The Comic Songster
The Comic Songster
Today I found a pretty great song book from 1870 at an antique shop.
https://youtu.be/6NQBhRr1sk4
I decided that I'd Google the songs as I went through the book to see if I they were on YouTube or something, as I want to hear their tunes. This is the fifth song in the book called Captain and His Whiskers. This recording is just wonderful, by a man named Hubert Brady from July 18 and 31, 1939. He did pretty well in remembering most of the lyrics. You trying to tell me you didn't hear that shriek? That was something trying to get out of its premature grave, and I don't want to be here when it does. - Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Re: The Comic Songster
What a great find! That recording is interesting as well (though I don't understand how it's humorous, especially). Is the music with the words in your book? For voice only? Voice with piano score?
Re: The Comic Songster
The bottom picture in my original post is a photo of the song in the book. All the songs have the music with them.
They included some standards intermingled with the humorous songs, so I'm guessing this one is a standard.
You trying to tell me you didn't hear that shriek? That was something trying to get out of its premature grave, and I don't want to be here when it does. - Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Re: The Comic Songster
The next one is Flying Trapeze, otherwise known as The Daring Man on the Flying Trapeze. This has been done quite a few times, including by Eddie Cantor, but I chose this version because it's closest to the song in my book.
https://youtu.be/wDhG_4N_r6w
https://youtu.be/wDhG_4N_r6w
You trying to tell me you didn't hear that shriek? That was something trying to get out of its premature grave, and I don't want to be here when it does. - Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Re: The Comic Songster
This one doesn't have an audio, but I needed to share this! Very good!
- Attachments
-
- IMG_20181105_165319307~01.jpg (3 MiB) Viewed 4104 times
You trying to tell me you didn't hear that shriek? That was something trying to get out of its premature grave, and I don't want to be here when it does. - Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Re: The Comic Songster
I enjoyed hearing the all of the Flying Trapeze. I didn't realize that song dated back that far. I wonder what "well made as Chang" refers to in verse 2.
The Charming Young Widow is a wild one—interesting ending.
The Charming Young Widow is a wild one—interesting ending.
Re: The Comic Songster
I'd never heard it at all, but I must admit that even hours later I am still humming that tune!
I'm surprised I didn't notice that before! I was trying to look up all the slang I didn't understand and missed that one.
I'm glad you pointed it out, though, because I learned a new thing! Chang was a Chinese giant, over 8 feet tall. Here are photos. I especially like the fourth one, with his pretty wife sitting fanning herself. https://www.portrait.gov.au/portraits.php?i=both&p=4077
Here is his wiki page. I just noticed he died in 1893 on this date, Nov 5.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhan_Shichai
Isn't this one funny! I was delighted with this story. Totally shocking!
You trying to tell me you didn't hear that shriek? That was something trying to get out of its premature grave, and I don't want to be here when it does. - Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Re: The Comic Songster
Thanks for the interesting info on Chang.
Parallel: in the late 1800's, with the new invention of the telephone, there was a rash of comic songs involving the phone. Example—Hello, Ma Baby. People were apparently fascinated and amused at the idea of persons dating or proposing over the phone.
You can see why it was popular—a very catchy tune, not to mention a picturesque subject matter. I wonder if this song became popular as a result of the advent of trapeze acts. Trapeze acts might have been around for a long time, I don't know, but if they were a popular and new sensation at the time, that might explain the subject matter.
Parallel: in the late 1800's, with the new invention of the telephone, there was a rash of comic songs involving the phone. Example—Hello, Ma Baby. People were apparently fascinated and amused at the idea of persons dating or proposing over the phone.
Re: The Comic Songster
Wow! Color me a dum-dum but I never realized that I never heard that song in full! I had no idea that was what that song was about! I'm blown away!
You trying to tell me you didn't hear that shriek? That was something trying to get out of its premature grave, and I don't want to be here when it does. - Phantom of the Paradise (1974)
Re: The Comic Songster
Here is another one, called My Johnny Was A Shoemaker. This version is beautiful and haunting by John Renbourn Group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yRAi4miyvQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yRAi4miyvQ
- Attachments
-
- IMG_20181105_201339535~01.jpg (1.29 MiB) Viewed 4091 times
You trying to tell me you didn't hear that shriek? That was something trying to get out of its premature grave, and I don't want to be here when it does. - Phantom of the Paradise (1974)