A man works long hours at the circus, cleaning up after
the animals and giving enemas to constipated elephants. A friend, observing the menial nature of the work, offers to help the man find another job. The man replies, "What? And give up show biz?"
The punch line to that worn-out vaudeville joke served as the title when the Asylum Street Spankers set up shop for two weeks in January 2008 at New York's Barrow Street Theatre to look back on their underwhelming career and complain about their place in the music world. Juicing their acclaimed live show with a double shot of theatricality, the Spankers presented a musical revue and memoir of the troupe's fourteen year history. Featuring many of the most popular songs in their large repertoire along with tales of the ups and downs of life on the road, the show ran for fourteen performances, garnering good critical response, strong ticket sales and many free drinks for the band.
All fourteen shows were recorded, then edited to make this album.
"What? And Give Up Show Biz?" contains adult humor, including frank discussions of sexuality, drug use and/or rock and roll. It also contains four-part harmonies, blues, country, pop, jazz, rock and hip-hop songs, inventively clever arrangements, and a musical saw.
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Track Listing - Disc 1 |
Free Sound Samples |
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1. |
"Ladies and Gentlemen... I've Wasted My Life" |
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2. |
Everybody Loves My Baby |
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3. |
"Nice Theater" |
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4. |
"My Country's Calling Me" |
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5. |
Winning the War on Drugs |
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6. |
Blue Prelude |
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7. |
"It's good to be here in, uh...." |
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8. |
Why Do It Right? |
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9 |
"Stanley and Wammo" |
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10 |
Since I Met You Baby |
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11. |
"Gig from Hell" |
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12. |
Monkey Rag |
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13. |
"The Morning Moron Mob" |
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14. |
Medley of Burned Out Songs |
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15. |
Beer |
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16. |
"Strange Talents" |
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17. |
Leaf Blower |
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18. |
"The Bus Story" |
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19. |
Think About Your Troubles |
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20. |
"Daddy Drinks Because You Cry" |
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21. |
You Only Love Me For My Lunchbox |
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“Dedicated to acoustic instrumentation, but mischievously unorthodox in every other way...” —The New York Times
“There are few acts today as deliciously entertaining in concert, which is why this two-disc package documenting their live set is the ultimate Spankers release. And as much fun as a barrel of weed-toking, wisecracking musical monkeys.” —Blurt
“Picture the Prairie Home Companion crew bongloading hashcakes with gin chasers at a trailer park BBQ in the delta after a day spent accidentally inhaling paint fumes from the dump next door, and you have a rough idea what you're in for...” —Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange
1910 Madison Avenue #671, Memphis TN 38104 - info@yellowdogrecords.com