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Additions, comments, corrections, contributions to
Bill Fuller %Earlyjas, or e-mail: jazzytubs@aol.com
Bill Fuller %Earlyjas, or e-mail: jazzytubs@aol.com
In Tune January 2005
There was a wonderful jazz record label in the late 30's and 40's that operated in New York out of
a record store known as The Commodore Music Shop. The label, which was red, used the logo
"COMMODORE - Classics in Swing." The store was located on 42nd Street and was owned by Milt
Gabler. The first of Milt's 10-inch, 78 rpm recordings were numbered 500 and up and were done
by the American Recording Company. Later there were some 12-inch, 78's which were numbered
1500 and up.
Over the next two "In Tune" columns we'll take a look at some of the tunes recorded for this
legendary label along with some information about the Commodore recordings themselves.
I WANT A LITTLE GIRL Murray Mencher, who also wrote "On the Bumpy Road to Love,"
composed this one in 1930. It was popularized and recorded by McKinney's Cottonpickers in 1930
with a vocal by George Thomas. Other recordings of the tune were made by Count Basie, Jimmie
Rushing, Lester Young, and Big Joe Turner. This song was strongly linked to Kansas City's golden
age of jazz. The Commodore recording of it was made in 1938 and was numbered 509-B. It was
done by the Kansas City Six which included: Buck Clayton(tp); Eddie Durham (tb. & gt.); Lester
Young (cl.); Freddie Green (gt); Walter Paige (b); and Jo Jones (d).
WAY DOWN YONDER IN NEW ORLEANS written in 1922 by Harry Creamer and Turner
Layton who also wrote "After You've Gone." This tune was originally written for the ill-fated
show called "Strut Miss Lizzie" and later was included in a show called "Spice of 1922." It had what
Jelly Roll Morton called "that Spanish tinge." Later it became Louis Prima's theme song. It was first
recorded by the Dixie Daisies in 1922 on the Cameo label. It was also recorded by the Paul
Whiteman Orchestra that same year. The Commodore recording of it was made in 1938 and was
numbered 512-B. It was also done by the Kansas City Six, as above.
I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES written in 1932 by Harold Arlen who also wrote "Get
Happy" and "It's Only a Paper Moon." It was introduced in the musical review, "Earl Carroll's
Vanities" by Lillian Shade. It became the theme song of Jack Teagarden and his Orchestra. It was
recorded by Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Benny Goodman. The Commodore recording of
it was made in 1939 and was numbered 527. It was done by Billie Holiday and her Orchestra
which included: Frankie Newton (tp); Tab Smith (as); Ken Hollon and Stan Payne (ts); Jimmy
McLin (p); Johnny Williams (gt); and Eddie Dougherty (b).
I AIN'T GONNA GIVE NOBODY NONE OF MY JELLY ROLL written in 1919 by Spencer
Williams who also wrote "Tishomingo Blues." This tune was one of the first three successfully
published by Clarence Williams, a noted jazz composer in his own right, but not related to
Spencer. It was recorded in the fall of 1919 by Wilbur Sweatman's Band and also by Ford Dabney's
Novelty Orchestra. The Commodore recording of it was made in 1939 and was numbered 531. It
was made by Eddie Condon and his Band which included: Max Kaminsky(c); Brad Gowen (vtb);
Pee Wee Russell(cl); Joe Bushkin (p); Eddie Condon(gt); Artie Shapiro(b); and George Wettling (d).
UGLY CHILE originally written in 1917 by Clarence Williams as "You're Some Pretty Doll," it was
popularized by trombonist Georg Brunis. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics to it and called it by this
title. The Commodore recording of it was made in 1943 and is numbered 546A. It was recorded
by Georg Brunis and his Jazz Band which included: Wild Bill Davison(c); Georg Brunis(tb); Pee
Wee Russell (cl); Gene Schroeder(p); Eddie Condon (gt); Bob Casey (b); George Wettling (d).
IT'S ONLY A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN written in 1932 by Little Jack Little who also
wrote "Jealous" and "Hold Me." It was used in the film, "Lullaby of Broadway" with Doris Day.
The Commodore recording of it was made in 1944 and is numbered 557B. It was done by Edmond
Hall and his Quartet which included Edmond Hall (cl); Teddy Wilson (p); Billy Taylor (b); and
Arthur Trappier(d).
