The 59-year-old California-born songwriter and performer Les Claypool is one of the most out-there artists in the contemporary scene. The founder and frontman of the quirky, cerebral rock band Primus, Claypool is known as one of the premier bass players on Earth today.
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But what are his best songs? For the artist, who wrote the intro theme to the popular cartoon South Park, what songs of his have stood the test of time and which are most representative of his artistry?
1. “One Better,” Les Claypool
Released on Les Claypool’s 2006 solo album, Of Whales and Woe, this track is what you get when you merge funk with experimental acid jazz. The song is about outdoing another. If someone got a Cadillac, well then the singer is going to get one better! Sings Claypool over a wild bass line and cosmic synths,
Ol’ Silk Johnson, cruisin up mighty fine
Got a brand new Cadillac.
Buddy comrad Smith, rollin down the line
Got a last year’s Cadillac.
Johnson said hey smitty boy, what ya thinkin’ of my spankin hot Cadillac?
Smith just reeled his head back, looked him in the eye, “that’s a mighty fine Cadillac.
I’mma gonna get me one better.(you can’t get the best of me).
I’mma gonna get me one better.( the baddest one around).
I’mma gunna get me one better.( ’cause’ I got the biggest balls in town).
2. “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver,” Priums
The first single from Primus’ 1991 album, Sailing the Seas of Cheese, this song did well for the band. It has garnered tens of millions of views on YouTube and hit No. 23 on the U.S. Alternative Songs chart after its release. The track is about Jerry, a race car driver, who one day wrapped himself around a telephone pole. Sings Claypool,
Jerry was a race car driver
He drove so goddamn fast
He never did win no checkered flags
But he never did come in last
Jerry was a race car driver
He’d say “El Sob number one”
With a Bocephus sticker on his 442
He’d light ’em up just for fun
3. “My Name is Mud,” Primus
The first single from Primus’ 1993 album, Pork Soda, this song is about a couple of “tweekers,” said Claypool, including one simply named Mud. The two drug users are hanging out, get in a fight and one kills the other. It’s a song that resonates today as much as ever. Sings Claypool,
My name is Mud
Not to be confused with Bill, or Jack, or Pete, or Dennis
My name is Mud, it’s always been
‘Cause I’m the most boring sonsabitch you’ve ever seen
I dress in blue, yes, navy blue from head to toe
I’m rather drab, except my patent shoes
I make ’em shine, well, most the time
‘Cept today, my feet are troddin’ on by this friend of mine
Six foot two, and rude as hell
I got to get him in the ground before he starts to smell
4. “Pipe Line,” Duo de Twang
Released in 2014 by the band Duo de Twang, which features Claypool and M.I.R.V. guitarist Bryan Kehoe, this song is a cover of a surf rock instrumental by the California-born band, The Chantays. While Claypool has one of the most unique singing voices out there, it’s refreshing to hear his bent on an instrumental song (save a few ooos, laaaas and ahhs), which meanders and wends and surprises each phrase.
5. “South Park Theme,” Primus
The final song on the list is the theme from the beloved subversive cartoon show, South Park. For fans of the show, the song has played before each episode hundreds of times since the late ’90s and though the images in the intro change over the years, the tune has not. Why? Because it’s perfect.
Photo by Paul Haggard / Courtesy Prospect PR
