Bollywood wasn’t always there. There was a time when India was defined by more than big breasts, sexy women and unbelievably funky beats. Most Americans who had any idea of India held pretty primitive images of it: tigers, gurus, elephant boys and idols. Until the 1990s, the images expressed in these clips seemed to encapsulate India to the average American. Luckily, America had some of the greatest musicians to deal with this silliness.

Loudon Wainwright III
Guru



Now Loudon Wainwright III, as his numerically-barrelled name suggests, is of the blue blood establishment of the East Coast. A man of great irony and ability to combine biting satire in sweet melody and comedic timing, is one of those out-liers of American music. Father of Rufus and Martha and former husband to Kate McGarrigle (among Canada’s gold-class exports), Loudon has entertained, amazed and irritated us for many many years.  Here he takes the piss out of the Guru Mahara Ji, Rajneesh/Osho mass hysteria that seems to sweep American public consciousness from time to time.

Down in Southern California
There's a guru that is guruing there
He's got 250 followers
They're following him everywhere.


He's got all of the answers to all of the questions
And he promises to make us free
He's got all the solutions to all of the problems
That are plaquing our society
All the followers they love to follow their Guru
Everything else is a hoax
They kiss his lotus feet,
You know they make up his bed
You know they're laughing at all of his jokes.

John Prine
Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone



John Prine is an American gem. Born in the same state as Mark Twain, Prine possesses the very same sense of wry humour and deep psychological insight that made that earlier American such an icon. Prine has been making records for decades and is still at it. This is from his classic 1978 record, Bruised Orange. He tells the story of a TV-based matinee hero, Sabu – supposedly from India – who is stuck in the frigid climes of the upper Midwest in mid-winter. Depression, drugs and despair all round. But also much hilarity.

Hey look ma
here comes the elephant boy
bundled all up in his corduroy
headed down south towards Illinois
from the jungles of East St. Paul

Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
Hunting Tigers Out in Indiah



The Bonzos are an Everest in the story of popular music of the Western peoples. Done as only the British can, this group combined music virtuousity and eccentricity and idiocy in equal measure to create music hall theatre of the finest quality. Friends of Monty Python’s chaps and the Beatles, Viv Stanshall and the Bonzos created some of the most outstanding ridiculous but eternal music in the history of rock n roll. Here they revisit the memories of their uncles and granddads, who all were, apparently from this clip, mighty shikaris in His Majesty’s India pre-1947. Thank you very much.

With big, hungry tigers table manners have no place
(Dear dear dear no, dear dear dear no, dear dear oh dear no)
After they have eaten you they never say their grace
(Dear dear dear no, dear dear dear no, dear dear oh dear no)
Hunting tigers can be ripping fun
Like three blind mice, see the hunters run

Hunting tigers out in India
Out in, out in, out in India (yuh)

You all know how beastly tigers are
Out in, out in, out in India
They bite
They scratch
They make an awful fuss
It's no use stroking them and saying "puss puss puss"
Oh
Hunting tigers out in IndiaOut in, out in, out in India (yuh).

Dave Bromberg
Idol with the Golden Head



Dave Bromberg is one of those characters who, if you dig deep enough, you’ll find all over the development of modern American music. A man with the ability to play any number of stringed instruments and a certified sense of ironic American humor (don’t let them fool you, Americans get irony!) Dave added his fine touches and deep grunt to the albums of any number of stars, including Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Bonnie Raitt and many more.

On the back of his amazing talent and big personality Bromberg reaped the fruits of a minor star status throughout the late '70s and early '80s. His albums are great fun and full of deep tributes to American roots music.  In this clip he covers the classic Idol with the Golden Head. Could be Shiva. Could be Rama. Could be Ganesh. But maybe not.

Bought myself an idol
With a golden head
(Great big idol with
The golden head)
Put it on a shelf
Right above my bed
(Great big idol with
The golden head).

Got down on my knees
And began to pray
(Great big idol with
The golden head)
I said, idol, tell me
Where's my big foot may
(Great big idol wit
The golden head).

Elvis Presley
Tiger Man



In '68, fed up with the silly narrow golden cage he’d entrapped himself in in Hollywood, Elvis Presley returned like a tanned sex god to Nashville to connect with his musical base. What followed was a hot, daring and absolutely career re defining tv show that  focused entirely and solely on the King and his music. Here he takes us through back to basics of rock and roll…tiger, dominance, male and loving it.

I am the king of the jungle
They call me Tiger Man
I am the king of the jungle
They call me Tiger Man
If you cross my path
You take your own life in your hands

Yeah, I get up on a mountain
And I call my black cat back
Yeah, I get up on a mountai
And I call my black cat back
My black cat comes runnin'
And the hound dogs get way back
Way back, way back, way back
Trace their way back.

Listen to these songs as a single playlist on our YouTube channel.