Classical Composer Hears CLASSICAL GAS for the First Time: Mason Williams & Tommy Emmanuel (Ep. 741)
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- Опубликовано: 5 мар 2024
- #classicalgas #classicalgasreaction
In this edition of #thedailydoug, I'm listening to a classic piece of guitar repertoire, Classical Gas. As I detail in the video, this is a piece that has been covered by many artists, and I've had lots of folks asking for me to review this work. Today, we're hearing the original version by Mason Williams and the cover by Tommy Emmanuel. It's a beautiful and exciting piece. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Reference Video: • Mason Williams - Class...
Reference Video: • Classical Gas [Mason W...
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![CartierFamily REACTS: Tommy Emmanuel "Classical Gas" [Mason Williams]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dfh3xY-Y-ac/mqdefault.jpg)
"Where does the brass come from?" Well, when a piece of zinc and a piece of copper love each other very much...
Haha...nice!
This made coffee come out of my nose.
ROFL
:D funny
🤣 nice one!
I am OLD, 71 years old. I well remember when the original of Classical Gas came out. It was a big hit, which was surprising for such a song in that period of the '60s. I liked it very much, and so did my friends who actually were musicians. I play several instruments, from violin and guitar to concertina, harmonica, and Jew's harp.
I am not quite your age (67 here), but have always enjoyed this music.
@@tradde11 Same as me. I hadn't heard the Tommy Emmanuel version before this. It is brilliant.
@@PatZoAnn Add me to the list of 67 year olds who grew up with Mason Williams but never heard Tommy Emmanuel's version until now.
Wow!
Bugger off. I`m 72 and i`m not old. LOL.
40 yrs ago I performed this song while studying music in college in front of the great Charlie Byrd. Our Jazz professor invited him to come perform so he told us we better show up, bring our instruments and be ready to play. He called me out first. I got through the entire song without any major screw ups. Charlie smiled and said "great job". It was a great honor.
This was all over the AM radio in 1968...My dad always had the radio on early in the morning and I used to wake up to it all the time before junior high school....
Yup. My dad bought "The Mason Williams Phonograph Record" (with the bent Greyhound bus on the cover) soon after it was released, and I heard it a LOT in those first few years! I always loved the original, and find the Tommy Emmanuel version just as mind-blowingly great.
I heard this song so many times, it boggles my mind that anyone isn't familiar with it. One of several instrumental only songs that became hits back in the sixties and seventies. That doesn't really happen any more.
@@mattbosley3531 I loved this song back in the early 1970s when I started to listen to music on my little transistor radio while I rode my bike through the allies.
Tommy is one of five guitarists that Chet Atkins awarded a master guitarist award to. That says everything.
A "certified guitar player."
Cgp- certified guitar player
Who are the other four? Glen Campbell? Vince Gill? Jerry Reed? Any of those guys?
@@melodymakermark good point. I think chet is one of them
@@melodymakermark Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner, John Knowles, & Paul Yandell
Still remember when Mason Williams released this incredible piece of music and all these decades later it's still incredible.
I finally got to see Tommy Emmanuel live a month ago, absolutely incredible. Was told a story in the auditorium where Tommy was doing a concert a few years ago and asked the audience, "Are there any guitar players in?", after an awkward silence a voice said, "Not anymore......" :)
That story reminds me of Monty Python's Life of Grian where Brian tells the crowd:"You are all individuals!"
Crowd:"YES, WE ARE ALL INDIVIDUALS!"
Brian:"You are all different!"
Crowd:"YES, WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT!"
One guy in the crowd:"I'm not."
One of the advantages of growing up in Australia is we got to see Tommy a lot. 🙂
@Fuzcapp I've been here 24 years and I've never gotten to see him.
@@elissaaleph great shame. He's been in the states a lot lately so yeah - it's a bit hard to catch him these days. But if you get half a chance - take it!!! 🙂
He's touring again. Im going to see him in May.
I believe it is absolutely impossible that any music player alive could not have heard "Classical Gas" before.
I saw Tommy live in 2016, and as he was doing his encore, I slipped backstage and waited for him at the dressing room door. He's a very gracious and accommodating man, and I handed him an album, asked him to sign it and told him it was my favorite album in the world. It was my copy of The Beatles' White Album. (Tommy does a jaw-dropping Beatles medley in every show, and they're usually different each time.) He smiled broadly, said, "it's up there for me, too," placed my album on the back of that very guitar you see him playing and he signed it for me. I wish there were a way to upload a photo, because I took two great shots. The first one is him in the process of signing it, and the second one is him holding it up to the camera for me. Such a prized possession and a stellar evening for me!
