Classical Gas Smothers Bros. Comedy Hour - 1988, 20th Reunion Video
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- čas přidán 24. 08. 2024
- In the mid thru late ‘60’s, I was a comedy & music writer for the Smothers Bros. Comedy Hour on CBS. The Smothers Bros. were gracious enough to extend to me, a chance to perform and thereby promote my music as a guest on their show. I played it on (4) different shows. (3) back in the ‘60’s & this 1988 one, a 20th Reunion Special. I got to play Classical Gas with the show band, conducted by our Music Director, Larry Cansler, as a featured guest. This aired on CBS on 2/3/88.
I first saw and heard this in '68 (on the Smother's Brothers show) when I was 10 yrs old. It is part of the soundtrack of my life. I am now 62 and every time I've hear it since, it makes me so happy and makes my day! Thank you for posting this.
Ditto!
I am the same age and we have had the same magical experience! Thank you Mason Williams!
I loved this in the '60s, loved it in the '80s, still loving it in 2021!
Thank you for giving this to the world. And thank you for posting this video.
Thank you.
Not sure how anyone could dislike this. It must be a jealousy thing.
A truly great piece of music! Absolutely beautiful!
The flourish from Baroque-a-Nova at the end was a nice touch.
One of the greatest instrumental pop pieces of all time/
Un gran clásico, de lo mejor de la música.
One of my all time favorite songs
I'm waiting for some wet-behind-the-ears Gen-Z type to not have a clue who Mason Williams is or never heard this masterpiece. I'm convinced it would knock their socks off like it did me when I first heard it in 1968. You made a lifelong impression on me, sir. I wish more people knew the extent of your incredible talent, intellect, and character. You're one in a million. BTW I read your book, "Mason Williams Reading Matter," not long after "Classical Gas" was released, and it gave me some real insight to your humor and imagination; no surprise that the Smothers Brothers would take you on as a writer for their show. A fun read and I hope folks reading this will pick it up.
I watched and heard this when it first was preformed on the Smothers Brothers show, I fell in love with it, as did my other friends, we all talked about it the following days, when it was performed again, we were in heaven..I was 15 or so at the Time, correct me if I am wrong, but I remember a film accompanying the music, a single frame montage.....It inspired me to do one like it. I was able to get out of classes in High School to show to other classes...the music that accompanied my film was not your Classical Gas, but a Janis Joplin tune...when I received a scholarship to Art School, everyone thought it was because of the film......but it was my drawing ability.....Your friend Ed Ruscha was someone we young artist's always admired......and your book about the 'Moose' was purchased by my first wife......I loved that too....best wishes, Paul
This is a great video, deserving of much more attention. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
Mason Williams was truly an incredible artist and the world will suffer with his loss.
This the best piece ever. I have compared so may and nothin comes close. God given inspiration.
Absolutely wonderful, Sir.
Has always been one of my favourite pieces of guitar music.
The fact that this still doesn't have MILLIONS or views and likes is a crying shame.
All the best! :D
A great song with great performance. I especially remember seeing you perform "Classical Gas" on a clear (lucite?) guitar. I can only find a few brief clips from particular performance. This is the song which convinced me I should just stick to playing just Blues and Pop.
Another great Mason Williams memory is also from the 60s, or early 70s. Somehow I ended up with a promo copy of the vinyl album "Them Poems". That great record was one of my favorite albums. I think my 1st ex-sister-in-law stole it from me in 1972.
Thanks for some great memories, Mr.Williams.
With my onset CRS I may be imagining this. I remember him playing this on the original Smothers Brothers. Using an acrylic guitar filled with water and goldfish. Anybody else remember this? Or am I just losing it?
In 1970, Williams made a television appearance on a variety show, Just Friends, which reunited regulars of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. To create a visual element for his performance, he used a special playable classical plexiglass guitar built for him by Billy Cheatwood and a prop designer for ABC. For the performance, Williams filled the guitar with water and added a couple of goldfish. He then used the plexiglass guitar to finger-sync his hit version of "Classical Gas"
whether that happened or not I’d like to see it!
I saw it. I came here looking for it. It was beautiful.
I thought they played it to a film of major events in world history
I remember that one quite well. MW was wearing all white and everything in the set was white (except his hair - don't think that he had a beard at that time). The initial camera view was from kind of high and far away and you thought he was playing a white guitar. Then as the camera slowly moved closer you realized that it was a clear guitar. At least on the TV screens of that era you did not realize that it also had water and goldfish until kind of late in the piece.
Mr. Williams - your music and writing on 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour' was stellar and that's what made the show so great. I remember watching many of the shows from the 60s as a kid and then also really enjoyed the relaunch back in '88. Hard to believe it's been 50 and almost 30 years ago. The times have certainly changed, but our drive for political change and improvement will never stop. Thanks for being part of the revolution.
How can I find the first performance on the Smothers brothers show?
great music
For the experimental art film that used this song and was aired on Smothers Bros. in 1968, look up --- 3000 Years of Art
Yours may be my favorite musical piece from that time (late 60's, so is saying a lot). It rivals compositions by Arthur Lee and Bryan Maclean such as '...Between Clark and Hilldale' and 'Alone Again Or.'
Great music. It seems "Classical Gas" can mean "Classical Guitar And Symphony" ...
By watching the drummer you can tell it isn't live (always watch the drummer if you suspect something's up). For instance, at 1:31 you see the drummer pretend to crash the cymbal. You hear the crash, but of course the cymbal barely moves (if at all) because he barely tapped it.
Took me a moment to figure out why this sounded a little thin - there's only about twelve musicians here, as opposed to 40 or so on the original. In particular, there's no string section at all, and the flutes are taking the string parts. By the way, I saw the original version, the one with the orchestra in a square around Mason. Or was that the original?
Try this version with Glen Campbell.
czcams.com/video/mrxPKUT3Tfk/video.html