The cover (above) The Banana Splits (below)

 

Listen/Download – Cal Tjader – The Tra La La Song

Greetings all, and join me as we wind up another week on the good ship Funky16Corners.

Since it is almost Friday, I must remind you all that the Funky16Corners Radio Show returns to the airwaves of the interwebs this and every Friday night at 9PM at Viva Radio.

This week features some very groovy stuff, as well as a nice little Halloween set for those in need something spooky and soulful. Keep in mind that if you are unable to join us at the time of broadcast, you can always stop by over the weekend and pick yourself up an MP3 of the show which you can listen to at your leisure.

Earlier this year I posted Cal Tjader’s version of ‘Gimme Shelter’ and told the story of how the old Funky16Cornersmobile got towed away while I was at a record show.

While discussing the song in the comments, I mentioned that Tjader had also covered the theme from the old ‘Banana Splits Show’ and promised to post it in the future.

Well, at the risk of sounding like Criswell, the future is now!

Unless you’re over 45, or some kind of hardcore pop-cult nut, you probably have no idea who the Banana Splits were, which was, a costumed quartet of people in animal costumes (dog, lion, gorilla and elephant) who lived together in a psychedelic clubhouse and had a band (sounds like a hallucination, right?).

Though most of (not all, most) the music associated with the show was disposable, bubblegummy pop, the one tune that everyone who ever saw it (or has heard Bob Marley and the Wailers ‘Buffalo Soldier’) remembers is the theme, otherwise known as the ‘Tra La La Song’.

Oddly enough, the song has had quite the little history of its own, being covered (and hitting the UK Top 10 in 1979) in a version by the Dickies, the aforementioned borrowing by Tuff Gong, and a later cover by Liz Phair and Material Issue.

A few years back I saw an ad for a reissue of a Cal Tjader album that I’d never seen before called ‘Plugs In’, which appeared to contain a cover of the ‘Tra La La Song’. Naturally, as big a Tjader fan as I am I found this hard to believe and figured it was either a misprint, an outtake or another song entirely.

That is until I scored myself a copy of the album when I was down in DC last year when the bizarre but tasty intersection of Mr. Callen Radcliffe Tjader Jr. and Fleagle, Bingo, Drooper and Snork was confirmed.

Recorded live at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California in 1969, ‘Plugs In’ featured Tjader with an electrified band. The addition of Al Zulaica on electric piano and Armando Peraza (who also recorded for Skye) on congas makes for a sound reminiscent of Vince Guaraldi’s later ‘Charlie Brown’ soundtracks.

Tjader takes the ‘Tra La La’ song at a relaxed and groovy pace that the actual Banana Splits never would have been able to achieve without chemical assistance.

It is a mellow cut indeed, and I hope you dig it.

See you on Monday.

 

Peace

Larry

 

 

 

 

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

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PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

 

3 Responses to “Cal Tjader – The Tra La La Song”

1. jb says:

   October 27, 2011 at 2:03 pm

   I sent away my box tops and the form from the back of the cereal box in 1969 to get my Banana Splits 45s, so I am glad/gobsmacked to hear this. Fine stuff, sir, and thank you.

2. clawthing says:

   October 28, 2011 at 10:38 am

   Are you suggesting the banana splits WEREN’T under the influence of chemical assistance?

3. themusicologist says:

   October 28, 2011 at 2:38 pm

   the splits were BIG in London during the seventies. thanks Larry fond memories..
   p.s I been away from the blog for most of this year but I have evolved into the(urban)musicologist as I spread me wings and let theurBanmusicologyProject (tUMp) flow.
   Glad to see you’re still tearing it up.
   All the best to the funky family