"The Varsity Drag" (1927)

We move into 1927 with our college songs and run into the hit show "Good News" with a score by the quintessential 1920s songwriting team of Henderson, DeSylva and Brown!

A big number from the show was "The Varsity Drag" so let's hear Cass Hagan and his Park Central Hotel Orchestra on Columbia Records:

Very snappy version of the song!

That's Franklyn Baur, Lewis James and Elliot Shaw on vocals!

The sheet music at the top makes mention of Abe Lyman and his Orchestra, as they performed as the pit band in the original production of "Good News" on Broadway.

We are very fortunate that the band filmed a version of "The Varsity Drag" about that time:

Lots of fun with Abe, who started as a drummer, displaying some showmanship!

For one more version of the song, let's jump to 1950 with this version by Spike Jones and his City Slickers on their RCA Victor album "Spike Jones Plays the Charleston for Dancing":

That is so much fun! Spike and wacky 1920s music are a perfect match!