[Dixielandjazz] Ooyah, ooyah, ooyah! and similar songs (was YOBS)

[ross anderson]

G`day Grah,
That is how I hear it , "OOLyah,OOLyah,OOLyah !!
The Alex Welsh Band is also on top of my list with the" Dutch Swing College"
And "THE ALL STARS !!
Regards to all,
Ross Anderson,
"The New Melbourne Jazz Band"


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graham Martin" <grahmartin at bigpond.com>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2006 9:08 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Ooyah, ooyah, ooyah! and similar songs (was YOBS)


G'day John, Dave, Bill and other fans of Lennie Hastings and the Alex Welsh
Band.

John Farrell said:

[In fact that was a famous gimmick of the late, great British OKOM drummer
Lennie Hastings who on a four-bar drum break at the end of a tune would play
the first two bars then for the last two would rip off his wig, throw it in
the air and pretend to shoot it with a rimshot, at the same time yelling
"Ooyah, ooyah, ooyah!".

 Dear old Lennie, he was a talented, fun guy sadly missed by everybody who
played with him."]

I will certainly agree with those last sentiments. I was a big fan of The
Alex Welsh band during the late 50s and the 60s. My own band of those days
even used to play intervals for them in some clubs, and my drummer was a
student and friend of Lennie's - not that they got much time to teach in
those days, what with the one-night stands and very few motorways.

BUT, I think you guys have got it wrong. It was not  "Ooyah, ooyah, ooyah!".
It was "OOLyah! OOLyah! OOLyah!" The story goes that he dropped his sticks
half way through a four-bar break one night and that is why he stood up,
threw his arms up in the air and did the verbal bit. But, like you said,
Lennie was a great joker and who really knows?

I think the wig throwing and rim shot must have come after he got into
trouble for the previously used Hitler impersonation with one drumstick
under his nose etc.

Aside from all that, what a great swinging band they were. Easily my
favourite! As I have mentioned previously on this List, I still draw a lot
of my own inspiration from listening to Roy Williams. If you have ever heard
his trombone solo on the 1971 Classic Concert recording of "I Want A Little
Girl", you'll know exactly what I mean! In addition, the "Dapper Dan" and
"Dippermouth Blues" tracks have the "OOLyah! OOLyah! OOLyah!" Lennie
Hastings' trademark breaks.

Best,

Grah

Graham Martin
Email: grahmartin at bigpond.com
Website: http://tromjazz.netfirms.com
REDLAND BAY
Queensland
AUSTRALIA
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