I was wondering if any of you guys are fans? I know he is far from the Punk and Rock n Roll genres this site is used too, but his originality and sheer bizarreness definately fits into the whole DIY and  'be yourself' ethics of Punk music.

I find him so original and unlike anyone who came before or after him. Some of his performances really creep me out, especially this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c71RCAyLS1M

Also, he actually does have a great voice. I am a big Doo Wop fan, and I love his cover of Earth Angel...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT8t0VxZXEM

Tiny Tim was definitely bizarre , even to a turned- on , psychedelicized Late 60's youth culture , but , the Hell of it was , he got a LOT more bizarre after fame and fortune had turned it's back on him.......Though Jewish by law (His Mother was Jewish , and his Father , Catholic. Don't know how he was actually raised.) , he talked a lot of Jeezus stuff , centuries before it was cool to. He condemned the youth , the people buying his records , for "Not following Christ's teachings , and giving in to their desires.... when the Wife and I have S-E-X , it is only because we are trying to have children" , which is probably , partly , why his Wife ,  Miss Vicki , of The GTOs , divorced him in such a hurry (They were famously wed on "The Tonight Show".).

I like Tiny Tim , sure. He was'nt like anyone else. His roots were in the Tin Pan Alley music of The 1920's , but , that VOICE !

You loved it or you hated it. I admit , I can't listen to him , that often . His admirers included Screamin' Jay Hawkins and even GG Allin.

Garage Punk fans should at least give "Ever Since You Told Me That You Love Me (I'm a Nut .).". a listen.

After 3 or 4 good - selling albums , several apppearances of "Laugh - In" (Where he was only , possibly , outdone for bizarre music and behavior by The Legendary Stardust Cowboy .) , and , as I recall , a heartfelt commercial jingle for "Dawn" dolls , and a string of well - recieved concert appearances , Tiny Tim went into steadfast decline. He still turned up in the media on a semi - regular basis , well into the late 70's and 80's. The National Enquirer ran an item about a "Hasbeen Tour", featuring the likes of Tiny Tim and John Carradine , among others. It was'nt billed as such , but The Enquirer relished in the sheer sadness of it all.  

Later , Tiny Tim met a man who would prove an unlikely factor in staging a comeback.

"Big Bucks" Burnette , President of The Mr. Ed Fan Club , friend of Jimmy Page (But , more significantly , Jim Dandy , too.), former record store owner on the once - cool Greenville Avenue Strip in Dallas , and , presently , Owner and Curator of The 8 - Track Tape Museum.

Burnette took Tiny Tim under his wing , releasing a 45 of "The Mr. Ed Theme Song" ( Tiny Tim appeared , along with Joe Ely and Allan Young ("Wilbur Post", at  "Edstock", a Burnette - sponsored festival at the legendary Bronco Bowl in Dallas.) and a series of other recordings , his most notorious later track being "Santa Claus Has Got The AIDS This Year".

iN THE '90s , Chicago Musician and Entrepeneur , Ken Goodman  , tried to give Tiny Tim's career yet another boost by releasing what would , sadly , prove to be one of Tiny Tim's last concert performances . The live CD appeared on Goodman's label , Bughouse , as part of a series of Live CDs by "Outsider Artists" , including Hasil Adkins , Cordell Jackson and The Legendary Stardust Cowboy.  I was at the latter three shows , but , not Tiny Tim's gig. A friend had seen him in Dallas the week before , and said he was VERY creepy , even given what we knew about him in later years. Plus , I did'nt know where the Hell the venue was.

I saw Tiny Tim , literally , die on Television , maybe some of you did , too. HE WAS SHOWN SINGING "TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS", at a benefit , before a small audience , and literally dropping to the floor. It looked, at the time , like it might have been a stroke , or only a siezure (But , siezures kill people. Ask John Travolta.), but the cause of death was listed as Cardiac Arrest.  I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THIS WAS SHOWN ON tv , AFTER HIS DEMISE , BUT , WITH TINY TIM , TRUTH WAS STRANGER THAN FICTION.

Retraction : I was not at The Legendary Stardust Cowboy's Lounge Ax show (Recorded for the Bughouse CD.) , COME TO THINK OF IT. i SAW HIM THE NEXT THREE TIMES HE PLAYED IN CHICAGO (opened for two of 'em.) , and once in New Orleans.....I HEARD D'ARCY from The Deathly Dull Pumpkins was there. A friend of mine dated her Sister at the time.  HE SAID D'ARCY HAD GOOD TASTE IN MUSIC . MAYBE THAT'S WHY SHE WAS THE FIRST TO LEAVE .

I met Tiny Tim in the early 80s at a Wayne Newton concert in Albuquerque. This is true. I was freelancing for this little paper there and was covering the Wayne show, which was at the University of New Mexico basketball arena. I ran into this campus cop I knew and we were yacking when he looked up and said, "That's the weirdest-looking son of a bitch I've ever seen." Sure enough, it was Tiny, with a purple tint in his hair.

