A simple tip of his hat
May 30, 2019 10:03 AM Subscribe
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posted by Cookiebastard at 10:21 AM on May 30, 2019
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:21 AM on May 30, 2019
If anyone else is as confused as I am, he was actually 69 years old.
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posted by fiercecupcake at 10:21 AM on May 30, 2019 [32 favorites]
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posted by fiercecupcake at 10:21 AM on May 30, 2019 [32 favorites]
If you ever watched Mr. Belvedere (what a show, what a theme song) or heard the version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” from Elf, you’ve heard a song of his.
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posted by sallybrown at 10:27 AM on May 30, 2019 [5 favorites]
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posted by sallybrown at 10:27 AM on May 30, 2019 [5 favorites]
It was Redbone who sang the memorable version of Baby, It's Cold Outside with Zooey Deschanel in Elf.
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posted by Bee'sWing at 10:29 AM on May 30, 2019 [2 favorites]
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posted by Bee'sWing at 10:29 AM on May 30, 2019 [2 favorites]
<swing>.</swing>
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:37 AM on May 30, 2019
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:37 AM on May 30, 2019
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The short documentary about him is called Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone, but of course we will.
posted by LeLiLo at 10:37 AM on May 30, 2019 [3 favorites]
The short documentary about him is called Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone, but of course we will.
posted by LeLiLo at 10:37 AM on May 30, 2019 [3 favorites]
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I know it's out of season, but I have always loved his version of "Christmas Island"
posted by briank at 10:40 AM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
I know it's out of season, but I have always loved his version of "Christmas Island"
posted by briank at 10:40 AM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
If anyone else is as confused as I am, he was actually 69 years old.
Nice.
posted by bondcliff at 10:42 AM on May 30, 2019 [8 favorites]
Nice.
posted by bondcliff at 10:42 AM on May 30, 2019 [8 favorites]
Never make a dime that way
Never hear a word I say
posted by Meatbomb at 10:53 AM on May 30, 2019 [2 favorites]
Never hear a word I say
posted by Meatbomb at 10:53 AM on May 30, 2019 [2 favorites]
Oh man.
My parents were hippies, with an extensive folk music collection, but then in the 70s and early 80s somehow all they listened to was Leon Redbone. All the time. Like, when Wayne's World came out, a friend copied a tape of Queen for my mom, because she'd never heard of them, because she had only been listening to Leon Redbone during the period of time when glam rock/arena rock existed.
I don't talk to my mom anymore, and I'm shocked to learn here that Redbone was a year younger than she is. I can't say that I exactly enjoy his music because I mostly associate him with a muffled, claustrophobic sense of my mother's myopia. When I was a tween and I discovered her old Beatles records she told me I ruined them for her, by playing them too much, but by then I'd had 11 years of nothing but "Christmas Island" and "Ain't Misbehavin" under my belt.
My favorite work of his was an All commercial.
There are worse things than childhoods whose soundtracks are written by Redbone, I guess. Gives it a certain kind of timelessness.
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posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:57 AM on May 30, 2019 [8 favorites]
My parents were hippies, with an extensive folk music collection, but then in the 70s and early 80s somehow all they listened to was Leon Redbone. All the time. Like, when Wayne's World came out, a friend copied a tape of Queen for my mom, because she'd never heard of them, because she had only been listening to Leon Redbone during the period of time when glam rock/arena rock existed.
I don't talk to my mom anymore, and I'm shocked to learn here that Redbone was a year younger than she is. I can't say that I exactly enjoy his music because I mostly associate him with a muffled, claustrophobic sense of my mother's myopia. When I was a tween and I discovered her old Beatles records she told me I ruined them for her, by playing them too much, but by then I'd had 11 years of nothing but "Christmas Island" and "Ain't Misbehavin" under my belt.
My favorite work of his was an All commercial.
There are worse things than childhoods whose soundtracks are written by Redbone, I guess. Gives it a certain kind of timelessness.
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posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:57 AM on May 30, 2019 [8 favorites]
Nobody out there seems to have a good explanation for the age being given as 127, other than that it's a little family joke, whimsical, and a reflection of the fact that he was "from another time," vaudevillian in style. He was born in Cyprus with the name Dickran Gobalian. Back in 1974, Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone "I've heard he's anywhere from 25 to 60." (NPR). 25 was correct. But if he was 60 then, he'd be only 105 now.
posted by beagle at 11:09 AM on May 30, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by beagle at 11:09 AM on May 30, 2019 [4 favorites]
Leon Redbone had one of my all-time favorite singing voices.
