The Magical Mrs Clamps

[donna plasky]

Hi. Just for the fun of it, I was wondering if anybody knows which Shadow did the "vocals" in The Magical Mrs Clamps...for example, he/she says, "Play that thing real pretty!" This tune was on the Established 1958 album; I think it's a lot of fun. It could even have been Cliff, but I think more likely it was one of the Shads, since it's their song.

Thanks a lot!

Cheers,
Donna

[Dance with Shadows]

Donna

I believe it was John.

Michael

[Arpeggio]

Hi Donna,
Michael is absolutely correct. Although both Hank and Bruce were (are) well known for putting on silly voices (refs: UK legendary 1950s radio comedy 'The Goon Show') - John Rostill was apparently just the same. When he was goofing around in the echo chamber at Abbey Road during the recording of "Scotch On The Socks", Hank and Bruce (who were also going 'crazy' at the time) were extremely impressed with John's 'Country Yokel / Hill Billy' - type impersonations and left his "Goin' down t' see mah babe -tch etc" on the finished track. Thus when the gloriously silly "Magical Mrs Clamps" was being laid down - it was John who was asked to supply the wacky voices - "You sure you know what you're doing there, son?"

HTH - Rob

[donna plasky]

Dear Michael and Rob: Thank you very much for the information. I love that it was John! Established 1958 is one of my favourite albums. Besides The Magical Mrs Clamps, I also enjoy Somewhere By The Sea...because of the part with the phone ringing...and it's Bruce on the line.

Thanks again,
Donna

[iefje]

"Chelsea Boot" is also very funny. Another one is "Winchester Cathedral", which has a droll spoken intro. Coincidentally, both those tracks are from the 1967 "Jigsaw" album.

[Arpeggio]

Yes.....it's John again being the 'pompous' announcer for the 'people's service' - very much a send up of the BBC's plummy received pronounciation presenters of the day. Hank, Bruce and Brian then weigh in at the end (of the introduction) with their London 'geezer' voices. Tee hee!

Rob

[iefje]

And Bruce being called 'Brute'.