Mason Williams - Classical Gas (1968)

[SouthernDem4ever]

I have heard this done live many times, but nothing ever had the same feeling as this studio orchestra mix.

[Shellback Squid]

1. Fantastic!, took me to my early youth

[BOSSHOG]

2. Thanks for the Memories

In the early 70s I was stationed at Naval Weapons Center, China Lake California (Mojave Desert) Every day at noon the AM radio station would start the Staufler (or Stauffer) Hour with Classical Gas.

I looked forward to it every day. Part of my Soundtrack.

[Groundhawg]

3. i'm a huge fan of that piece of work.

[IzzaNuDay]

4. It's on my driving tune playlist

I have had some long drives lately and this tune makes me happy! I’ll set the repeat button- never tire of listening!

[Permanut]

5. Always turned it up to eleven .

1956 Chevy hardtop, all windows down.

[JohnnyRingo]

6. That tune really struck me when I was a teen hippie

The studio version features the notorious Jim Gordon on drums.
If you don't know that name, he's featured on half of your vinyl record collection and co-wrote "Layla":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gordon_(musician)

[ProfessorGAC]

9. The "Half Of Layla" Has Long Been In Dispute

Did he contribute that idea on Layla? Absolutely
Did he play the piano part? Yes, but with changes suggested by Bobby Whitlock.
Did he write it? Whitlock claims, later substantiated by Graham Nash, that Jim stole the part from Rita Coolidge.
No way to know for sure, but the other side of the coin says we don't know Gordon actually wrote it.

[JohnnyRingo]

10. I wouldn't want to argue with him. hahaha

[Pluvious]

7. I THOUGHT that was Tommy Smothers at piano when I saw the ending seconds !

Definitely, classical !

Thanks for the sharing

It reached #1 in US Cash Box Top 100, #1 in US Billboard Easy Listening, #2 in US Billboard Hot 100, #2 in Canada, and #9 in UK Singles Chart.

"Classical Gas" is a classical guitar instrumental composed by Mason Williams with instrumental backing by members of the Wrecking Crew. The piece was originally released in 1968 on the album The Mason Williams Phonograph Record. Interestingly, Williams said that he wrote this song as "fuel," or a standby, for the classical guitar in case anyone wanted to hear him play something for them, therefore he called it "Classical Gasoline." During recording, "Gasoline" was inadvertently abbreviated to "Gas" by the music copyist, giving it the name "Classical Gas."

Mason Williams was in his late 20s when he wrote the instrumental hit "Classical Gas." He was working for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the time, where he wrote some 74 shows. Later, he also did stints writing for The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour and Saturday Night Live. Today, at 81 years old and living in Oregon, Williams looks back on his famous song with pride. While Williams has written 250 songs in his storied career, none has risen to the level of "Classical Gas."

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Always Willing To Listen To That Song

I never tire of it.