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posted by tzikeh at 11:09 AM on May 30, 2019
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posted by tzikeh at 11:09 AM on May 30, 2019
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posted by Halloween Jack at 11:11 AM on May 30, 2019
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:11 AM on May 30, 2019
I saw him once, at a small club in Ft. Lauderdale, around 1990. His performance was wasted on my date, a young Eurasian elementary-school teacher with whom I was utterly infatuated until I was forced to confront how utterly uncultured she was. When I think of him, the first thing that comes to mind is always Ain't Misbehavin'.
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 11:59 AM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Aardvark Cheeselog at 11:59 AM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
I guess now we'll never know what diddy wah diddy means.
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posted by hal9k at 12:07 PM on May 30, 2019 [3 favorites]
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posted by hal9k at 12:07 PM on May 30, 2019 [3 favorites]
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posted by jim in austin at 1:01 PM on May 30, 2019
posted by jim in austin at 1:01 PM on May 30, 2019
Damn. When he retired in 2015 I was wondering if he was leaving us soon. Glad I got the chance to see him live, with Leo Kottke no less. Double Time will always be my favorite album, for the silliness and the now sadly appropriate album closer.
posted by Billy Rubin at 1:12 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Billy Rubin at 1:12 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
I accept the cover story that he was born at the age of 58. I've known people born at relatively advanced ages, but none who wore it as well.
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posted by oneswellfoop at 1:13 PM on May 30, 2019 [10 favorites]
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posted by oneswellfoop at 1:13 PM on May 30, 2019 [10 favorites]
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posted by Silverstone at 1:14 PM on May 30, 2019
posted by Silverstone at 1:14 PM on May 30, 2019
In his wikipedia picture he looks extraordinarily like my father. Who would've been 71 this year. I will look up his music today.
posted by FritoKAL at 1:41 PM on May 30, 2019
posted by FritoKAL at 1:41 PM on May 30, 2019
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posted by From Bklyn at 2:40 PM on May 30, 2019
posted by From Bklyn at 2:40 PM on May 30, 2019
The most memorable live show I've ever seen featured Leon Redbone and Tom Waits at a now-defunct nightclub in Dallas sometime in the '70s. Can't recall who opened for whom, but I'll always remember Redbone with a sousaphone accompanist.
posted by key_of_z at 2:51 PM on May 30, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by key_of_z at 2:51 PM on May 30, 2019 [8 favorites]
Glad I got the chance to see him live, with Leo Kottke no less.
I was hanging out with Leo backstage years ago after a show when a young fan tried to convince him that the (at that point relatively new) compact disc was a great advance in music recording. Finally, to get rid of the kid, Leo said, "Hey, at least I'm not as bad as Leon Redbone. He wants us all to go back to the hand-wound gramophone."
posted by LeLiLo at 3:17 PM on May 30, 2019 [5 favorites]
I was hanging out with Leo backstage years ago after a show when a young fan tried to convince him that the (at that point relatively new) compact disc was a great advance in music recording. Finally, to get rid of the kid, Leo said, "Hey, at least I'm not as bad as Leon Redbone. He wants us all to go back to the hand-wound gramophone."
posted by LeLiLo at 3:17 PM on May 30, 2019 [5 favorites]
Best known in the UK for this song, which was used in an advert for, of all things, Intercity railways.
I remember thinking I'd quite like to do that when I grew up (though I would have been in my mid-twenties at the time, my mid fifties now, and I'd still like to do that if I get round to growing up).
posted by Grangousier at 4:00 PM on May 30, 2019
I remember thinking I'd quite like to do that when I grew up (though I would have been in my mid-twenties at the time, my mid fifties now, and I'd still like to do that if I get round to growing up).
posted by Grangousier at 4:00 PM on May 30, 2019
That was fine. It was thoughtful of Riddle Films to put it up at this time.
posted by Bee'sWing at 5:04 PM on May 30, 2019
posted by Bee'sWing at 5:04 PM on May 30, 2019
I've been a fan of his since I was a teenager. Finally got to see him around 1980 or so. He was exactly what I expected; Funny, entertaining, and lots of great music. A few years ago I almost went to see him at a place nearby, but it was the day after Thanksgiving and too much was going on.
I guess I'll go put Champagne Charlie on the stereo and think about the past for a while.
posted by freakazoid at 5:04 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
I guess I'll go put Champagne Charlie on the stereo and think about the past for a while.
posted by freakazoid at 5:04 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
There is just something so cosmically perfect about Leon appearing on the short-lived ALF talk show.
posted by Quasimike at 5:31 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Quasimike at 5:31 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
key_of_z, I saw that same billing of Tom Waits and Leon Redbone in Los Angeles on what must have been the same tour. Leon Redbone came on first. Among other things, he did some shadow puppetry; brief but fun. He also did a wide variety of songs from the 1920s-1940s.
