D. J. David B. Spins Comics-Tunes: It’s Raining Comics
Most of the comics-oriented records I present here are about comics characters. Duh. What I mean is, generally the whole subject of the song is Batman, Flash Gordon, Pogo, Batman, or whomever. The character’s name is in the title and he or she is the star of the song.
Today’s little tune, by contrast, demonstrates just how much a part of the fabric of popular culture comic strip characters were, way back when.
Listen as the one and only Spike Jones performs “It Never Rains In Sunny California.” Just before the raindrops, he casually name drops two of the biggest stars of the funny pages, Li’l Abner and Dick Tracy. That’s it. They are never mentioned again in the song. This isn’t a song about Dick Tracy. It’s simply assumed that the listener is familiar with the adventures of Plainclothes Tracy, the greatest detective to ever wear a yellow raincoat. Likewise, music-lovers would be well acquainted with Daisy Mae’s attempts to marry that big lug Abner, no explanation necessary. Everybody read comics in the good old days!
Click the link to check it out:
Spike Jones - IT NEVER RAINS IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA
— DJ David B.