Lucky person
The White Album belonged to the first 10 albums I bought on my own. And in my memory there will always remain the one time we (I am german) drove across Florida, from Miami to Fr. Myers, right through the mangroves down the Alligator alley.
Clear day, only one streak of cloud was forming in a curve right above the street.
And to that scene "Dear Prudence" was playing in the radio.
Later in the afternoon we were approaching the coast, you could see for dozens of miles, it is dead flat there. And at the coastline a line of thunderstorm clouds had formed. It looked almost laughable, as if someone would have made a illustration diagram for a book.
These clouds, bulging and developing at the top, were cut off like a knife at the bottom. All at EXACTLY the same height. So you had a strip of orange sunset visible below the clouds. And you had lots of lightnings, in the clouds, between the clouds, down to the ground.
You drive for an hour or so and watch that acting out, literally how it develops.
Don't ask me too exact details, that is almost 40 years ago, but maybe you can see that the images are still vivid in my brain.
Back in the day, Mason Williams came to my high school for a concert in 1971. That concert is still one of my favorite concerts I've ever attended.
I am amazed that you have not heard this before, but then again I have not heard it for many years. Back in its day, it was played A LOT! It doesn't get old. I love to hear classical guitar. An old friend of mine used to play Classical Spanish guitar-- amazing and mesmerizing! Thank you for reminding me of this piece!
I heard the original performance on the Smother’s Brothers, and it was outstanding. •Even in 1968, it made a lot of other music pale by comparison.
•It also really interested me that one person could be so skilled in two unrelated fields: highly barbed political comedy writing, and classical music composition and performance.
•At an age when everyone asks, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ this was clearly my answer, ‘More than one thing!’
•I’m still ‘more than one thing’. Thanks, Mason, for showing us how it’s done.
•Thanks, Dave, for sharing your delight and the details here.
I think I probably heard it there too. I do know that this piece is one of those that has just always been there for me. I just played it for my husband (70yo) as he said he didn't think he'd ever heard it either. He did recognized the brass section, so I'm guessing that's the bit that was used for the news programs as an intro and/or outro.
I also heard the original performance on the Smothers Brothers show as i sat on floor in front of the TV. I watched every episode of the show, but that performance was very memorable.
I also saw the original on the Smother's Brothers. The thing I loved most was the all the classical art shown in chronological order in rapid sequence. Someone needs to dig this up for youtube. Please.
I first heard it on the Smothers Brothers Show in 68, too. Loved it then still love the original version. IMO the Tommy Emmanuel version is overdone.
Mason Williams was a writer on the staff of The Smothers Brothers TV show; as was Steve Martin.
Astounding that you’ve never heard this before……
Never got hooked on Art Bell... (he used this as bumper music- among other stuff)...
Yes! I remember back in the early 90’s as a kid loving this song, but not knowing what it was called.
My mom called a local radio show several nights in a row trying to get through so we could record it and have it on tape.
Luckily the the DJ knew it within 5-6 notes of humming it, saying ahh yes classical gas. He then offered her the advice of being careful listening to it in the car, as speeding was likely to accompany this immersive composition!
always the point that leaves me leery. To me it´s a strong childhood memory. And I grew up in rural Germany. For I know it´s a national treasure and a folk anthem in the US such claims sound staged to me.
Doug has grown up in a different home than us, exposed to different things than us. He is well acquainted with music few of us have ever heard, and his focus all his life long has been on musical works in the classical and opera genres. Also, he has no reason to lie to us about anything - he's told us when he's heard the songs he's reviewing in several other videos.
I too grew up in a home where classical and opera were (almost) the only norms, and I can recall not knowing what my schoolmates were talking about when they discussed the popular music of the day. I began to catch up in my late teens but not everyone does.
Agreed. One of the biggest instrumental hits of the 1960’s.
I've been playing acoustic and electric guitar for forty years, and I've never seen anyone handle the acoustic as cleanly and as powerfully as Tommy. That man has earned all the accolades he gets.
And he is a really nice guy, helping people and giving them a change to play on stage with him, or even fixing their guitars.
