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Much has changed in the world of small things since we recorded our first album, Jabberwocky Goes to Town, way back in the 20th century (incidentally, one of the last vinyl records ever pressed by the mainstream New Zealand music industry). Personal computers, cellular telephones, compact discs: these are now utterly commonplace, whereas gramophone records have become almost unobtainable, as have tea chests, tuneful plastic saxophones, elephantophones and all the other low-budget medium-quality junk on which we built our vast ukulele empire. Consequently, we’ve been obliged to play one or two “real” instruments on this album. Sorry about that. In spite of this slight lowering of standards our music still carries the usual Muffin Guarantee: Absolutely No Guitars Have Been Used In This Production Remember boys and girls: “Four Strings Good, Six Strings Bad”
This album is dedicated to the memory of the late Cecil G Murgatroyd: ukulele virtuoso, street orator, politician and complete maniac. 22/5/1958—21/5/2001.
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Play Spot the Difference with the Big Muffin Serious Band!
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Serious Ukulele Ensemble
NEWSFLASH!! HERE NOW! THE RE-RELEASE ON CD OF THE CLASSIC FIRST BIG MUFFIN SERIOUS BAND ALBUM, JABBERWOCKY GOES TO TOWN
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After two years in production, we proudly present the following
tunes Low-fidelity MP3 versions are available for the highlighted tracks
TOUGE NO WAGAYA The ranges of Japan are not the world’s largest, nor most famous, but they are home to a small band of dedicated Koto-pickin’ Cowpersons. UKULELE LADY The fanciful ramblings of a former package holiday Casanova, in the early stages of Old-Timer’s Disease. This version heavily influenced by the Jim Kweskin Jug Band. TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS (292KB) An overheard CB radio conversation between two ruthless repo men, touchingly set to music. SMOKE ON THE WATER Another true story from the annals of country music. Not quite sure which country though. Collected by CG Murgatroyd. LEADER OF THE PACK A gripping tale of love, hate, and bad judgement, from the Emotional Capital of New Zealand: Te Awamutu. THE EGGPLANT THAT ATE OTAGO The theme music from our kidult shadow-puppetry and multimedia touring show of the same name. Warning: eat your vegetables before they eat you. HAMILTON Runner-up in the “Compose an Anthem for Hamilton City” competition, Chris spent his winnings on a one-way bus ticket to Raglan, and has never been seen since. DON’T GO IN THE BASEMENT Built in the shadow of the Cold War, ever since the grand opening of the unaccountably expensive new Council buildings, staff and visitors alike have been issued with an instruction booklet. We include pages 4 to 7. LOS SULTANAS DEL SWING (481KB) Teach yourself Spanish in 16 easy lessons—a pastiche of irritatingly literal translations of Dire Straits’ English language version with an overlay of phrases plucked from “The Lover’s Dictionary”. YE ROVER RETURNS A medley of Old English folk tunes, as played by slightly inebriated minstrels in a popular wayside inn to celebrate the arrival of a famous physician. DONALD WHERE’S YER TREWSERS? (430KB) A traditional Scottish air from the first flowerings of Rap Music, in the early 70s (1670s that is). BANANA ROCK From the moment the first caveman flung out the first bone... A tribute to the hard-working rubbish collectors of the world. MY FAVOURITE THINGS Graeme’s semi-autobiographical ruminations, erected on the foundations of the Julie Andrews smash hit, but executed in a distinctly Tom Waitsian style. JIMI B. GOODE (466KB) The (almost) true story of Jim’s metamorphosis from insignificant Scots git to Tomahawk Prince of Light Metal. This is an “as if recorded live at Woodstock (the well-known Hamilton suburb)” reworking of the version on our 1987 album, Jabberwocky Goes to Town. TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS GUMBOOT DANCE MIX (256KB) A version which is even more different from the Tiny Tim version than the one above
There are serious file size restrictions on this site. To get some idea of the pure, unalloyed sound of power uke in all its stereophonic splendour, here's a brief, near-CD quality sample. JIMI B. GOODE Instrumental Break (499KB)
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