Tom Waits was apparently not getting along with Leon. When Tom came on, he created a huge cloud of cigarette smoke from the three packs he smoked during his set, and waved his hands frantically in the haze, making fun on Leon's schtick.
He had a bit part in the movie "Candy Mountain" as a redneck sheriff.
He left behind a wife, two daughters, and three grandchildren.
posted by blob at 9:19 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
Tom Waits was apparently not getting along with Leon. When Tom came on, he created a huge cloud of cigarette smoke from the three packs he smoked during his set, and waved his hands frantically in the haze, making fun on Leon's schtick.
He had a bit part in the movie "Candy Mountain" as a redneck sheriff.
He left behind a wife, two daughters, and three grandchildren.
posted by blob at 9:19 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
First time I saw Leon Redbone was when he was on SNL...
Had no idea what was going on with that.
Looking back, solid
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posted by Windopaene at 10:48 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
Had no idea what was going on with that.
Looking back, solid
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posted by Windopaene at 10:48 PM on May 30, 2019 [1 favorite]
SNL was my big memory too. Double Time was in the stores. I loved it and still have it. You can see it's from when I used to write my name on all my records.
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:23 AM on May 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:23 AM on May 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
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Ah yes. That first SNL appearance. Had a bunch of folks over, partying. Everyone stopped cold, some with bongs in hand, and listened. When it was over, someone said with awed reverence, “What did we just see?” It was at once eerie and magical, like a peek through an actual time-portal.
I’m reminded of Crumb, and Robert’s sincere love of 20s-era tunes. Contemporary music doesn’t always hit the right notes for people but on occasion vintage stuff does.
Sometimes the music chooses you.
posted by kinnakeet at 6:19 AM on May 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
Ah yes. That first SNL appearance. Had a bunch of folks over, partying. Everyone stopped cold, some with bongs in hand, and listened. When it was over, someone said with awed reverence, “What did we just see?” It was at once eerie and magical, like a peek through an actual time-portal.
I’m reminded of Crumb, and Robert’s sincere love of 20s-era tunes. Contemporary music doesn’t always hit the right notes for people but on occasion vintage stuff does.
Sometimes the music chooses you.
posted by kinnakeet at 6:19 AM on May 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
Wow, the cultural clout of SNL in the 70's...
"Hey, check out this guy in a white suit, in dark sunglasses and a Panama hat. He's, going to sing gramophone music at you. THAT'S WHAT YOU LIKE NOW."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:10 AM on May 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
"Hey, check out this guy in a white suit, in dark sunglasses and a Panama hat. He's, going to sing gramophone music at you. THAT'S WHAT YOU LIKE NOW."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:10 AM on May 31, 2019 [4 favorites]
I had to trim him from my MetaFilter Music Swap mix, but I was this >< close to including him.
Leon Redbone on SNL was my first experience of the margins of "music people like" that I caught an affinity for. He famously didn't reveal his age, but I have to think that in the 70s he was in his 30s, or even late 20s.
Before his SNL appearances, only Janis Joplin was on my radar as music on the margins, and as a 10 yr old I wondered why she was yelling so much (not sexist: I thought the same about the Sex Pistols when I first heard them). Leon was something else: music not from my brother and good! Leon sounded like the music in the cartoons I liked and I've always always rated him. From him I got to Vince Guaraldi, a "jazz phase" when I was about 13, and really, the seeds of eclecticism in my own tastes.
I have a couple albums and some live mp3s, but his presence in my brain has always been much greater than in my record collection.
posted by rhizome at 11:01 AM on May 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
Leon Redbone on SNL was my first experience of the margins of "music people like" that I caught an affinity for. He famously didn't reveal his age, but I have to think that in the 70s he was in his 30s, or even late 20s.
Before his SNL appearances, only Janis Joplin was on my radar as music on the margins, and as a 10 yr old I wondered why she was yelling so much (not sexist: I thought the same about the Sex Pistols when I first heard them). Leon was something else: music not from my brother and good! Leon sounded like the music in the cartoons I liked and I've always always rated him. From him I got to Vince Guaraldi, a "jazz phase" when I was about 13, and really, the seeds of eclecticism in my own tastes.
I have a couple albums and some live mp3s, but his presence in my brain has always been much greater than in my record collection.
posted by rhizome at 11:01 AM on May 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by Bob Regular at 7:04 PM on May 31, 2019
posted by Bob Regular at 7:04 PM on May 31, 2019
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*cues up Champagne Charlie*
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posted by darkstar at 10:20 AM on May 30, 2019 [2 favorites]