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From the Vault...
07/10/2011
#1263 |
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info
Phil Harris
"That's What I Like About Phil Harris"
© RCA Records
Year of Release: 1988
Rating:
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track listing
That's What I Like
About The South
Ding Dong Daddy
From Dumas
When It's Sleepy Time
Down South
Crawdad Song
He's His Own Grandpa
Deck Of Cards
The Thing
The Dark Town Poker Club
Chattanoogie
Shoe Shine Boy
Minne The Mermaid
The Old Master Painter
Woodman Spare That Tree
Is It True What They Say
About Dixie
Lazy River
Ain't Nobody Here
But Us Chickens
Goofus
Shadrach
The Preacher And
The Bear
Old Time Religion
Muskat Ramble
Row Row Row
St. James Infirmary
Smoke Smoke Smoke
(That Cigarette)
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WSVNRadio Archives
Phil Harris related sites:
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Phil Harris
"That's What I Like About Phil Harris"
Phil Harris was a bandleader, singer, and actor from the big band / old time radio years. My fondest memories of him
was when he was on the old time radio shows The Jack Benny Show and with his wife Alice Faye on The Phil Harris
Alice Faye Show. A comedian in his own right, Phil Harris was truly an entertainer, as I remembered him best more of a
comedian, than that of a bandleader. (Pretty much the same as Jackie Gleason.) Another fond memory of him, is he was
the voice of Baloo the Sloth Bear, in the Walt Disney animated movie, Jungle Book. Having a great distinctive
speaking (radio) voice, his singing on "Bare Necessities" from the movie was just as exceptional.
From his musical career, he achieved a #1 hit song, "The Thing" in 1950. The song stayed at #1 for four weeks.
If you're familiar with this song, with his "talking lyrics" as well as singing, most of the tracks on That's What I Like
About Phil Harris is just that -- Songs with a story, and most in a funny way. (The title of this album was taken from
one of his hits, "That's What I Like About The South.")
Of these, songs such as "He's His Own Grandpa" is a funny tune about how a family gets wrapped up, and how one
becomes his "own Grandpa." The same can be said for other tracks -- "The Dark Town Poker Club," "Minnie The Mermaid,"
"Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens." The big band sound is heard here also, as tracks such as "Old Time Religion,"
"Row, Row, Row" can't help yourself but just getting into the "jump jive 'n wail" of it all. Harris also has his own
versions of popular songs -- Red Foley's "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" and Tex Williams' "Smoke Smoke Smoke (That
Cigarette)" are good numbers, yet the originals would be considered better.
But then there's the serious side of Phil Harris -- the very touching look at religion on "Deck Of Cards" is one
of my favorite tracks (most preferably by Tex Ritter). "Lazy River," "Stars Fell On Alabama" and "St. James
Infirmary" not only shows how he had a great voice for radio, his singing proved good as well.
The funny talking songs (and talking + singing ones too) will definitely give anyone a good chuckle or two. The big band
sound will also show how music sounded back then, and how great it was.
Phil Harris passed away at age 91 of a heart attack in 1991. His wife Alice Faye died 3 years later. Old time radio
collections of The Phil Harris Alice Faye Show are available, and worth listening to. Almost as great as Jack Benny,
their shows have always been exceptionally written. As quick-witted as Harris was on radio, in real life, he was mostly a
quiet man. He said it was just a "Phil Harris character."
The humor, seriousness and big band/jazz are all in great taste on That's What I Like About Phil Harris. For
this kind of musical style and for the fans of Old Time Radio, this one is worth picking up.
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