Leon barely moves while playing yet he is riffing like Charlie Christian. He was an amazing talent and understated performer. I was lucky to see him once and it was a great show. RIP Leon.
Got to see him once in concert before he died. Remains one of the best shows I've ever been to. Instead of a band, his opening act was a juggler who did tricks on a unicycle. Half the show was jokes and stories. There will always be a need for this style of entertainer.
This is really a very complicated line of blues runs all the way up and down the neck. Though Leon loves the simplicity of old tunes he is really a great player and knows his scales and lots of weird chords.
The other person who performed this song was Floyd "Uncle Floyd" Vivino. Jean Shepherd, former radio host, used to play this on a kazoo. Good performance Leon.
I remember this being sung by Diz Dizzley at folk clubs in the early seventies (with Brillo on bass). He used to sing, 'with no shirt on' after every line!. Another of his 'fillers' was, 'Be kind to our web-footed friends, for a duck may be somebody's brother, out there in the wet ans the swamp where he's feeling wet and domp, Oh you may think that this is the end, well it is!'
I think Paul Asaro is the pianist. He's great. He's done a lot of Leon's shows over the last several years and has lots of other examples on youtube and elsewhere.
Back in the 70s, some of us were convinced that Leon Redbone was Andy Kaufman in disguise. If anyone else heard this urban rumor, please leave a comment.
Rick Gauger No. But If by 'some' you meant your other communist brothers...then maybe.But In the 70's Leon was a 1920'ish music playing musician. Nothing more. Nothing less. Really? Andy Kaufman? Really? Wow.
Rick Gauger I was 7 in 1975, when my dad took me to see Leon Redbone. (In a bar. In Los Angeles. At night. Back when sending your 7-year-old to the corner liquor store to pick up rum-coke-&-smokes was considered a reasonable thing to do.) On the way I asked who Leon Redbone was; my dad told me nobody knew who Leon Redbone was, but there was a pretty good chance he was either Andy Kaufman or a time traveler who came to us from the 1920s. I saw Leon Redbone again in 2009. Kaufman was dead - or stretching the joke *way* too far - so Leon Redbone is probably not Andy Kaufman. But at that 2009 show Leon Redbone looked (aside from some grey hair), sounded, and acted just like he did in 1975, singing many of the same songs and even telling some of the same jokes. So I think the Andy Kaufman theory has been sufficiently debunked, but the time traveler thing is still a possibility.
In the late 40s and early 50s I was a very small boy living in Memphis. Now and then I would be with my grandparents or other relatives when they went to the Peabody Hotel and other respectable places downtown. There I would see older men who were the models for the role that Leon Redbone plays in his act. They wore old pin-striped, double-breasted suits and sat in the lobbies with their canes and cigars, talking in whiskey voices. I seem to remember seeing them in the club car of the City Of New Orleans train my brother and I used to ride to visit other grandparents in Illinois. Those days are gone.
Yup. Early pals in Toronto and a similar style. Mose went more bushy with a wide-brimmed hat. Leon went in the neatly-trimmed goatee and Panama direction...
Someone said, "We need more entertainers like him". Problem is, there are NO more like him! He was One of a kind!
As preservationists go, Pokey LaFarge ain't bad.
Leon barely moves while playing yet he is riffing like Charlie Christian. He was an amazing talent and understated performer. I was lucky to see him once and it was a great show. RIP Leon.
Got to see him once in concert before he died. Remains one of the best shows I've ever been to. Instead of a band, his opening act was a juggler who did tricks on a unicycle. Half the show was jokes and stories. There will always be a need for this style of entertainer.
This is really a very complicated line of blues runs all the way up and down the neck. Though Leon loves the simplicity of old tunes he is really a great player and knows his scales and lots of weird chords.
You calm me down when I'm uptight. You pipe me down when I can't shut-up. You smooth my wrinkles. Thank you.