I approached him, told him I was a reporter and started inteviewing him. He was in town because he was singing at some car show. And of course, he was a huge Wayne Newton fan. I'd always assumed that Tiny's strange demeanor was just part of the act, but talking to him, I began to realize there was just something off about him. He seemed bitter about his fall from the limelight ("Johnny Carson quit returning my phone calls," he complained) He told me about his latest single, which was a love song to British actress Koo Stark, who'd recently been in some kind of scandal with some royal family member. But he said he knew he'd never really make a comeback until they legalized gambling in Florida. I didn't quite follow his logic then, but now ai realize he was predicting the rise of the casino circuit, which has been a blessing for many a washed-up pop star.

As it turned out, Tiny and the woman he was with were sitting a few rows in front of me during the show. Somebody came up and said something to Tiny, who got up and started walking toward the stage. Oh my God, I thought, Tiny's going to do a song with Wayne Newton! So I got up and tried to follow him. When I finally made it to the gate to the backstage area I had lost him in the crowd. I asked the security guy if he had seen Tiny Tim. "That's who he was?" the guy said. "Yeah, he was here a couple of minutes ago saying that someone had told him Wayne wanted him on stage. But nobody told me about that. I couldn't let him in."

Either it was a cruel set-up to humiliate Tiny or that security guard stopped the duet of the century.

I have that Bughouse album with The New Duncan Imperials as his backup band. I was talking to the guy at Pravda Records who's sent it to me and he said Tiny would "go play anywhere for $500." When I released my own album on CD in '96 and was planning my CD release party I actually thought of bringing in Tiny to play. But sure enough, he died just afew days later. Another great duet that never happened. 

And speaking of that great Bughouse series, I reviewed the Legendary Stardust Cowboy's CD for the old No Depression magazine magazine. It's still online here: http://archives.nodepression.com/2000/01/legendary-stardust-cowboy-live-in-chicago/  

I got to see him live in Austin around this time. Crazy crazy fun!

......WOW , Tiny Tim and Wayne Newton? No disrespect , but that sounds like an address on a Chinese Kibbutz - 2 Katz Fukien .

sTILL ,, COULD HAVE BEEN HISTORICAL. Who knows if someone wa being pranked or not? Maybe he tried to get on stage , and they did'nt believe he was who he was (I know , could there have been any mistaking?) . Ken Goodman's a cool guy. I remember , once we met BLOWFLY BACKSTAGE , AND WE JUST WANTED TO SAY HI , AND LET HIM REST UP BEFORE HIS SHOW. bUT HE SAID "nO , IT'S ok , stay a while fellas , and I'll tell you the story of Blowfly !". 20 minutes later , Ken and i LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID , "mAN ! i FEEL LIKE I'VE ALREADY SEEN THE SHOW !".

i WAS GOING TO MENTION PRAVDA RECORDS , BUT , I COULD'NT REMEMBER IF KEN OWNED IT OR WAS ONE OF THE HIGHER - UPS. PRAVDA HAD THEIR OWN RECORD STORE NEXT TO THE METRO , ONCE THEE HAPPENING VENUE IN CHICAGO. IT WAS A GOOD STORE , BUT , IT WENT THRU SEVERAL NAME AND OWNERSHIP CHANGES. KEN WAS IN THE SERVICE , OF COURSE , THE NEW DUNCAN IMPERIALS , AND A GREAT ONE - SHOT NOVELTY BAND RIGHT BEFORE THEM. NOW , HE'S IN THE GOLD STARS , BACKING ANDRE WILLIAMS , AND HE WAS IN THE GREASY WHEELS , ALSO BACKING ANDRE.    BUT , THE BAND ON THAT BUGHOUSE CD WAS THE ALTAMONT COWBOYS - KLAUS FLOURIDE (DKs) , JAY ROSEN (SPEEDFREAK RAB/C&W GUITARIST.....He did'nt tell me what bands he's been in) , The Drummer (Whose name I forget.) told me he was briefly in The Cramps , on an as needed basis , bu t, never made a member . I THINK THE LEDGE STILL PLAYS JUST ONE SHOW A YEAR , WHEN HE FEELS LIKE IT.

I SAID , IN A REVIEW , HE WAS LUBBOCK'S #2 SON, SECOND ONLY TO BUDDY HOLLY. HE SAID "ME? WHAT ABOUT JOE ELY ?" I SAID "NOPE !".

I've NEVER heard that , Chris , but Tiny Tim was such a whackjob in his later years , who can say? Anyone who'd write a song called "Santa Claus Has Got THE AIDS this year" might"get it" with GG. SCREAMIN' JAY PROFESSED TO LIKING tInY tIM , TOO.....jOHN

I'd forgotten about "Santa Claus Has Got the AIDS This Year." Jesus! I need that for my next Christmas podcast!