His brother Phil who has passed away, also was a great guitarist and did more on the electric side. both great showmen and musicians.. (and fellow Aussies).
He uses pretty heavy gauge strings, too. He can probably crack walnuts bare handed. ;-)
He's also a very accomplished electric guitarist.
He is self taught
I also saw him play drums whilst backing Joe Bonamassa on a cruise ship. @@dangeorge809
I saw Mason Williams do this song live on The Smothers Brothers show many years ago. There was a video that was shown along with the music of paintings and art work from the Renaissance up to the 60s, flashing in time to the music . I still have the single
That sounds fantastic.
I have this on his original vinyl LP from the 60's. Love it. ❤
"theme music to all of the world's greatest art, in three minutes flat!"
The segment was called 3,,000 years of art. ruclips.net/video/viyufRQKlto/видео.html Couchgrouch
I was stunned when I saw Mason perform this live on TV. I never thought a guitar could be played like that! My favorite acoustic piece ever!
The original is one of my all time favorites. 💗😊
Tommy is undeniably one of the greatest living acoustic guitarists!
He’s a certified guitar player.
He's incredibly fun to see play live, but his music isn't something I would otherwise listen to.
Tommy's skill on the instrument is so far out the charts it's not even funny.
Richard Smith ftw!
Tommy is a beast!
Tommy Emmanuel is new to me. My jaw is on the floor 😲
Go check a thing he does called "Initiation".... you won't believe what an acoustic guitar can do.
Go down the RUclips rabbit hole on Tommy. Your jaw will get tired from being on the floor 😂. The guy is just incredible. That's hardly even a good word for how good he is
He's exceptional, that's for certain.
Tommy is simply a Master of his craft and is one with his instrument. As an Aussie I have been aware his work and though it isn’t my lane for instrumental guitar music, I am in awe of his artistry!
Check out his collaboration with Mike Dawes. Thank me later.
When I was younger classical gas by Mason Williams was a must to be played nearly everywhere. When I saw the subject the music jumped from the past and I could hear playing before you actually played it. This is a timeless composition. Even now it will spread out again because not only did you react to it, you put it into the ether for millions to listen to it. Thank you for bringing such a great song back into the present.👋👋👋👋👏👏👏👏😊😊😊😊
Difficult to believe that you never heard this before. It's been covered many, many times by the likes of Glen Campbell, Chet Atkins, Neil Young, Dave Edmunds, and The Ventures. The Mason Williams Phonograph Record was a staple when I was growing up. Super talented man and absolutely awesome song.
Yes toured in front of Jethro Tull in 1971. Steve Howe of Yes, was playing his guitar solo song the Clap. He borrows a riff from Classical Gas and instead of returning to his song , he finished with playing the rest of Classical Gas.Now this is in OKLahoma City where Mason Williams is from and at the end of song Jon Anderson said that was the first time that Steve played that version. Crowd went bananas 🎸🎼🎶
I saw Steve do a charity solo concert in Deptford, London, a few years ago and he played it that night. As I recall, he said it was one of the pieces of music he would have loved to have written. All those years on from your experience, I can vouch that he absolutely nailed it.
I saw that concert in Seattle the summer of 71'. I paid $5.
"Classical Gas" was released as a single from The Mason Williams Phonograph Record in 1968. "Classical Gas" won three Grammys that year for "Best Instrumental (theme) Composition", "Best Instrumental (theme) Performance", and "Best Instrumental Orchestra Arrangement", Mike Post, arranger.
Mike Post? The same guy who composed many of the best tv theme songs, like The Rockford Files?
"Kendy" here. So glad you listened to it and loved it. I think about half of those 27M plays on RUclips were me playing it for people. 😂😂😂😂 Always a pleasure to listen to it with you.
I watched Mason Williams perform this on the Smothers Brothers Show in the 1960s, and my mother bought the album for me, too. The music that surrounded me in the 1960s gave me quite the eclectic taste. Thanks for reacting to Classical Gas!
as good as tommy is on youtube (and he's phenomenal), nothing can replace seeing him live. bucket list experience. he is touring the east coast this spring...highly recommend tickets.
I've never seen him live before and just got 6th row tickets to see him this May. I'm SUPER stoked!!
Saw him at The Tower in Philly years ago. He’s absolutely incredible.