I always Loved Leon Redbone's unique style ♡
Rest in Peace Leon... :(
The other person who performed this song was Floyd "Uncle Floyd" Vivino. Jean Shepherd, former radio host, used to play this on a kazoo.
Good performance Leon.
RIP Mr. Redbone
Great !
Oh my goodness! I have been waiting forever for a good video of this song on here. Thank you!
I remember this being sung by Diz Dizzley at folk clubs in the early seventies (with Brillo on bass). He used to sing, 'with no shirt on' after every line!. Another of his 'fillers' was, 'Be kind to our web-footed friends, for a duck may be somebody's brother, out there in the wet ans the swamp where he's feeling wet and domp, Oh you may think that this is the end, well it is!'
what a genius thanks for sharing
Oh my goodness! I have been waiting forever for a good video of this!
That’s great!👏👏😃👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
great talent! :)
Spike Jones' version is also very good and, of course, over the top.
I think Paul Asaro is the pianist. He's great. He's done a lot of Leon's shows over the last several years and has lots of other examples on youtube and elsewhere.
Thomas .Hennessey Paul is from my hometown of Galesburg, IL. Great pianist!
Thomas .Hennessey m
amaro is the best
amaro is the best
Woww!!
GENIAL !!!!!!!!!!
I wuv you, Leon!
The other recording on youtube of Leon doing this tune with Paul Asaro on the piano is way better.
I originally thought he was a robot
Back in the 70s, some of us were convinced that Leon Redbone was Andy Kaufman in disguise. If anyone else heard this urban rumor, please leave a comment.
he does look like tony Clifton..:)
Rick Gauger No. But If by 'some' you meant your other communist brothers...then maybe.But In the 70's Leon was a 1920'ish music playing musician. Nothing more. Nothing less. Really? Andy Kaufman? Really? Wow.
Rick Gauger I was 7 in 1975, when my dad took me to see Leon Redbone. (In a bar. In Los Angeles. At night. Back when sending your 7-year-old to the corner liquor store to pick up rum-coke-&-smokes was considered a reasonable thing to do.) On the way I asked who Leon Redbone was; my dad told me nobody knew who Leon Redbone was, but there was a pretty good chance he was either Andy Kaufman or a time traveler who came to us from the 1920s.
I saw Leon Redbone again in 2009. Kaufman was dead - or stretching the joke *way* too far - so Leon Redbone is probably not Andy Kaufman. But at that 2009 show Leon Redbone looked (aside from some grey hair), sounded, and acted just like he did in 1975, singing many of the same songs and even telling some of the same jokes.
So I think the Andy Kaufman theory has been sufficiently debunked, but the time traveler thing is still a possibility.
+Rick Gauger The rumor I heard in those days was that he was an alter ego of Frank Zappa.
In the late 40s and early 50s I was a very small boy living in Memphis. Now and then I would be with my grandparents or other relatives when they went to the Peabody Hotel and other respectable places downtown. There I would see older men who were the models for the role that Leon Redbone plays in his act. They wore old pin-striped, double-breasted suits and sat in the lobbies with their canes and cigars, talking in whiskey voices. I seem to remember seeing them in the club car of the City Of New Orleans train my brother and I used to ride to visit other grandparents in Illinois. Those days are gone.
piano player sounds like Brad Kay
Leon Redbone is not Frank Zappa@birdstuckinchimney
I was stunned when I found out that Leon Redbone is actually Frank Zappa !
Not true.....Zappa is dead and Leon is very much alive.😱
Leon was Leon...Not Frank, not Andy, both of who he outlives by many years... Leon Redbone died today.
Try searching UA-cam for Mose Scarlett.
Mose Scarlett
Yup. Early pals in Toronto and a similar style. Mose went more bushy with a wide-brimmed hat. Leon went in the neatly-trimmed goatee and Panama direction...
it's a running gag. He calls all of his songs "original," but it's a joke.
A very good variation of this song. But still prefer Fats Domino's one. So does my doggie Zac....Rosa Larsen
Nah. He's a Kanuk