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Post by Sultan of Cannock- SRFC on Jul 1, 2008 16:12:05 GMT
When i was a little lad, way back in the 1960's, i heard what is probably still David Bowie's greatest ever record being played by Stewpot on his Saturday morning show- The Laughing Gnome.
Back in the early 90's i thought that my little boy, (known on here as "smalldude") might like to hear it. However, despite perusing no end of Bowie compilations, (during which time smalldude has morphed into a seemingly permanently angry hard-rocking cross between a six-foot locust and a wrecking ball) i have never found TLG.
When the advertisemnt came up on TV for the Mail on Sunday's giveaway of "Bowies's 12 favourite" i thought Aha! The Man Himself is BOUND to have this jokey little ditty as one of his favourites. Alas, when they ran down the list- no Laughing Gnome!
"Ha Ha Ha! Heee Heee Heee! I'm a larfing gnome and you can't catch me!" the gnome once trilled, but obviously someone HAS caught him and got rid of him. Was it Robert Mugabe? Is it the evil music copyright people from a former label of Bowie's? Or has the Man Himself suppressed my little friend?
I think we should be told....
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Post by peekay on Jul 1, 2008 17:02:55 GMT
I heard that he's pretty much disowned it and would prefer not to be reminded of it.
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Post by medibot on Jul 1, 2008 18:31:26 GMT
No idea why it's so elusive but i can send you an mp3 of it if you like  |
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Post by Sultan of Cannock- SRFC on Jul 3, 2008 15:05:11 GMT
I heard that he's pretty much disowned it and would prefer not to be reminded of it. It's funny how they all get up themselves and take themselves soooooo seriously when they're famous!  Medibot - thanks for that, the thought of seeing the effect TLG would now have on my son (akin to waving a crucifix at a vampire) makes it quite appealing ;D Does it have to come over as an e-mail attachment? I'll PM you my address. |
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Post by medibot on Jul 3, 2008 15:54:00 GMT
Should be in your inbox now. The joys of file sharing beat even the most comprehensive cover ups!
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Post by Col ISIHAC. on Jul 16, 2008 12:50:34 GMT
Splendid little ditty. Right up there with Jake The Peg, Puff The Magic Dragon; Smurffs - all novelty stuff by adults for adults and kids alike. Surely it's time for... The greatest novelty songs in the world...ever! Come on; we need at least 30  |
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Post by coops on Jul 16, 2008 19:15:42 GMT
BMX Bandits - Kylie's Got A Crush On Us
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Post by Meadow on Jul 16, 2008 21:40:28 GMT
Urban Spaceman - Bonzo's
Anything by Tom Lehrer
BTW, in reply to the first post, we have a 7" single of the Laughing Gnome that was bought for my husband when he was very young. It's been converted to MP3 and my 9 year old plays it regularly, along with numerous other Bowie tracks.
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Post by ewelldon on Jul 17, 2008 5:47:52 GMT
The Bonzo Dog Doo Da Band did nothing BUT novelty! One of my fave novelty tracks was by some obscure band in the 60's (who's name has eludes me for the moment but I have it on a C90 somewhere  ) who sang a dittie called 'My mothers name is mum, my fathers name is Dad' |
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Post by Meadow on Jul 17, 2008 7:36:38 GMT
The Bonzo Dog Doo Da Band did nothing BUT novelty! One of my fave novelty tracks was by some obscure band in the 60's (who's name has eludes me for the moment but I have it on a C90 somewhere ) who sang a dittie called 'My mothers name is mum, my fathers name is Dad' Is this the one ED? www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJqFObq59GE&feature=relatedEHM (ever helpful Meadow) |
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Post by ojiveojive on Jul 17, 2008 17:43:01 GMT
At this point I have to admit to a conflict of interest: knowledge of GFF, Gnome Freedom Fighters, a group of shadowy figures based at Moor Green, whose unwritten manifesto proclaimed that GFF's aim was to rescue gnomes from a life of drudgery and exploitation by humans. To this effect a gnome was rescued from Radcliffe Borough on a visit by Moor Green for a cup match some years ago. The main protagonist of the gnomenapping was actually a director of Moor Green who, for his own safety, must even yet remain unnamed. The GFF, also occasionally referred to as the GLF (Gnome Liberation Front) in an attempt to keep the forces of law and disorder at bay, displayed the liberated gnome above the bar in the Moor Green Social Club for a year until they received assurances from Radcliffe Borough that Gnomey would not be punished or mistreated if returned to Radcliffe's ownership and an exchange was arranged for a clandestine handover at some ungodly hour at a service station somewhere on, or in the environs of, the M6. Rumours abound as to who the members of the GFF/GLF were that effected the handover but it is to their utmost credit that even after a decade the membership of the GFF remains undetected. Unfortunately the GFF splintered upon the merger of Moor Green with Solihull Borough and although it is thought that some stayed on to support Solihull Moors, it is also suspected that some ex-GFF moved on to support Leamington, Stratford Town, Sutton Coldfield Town, Cadbury Athletic and others. The mysterious mythical quality of GFF lives on in the shadowy world of gnome espionage but the fissures that splintered GFF will probably never be healed and although disparate, the diaspora may act independently on future operations. Our hope is: RIP GFF, our lips are sealed  I may have put my life in danger with the publication of this episode so please, administrators, I beg you keep my identity anonymous. |
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Post by Sultan of Cannock- SRFC on Jul 18, 2008 15:21:22 GMT
An offshoot of this shadowy group were probably operating in Willenhall, West Midlands about 11 years ago. My work colleague liked penguins and kept a small toy penguin as a mascot on her desk. During the nightshift, said penguin mysteriously disappeared. Then, in a twist to be followed almost exactly in the French comedy film, "Amelie" some years later, my friend began to receive postcards from various places, all purporting to have been sent by the missing penguin (the fact that these postcards came from places where many of our works colleagues had just taken holidays didn't seem to sink in for a while)
As for the novelty records, i liked Tommy Cooper's "Don't Jump Off The Roof, Dad" along with the Bernard Cribbins ones "There was I, Diggin' a Nole" and especially "Right Said Fred". There is a brilliant line in there that sums up for me 30years of working in British Industry, viz " We were getting nowhere, and so, we, 'ad a cuppa tea"
I can also recall how as primary school kids we put an extra verse to "Puff The Magic Dragon"
"Puff the Magic Dragon was looking for a mate
But when girl-dragons came to town, poor Puff would move too late.
One day that Magic Dragon, he found a bit of stuff
But he didn't know what to do with her,
That's why they called him 'Puff'! "
Ahhhh, the age of innocence!
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) who sang a dittie called 'My mothers name is mum, my fathers name is Dad'