He also included Walk Don't Run which was done by the Ventures
It’s interesting to hear the original version of Walk Don’t Run which has a bridge. It was written by jazz guitarist Johnny Smith.
I knew i recognised that bit, damned if I could remember what it was...thanks!!
Thanks, I was racking my brain trying to name that tune. I had The Atlantics in my head. Nice easy add-in since it too is in A minor.
Thought I was hallucinating but it’s good to know someone else noticed
The Ventures didn't write it. It was written by Johhny Smith and first recorded in 1954. The Ventures did two covers of it. Both were great, but Johnny's was the original.
No matter who interprets this song, it's the song that comes through. Another often overlooked cover is Mason Williams - Classical Gas w/ Deborah Henson-Conant where Mason Williams is accompanied by a harp. Genius all around. Thanks for this reaction and welcome to the Classical Gas appreciation population.
I need to find that one. I can kind of imagine what it might be like and I expect it's a cool collaboration.
Added: found it. Very nicely done.
Best wishes to Mark and his recovery from the accident.
Thanks for reacting to this piece, it is truly one of a kind. I'm currently 57 and I grew up with the original Mason Williams song and have always loved it... it truly is an incredible blend of not just great guitar playing but a wonderful meld of orchestral instruments that give it a truly epic feel.
Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the cover by Tommy Emmanuel. There is absolutely no question that he is a phenomenal guitar player, but he sped up the tempo and he showed off way too much and this cover has no "love" of the original... it's like a kid saying, "Hey ma!!! Look at me! I can do it faster!". There is no "soul" to his performance. Just technique. The technique is brilliant, granted, but without the soul it's just not a truly great piece of music anymore... no matter what 23 million RUclips viewers say.
Thanks again. Always interesting to hear your thoughts on some of my all time favourite music.
Cheers!
~Dan
I had the exact same reaction.
Pretty much describes my reaction, it's the sort of thing that makes me go "now that you've done your warmup exercises how about you play a song?"
It just feels disjointed, it lacks flow and natural transitions. A lot of it just struck me as "see what I can do" rather than adding character and personal touches that augmented the original piece.
Phenomenal player though, I'm going to listen to some other pieces by him. Hopefully he doesn't feel the need to go that overboard on everything.
Agree whole heartedly. T may be cool but he'll never be goldfish in a Lucite guitar on Ed Sullivan cool.
Ditto, the original stops me in my tracks to soak it in; the TE version feels "gimmicky".
I had the pleasure of watching Tommy Emmanuel last year in a small 3000 seat venue and was only a few rows from the stage. He was absolutely mind blowing!! I had no idea!! And he was fun!
I've seen Toomy 4 times in concert. when he comes out on stage, buckle up! total wall of sound! He's a master.
First time for me coming up in May. 6th row! Woohoo!
Tommy is an Australian national treasure, check out stuff he did live with his brother Phil. Tommy's professional career started at the age of six and his list of credits is mind blowing.
I am an Aussie. I hadn't heard of Geoff but just had a quick look at his RUclips channel. I fully agree he is a brilliant guitarist, I will listen to more of his stuff. Can't agree more that Australia is very rich in musical talent.
Being 70 years old, I would like to thank you for taking me back to my junior high school years 67,68 and 69 was just explosive time and music we had in Vida we had this song classical gas Led Zeppelin rock was breaking out everywhere and different variations
Me too
We did an arrangement of this as a Marching Band. Our Director, Joe David, expected excellence. He didn't give us fluff pieces.
How can you march to Classical Gas? The time signature changes so often, I wouldn't think it was possible without 3 feet, or something!
@@theclearsounds3911 A subset of my high school marching band was the "pep band" at basketball games. That is where I encountered the band arrangement of Classical Gas. Yeah, the time signature thing was "fun" for a not-too-accomplished musician such as me in high school (not that I'm particularly accomplished now, 50 years later).
I grew up with Mason William's version, so it will always be #1 for me. Tommy's is amazing, very innovative, but just a bit too busy for me. I like things simple. Thanks for the back-to-back videos. They were great. (BTW, Mason has a transparent guitar that was filled with water and he had goldfish swimming around in it- I was always fascinated by that.)
That's what popped into my head too - "too busy" - I too feel as if simpler is often the best. Tommy is obviously a master, but I feel he made it more complicated than it needed to be.
