some days -- and I say this without a chinchilla of irony -- I think "The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana" is the greatest rock record ever made.





Hey -- if you don't believe me, ask Liz Phair and Material Issue, who did a killer cover of it on that Saturday Morning Cartoons album back in 1995.

The original is still the greatest, of course. Incidentally, if you want to download the rest of the album for free, get yourself over to the fabulous redtelephone66 immediately.

11 comments:

shrimplate said...

I'm totally jonesing for those two guitars they're holding. Vox? Italian-made in the 1960's?

Very nice.

John Fowler said...

Steve,
thanks for this!

but, gotta register a difference of opinion -

I listened with interest to the link, because I wanted to compare it to the Liz Phair/Material Issue version. The original is great, as you say. But, side by side, I think Liz wins! Now, I'm definitely biased in this choice, as a fan. But, I think that the Phair track was a highlight from the Saturday Morning album, along with The Ramones (Spiderman) and the Butthole Surfers (Underdog). The Phair track is probably a tad long, but, still...

steve simels said...

John Fowler:

True story:

Back when "Exile in Guyville" was new, I got an anonymous e-mail -- to this day I don't from who -- which said, in it's entirety:


"Liz Phair is hot! Like Meg Ryan with a bigger shnozz!!"

Actually, I kind of agree with you about the Liz/Material Ish version, which is sheer pop heaven, and the high point of that album for sure. If truth be told, Ellison's suicide hit me a lot harder than Courtney's husband, but that's a story for another time...

Kid Charlemagne said...

The Dickies covered this way back in the late 70s. I have the single (on yellow vinyl natch!).

Actually, I have a boot of that Banana Splits LP (which changes hands for a good wad of cash if you can find one) and it has some really good bubblegum pop on it if you are into that sort of thing.

David said...

Just as Dennis Wilson was the only member of the Beach Boys who surfed, Drooper was the only member of the Splits who could play an instrument.

Wendy said...

If you post anything by the Chipmunks, I'm never talking to you again. :-)

Anonymous said...

I wonder if Bob Marley ever paid royalties to the Banana Splits for his adoption of their tra-la-la refrain into "Buffalo Soldiers".

geor3ge said...

No one appreciates the electric harpsichord anymore.

dave™© said...

40 years ago next month, I saw the Banana Splits "live" at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California. I kid you not!

Danny Guam said...

I know one of the guys in the suits.

He now lives on Marrowstone Island in WA.

He says they were hot and smelly.

exposito63 said...

As anonymous asked, did Bob Marley ever pay royalties for lifting this refrain and using it in "Buffalo Soldiers"? When I was a teenager and I started listening to Marley I noticed this, but I was accused of having my judgement clouded by ganja.

For what it is worth, I still own my copy of this album on vinyl. The liner notes are better than some of the more obscure tracks on the album.