The Yodelling Comedians

Well, I saw this and I just had to have it. The Yodelling Comedians look like such a jolly bunch and are “TV Film Stage and Record Stars”. To achieve such extensive cross-platform media saturation you’ve got to be pretty hot, right? The record is also being touted as “Something Different” and I’m a sucker for that. It’s like a challenge. The Yodelling Comedians have laid down the gauntlet and I’m going to do whatever it is you’re supposed to next (either pick it up or thrown down a gauntlet of my own or something….never quite sure about that).

From the back cover it is apparent that this is a tourist souvenir from a place called the ‘Floragarten’ in Lucerne, Switzerland. I don’t actually speak Swiss, although I do have superior multi-linguistic skills, so I’m going to stick my neck out and say that the Floragarten is a Flower Garden and that the Yodelling Comedians appeared there ‘Live! In person!’ to entertain the crowds.

This lot are “known throughout the world,” although sadly seem to have now slipped in the publics esteem since a Google search returns two results for the “troup” and hopefully this post will rectify that and raise their profile and return them to their rightful place in the pantheon of musical legend. How can this be anything but amazing when it features “alphorn, cattle bells, (and) yodel?” I’m not sure that I’m too keen on the comparison to the music heard in a “Swiss peasant’s house,” but I’m pretty psyched up now to hear this thing.

The record comes in a U-shaped plastic bag, which I’ve rarely seen; it’s pretty cool and seems to make a lot more sense than a square paper sleeve. Why did this die out? Oh, well let’s check out the label: no date, sadly, but we do have some song titles to whet the appetite and some pretty vague line-up details: Leader: Freddy Pulver.” Now, I can see from the cover that there are plainly three members, but it looks like Freddy here holds the most clout which is why he’s the only guy that gets credited. So what does he play? “Alphorn – cattle bells – moving coins.” Moving coins? This is going to be some weird music if someone gets a credit for moving coins around on the recording. Yep, Freddy’s the man, all right and he’s even autographed the sleeve!

I don’t think anything could prepare for the disappointment that is the music on side one. ‘Water from the Glacier’ is what I guess is traditional Swiss music, all accordion and horn trumping and paring cheerily away. Where are the ambient sounds, though? The moving coins? Where’s the comedy? I was expecting the Swiss equivalent of Chris Morris’ Jam, not this crap! About half way in we get some yodelling for a minute or so and then it’s all over. The Comedians have already rocked us with ‘Water…’ and now they’re bringing us delicate introspection with the far slower “Yodelling is my Hobby,” which paradoxically features very scant yodelling. This could be track one just playing at 33rpm. Oh. Hang on. No, no it’s no mistake of mine, this really is just that dull.

Side two carries on in the same vein with ‘Glamorous Alpine World’ and ‘My Sweetheart Lives in a Chalet’. Some more yodelling here and there from the same one yodeller (do yodellers ever harmonise?) Where the hell is the comedy? I don’t ask for much, but if you’re going around touting yourself as the Yodelling Comedians, you better be ready to bring the funnies. Or just make some stupid noises like the Swedish Chef from the Muppets; I’m not a hard man to please, Yodelling Comedians, but you guys just aren’t even trying. Maybe you are better in person. Maybe the coin-moving is a riot when performed live.

I suppose I should be relieved to be spared 1960s Swiss humour, but when only one of the group is actually yodelling on this thing, and very occasionally at that, well it all seems a bit disingenuous. I want my 20p back, Yodelling Comedians! The only fun to be had from this record is when the needle gets stuck mid-yodel: “Yodellllooo-oop-oop-oop-oop-oop-oop-oop” and when your idea of fun is listening to a yodel over and over again you know you’ve been listening too long!

Amazingly, a quick search for the record label has uncovered an eBay auction for this record, but with a totally different cover! Oh, my God! Rarity! I like to think that mine is the definitive version, though. Recommended only for masochists!