Tommy must be seen live to truly appreciate how amazingly full a single guitar can sound. And the joy he has while playing is so evident. If I remember correctly, Mason did a version of this on The Smothers Brothers Show playing a clear plexiglass guitar with goldfish swimming in the guitar body….
Seen Tommy play in 1977 in a coffee shop Darlinghurst Sydney.
Just amazing and his brother Phil joined in. 🔥👍🤙
Heard this as a child back in the late 60's. The world stopped for me until the song was finished. Still cool to this day.
This song still gives me goosebumps!! Thanks for playing it!
Tommy is an absolute beast on the guitar! I love his version but the original takes me back to being a kid in the 70's and hearing it on the radio quite often.
I heard this and Joy by the Satellite Orchestra every morning going to school in the early 1970’s. My dad hated Joy and loved Classical Gas, it’s one of my favorite ring tones on my iPhone.
I really enjoy these videos of people exposing themselves to music I have loved since my childhood.
It's great to see your eyes light up when you discover the magic.
It reminds me of how I felt the first time I heard them.
First time I've caught your channel, and it's because I was about 6 weeks from graduating from Benson High in Omaha when Classical Gas first hit the airwaves and I freaking LOVED this piece. They played it a lot and it always put me in a great mood. And then I find out you're from Omaha, too! *All* props to Mr. Emmanuel but the original will always be my favorite.
Ladies and Gentlemen, he is now doing Classical Gas.
* puts down protest sign & begins snapping fingers *
@@Joshlama"So we'll march day and night, by the big cooling tower..."
The Daily Doug. It's a gas, gas, gas.
@@TheOneTrueChristhey have the plant, but we have the power
I still own the 45. Never gets old. And the unmistakable sounds of the Wrecking Crew.
Don't get why people don't like this reaction. Great as always, Doug!
Saw him live in concert a few years ago. So fun! He's not only an amazing guitarist, but also a great entertainer. One of the best concerts I've ever been to.
I used to go and see Tommy and his brother (Phil, rest in peace) play in the local hotels around Sydney suburbs, Australia in the 1980s. They were absolute legends. The chemistry between them was amazing. Standing jus a meter or 2 away. I can still see the joy on their faces playing. I used to listen to a lot of great bands and musicians like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Van Halen. Went to concerts like Dire Straits, Queen, ACDC and many others. No one plays the guitar better than Tommy. Especially live.
How could he have not heard Classical Gas before this? great video, love these
My first thought, too.
It was one of my favorite songs as a kid and im only 34
I was lucky enough to see Tommy live in concert years ago in Wellington, New Zealand. What a show! One man with a guitar for 2 hours, standing ovation. Absolutely stunning.
I was pushing 11 years old when the original Mason Williams version of this song came out on AM radio, and it was my favorite song for quite a while. Its structure was always solid. Now that I'm older, I can appreciate how well it was orchestrated and mixed, as well. Glad that you liked it!
Right before Tommy went into the "Saturday" section, he did a portion of a 1960 song by the Ventures called "Walk Don't Run." Thanks for the great reactions to both versions of the tune.
I recognized that he was doing some other song I had heard, but I couldn't remember the name. Thank you for the information!
The Ventures didn't write it. It was written by Johhny Smith and first recorded in 1954. The Ventures did two covers of it. Both were great, but Johnny's was the original.
@@redmach12003 Yes, the Ventures have heard Chet Aktins doing it -- which sounds different than Johnny Smith's version -- they liked it and simplified it so they could play it...iirc they asked Johnny Smith if he was ok with it.
One of my favorite songs as an adolescent back in the 60s. Superb!
I saw Tommy live some years ago, and it was one of the best shows I've ever seen - 2 and a half hours of just Tommy. Absolutely sensational❤🇦🇺💚💛
I saw Tommy live last year thinking he's a bit old now days and i was therefore careful with my expectations, but this man played that guitar like it was nothing. Absolutely incredible performance! One man, one guitar, one stage, one audience and entertaining as all hell! I had a big smile on my face for a week after. If you get the chance, go see him!
I was lucky enough to hear this and hear Tommy in a little 50-person gathering about 20 years ago unreal.
Seeing that Beatles album on your wall, I'm sure you'll love Tommy Emmanuel's many Beatles covers! It's amazing what this man can do with only his guitar.