There was a wonderful jazz record label in the late 30's and 40's that operated in New York out of
a record store known as The Commodore Music Shop. The label, which was red, used the logo
"COMMODORE - Classics in Swing." The store was located on 42nd Street and was owned by Milt
Gabler. The first of Milt's 10-inch, 78 rpm recordings were numbered 500 and up and were done
by the American Recording Company. Later there were some 12-inch, 78's which were numbered
1500 and up.
Over the next two "In Tune" columns we'll take a look at some of the tunes recorded for this
legendary label along with some information about the Commodore recordings themselves.
I WANT A LITTLE GIRL Murray Mencher, who also wrote "On the Bumpy Road to Love,"
composed this one in 1930. It was popularized and recorded by McKinney's Cottonpickers in 1930
with a vocal by George Thomas. Other recordings of the tune were made by Count Basie, Jimmie
Rushing, Lester Young, and Big Joe Turner. This song was strongly linked to Kansas City's golden
age of jazz. The Commodore recording of it was made in 1938 and was numbered 509-B. It was
done by the Kansas City Six which included: Buck Clayton(tp); Eddie Durham (tb. & gt.); Lester
Young (cl.); Freddie Green (gt); Walter Paige (b); and Jo Jones (d).
WAY DOWN YONDER IN NEW ORLEANS written in 1922 by Harry Creamer and Turner
Layton who also wrote "After You've Gone." This tune was originally written for the ill-fated
show called "Strut Miss Lizzie" and later was included in a show called "Spice of 1922." It had what
Jelly Roll Morton called "that Spanish tinge." Later it became Louis Prima's theme song. It was first
recorded by the Dixie Daisies in 1922 on the Cameo label. It was also recorded by the Paul
Whiteman Orchestra that same year. The Commodore recording of it was made in 1938 and was
numbered 512-B. It was also done by the Kansas City Six, as above.
I GOTTA RIGHT TO SING THE BLUES written in 1932 by Harold Arlen who also wrote "Get
Happy" and "It's Only a Paper Moon." It was introduced in the musical review, "Earl Carroll's
Vanities" by Lillian Shade. It became the theme song of Jack Teagarden and his Orchestra. It was
recorded by Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Benny Goodman. The Commodore recording of
it was made in 1939 and was numbered 527. It was done by Billie Holiday and her Orchestra
which included: Frankie Newton (tp); Tab Smith (as); Ken Hollon and Stan Payne (ts); Jimmy
McLin (p); Johnny Williams (gt); and Eddie Dougherty (b).
I AIN'T GONNA GIVE NOBODY NONE OF MY JELLY ROLL written in 1919 by Spencer
Williams who also wrote "Tishomingo Blues." This tune was one of the first three successfully
published by Clarence Williams, a noted jazz composer in his own right, but not related to
Spencer. It was recorded in the fall of 1919 by Wilbur Sweatman's Band and also by Ford Dabney's
Novelty Orchestra. The Commodore recording of it was made in 1939 and was numbered 531. It
was made by Eddie Condon and his Band which included: Max Kaminsky(c); Brad Gowen (vtb);
Pee Wee Russell(cl); Joe Bushkin (p); Eddie Condon(gt); Artie Shapiro(b); and George Wettling (d).
UGLY CHILE originally written in 1917 by Clarence Williams as "You're Some Pretty Doll," it was
popularized by trombonist Georg Brunis. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics to it and called it by this
title. The Commodore recording of it was made in 1943 and is numbered 546A. It was recorded
by Georg Brunis and his Jazz Band which included: Wild Bill Davison(c); Georg Brunis(tb); Pee
Wee Russell (cl); Gene Schroeder(p); Eddie Condon (gt); Bob Casey (b); George Wettling (d).
IT'S ONLY A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN written in 1932 by Little Jack Little who also
wrote "Jealous" and "Hold Me." It was used in the film, "Lullaby of Broadway" with Doris Day.
The Commodore recording of it was made in 1944 and is numbered 557B. It was done by Edmond
Hall and his Quartet which included Edmond Hall (cl); Teddy Wilson (p); Billy Taylor (b); and
Arthur Trappier(d).
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