Two tons of fun!

May 17, 2005 8:25 PM

Dick "Two Ton" Baker is a Chicago legend who had a long career in radio, records, and children's television. He was a child prodigy, a beloved radio host, and looked upon with favor by none other than Duke Ellington. He also made some really terrifically funny music. Check out mp3 versions of "I Like Stinky Cheese," "Civilization" (a hit for Danny Kaye), the classic "I'm a Little Weenie," and many others, all sung in Two Ton's terrifically expressive baritone. Go easy on this site's bandwidth, though. Check out also the collection of press clippings and articles about Two Ton, a lovingly compiled discography (.PDF), and then, because you know you want 'em, buy some CDs of the great man's music. Oh, and did I mention that it's Two Ton's voice you hear on the classic piece of Cold War "let's make nuclear annihilation palatable to the kiddies!" Americana "Duck and Cover"? Well, it is!
posted by Dr. Wu (7 comments total)

bingo bango bongo i dowanna leave the Congo, me grandma sang that. tx.
posted by longsleeves at 9:01 PM on May 17, 2005

I'm at work, so I can't listen to these, but the song entitled "Please Say Goodnight to the Guy, Irene." had my laughing my ass off, just reading the title.
posted by shmegegge at 9:02 PM on May 17, 2005

http://twotonbaker.com/2ton/music/mp3s/m-958-civilization.mp3
posted by longsleeves at 9:03 PM on May 17, 2005

What a neat site. Great links!
posted by greasy_skillet at 9:29 PM on May 17, 2005

Great post.
Bloop Bleep!
posted by nj_subgenius at 4:02 AM on May 18, 2005

Now THAT's entertainment!

Good find, Dr. Wu!
posted by briank at 5:39 AM on May 18, 2005

ahh, that brings back memories. Two Ton Baker singing the Nat'l Anthem at Wrigley (he was Chicago's Robert Merrill in that way); or the commercials he made for Riverview Park-a notoriously risky amusement park. I never knew about all of those funny songs, though. Thanks!
posted by beelzbubba at 7:26 AM on May 18, 2005