I bought a Guitar years ago, figured it was time to learn how to play. Watched many youtube guitar videos, watched Tommy playing Day Tripper, playing Bass and Rhythm AT THE SAME FRIGGN time. Guitar is still in the cupboard.
@@TherealQ2nooo man don't let someone else's playing discourage you! Tommy is such a rare and amazing guitarist that even guys like Guthrie Govan, who I consider a god when it comes to guitar, say that Tommy is scary in how good he is. The goal when you pick up an instrument isn't to be the best in the world, just like when you decide to learn another language your goal isn't to become an academic in it. Playing music is fun, regardless of one's level, and you don't NEED to be able to play like Tommy Emmanuel in order to make music.
Wow...I've seen many reaction videos, but Doug, you are FANTASTIC! I love the running commentary on the notes being played etc. Very fun and informative viewing - I've subscribed!!😎👍
The real treat when you see Tommy Emmanuel live, are the stories he tells as he plays. He is a one man show, and total entertainment. If you have the chance to see him, go!
My favorite song for years (I bought the single when it first hit the charts way back then)...And then Tommy E. (my favorite acoustic guitar player)got hold of it...and wow! I love these guys. Thanks so much for doing this one!
Tommy is a master. One of the all time greats.
Tommy isn't only a virtuoso musician.
He is also an extremely humble and very nice bloke.
I may be mistaken, but i think that he still doesn't read music.
With such an ear and a physical talent for playing, he is mesmerising to watch while he performs, especially live.
He doesn't receive the recognition that i believe he has earned and deserves.
BTW, his brother is also an outstanding musician, as are his entire family.
I recommend that anyone interested in music should investigate the life of Tommy and his family as they travelled around the country playing as a family since Tommy was a young child.
It's a fascinating and incredible story.
Thank you for a wonderful video.
Bob. Australia.
Where have you been living! Glad you've finally discovered this absolute classic 😊
Absolutely wonderful music. I'm glad you've joined the party.
I got to see Tommy several years ago from the third row when he was touring with Martin Taylor (what a great name for a guitarist), and of course Tommy did "Classical Gas". Amazing performance as always, and I've yet to see anyone play with such unadulterated joy.
Tommy Emmanuel was a true prodigy, an absolute phenom. The man has been a virtuoso of the guitar since he was a toddler, and has been touring since he was 6 years old!
Awesome! I really appreciate the production behind this review - great contrast.
Very pleased to have seen your first listen to this Mason Williams classic - and after having searched your video library, I'm going to rejoin your Patreon so I can recommend another song to you that might be an aural challenge ... and hopefully a delight as well. As always, thank you for the education and the enjoyment!
I saw the premier on the Smothers Brothers show. I am stinking old.. It made me decide to learn to play guitar.
Thank you! I was familiar with Mason Williams (I grew up in the 60's and 70's), but I got to hear Tommy Emmanuel for the first time right along with you. That is an incredible, magical performance! I'm really glad you showed this one.
Tommy Emmanuel recently did a series of duets and with Molly Tuttle on the Guitarist RUclips channel. That's two of the greatest acoustic guitarist in the world playing together and it's absolutely magical.
I recall the original Classical Gas being used on some TV show or other when I was a kid in the 70s, and always liked it. Then the great Tommy E. comes along and absolutely blows it out of the park. The man is truly unparalleled - an absolute genius on the guitar.
I think it sounds like it belongs in "The Thomas Crown Affair". Don't think it was, just seems to fit.
A video of this song was shown on the Smothers Brothers.
@@richardcutts196I believe Mason Williams was a writer for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
It was the theme tune to a consumer programme on Granada TV here in the UK.......
@@WerdnaLiten That's where I first heard it in the early 70s
In the summer of '68, The Original Classical Gas Video "3000 Years of Art" was shown on The Smothers Brothers. It was a great combination of visual and musical art.
"Written by Mason Williams
CLASSICAL GAS was one of the earliest records that used a visual to help present and promote a recording on television. It probably qualifies as one of the earliest music videos.
During the time that CLASSICAL GAS was a hit and I was the head-writer for THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR. I had seen a film titled “GOD IS DOG SPELLED BACKWARDS” at The Encore Theater, an offbeat movie house in L.A. The short film was a collection of approximately 2500 classical works of art, mostly paintings, that flashed by in three minutes. Each image lasted only two film frames, so one saw twelve images a second! At the end of the film the viewer was pronounced “cultural” since they had just had “3000 years of art indelibly etched in their brains in 3 minutes!”