As for Tiny and GG ...

http://www.discogs.com/GG-Allin-and-Tiny-Tim-Two-American-Legends/release/2842756

So , this was a real release , but of Tiny Tim  and GG Allin , each singing solo  , and no "Threat" of a collaboration. Hell of it is , GG's version of "Pick Me Up" is pretty good ! He was a great Country Music fan. I'm reminded of a mutual friend , Kevin, Jr. , from the REAL Mystery Girls (Chicago , '87 - ' 96, I think...), Chamber Strings and GG Allin and The Toilet Rockers......I asked Kevin if GG ever got to meet David Allan Coe. He said , "No , he really wanted to . But , he did meet Johnny Cash. He gave him some T-shirts and other stuff , and Johnny Cash laughed , so GG cussed him out. Would YOU cuss Johnny Cash out , even if HE were flinging excrement at you ? If you said yes ,you're lying.

.....It's so strange that , when Santa Claus got "THE" AIDS , he announces that he'll be well within the year , and this was even before improved drugs , and means of better containing the virus. He IS sANTA cLAUS , THOUGH....iT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THE SONG WAS A PUN , REFERRING TO AYDS REDUCING CANDY , WHICH , OF COURSE, WENT OFF THE MARKET IN THE EARLY 80's.

BIG BUCKS BURNETTE , in Dallas , was instrumental in reviving Tiny Tim's recording career  . He may have even released this CD on his label (I only saw it , once.). He also bore the dubious distinction of presenting Jim Dandy at a promotional function for his 8 - Track Tape Museum in the same week that Chis Wilson fell on his ass while guesting at a Roy and Cyril gig.  The Dandy fell on his ass , too. But , only once. Both clips appeared on You Tube.

swt said:

I'd forgotten about "Santa Claus Has Got the AIDS This Year." Jesus! I need that for my next Christmas podcast!

As for Tiny and GG ...

 

http://www.discogs.com/GG-Allin-and-Tiny-Tim-Two-American-Legends/release/2842756

 

 

I grew up with the antics of Tiny Tim......great underrated artist and man.....he was wrongly accused of paedophilia....stupid people:):):)!!!!!

.....I've never heard of him being accused of pedophelia (We don't spell it with an "a'' here in the states , tho' I say "Faeces Book "instead of "Face Book" , anyway .) ,,,,,That does'nt mean no one ever made such an allegation , it's just the first I've heard of it.....

sleazy said:

I grew up with the antics of Tiny Tim......great underrated artist and man.....he was wrongly accused of paedophilia....stupid people:):):)!!!!!

 

 

 

John Battles said:

.....I've never heard of him being accused of pedophelia (We don't spell it with an "a'' here in the states , tho' I say "Faeces Book "instead of "Face Book" , anyway .) ,,,,,That does'nt mean no one ever made such an allegation , it's just the first I've heard of it.....

It wasn't big time stuff (the news was on his best friend's and assistant's blog (Erin something?....don't remember the blog website though:( some years ago too)...I mean, it wasn't news like Gary Glitter and Jacko stuff.....but TT was WRONGLY accused...that's for sure.

His best friend,huh? Hmmmmm....Surely the accusation was posthumous. How many people were even on the internet when Tiny Tim died , I'm too lazy to look it up , now , but , it must have been over 20 years ago?  Sounds like he just thought it'd be easier to piss on his grave than to say anything , right or wrong , against Tiny Tim , while he was living.  PRETTY LAME , especially if he had nothing to support it.......Tiny Tim was a freak , as we all know. I read a rare interview where he DID talk about his sex life , saying younger men are inconsiderate , because they could'nt go for 4 or 5 hours , like he claimed HE could. The rest , I'll spare you good people. Nothin outwardly offensive or illegal , just FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.....i meant , Tiny Tim said younger men were inconsiderate TOWARD WOMEN. For all his flirtations with sexual ambiguity , Tiny Tim seemed homophobic , or , to be fair , like he had to keep reminding people he was straight.

I never heard any pedophila accusations either.

Many years ago, his widow, Miss Sue posted a lengthy piece on her website talking about tiny's sexuality. If I'm remembering correctly, he admitted that when he was young he had some homosexual experience -- or maybe it was only desires -- of which he was deeply ashamed. The homophobia apparently was a result of that shame.

Also, his relationship with Miss Sue was pretty much platonic.

By the way, this discussion inspired me to conclude my latest podcast with a Tiny Tim/Brave Combo classic

BIG ENCHILADA 72: SPRINGTIME IN CRAZY TOWN by Steve Terrell on Mixcloud

Steve , I had some fascinating observations re. your comment , but , they were deleted. It's late. I'll try to rewrite it , later. John

Unfortunately I can't remember that blog and where to find it.....in any case, if some of you up there don't know that TT's assistant and all-time friend was Erin and he evidently started the TT blog page postumously of course:), well, perhaps you don't know much about Tiny Tim:):)!!!!!

Steve ,     I just remember two different interviews , one when Tiny Tim was still in his commercial prime .    He said "Young people are not following Christs's teachings. Even the wife and I only have S-E-X  if we're trying to have children."  No wonder she left him.

But , I saw another interview from the 80's where he calls out younger men for not knowing how to please their women . "I can go for four or five hours , why can't they?".

He added that peanut butter and honey was his secret ingredient.....Not before sex.

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