[Dixielandjazz] Revelation! The true lyricist of "Ugly Chile"

[Charles Suhor]

Interesting revelation. There’s a small musical irony in the fact on the Brunis recording, the lyrics and Brunis’ vocal are crude, but his muted trombone also is one of the prettiest I’ve ever heard. I love the sound of the muted trombone and wish it had been used more often in early jazz solos. 

Charlie


On Aug 29, 2015, at 9:40 PM, J McClernan <mcclernan1 at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> Hmmm.....
> I'll have to dig out my copy of the sheet music and see what's there.
> John McClernan
> 
> 
> 
> On Aug 29, 2015, at 4:02 PM, Dick Baker wrote:
> 
> Conventional wisdom has always held that "Ugly Chile," the parody lyrics to "You're Some Pretty Baby" by Clarence Williams, were created by George Brunis in his 1943 Commodore recording of the song.  It was more widely popularized by Johnny Mercer's 1946 Capitol recording of it.
> 
> But listmate Bill Haesler, while researching my request for information on "Bring It On Home to Your Grandma" (Vocalion 1584, recorded by Jimmie Noone but evidently written by Sam Theard), came across Sam Theard's recording of "Ugly Child," recorded in June 1930, 13 years before Brunis and 16 years before Mercer.  Here are Theard's lyrics:
> 
> (excerpted for brevity)
> 
> I court' a gal for quite a while
> I tried to dress up in the latest style
> I wore a different suit every time I call
> But she didn't like my looks so she wouldn't fall.......
> 
> 
> This seems to be clear evidence that Sam Theard was really the author of the George Brunis lyrics to Pretty Child.  Contradictory opinions are solicited.
> Dick Baker
> djml at dickbaker.org
> 
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