Tour de Farce: American History and Other Unrelated Subjects
Encyclopedia
Tour de Farce: American History and Other Unrelated Subjects, the sixth comedy album by the Smothers Brothers
(released November 1, 1964 on Mercury Records
). It reached number 58 on the Billboard
Pop Albums chart. Recorded at The Ice House
, Pasadena, California
. The back of the album contains the note: "For special enjoyment, try playing your old Smothers Brothers albums at 45 rpm."
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
(released November 1, 1964 on Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
). It reached number 58 on the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
Pop Albums chart. Recorded at The Ice House
The Ice House
The Ice House Comedy Club is located at 24 Mentor Avenue in Pasadena, California. Opened in 1960 when folk music was in its prime, The Ice House was one of America's top folk clubs with acts coming from around the country to perform. In the 1970s the club's emphasis switched to comedy, providing...
, Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The back of the album contains the note: "For special enjoyment, try playing your old Smothers Brothers albums at 45 rpm."
Track listing
- "Siblings" (3:19) - Dick says Tom was not as well loved because he was adopted, and Tom complains about not being well treated as a child.
- "That's My Song" (2:57) - Sung straight.
- "American History: II-A" (5:02) - Tom's comments on the PilgrimsPilgrimsPilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
and Johnny AppleseedJohnny AppleseedJohnny Appleseed , born John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
, noting that the Pilgrims' landing was all the more exciting due to how slippery Plymouth RockPlymouth RockPlymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It is an important symbol in American history...
was. "American History: I-A" appears on Think Ethnic! - "Mediocre Fred" (1:41) - Tom sings the story of a boring man who becomes more exciting during a full moon.
- "Since My Canary Died" (5:40) - A lament for a dead pet.
- "American History: II-B" (5:27 - Tom continues his dissertating, this time on Paul Bunyan, Billy the KidBilly the KidWilliam H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
, and George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. It is here that we learn about Paul Bunyan's "Big Blue Puma." - "Eskimo Dog" (5:04) - A different take on the folk song "Whiskey in the Jar."
- "She's Gone Forever" (3:47) - Another one sung straight by the brothers.
- "Life and the Song of Life" (3:35)
- "Time and the Song of Time" (1:48)
- "Wagon Wheels" (1:38) (1st pressing only)
- "The Military Lovers" (0:50) (1st pressing only) - Tom rewrites the words to "The Marines' Hymn."
- "The Put-On Song (0:40) (1st pressing only)
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Billboard Pop Albums | 58 |
External links
- Complete Smothers BrothersSmothers BrothersThe Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
' discography can be found here.