[Dixielandjazz] Lily of the Valley

[Ingemar Wågerman]

About the recent "Lily of the Valley" discussion: There are many Lilies in
the Valley!! Some examples:

1. A part of "our" Lily of the Valley was first recorded by Rev F.W. McGee
on Victor in 1930. Only the verse "Everybody don´t know", (not the "Lily of
the Valley" theme). WHO IS THE TRUMPET PLAYER?? WHO CAN SUPPLY A LABEL SCAN
OF VICTOR 38596? (Or a copy of the record!!?)

Paul Barbarin made the first traditional jazz version in 1951, the first
known recording since 1930. WHAT HAPPENED IN BETWEEN??? The tune was called
"A wartime favourite" on a Don Albert / Louis Cotrell LP, so it must have
been well-known before 1951. Crane River made the first European recording
in 1952. More than 150 traditional jazz bands have recorded it after that.
Gota River Jazzmen recorded a medley of ##1, 2 and 6! The verse "Everybody
don´t know" sounds like "O Happy Day" (not the Hawkins version!) or "How Dry
I am". The chorus reminds of "What a friend we have in Jesus", but reverse
chords in 6-7 and 8-9 bars. There are many variations of the lyrics "He´s
the Lily of the Valley (3x) Eve-ry-body don´t know". WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF
THIS CHORUS?? On a Heritage Hall Stompers recording, Bude 1998, Brian
Carrick with congregation sing "What a friend we have in Jesus, He is
everything to me..." First chorus with same melody as "What a Friend...",
part of the lyrics same as the following tune (#2)!

2. "Lily of the Valley" (Lyrics "I have found a friend in Jesus, he´s
everything to me...") by Fry-Hays 1881, has often been mixed up with the
McGee / Barbarin tune. It is a popular gospel and country song (Johnny Cash,
Jerry Lee Lewis...) E. Hanks got the composer credits on the Jack Pickell
and Forest Traylor recording (Columbia 15603-D), but Hanks was just the
arranger. J.R. Murray and Joshua Gill were other arrangers, who have also
been credited as composers. The tune is "The Little Old Log Cabin" by
William Shakespeare Hays (sic!!). William Fry was the first bandmaster of
the Salvation Army and the song is still in the Swedish Salvation Army song
book (with composer credits to J.R. Murray!!). Night Blooming Jazzmen made
the only (?) traditional jazz recording. Some jazz bands have mixed it up
with #1.

3. He´s the Lily of the Valley = spiritual recorded by Arizona Dranes and
the Texas Jubilee Singers. Originally in the Fisk Jubilee Singers´
repertoire.

4. Sister Rosetta Tharpe sings another "He´s the Lily of the Valley." Origin
unknown.

5. Another one, Spartanburg Famous Four Decca 7543, sub title "I want you to
move"

6. "Everybody Ought to Know who Jesus is" by Harry Dixon Loes, (c) 1950, with
chorus "He´s the Lily of the Valley, he´s the Bright and Morning Star"...
with same melody as "What a Friend..." The melody of the Verse is slightly
different from #1.

7. This is a "Nut Song" , a vaudeville number from 1917 by
Friedland-Gilbert, recorded by Prince´s Band (1917) and Jimmy Dorsey (1950).
No other jazz recordings as far as I know, but several bands give credit to
Friedland-Gilbert on their Lily of the Valley (#2)

There are many other songs and tunes with the same title, too.

Ingemar Wågerman

Gota River Jazzmen, Göteborg, Sweden

http://listen.to/gotariver






2007/12/9, David Richoux <tubaman at tubatoast.com>:
>
> The only "Lily of the Valley" I have heard new Orleans bands do
> sounds a bit like "How Dry I Am" so I don't think your 1881 version
> is the same.
>
> Dave Richoux
> On Dec 8, 2007, at 2:58 PM, Bruce Stangeland wrote:
>
> > Dear DJMLers,
> >
> > I have a copy of an 1881 hymn called "The Lily of the Valley".
> > I don't know if this is the tune under discussion.
> >
> > I put a PDF copy on my website:  LilyOfTheValley <http://
> > www.bestangeland.com/music/LilyOfTheValley.pdf>
> >
> > Bruce Stangeland
> >
> >
>
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