Stomp Off 1001 - Dickbaker.org

Not in Rust. Ted des Plantes’ liner notes say,“Cette Chanson Est Pour Vous” (“This SongIs for You”) . . . is truly a beautiful melody,dating from a December 7, 1935, recordingby Paris entertainer Jean Sablonaccompanied by Django Reinhardt,Stephane Grapelli and most of the classicQuintet of the Hot Club of France.That led me to believe that this was originally aFrench song, but I was hard pressed to figureout how Joe Young and Fred Ahlert got theirnames on a French song. Then I startedfinding references to its being known inEnglish as “Life Is a Song” by Young andAhlert, so I figured that they’d done a later,Americanized version with English lyrics andwas all set to write them out of the credits.But then I found their copyright for the song:Life is a song, let's sing it together; w JoeYoung, m Fred E. Ahlert; with guit. arr. ©Mar. 30, 1935; E pub. 47338; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer corp., New York.But nothing there about its being an adapationfrom something else. Then I tracked down thesheet music, pub. Robbins in 1935:Life Is a Song(Let’s Sing It Together)w. Joe Young, m. Fred E. Ahlert, “Originallyintroduced by Frank Parker.” And no hint ofits being adapted from a French song.I consulted Robbie Rhodes, who prowledsome French-language sites and came upwith the obvious answer: In fact, it was theFrench lyricists Cab and Varna who wrotelyrics for a French version of the song, whichSablon recorded with Django. Robbiecompared the sheet music score with theSablon recording and says the melody isidentical; Cab & Varna didn’t change that.But now there’s the awkward question of howto list it. Bonnel & Friends are playing theAhlert melody and not singing any Frenchlyrics.I’ll cobble something together, but it won’t bepretty. I’m sorely tempted to simply ignore theFrench title and lyricists and simply list it asLife Is a Song.Chameleon (Ray Smith)European Classic Jazz Trio 1142Ray Smith was the pianist on this record, andleader Ted des Plantes’ liner notes clearly sayit’s Smith’s composition.Champagne & Roses(Stephen Kent Goodman)Univ. of Wisconsin Symphony Band 1246Goodman was guest conductor and liner notewriter.Changeable Daddy of Mine(Sam Wooding–Bob Schafer)Carol Leigh & Jim Dapogny 1064Rec. Margaret Johnson (acc. by ClarenceWilliams group), 11/25/24, OKeh 8185.Copyright:Changeable daddy of mine; w and m SamD. Wooding and Bob Schafer, both of U.S.Clarence Williams blues ed. © June 30,1924; 2 c. June 30; E 591455; ClarenceWilliams music pub. co., inc., New York.Changes (Walter Donaldson)New Yankee Rhythm Kings 1067Banu Gibson NO Hot Jazz Orch 1073Dick Sudhalter & Connie Jones 1207Neely’s Royal Society Jazz Orch 1208Ingham–Grosz Hot Cosmopolites 1237Red Rose Ragtime Band 1360ASM, 1927, Leo Feist.Chant, The (Mel Stitzel)Peruna Jazzmen 1003New Yankee Rhythm Kings 1015Weatherbird JB 1034Banu Gibson NO Hot Jazz Orch 1073Keith Nichols Red Hot Syncopators 1135Black Eagle JB 1147New Orleans Classic Jazz Orch 1223Bruno’s Salon Band 1251Jim Cullum JB 1254Aces of Syncopation 1372Independence Hall JB 1386Le Petit Jazzband 1389Les Red Hot Reedwarmers 14359/15/26, Red Hot Peppers, Victor 20221,Bluebird B-1025311/26/26, Original Memphis Five, PatheAktuelle 36565, 11295; Perfect 1474612/24/26, Original Indiana Five, Harmony 387-H12/28/26, Joe Candullo and His EvergladesOrchestra, Edison 51912.11/3/26, Fletcher Henderson, Columbia 817-D9/23/29, Dixie Rhythm Kings, Brunswick 7115Victor Project confirms Stitzel for 9/15/26session. And the copyright:Chant (The); spooky serenade, by MelStitzel; orch. 4to. © July 19, 1926 2 c. Aug.2; E 644871 ; Melrose bros. music co., inc.,Chicago.Supposedly published by Melrose in Aug.1926, but I can’t original sheet musicanywhere. As for “spooky serenade,” VictorProject doesn’t mention it (and they regularlyinclude what they call “secondary” titles, nordoes it appear on the Victor disc. Nor onHenderson’s Columbia.Chant of the Weed (Don Redman)San Francisco Starlight Orchestra 1364ASM, 1932, Gotham, as Donald, but we’ve gothim as Don everywhere else.Charge of the Light Brigade(E. T. Paull)Glenn Jenks & Dan Grinstead 1292ASM, 1897, E. T. Paull.Charleston (James P. Johnson–Cecil Mack*)Terry Waldo 1002Neville Dickie 1096Charleston Chasers 1314Paris Washboard 1391ASM, 1923, Harms, as CM & Jimmy J.Charleston Hound (Fats Waller–Clarence Williams–Spencer Williams–Eddie Rector)Grosz–Ingham Paswonky Serenadrs 1214Neville Dickie 1324What can we learn in the Google age?Rec. Blue Grass Footwarmers (Ed Allen, c;Benny Moten, cl/asax; Jasper Taylor, wb;Clarence Todd, v), 6/16/26, Harmony 206-H.7/1/26, Eva Taylor (acc. by CW), OKeh 40655.9/3/26, Willie Jackson, Columbia 14165-D.Aha! Copyright isCharleston hound; from Tan Town topicsrevue, words by Eddie Rector and SpencerWilliams, music by Clarence Williams andThomas (Fat) Waller; pf. acc, with ukulelearr. by Hannibal McGuire. © June 11, 1926;2 c. June 18; E 642488; Clarence Williamsmusic pub. co., inc., New York.Charleston Is the Best Dance After All(Charlie Johnson–Arthur D. Porter)Keith Nichols Cotton Club Orchestra 1210Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks 1260