The last time I played through my records, I realized that Mull’s comedy had not aged well. I started a note for this blog about it when I heard he had died. Before I finished it I saw a review in the Washington Post that called him a subversive genius. The writer said Mull mocked Wonder Bread middle of the road America as much as anyone. The example was the lyrics to Ukulele Blues.
I woke up this afternoon HOOO/I saw both cars were gone
I woke up this afternoon, lord mommy/I saw both my cars were gone
I felt so low down deep inside/I threw my drink across the lawn.
I remember when James Brown was on Dick Cavett around 1970. As Brown sang one of his hits, Cavett got up and danced. When Brown was done, he asked Cavett what he had been doing. Cavett said I believe it was the Funky Chicken. Brown said no, if anything it was the Funky Honky.
That was funny, and it was clearly poking fun at white people appropriating black culture. Mull, on the other hand, got his laughs by mocking Delta bluesmen.
converselyspeaking 