The film was the work of a UCLA film student named Dan McLaughlin. I contacted Dan and told him that I was interested in the idea of using his film as a visual for CLASSICAL GAS to air on THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR. (His original sound track had been Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.) THE COMEDY HOUR offered him enough money to finance a new film he wanted to make in exchange for the right to change the original soundtrack from Beethoven’s 5th Symphony to CLASSICAL GAS and air it on the show. As a “music video” it was first shown on THE SUMMER BROTHERS SMOTHERS SHOW (Glen Campbell was the host) in the summer of 1968.
The impact of the film on television opened the door to the realization that the viewer’s mind could not only absorb, but was excited by this degree of visual input. It was the beginning of the use of streams of fast-images now called kinestasis. Over the years it has been exploited effectively by television commercials, documentaries, etc.
THE COMEDY HOUR also created other films in the kinestasis style. The most notable of these being a montage of the major news photo images of 1968 compressed into a four minute film titled “American Time Capsule”. Dan McLaughlin was asked if he would like to make the film, but being an experimental filmmaker, wasn’t interested in repeating himself, so Tom Smothers hired Chuck Braverman to create this and other films for the show.
As a result of the response to the CLASSICAL GAS music video and my interest in bringing new visual concepts to the show, in September of 1968 I wrote a comedy piece for the show projecting the concept that someday DJ’s as VJ’s (Video Jockeys) would play hit tapes on TV, a prophesy of what was to later become MTV. (The original sketch from my journal is included.) When I approached THE COMEDY HOUR with the idea, the producers said, “What the hell are you talking about, DJ’s on TV? That ain’t funny!” They passed on the idea."
Saw Tommy play in 1995 or 96, in a regional town in Victoria Australia, when he released the album he played Classical Gas on. Seeing him play it live is another experience entirely. Not a single murmur from the crowd the entire performance, until he hit that last note, then the auditorium erupted in applause. To this day, it's still one of my favorite live performances I have seen. After the show, he hung around, I got to speak to him for about 20 minutes. One of the nicest guys you will ever come across.
I've seen Tommy several times in concert. One of the most memorable was in my hometown of Huntsville, AL. It was in an auditorium on the UAH campus. At the time for the concert to begin, everyone was sitting waiting patiently. We started hearing an acoustic guitar being played but Tommy wasn't on the stage. We all started looking around to see where the music was coming from. Tommy was starting to play his first song of the concert while he is walking down the aisle through the audience from the back of the auditorium to the stage! Quite an entrance!
First time I heard this was, I think, on Johnny Carson and played by Jim Stafford.
I've always loved this song, since it came out.
I got to see Tommy in 2000 - Virginia Beach - small venue - took my 13 year old son and his best friend who were aspiring guitarists. Front row seats. We all almost wet our pants as you can imagine. :-) And I remember Mason Williams from when I was about 11! So glad to see you loving it! PS He's from Australia and did a piece called "Initiation" based on Aborginal influences. That will blow your socks off too!
I love this song. Been trying to play it on guitar for about 45 years
I have had the immense pleasure of seeing Tommy live on several occasions and each time I come out of his concert, not only in amazement but with a feeling of joy and hope. If you want to see how he can turn a guitar into an amazing story telling piece then try "Initiation". Based on the transition of a boy to manhood in his indigenous culture.
Amazing you never heard it. Before it hit BIG on AM radio I saw him "finger synch) it on Glen Campbell's Goodtime Hour. Solid radio play for years, even up through the mid to late 70s. Tommy is a truly great player, but I've never preferred any guitar players' version (and they all tried it) over Williams' original. After playing bits and pieces of it for years, I finally had to learn the orignal when I retired 14 years ago. One more thing, Tommy is a steel-string player, very few pieces on classical. He is quite the Tele/Strat player, as well (his brother was slmost as good as Tommy when they performed as a duo back in the 70s and 80s.)
I was a kid listening to this song on the radio. And many years later I can play some of it.
I saw Tommy Emmanuel perform several years ago, and when he was performing this song, he broke a guitar string. Instead of of stopping, he just shifted his fretting hand and kept the song going. He might have missed two notes on the transition, but no more than that. The man is unbelievable, even when you hear him play with your own eyes! He is not to be missed.
