R. Crumb and the Cheap Suit Serenaders - Singin' in the Bathtub

In the late '70s the Cheap Suit Serenaders--fronted by comix legend Robert Crumb but also featuring fellow old-time music artistes Robert Armstrong, Bob Brozman, Al Dodge, Tom Marion, and Terry Zwigoff (who would later produce a whole film on Crumb)--were the only group around who would even think about still producing 78s. After all, that's where all their favorite music came from. Those platters are now highly collectible, but their albums live on, reissued on CD. Singing in the Bathtub collects some of their best work--humorous originals such as "Suits Crybaby Blues" and plenty of covers of tunes from obscure 78s. Their playing is flawless (you probably haven't heard the steel guitar, banjo mandolin, or musical saw played with such virtuosity as here), the tunes are mostly fun and spirited, and the music styles are varied. In the hands of the Cheap Suits, old-time music is alive and well. --Jason Verlinde

As if it weren't enough that Robert Crumb was one of the outstanding inventors of the 60's style underground cartoon art (often imitated, never duplicated .. remember Janis Joplin's first album cover?) .. this album has got to be one of the understated works of our time. Robert has an outstanding line up (for example, Brozman who is a slack key style player, and also appears as an instructor in Home Spun Video tape courses). I love this stuff! It makes me happy .. it's sincere and heartfelt .. qualities which are completely absent in so much of today's modern over marketed, over hyped, over produced trend ridden music drek! This CD actually put me in touch with a part of myself that had been long lost .. experiencing the fun and enjoyment of listening to simple good music performed with spirit. It should do the same for you. The title cut is Bugs Bunny's favorite song -- he sings it in 5 or 6 classic cartoons. If it's good enough for Bugs -- it's good enough for me. Have fun.

1. Singing in the Bathtub 2. Chile Blues 3. Dream of Heaven
4. Suits Crybaby Blues 5. Collier Medley: Ben Hur March & Napoleon March
6. Shopping Mall 7. Yearning and Blue 8. Hula Girl
9. Pedal Your Blues Away 10. La Gima Polka 11. Sing Song Girl
12. Home 13. My Gal Sal

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