[Dixielandjazz] Misunderstanding old tunes

[Steve Barbone]

Sometimes we don't fully understand the older tunes. For example:

Darktown Strutters Ball - Is about an annual ball that was once held in
Chicago IL for the working girls. (hookers) It was quite an event and those
whites that were invited included the city's politicians and some of the
actors, musicians and socialites in the city. It was somewhat of a social
triumph to be invited. It was exactly that, "The Darktown Strutters Ball".

Shine (The original was "That's Why They Call Me Shine") - Is a tune about
racial injustice. An assault on a black man in NYC in the early 1900s.
Written by a black composer and a black lyricist circa 1910. Check out the
verse and one gains some insight as to the meaning of the tune. (e.g. "lets
pipe the shine") It played the black theater circuit from about 1911 to 1920
and in effect makes a point about discrimination because of differences
between the races regarding appearance, dress, attitudes etc. Louis
Armstrong made it famous in jazz in the 1920s.

Frankie Laine made it famous in pop music again in 1949.

In between, some idiot re wrote the lyrics in the late 1920s with the
shoesies / blusies junk. Who knows why? Perhaps because he didn't like the
protest connotation. Many bands play and sing the shoesies bluesies version
today not knowing the difference. (Laine sang the original)

"Black & Blue" is another one.

In my opinion it is just as important to understand the social import of the
tunes, as it is to listen to the old guys play them. Else, like Shine, they
become a sterile "happy" tune  when that was the exact opposite of what it
was all about.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone