Stomp Off 1001 - Dickbaker.org

Bozo-blues; words and melody by BozoNickerson. pts. 1 and 2. © 1 c. each Jan. 24,1931; E unp. 33653, 33654; State Streetmusic pub. co., inc., Chicago.What’s telling is that there’s no “Bozo”registered to Clarence Williams, either ascomposer or publisher, 1927-31. HE wouldn’thave failed to copyright a tune of his.Allmusic.com says composed by Les Hite, buthe was a swing band leader, wasn’t he? Well,he played reeds with Reb Spikes in 1924,Curtis Mosby 1927-28, Louis Armstrong in1930, then with Benny Goodman. But that’sprobably a dead end--search on Les Hite findsno evidence his real name was anything butLes or Lester.Well, Tom Lord’s Clarence Williams book citesEdwards as the copyright holder of the tune,but that’s not entirely definitive. It may justmean that Lord looked in the 1928 book forBozo, found Edwards, and wrote it down. I’vedone that, thereby creating a false connection,and I think we’ve caught Lord doing itelsewhere as well. It’s worth switching toEdwards for now, but the only REAL solution isto track down the Edwards copyright depositand see if it matches the Clarence WilliamsBozo.But Laurie Wright, in his Oliver biodiscography,claims that they’re the same tuneand that Bozo on the QRS by Williams is just atypo. They don’t sound anything alike to me,but I’ve put them athttp://dickbaker.org/stompoff/Bozo/ for othersto evaluate.And Eureka! Wright was right. RobbieRhodes reported 11/16/13:The song "Bozo," recorded by ClarenceWilliams in 1928, is exactly the essentialverse and chorus of the Hendersonrecording. It's a very good tune and a verygood orchestration by Henderson. I love thesolo by Coleman Hawkins.I support Laurie Wright's theoryAll composer credit for "Bozo", regardlessof the title, should be awarded M. A.Cowdery, at a minimum.We would have to compare FletcherHenderson's full arrangement withCowdery's copyright deposition todetermine which elements were contributedby Henderson. I don't hear any significantcontributions by Clarence (and note that hedidn't try to publish it as his tune).And Bill Haesler came up with a likelyexplanation for “Bozo” when he pointed outthat it was published on the flip side of QRS R-7034 from “Bimbo,” from Williams’s showBottomland. Bimbo – Bozo . . . so not a typo,but a joke, a bit of wordplay?Transatlantic Stomp (Junie Cobb)Chicago Rhythm 1164Credit on LP was Frank Melrose.Rec. E. C. Cobb and his Corn Eaters (bothCobb brothers and Frank Melrose in band),12/10/28, Victor V-38023, Creole 25.Oops, copyright says The by Cobb:Transatlantic (The) stomp; by Junie C.Cobb. [Melody only] © 1 c. Dec. 29, 1928;E—Unpub. 2391; Lester Melrose, Chicago.And the Victor label confirms full name ofJunie C. Cobb, but no The.Trapeze (Billy Mayerl)Tony Caramia 1313Part of The Big Top suite (Ringmaster,Clowning, Entrance of the Trick Cyclists,Dancing Horse, Trapeze), 1948.Copyrighted in U.S. just as the full suite:The big top; five circus sketches for piano,by Billy Mayerl. © Keith, Prowse & Co., ltd,,London; 4May48; EP9298.But amply documented at Billy Mayerl Societysite.Träumende Melodie, Die(Ernst Fischer)Tony Caramia 1328Interesting: copyrighted in U.S. as “TheDreaming Melody” by Ernest Fisher, but weknow that his works were published only inGermany, but that the publisher, wanting toappear “international,” often displayed theEnglish translation of the title even moreprominently than the German one (see“Tintenkleckse” above). Confirmed by thecatalog of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.And Alex H. has the sheet music, alsoconfirms that the German definite article Die ispart of title--I had noticed that all the Germansites selling the sheet music left it off.Travelin’ Shoes (Clancy Hayes–Daphne King)Bob Schulz & His Frisco JB 1315