"You've Got What Gets Me" (1932)

I mentioned that the movie version of "Animal Crackers" ditched some of the Kalmar & Ruby songs but did add a new song by the team. 

A similar thing happened with the George & Ira Gershwin songs from the musical “Girl Crazy.”

The 1932 movie adaptation of “Girl Crazy” from RKO starring Wheeler & Woolsey cut several of the songs from the show (including the standard “Embraceable You”) but added “You’ve Got What Gets Me” by the Gershwins. 

It’s a cute song, sung by Bert Wheeler and his usual romantic interest, Dorothy Lee, if not a standard. 

We go back to England with this version by Roy Fox and his Orchestra with the great vocalist Al Bowlly on Decca:

 

Al Bowlly adds class to any record!

 

"At the Codfish Ball" (1936) - Part 2!

As I had mentioned before, "Betty Boop" Girl Mae Questel recorded a number of Shirley Temple movie songs for Decca Records, and among them was "At the Codfish Ball" from "Captain January":

Really sounds like a cartoon soundtrack!

"At the Codfish Ball" (1936)

As far as Shirley Temple goes, my favorite song from one of her movies is “At the Codfish Ball” from 1936’s Fox film “Captain January.” That’s basically because of this version on Victor Records by Tommy Dorsey and his Clambake Seven with Edythe Wright:

 

That’s just a blast!

"Animal Crackers in My Soup" (1935) - Part 2!

I had mentioned that most versions of the song "Animal Crackers in My Soup" from the Shirley Temple Fox movie "Curly Top" feature adult female vocalists doing "kid" voices.

But there was one adult vocalist who sang the song as an adult character - Mae Questel, The Betty Boop Girl

She recorded a number of Shirley Temple songs for Decca, so here she is:

Pretty fun! Who knew the Betty Boop voice would fit so well with Shirley Temple songs?

"Animal Crackers in My Soup" (1935)

With all of the talk about animal crackers, we need to hear the most famous animal cracker related song, “Animal Crackers in My Soup,” which was introduced by Shirley Temple in her 1935 movie “Curly Top” from 207h Century Fox! Most versions of the song I’ve come across have an adult female singer doing an annoying “kiddie” voice, but 17-year-old Durelle Alexander does a good job on this budget label record by Smith Ballew and his Orchestra:

 

That's a rare Smith Ballew record without Mr. Ballew himself handling the vocal.

The obvious plot hole is that animal crackers are actually cookies, so you really shouldn’t put them in soup!

 

Movie Time: "Identity Unknown" (1945)

In between watching all the movies with the sheet music songs, I caught the 1945 Republic Pictures feature “Identity Unknown” starring Richard Arlen on TCM. 

I have to say, I was kind of riveted! And not just in a because-I-dig-1940s-B-movies-anyway way! 

I won’t say anything more so as not to spoil it, but it’s worth a look!

"I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers" (1926) - Part 3!

Let’s hear one more version of the 1926 novelty song “I’m Just Wild About Animal Crackers, this time from an unlikely source: Duke Ellington and his Washingtonians! 

Here they are with this snappy instrumental arrangement on the Gennett label:

 

Not typical Ellingtonia, but what a blast!

"I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers" (1926) - Part 2!

I like novelty records a lot and always find it interesting to compare different versions of songs when he occasion arises! 

So here’s Irving Aaronson and his Commanders with saxist/vocalist Phil Saxe with their version of “I’m Just Wild About Animals Crackers” on Victor Records:

 

The Commanders have always struck me as less wacky than Harry Reser’s groups, but they do have their own flair for wackiness!

"I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers" (1926)

The wacky Marx Brothers movie “Animal Crackers” makes me think of animal crackers in general and the wacky 1926 song “I’m Just Wild About Animal Crackers” specifically! 

Let’s listen to this version from the Six Jumping Jacks, one of several novelty groups led by ace banjoist Harry Reser with drummer/vocalist Tom Stacks:

 

Young Spike Jones must have been a fan!

"Why Am I So Romantic?" (1930)

Sticking with the Marx Brothers, let’s go back to 1930 for their second film, Animal Crackers,” which was an adaptation of the brothers’ hit Broadway show. 

Notice that the sheet music shows that animal crackers haven't changed much in 90-plus years!

The original show featured songs by Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, some of which were included in the movie, but the movie added the song “Why Am I So Romantic?” also by Kalmar & Ruby. 

Here’s a version by Sam Lanin and his Famous Players with vocalist Scrappy Lambert:

 

Scrappy has such an early-30s sound (voice and nickname)!

 

"Alone" (1935) - Part 3!

Let’s sneak in one more 1935 version of “Alone,” this one on Decca Records from string wizard Roy Smeck and his Serenaders with Donald King on the vocal:

 

Roy Smeck’s Hawaiian-ized versions of then-current pop songs are absolutely fascinating to me! 

As for the lobby card at the top, I know it’s hyperbole, but what picture was so funny ten years prior?

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July! 

Hey, let’s take in a parade with the McGuire Sisters courtesy of this track from their 1957 “Children’s Holiday” EP on Coral Records:

 

Have a great day!

"Alone" (1935) - Part 2!

Allan Jones didn’t get the chance to record “Alone” commercially when “A Night at the Opera” was first released, but he did record it for RCA Victor in 1949. 

Here it is on the fancy Red Seal label with Robert Armbruster conducting the orchestra:

 

Sounds great! 

I always found it interesting that although Zeppo left the act when the Marx Brothers moved from Paramount to MGM, their moves still had a Zeppo-ish character in them, with Allan Jones filling that role in “A Night at the Opera” and 1937’s “A Day at the Races.” 

Back in the day, you could say that Allan Jones was the father of singer Jack Jones and that Jack Jones was the singer of “The Love Boat” theme and everybody knew what you were talking about!

 

"Alone" (1935)

We move to 1935 for MGM’s “A Night at the Opera” starring the Marx Brothers! 

The hit song from the movie was “Alone” by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown which was sung by Allan Jones and Kitty Carlisle, as made evident by the sheet music at the top of the page! 

To drive the point home even further, there was this alternate version that doesn’t even include the Marxes:

“A Night at the Opera” was the brothers’ first film for MGM and while it’s extremely entertaining, it does lead the boys into more conventional “movie” territory than their previous films for Paramount did.

In any event, Cliff Weston is back, this time with Tommy Dorsey’s band, to sing “Alone” for Victor Records:

Not typical TD, but a big hit and very evocative of 1935!