Nellie, The Nudist Queen - Ross and Sargent

Now, some creditors came calling at a clearing in the hills,

And asked to see a statement that would justify her bills.

When they viewed her liabilities, the atmosphere was tense,

But when she showed her assets, her assets were immense!

It's time to enjoy a twee and titillating Tuesday with 'Nellie, The Nudist Queen' from 1933 by Stuart Ross and John Sargent.

It's hard to find much info about the record beyond the names of the songwriters. Described as a comedy duet with piano, in many ways the song is a prototype for the skewed pop that Spike Jones began producing a few years later.

If anyone out there has any info on Ross and Sargent drop us a line! Maybe they were nudists! I hope so! The world needs to know!

Never Hit Your Grandma With A Shovel - Spike Jones

Spike Jones was an American bandleader and musician renowned for creating satirical, unusual and comedic pop songs from the 1940s through to the early 1960s. It's one of the early recordings we are looking at today, the absolute gem Never Hit Your Grandma With A Shovel.

The title is rather self explanatory as to the content of this little ditty. What's truly remarkable about the song is how well it's aged. Novelty numbers, especially older novelty numbers, are often products of their own time. Jones has managed to sidestep this problem with Grandma by playing it so completely straight.

The barbershop harmonies never wink to the listener that the song is anything less than sweet and heart felt pop. By the time the group is rolling their R's recommending a rock instead of a shovel you will be laughing, enraptured and thinking unwholesome thoughts about your Grandma. Really, what more can you ask of a pop song than that?