Jim Stafford on the tonight show with Johnny Carson is also great. Well done. This was fun
I think you'd also enjoy Tommy and his brother Phil (RIP) playing Rondo Alla Turca; or even some of their live stage jam duos, which can include them playing each others guitar or even both playing one guitar.
Wonderful informed reaction. Always good to hear the energetic original. The Emmanuel version a good take of creativity. I was most impressed by the informed reactions. Found this channel subscribing by choice.
Moved to Eugene Oregon in 93. Walking on the Eugene campus and I see and hear, far off, a guy playing Classical Gas on the guitar. I get close, and it's Mason Williams. I went around telling everyone I had seen Mason Williams playing Classical Gas on a bench at the university.
Meant nothing to them. I bet he enjoyed the anonymity.
Tommy is one of the greatest guitar player in the world.
Is not a "classical" guitar player. He's something else, something out of this world.
And...he's a drummer, too.
I thought the same. Tommy is not a "classical" guitar player, he has developed his own mindblowing technique. He plays everything at once, including the rythm section. His history is better than fiction can dream up. His playing is on top of the world, he is still humble, very entertaining and fun too! Check out his live version of Guitar boogie/Amazing grace. "Don´t try that on a japanese instrument". :D
@@jokervienna6433 I’ve seen many times Tommy live
I know pretty much every piece, and most of the thousands of RUclips videos.
He’s a wonderful person. And an amazing musician.
You should watch Rick Beato's interview with him.
"Classical Gas" is the first record that I ever bought. I still have my 45 from 1968. This recording sounds just as good every time that I hear it.
I went out and bought the piano sheet music for this the day I first heard it as a teenager. Thanks for reviving some wonderful memories!
Due respect to Doug and apologies for the critical hand grenade I am about to lob, and I know I will get scorch marks from ya’ll but… The original Classical Gas is my absolute favorite piece of music. It resonated when I was three years old in 1968. The memory is crystal clear. As a guitarist, I purposefully did not learn it to retain whatever mystery it holds for me. All that said, no cover version can hold a candle to the simple grace of the original. Emmanual, though clearly a better technical guitarist than Williams, fails to move me. That run to start his version felt more like ego than anything musical. He turned a lovely simple work into… “Look at me shred!”… yawn. Flame away all!
I'm afraid I agree. Tremendously clever and impressive but in the way acrobats and fire-eaters are impressive. Fun to hear once, but if I want that again I'll go to the circus.
Absolutely agree, Tommy's version took away the original flow of the song.
Grenades going off and scorching flames! Tommy rocks! Made you yawn? LOL. I think you need a defibrillator.
If the original is your fav its understandable that someone else changing it into something else wouldnt be your fav. You are entitled to your opinion on which arrangement of noises you prefer 👍
@@gtrdoc911 Zappa called out the weedly weedly wee, as regards guitarists who shred for the sake of it. Again all due respect to Emmanual… just no feeling in it.
I remember learning to play this when I was 15. Great fun.
There is a richness to the original with the small band that cannot be matched.
I have seen Tommy Emanuel live and will consider he the best guitarist alive today independent of what kind of music style that is being played.😊😊😊
Tommy learned from the master and mentor Chet and has built upon it to a whole new level. Living legend is an understatement, a once in several generations talent and human being. See him whenever you can. Cheers.
You couldn't be alive in the 70s and not have heard this piece of music. It was everywhere. It was featured in movies, adds, fire-works shows, even behind racing yachts. Isn't it wonderful ?
I saw this as I was scolling past, and thought it would be a fun watch, and oh! It was! Great reactions, both of them. I hadn't heard Tommy Emanuel before, what a musician! Looking at who you are listening to I'll probably be back again sometime, til then, be well.
I first heard Classical Gas as a straight up guitar piece. I've always loved that the best... Mason William's virtuoso guitar playing isn't hidden behind the orchestra.
Absolutely fun and a blast to watch this!
I also have a version that Mason Williams did without the brass or the other instruments. Just the acoustic on it's own. Tommy Emmanuel has a brother Phil, who isn't a bad strummer either. Saw them live together back in the 90's Sydney pub scene quite often.
Could watch Tommy play guitar all day, mesmerising! My favourite is Initiation, uses absolutely every mm of his guitar!
Nice to have you as a fellow fan boy of Classical Gas!