Look What I Found Today!

I found this piece of sheet music at an antique store. The autograph intrigued me, the price was right, so I picked it up.

While I have no idea if the signature on this 1918 gem is genuine, there is an interesting story here.

The “Desperate Guy” is “Little Billy” Rhodes, who played the Barrister in The Wizard of Oz. Afficianados of badfilm might also recognize him as the villain in The Terror of Tiny Town.

The co-lyricist was Arthur Freed, who later acted as an uncredited associate producer on The Wizard of Oz.

Click on the picture for a larger version.

Yes, it’s Twistin’ Time at the Pepper Lounge!

Of course, you have to learn to dance the Pepper Twist. It goes a little something like this:

Play

Those kids sure look they’re having fun, don’t they?

Whenever I need a laugh I go check out William Shatner’s version of Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” It was performed at the Science Fiction Awards back in 1978, a decade or so after his infamous rendition of “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” In fact, here’s a hilarious animation set to that song. Beverages away from the keyboards, please.

Now, he reflects on that video thirty years later:

Here’s a detail from a bit of 1912 sheet music.

The Wall Street Girl ran for 56 performances on Broadway before closing.The show opened April 15, 1912 – the day after the Titanic sunk.

How could you argue with lyrics like this?

‘Cause he’s my Daddy, Daddy

My Little Daddy loves his mother like he loves no other,
He’s the champion, long distance lover of all

1928. The markets were moving ever upward. What could go wrong?

This sheet music may give a clue.

Money bags! Coins! I’ll bet he has 40,000 French Francs in his jeans!

Then comes the lyrics:

If you don’t have a million,

Don’t be sad and blue,

Be thankful for your health,

And the sun that shines on you.

…

And then you follow nature’s course,

Banish all of that remorse,

You’ll fell like a million!

Et cetera. For ten choruses. Why such banal verbiage? Turn the music over.

It’s all about “following nature’s course,” of course.

I haven’t been able to pin a date on this LP. Must be around 1960ish.

The LP contains 58 instrumental jingles set to swing. Just the thing for the busy ad executive and his secretary, judging by the cover art.

Oh, you want to hear some of it? Okay. Guess this jingle:

Jingle