[Dixielandjazz] Kelly and the "L" and music copyrights

[philwilking]

Hey! No problem. It's just that in me you're dealing with (probably) the 
last person who ever sang all seven (or is it nine?) verses of "The Bowery," 
even if I remember only the first verse and chorus now.

As for "Who Threw The Overalls In Mistress Murphy's Chowder?" Why sure, and 
it was herself.

Here's a bit of history which has been overlooked by most. The Volstead Act 
went into effect in January, 1920. This start of the Prohibition Era in the 
USA triggered a wave of songs about leaving the country to get a drink. Most 
of them of course are not worth remembering, but a few could stand revival. 
Irving Berlin's "I'll See You In C-U-B-A" can make a decent rumba as well as 
being a nice novelty song. "Goodbye Broadway (Hello Montreal)" and "The 
Alcoholic Blues" are two more good ones, and there must be more. Especially 
in this 100th anniversary year, wouldn't it be nice to play them?

And now up onto the soap box:

Now is when we all have time to look up stuff which might come in handy. For 
instance, most of the old "pop" songs jazz bands play have verses. The older 
the tune, the more likely it is that the verses (and there usually are at 
least two) are a lot more than just an introduction to the chorus. The whole 
story of "Bill Bailey..." is in the verses. Even if you don't sing, the 
verse to "Sweet Georgia Brown" makes an excellent interlude into the out 
chorus. The verse to "Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet" is longer and musically 
better than the chorus.

I think what triggered this outburst is that a local trumpet player was 
completely surprised when I informed him he had left out the entire first 
half of "Milneburg Joys." Which he had, in New Orleans! (In case anyone 
doesn't know, there really is a neighborhood here named "Milneburg." And 
yes, that is the correct spelling.)

End soap box.

Phil Wilking - K5MZF
www.nolabanjo.com

"And God promised man that good and
obedient wives would be found in all
corners of the earth." Then God made
the earth round and laughed and laughed
and laughed.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Al Levy

RE:Kelly. There are two characters and each has lines. Timothy Kelly, the 
store owner and Pat Clancy
the sign painter. Maybe I read the lyric as Timothy saying "If I agree to 
knock the "L" out of Kelly
spell my name (Kely) .. in true Irish tradition we will remain good friends.