Stomp Off 1001 - Dickbaker.org

ecitation. © Feb. 14, 1933; E for. 28478; B.Feldman & co.Last hiss for the serpent will have to be on arecord label: Alas, Victor 24008 gives Parker’sname in full and credits Ikey for the vocalrefrain, but nothing about a viper. And there’snothing in the lyrics about a viper. RHJA andOnline 78 mention no viper. LC SONIC hasthe Bluebird release, doesn’t mention a viper.And Paul Robison recorded it in 1933 (Victor24318) with no snakes.And yet I do find a few mentions of the subtitleon web sites, including a review by ScottYanow of some CD reissue of Hendersonsides. And I have a BMG reissue ofHenderson that shows the subtitle, but no textmension of where it came from.I have to presume that this is another case likeone recent one (She’s No Trouble/Sweetheart)in which there was an alternative title shown inthe Victor ledgers for a tune that wascopyrighted and released under a differenttitle. I rejected that title as a curiosity, not forreal.I suspect that Henderson came into the Victorstudios intending to call it “Song of the Viper,”but it was vetoed by Victor as too provocative(or simply inexplicable, since—in spite ofBamberger’s speculations above—the lyricstell of a guy who’s cabin by the river isthreatened by a storm, and he pleads to theLord to take him away from the river—call that“Song of the Viper” and people would beperplexed by it).Will have Haesler check his Henderson book,which almost has to be the source for this title,but unless he sings a pretty convincing song,out it goes. Well, Henderson’s discograplhyjust repeats what I found above. Butelsewhere, in a discussion of another KayParker tune that Henderson recorded, “Songof the Swamp,” Henderson writes,I know of no recordings of this tune; perhapsthey confused it with her TAKE ME AWAYFROM THE RIVER, subtitled "Song of theViper" (rec. by Henderson, March 10, 1932).But he’s full of beans: as we’ve seen, it wasNOT subtitled “Song of the Viper.”Haesler’s later note:The more I think about it, the more I agreewith your 'theory' that it may have been asuggested alternative title in the Victor files.And we know that Walt Allen and BrianRust had access to them at one stage.ADD THIS TO THE LIST OF ALT VICTORLEDGER TITLES THAT should either be killedor converted to Alt titles (with an explanation?)Take Me for a Buggy Ride(Wesley Wilson–Leola B. Wilson?)Rusty Taylor’s Jazz Makers 1082Helm–Leigh Jazz & Blues Review 13312013 review: Rec.Bessie Smith, 11/24/33, OKeh 8949, 6893;Columbia 37574, Parlophone R-2146 et al.Georgia White, 5/26/39, Decca 7620.Not in copyright books 1932-35. One WW titlein 1932, otherwise neither of them clearthrough 1935.Oops, credit on Bessie Okeh 8949 andParlophone is just Wilson; OKeh 6893 is S.Wilson (LC SONIC, and S. would be “Sox”);White Columbia is just Wilson (LC SONIC).Wikipedia article on Wesley cites Buggy Rideas his song. S&P say just Wesley, copyright1933 by Frank Music Co. Haesler reports thatthe Bessie Parlophone and Columbia labelsalso are Wilson.And yet do a search on the title plus “Wilson”and at least half the citations credit S. and L.Wilson. My old Columbia LP cites S. & L.Wilson, so maybe that’s where it comesfrom—but a Columbia 45 reissue was just S.Wilson!This tune was recorded with Do Your Duty,Gimme a Pigfood, and I’m Down in the Dumpson 24 Nov 33, acc. by Buck & His Band, withsome top jazz stars. In his book on Bessie,Chris Albertson says of that session,At Bessie’s request, this was not a bluessession. The four selections record werewritten by Leola B. Wilson and Wesley“Socks” Wilson, a husband-and-wifevaudeville team with a long list of Paramount,OKeh, and Columbia records to theircredit.Well, at Do Your Duty, we found that the OKehlabel said only Wilson, as here, and found notan original copyright but a 1962 renewal thatsaid w&m Wesley Wilson. Same story forDown in the Dumps.Seems like we must delete Leola unlesssomebody can find some proof for her.Take Me Gently (Remcovan der Gugten)Minerva JB 1117Van der Gugten is a reed player who hadearlier composed several titles for anotherDutch band on Stomp Off, Fried Potatoes.Take Me to the Land of Jazz (EdgarLeslie–Bert Kalmar–Pete Wendling)Down Home JB 1241South Frisco JB 1342Steve Waddell’s Creole Bells 1348Yerba Buena Stompers 1406Heliotrope Ragtime Orchestra 1427ASM, 1919, Waterson, Berlin & Snyder; w.Leslie-Kalmar/m. Wendling.Take Me to the Midnight Cake WalkBall (Eddie Cox–Arthur Jackson–Maurice Abrahams)John Gill’s Dixieland Serenaders 1304ASM, 1915, Maurice Abrahamson.Take Your Black Bottom Outside(Clarence Williams-Eddie Green)Neville Dickie 1366