"Classical Gas" is an instrumental musical piece composed and originally performed by American guitarist Mason Williams with instrumental backing by members of the Wrecking Crew. Originally released in 1968 on the album The Mason Williams Phonograph Record, it has been rerecorded and rereleased numerous times since by Williams. One later version served as the title track of a 1987 album by Williams and the band Mannheim Steamroller.I wonder if Glenn Campbell might have played on Classical Gas as part of The Wrecking Crew. That is incredible Williams was the head writer for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (where did all that great television go?).Originally named "Classical Gasoline", the tune was envisioned to be "fuel" for the classical guitar repertoire. The title was later inadvertently shortened by a music copyist. Mike Post, later famous for television theme music, was a producer and arranger for the song.
Williams was the head writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the time of the piece's release and premiered the composition on the show. Williams performed it several times over several episodes.
I bought "The Mason Williams Phonograph Record" when it came out. Wiki provides this funny tidbit about the album...
All tracks are written by Mason Williams, unless otherwise noted. Arranged by Al Capps, except Overture and Classical Gas by Post and Dylan Thomas and Life Song by Williams. The first printing of the vinyl label misspelled The Prince's Panties as "Princess Panties"."Princess Panties" - LOL. You have to wonder if maybe that was another copyist "mistake."
Sources: Kent Hartman (The Wrecking Crew) and Robert Lloyd ("Time of the Session"; LA Weekly)
Electric bass: Max Bennett, Carol Kaye, Larry Knechtel, Joe Osborn, Bill Pitman, Ray Pohlman, Bob West
Double bass (upright bass): Chuck Berghofer, Jimmy Bond, Red Callender, Lyle Ritz
Drums: Hal Blaine, John Clauder, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Earl Palmer, Joe Porcaro
Guitar: Bill Aken, Doug Bartenfeld, Ben Benay, Vinnie Bell, Dennis Budimir, James Burton, Glen Campbell, Al Casey, David Cohen, Jerry Cole, Mike Deasy, John Goldthwaite, Carol Kaye, Barney Kessel, Lou Morrell, Frank Marshall, Don Peake, Bill Pitman, Ray Pohlman, Howard Roberts, Irv Rubins, Louie Shelton, P.F. Sloan, Billy Strange, Tommy Tedesco, Al Vescovo
Keyboards: Mac Rebennack (Dr. John), Al De Lory, Larry Knechtel, Mike Melvoin, Don Randi, Mike (Michel) Rubini, Leon Russell
Percussion: Larry Bunker, Frank Capp, Gary L. Coleman, Gene Estes, Victor Feldman, Milt Holland, Joe Porcaro
Vibraphone & Marimba: Julius Wechter, Terry Gibbs
Other Percussion: Jingle Bells and Tambourine Sonny Bono
Max Weinberg in his book "The Big Beat" does include Bono in a list of members of the Wrecking Crew as "percussion" and Bono appears in the photograph labeled, "The Wrecking Crew" on p. 79 of the book.
Saxophone: Allan Buetler, Gene Cipriano, Steve Douglas, Bill Green, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso, John Lowe, Jay Migliori, Nino Tempo
Trombone: Richard "Slyde" Hyde, Lew McCreary, Dick Nash, Lou Blackburn
Trumpet: Bud Brisbois, Roy Caton, Chuck Findley, Ollie Mitchell, Tony Terran
Flute: Jim Horn
Harmonica: Tommy Morgan
Vocals: Ron Hicklin Singers often performed backup vocals on many of the same songs on which the Wrecking Crew had played instrumental tracks.
Conductor and arranger: Jack Nitzsche