Name That Song !

The first in an occasional series which asks:

Name That Song !

This one started life as an old fiddle tune Ida Red with origins in the American Civil War.

In 1938, Bob Wills [The King of Western Swing no less] cut his square-dance version using some lines from a Victorian ballad The Parlour Is A Pleasant Place To Sit On Sunday Night [and they don't write 'em like that anymore !]

A singer-songwriter [who must remain nameless otherwise it would be too easy] in St Louis improvised around the melody & words and developed the song into one of his own: Ida May.

In 1955, he took himself to a record producer thinking that his picking & singing of the blues would impress.

But it was Ida May which got him signed !

The recording session started, with blues legend Willie Dixon on upright bass, and Johnnie Johnson on piano.

There was one problem.

It was still too close to Ida Red !

Pianist Johnson recalls "I changed the music and re-arranged it and he re-wrote the words".

The hillbilly two-step was converted into bristling, early rock 'n' roll.

The new title, with a little adjustment to the spelling, was settled when, according to Johnson, someone noticed a cosmetic by the name in the room.

The singer-songwriter says he named it from a cow in a childrens' book.

He learned a lesson about copyright when the song was published.

Two DJ's had been named as co-writers on the promise that they would spin the record on their radio shows in exchange for a slice of the royalties !

This proved a wise move because the resultant airplay produced a hit !

Elvis' cover came later in a live radio broadcast.

So what was the song & who was the singer-songwriter ?

There's No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car?

Tom

Maybellene by Chuck Berry

Last edited by TJ on Fri Apr 08, 2005 10:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

There's No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car?

Tom

There is if we put the top down

Maybelline ? that sounds like a cow's name

damn... TJ we were doing a two step there! talk about wise minds ( though fools seldom differ)

Rusty, no need to fiddle with the top ... just learn to adjust your bottom in relation to the joy st .. er, I mean gear stick.

Colin , looks like Ida Mae red has gone south of the border with Maybelline, ofcourse they had ... No particular place to go.

There's No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car?

Tom

There is if we put the top down

That's what I like about you my dear, you're always thinking ahead.

Tom

TJ/Rusty/jbgude -

Well, yes, it was Maybellene by Chuck Berry.

All three of you posted at the same moment !

Rusty didn't give an answer, though.

And TJ returned one minute later with an edit.

Did he copy jbgude's answer ?

Memo to self: "Too many clues - make it all more vague next time"

[Next time ? You mean there's more of this rubbish ? - The Management]

TJ/Rusty/jbgude -

Well, yes, it was Maybellene by Chuck Berry.

All three of you posted at the same moment !

Rusty didn't give an answer, though.

And TJ returned one minute later with an edit.

Did he copy jbgude's answer ?

Memo to self: "Too many clues - make it all more vague next time"
[Next time ? You mean there's more of this rubbish ? - The Management]

What a scandalous accusation The edit was to add the artist name as I remembered you asked for both

TJ -

Scandalous or not, the author's decision is final.

Oh, all right then, you were the only one to mention Chuck Berry !

I declare TJ the winner !

Hey, guys, let me know if you enjoyed this new quiz.....................

Or shall we make it the first and last of the series ?

[You're just fishing for compliments - The Management]

Too soon to judge - so lets have another.

TJ/Rusty/jbgude -

Well, yes, it was Maybellene by Chuck Berry.

All three of you posted at the same moment !

Rusty didn't give an answer, though.

And TJ returned one minute later with an edit.

Did he copy jbgude's answer ?

Memo to self: "Too many clues - make it all more vague next time"

[Next time ? You mean there's more of this rubbish ? - The Management]

Sorry Colin..I got carried away with TINC and I in the car

Memo to self: "Too many clues - make it all more vague next time"

Colin......more vague?...can you be?

Rusty -

At my age, vagueness goes with the territory !

Name That Song ?

This was a 'series' which came to an abrupt end, wasn't it ?